Advocating for yourself in speech therapy sessions involves taking an active role in your therapy, clearly communicating your needs, and ensuring you receive appropriate support.
Table of Contents
10 ways to advocate for yourself in speech therapy sessions
1. Understanding the Importance of Self-Advocacy in Speech
Self-advocacy in speech therapy is crucial because it enables clients to:
- Set clear goals that align with their personal and communication needs.
- Ensure individualised care, tailored specifically to their progress.
- Communicate preferences to therapists about techniques, methods, and session pace.
Start by considering why speech therapy is necessary for you and what improvements you wish to see.
2. Preparing for Sessions
Preparation is key to making the most of each session. Here are some tips:
- List your goals and concerns before each session. Are there specific areas you feel need more focus, such as speech clarity or vocabulary building?
- Research techniques or methods you’ve found beneficial or want to explore, such as articulation exercises, and be prepared to discuss them.
- Familiarise yourself with terms that might come up in sessions (e.g., phonology, fluency, or resonance), so you can ask specific questions or request modifications.
3. Communicating with Your Speech Therapist
Effective communication ensures both you and your therapist are aligned. Here’s how to keep communication clear and proactive:
- Express your feelings and opinions openly. For example, if you feel a particular exercise is not effective, let your therapist know and ask for alternatives.
- Ask questions if you don’t understand a technique or purpose of an exercise. Therapists often have a variety of strategies and may adjust based on your feedback.
- Provide regular feedback. If you feel progress is slower than expected, ask about adjusting goals or changing approaches.
4. Setting and Adjusting Goals
Goals in speech therapy should be realistic, measurable, and adaptable. Consider the following steps:
- Identify long-term and short-term goals. Long-term goals might focus on conversational fluency, while short-term goals could involve specific sounds or sentence structures.
- Review progress regularly. Advocate for progress reviews and goal adjustments with your therapist if you feel changes are needed.
- Prioritise areas you feel are most important. If one aspect of communication, such as public speaking, is particularly relevant, advocate to prioritise it in sessions.
5. Asking for Progress Updates and Documentation
Regular updates are essential to track your progress and make necessary adjustments.
- Request session summaries to understand what has been covered and what to focus on outside sessions.
- Ask for written progress reports that show improvements or areas needing more work.
- Review assessments or evaluations with your therapist to better understand strengths and areas for growth.
6. Advocating for Adjustments in Techniques or Approaches
Speech therapy offers various methods to improve speech and language skills. If something isn’t working:
- Discuss alternate methods. For example, if visual aids help you learn better, request more visual cues in sessions.
- Consider therapy frequency or duration. If you feel the current frequency is not sufficient, discuss the possibility of more frequent sessions.
- Request homework assignments or resources if you prefer practising independently between sessions.
7. Taking Ownership of Your Progress
Self-advocacy also includes owning your role in achieving your goals.
- Commit to practising outside of sessions. The more you practise, the more you’ll benefit from the therapy.
- Track personal progress by keeping a journal or using recordings. Record yourself speaking or practising sounds to review improvements.
- Be open to self-assessment. Reflecting on your progress and readiness to take on new challenges is key to staying engaged in therapy.
8. Utilising Family Support and External Resources
Advocacy often involves securing support from family or external resources.
- Discuss progress with family members and let them know how they can help reinforce therapy techniques at home.
- Seek external resources, such as community speech groups or online forums, to practise in real-world situations.
- Stay informed about speech therapy updates or resources available within your region.
9. Handling Disagreements Respectfully
Disagreements can arise, and handling them respectfully ensures a productive relationship with your therapist.
- Voice concerns calmly. If you disagree on a technique or goal, express your point of view and be willing to listen to the therapist’s perspective.
- Explore compromises. If you and your therapist disagree on an approach, propose a trial period to test a new technique.
- Seek a second opinion if necessary. In cases where progress feels stagnant, an additional perspective from another therapist may be beneficial.
10. Preparing for Post-Therapy Advocacy
Self-advocacy doesn’t end with therapy; continuing your progress independently is important.
- Create a post-therapy plan to maintain and build on the skills you’ve gained.
- Identify situations where you may need additional support and consider booster sessions if needed.
- Reflect on your journey and celebrate the milestones reached, as recognising achievements strengthens confidence.
Conclusion
Self-advocacy in speech therapy empowers clients to play an active role in their treatment, helping them set relevant goals, choose effective techniques, and ultimately achieve the best possible outcomes. By preparing for sessions, maintaining open communication, and adjusting goals as needed, you can maximise your speech therapy experience and build lasting skills.
Next Steps:
If you would like support with your overall communication and advocacy skills, it may be helpful to have consult with one of our speech pathologist (SP) for a formal evaluation and intervention support.
Transform Life is a NDIS registered organisation that provide support for you and your family.
Book your consult with an experienced Therapist at Transform Life to explore how Positive Behavioural Support, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy can support you and your family.
