People are often curious what my job actually looks like day to day, beyond "speech therapist," so here's a rough walk-through of a fairly typical day.
Morning: prep and early sessions
The day usually starts with reviewing notes from the last session for each client; what we worked on, what went well, what didn't, so each session picks up where the last one left off. Early sessions might include a toddler working on first words through play, or a schoolage child working on articulation with games built around their interests.
Midday: paperwork and planning
This is the less glamorous but essential part of the job: writing session notes, updating goals, communicating with parents and teachers, and sometimes prepping materials for the next round of sessions.
Afternoon: more sessions, more variety
Afternoons might bring a completely different set of needs. A child working on social communication skills through structured play with peers, a feeding therapy session, or a family consultation to check in on progress and set new goals together.
End of day: the small wins
Almost every day includes at least one moment that makes the whole thing worth it. A first clear "mom," a kid using their AAC device unprompted for the first time, a parent sharing a breakthrough from home. Those moments are why most of us do this work. It's a job that's part detective work, part playtime, and part cheerleading, and honestly, I wouldn't trade it.
