Psst…you.
Yes you.
The SLP who is sitting there at a desk eating lunch by herself. Mostly because she’s in up to her eyeballs in progress reports but then partly because all the grade level teachers eat with each other. And she doesn’t have a grade level.
The SLP who goes home at night wondering if what he’s doing with little Sidney is working at all because there is no one he can run down the hall and ask.
The SLP who dreads staff meetings not only for the endless meetings but because she’s never quite sure where she fits in. Does she try to join the teachers? The school psychologist? Perhaps the cafeteria crew will take her in?
This post is for you.
I live in a very rural area. Every district in my county only has one SLP. That means that one SLP is in charge of the elementary, middle school, and high school. The only time SLPs see other SLPs is the two times a year we all get together for professional development.
And even if you’re not the only SLP in your district, let’s face it: our jobs can still be lonely. The majority of the time, we’re surrounded by teachers, who, bless them, are REALLY good at THEIR jobs but may not know much about OUR jobs.
We often go from grad school where we eat, sleep, and are in CONSTANT contact with fellow peers in the same boat we are in… to BAM-suddenly out on our own, wondering if we’re doing this wonderful thing called “speech therapy” at all like we should be.
This post is for you. To let you know that you’re actually not alone.
That there is a community of SLPs waiting for you to reach out to them.
It’s the reason I started blogging and it’s the reason I continue.
To connect.
To share.
To empathize.
So in the next few months, I encourage you pick up the phone and connect with an SLP friend over coffee. Determine to go to ASHA next year or your state convention. Reach out during your lunch break and make friends with teachers-they really are wonderful. Share a little bit about what you do as an SLP to another professional. It is always worth it.
You are exactly where you are meant to be in this moment.
You are not alone.
You are making a difference.
Come as you are. Leave encouraged.
I'd love for you to join my newsletter family so that I can start sending weekly encouragement as well as access to an entire library of free resources like this Student Self-Progress Report Sheet!
Judy Hale says
November 22, 2016 at 12:37 amThank you for this, I’ve also experienced it. I do try to eat lunch in the Teachers’ Lounge on a regular basis, as it helps make that connection with them. Plus, I need the break in the middle of the day to ‘gear up’ for the afternoon!
Michelle says
January 6, 2017 at 1:51 amI find this to be true as well. Although, the same people I would eat lunch with would forget to invite me to their birthday celebrations….one step forward…
Celia Darden says
November 22, 2016 at 12:55 amBeen feeling it for years. You are right we need to be involved in our community.
Rebecca says
November 22, 2016 at 2:33 amNicole,
This is why I go to ASHA Connect each year. I can meet others while getting such much needed mommy time.
Nicole Allison says
December 2, 2016 at 8:19 pmAgree! I came back feeling refreshed after ASHA! So glad you take the time every year!
Hannah says
November 22, 2016 at 3:46 amTHIS. As I am a CF working for a non-profit speech clinic (The Center for Speech & Language Disorders) in 3 charter schools on the south side of Chicago. During the schoolyear all 13 SLPs work in different charter schools throughout the city and we may only see one another during our Professional Development Days 4 times a year. During the summer we all work in the clinics and see each other everyday. It is sometimes hard to remember that yes, I do have all these other SLPs around me, I may not see them, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t reach out to them! What a great reminder!
Linda Chirco says
November 22, 2016 at 10:08 amIt’s the reason that SLP blogs have been so successful. Having a peer learning community at each school, district, or school division is not always possible.
For me, I’m so lucky to be in a school division with approximately 82 SLPs and a supportive member of a monthly PLC (peer learning community) for secondary schools.
We need to learn from each othet to share therapy ideas, priducts, apps, EBP, and even little tips and tricks.
Thanks for sharing and caring!
Nicole Allison says
December 2, 2016 at 8:18 pmThanks so much for sharing that Linda! I know I learn so much from the online community every day! I am so thankful for you all <3
Jessica says
November 22, 2016 at 1:47 pmWhat a thoughtful post! Great reminders for the SLP who is feeling lonely and burnt out!
Jeanine says
December 30, 2016 at 11:35 amGreat post! I often too felt it at times while working in the schools. I’m sure it can have an impact on an SLP’s creativity and productivity, which is one of the reasons I wrote my book, Now You’re Talking: An Innovative Approach to Problem Solving for SLPs and Parents! You can read a free chapter here, http://www.nowimtalking.com or purchase a copy on Amazon here, http://amzn.to/2h3onJT
Charlotte says
January 5, 2017 at 9:49 pmThis brought me to tears. Thank you for posting this. I am in my CF at a school and aside from my mentor’s visits, it’s just me and my caseload. I’ve never been a socialite but working at a school feels incredibly lonely at times. I thought it was just me.
Slp says
January 5, 2017 at 10:42 pmThanks so much for this!
I think we’ve been dismissed as “complainers” by our own colleagues” and lectured : “just be thankful”
Well guess what?
We have tough jobs.
We do therapy all day
Then when are we supposed to do paperwork??
I’m tired & lonely!
Ali says
December 3, 2017 at 6:20 amYes! But, I’m mostly tired. Sometimes I hate my job. I always love my work, but having demands placed on me (and all the other SLPs) that are impossible is so draining… mentally, physically and emotionally. I’m constantly having to settle for mediocrity in the quality of my services because of all the other responsibilities. Does anyone else struggle with this issue? I find it disheartening.
K4slp says
January 7, 2017 at 3:58 pmThanks for the encouraging words. I’ve been a preschool SLP for eighteen years where our group was like family. Then this year I went to being a k-4 speech therapist for 2 buildings. It is hard to start over building trust and relationships. Every once in awhile I need to hear someone say that I am making strides.
Barb says
April 10, 2017 at 11:00 amYour post is so true, and you have great advice. Connect with SLPs!
Megan says
April 10, 2017 at 12:57 pmThis is a fantastic post! I agree 100%. It was had for me at first when I ended up having to switch schools (after being furloughed) and even populations (going from Elementary to MS/HS). It made it even tougher because I work in-between 2 different schedules, so I eat in the middle of everyone’s lunches!
I find I make the best connections and friendships with my Learning Support teachers as well as my School Psychologists. If anyone is going to know what you do, these people are the closest to a fellow SLP when you don’t get a lot of contact with them. I’ve also found that you do have to put yourself out there a little more in order to make those connections happen, which isn’t always easy.
Overall it’s nice to hear that we’re not alone in some ways… 🙂
Hannah Miedema says
April 10, 2017 at 1:07 pmThank you for this. Although the staff I work with is very welcoming I do have a hard time when they don’t seem to value what I do. I work prek-12 at one district and I work through the county. I have a room in each building this year, but next year they are building a new building and did not make any space for me. They told me I could work under a stairwell. The social worker and nurse have space but I guess the speech therapist is not important enough. It is really disheartening and I don’t want to become jaded in my second year of work but it is really hard. It’s nice to know other people are in the same boat.
Jill says
April 10, 2017 at 3:01 pmSpot on post. I have ones with out guidance counselor and school psychologists. I’ve tried the falculty lounge for a while and it’s such a negative space. All the teachers do is complain about their work load and about the special ed population. “How difficult it is to do their job with “those” kids in their class. “. It makes my blood boil. Even trying to do a PD about mainstreaming and acceptance did little to soften these teachers.
Nancy Ringier says
May 9, 2017 at 12:19 amI have mentored, been shadowed, and sponsored many SLPs over my 40+ year career. If you have your C’s, you are obligated to offer support to other SLPs. I’ve worked in situations where I am the only one, one of just a few, and one of many, and I still feel on my own. Working with other professionals is essential to our work.
Peter says
December 3, 2017 at 6:49 pmPlease remember that there are many men who work in this wonderful profession as well. Men who are also up to their eyeballs in endless paperwork. Men who also eat lunch at their desks. Men who also wonder if the therapy he has been providing his student is actually working or if he should change tactics. Men who also cry tears of joy the first time a functionally nonverbal student uses an AAC device to communicate a three-term phrase asking for crackers.
All SLPs, male or female, need to feel supported and connected in this field.
Nicole Allison says
December 8, 2017 at 2:47 amYou are SO right! Thank you Peter for making your voice known! I changed the wording on this post so it is more inclusive of men. Thanks so much for reading and reaching out!
Lisa says
June 12, 2018 at 2:52 amThanks for your post from another solo SLP. Luckily I have been in the same school system for almost 30 years and eat lunch in the elementary every day so I know all the teachers, but I still feel like an outsider many times. My best friend is the solo elementary Art Teacher 😊
L says
March 19, 2019 at 1:15 pmI am a current SLP student, and I am even feeling lonely right now – sat alone in the library doing my work whilst eating lunch. Like the majority of people, I hate being alone, I am worried and concerned that this is how the rest of my career will be, as I want to work in schools. Have I made the wrong choice? I suppose at the end of the day, my want to help people will be bigger than my want to not be alone.
Louisa says
March 19, 2019 at 1:15 pmI am a current SLP student, and I am even feeling lonely right now – sat alone in the library doing my work whilst eating lunch. Like the majority of people, I hate being alone, I am worried and concerned that this is how the rest of my career will be, as I want to work in schools. Have I made the wrong choice? I suppose at the end of the day, my want to help people will be bigger than my want to not be alone.
Nicole Allison says
March 20, 2019 at 1:33 pmHi Louisa!
Your words tug at my heart! I would encourage you not to give up and not to be discouraged! Every job definitely has ups and downs and while the SLP job in the schools can be a bit lonely at times, it has also been wonderful for me. I love my students and have been able to witness some amazing things in my career. I would definitely suggest you join your state organization once you graduate, reach out and eat lunch with the staff members, and see how you can be involved. It’s ultimately up to you how involved you choose to be! Being the only SLP has at times been very beneficial too, as I’ve always tended to stay out of teacher gossip and drama, so there’s that 😉 Feel free to reach out anytime!