5 Traits All Good Speech Therapists Have
People are a wonderfully varied bunch. Some love imposing order by cataloguing library books or classifying plant species. Others delight in pushing boundaries through creative expression or technological invention. And some find joy in enabling others to improve their speech and communication skills.
At SpeechEase, we’ve trained, mentored and grown many wonderful speech therapists who’ve made a lasting impact on the lives of their clients. Here are the top 5 traits we think all good speech therapists have.
1. They like people
Speechies spend most of their days working directly with clients and colleagues. They value people, see what’s special about them and are good at creating a rapport that enables therapy to progress well.
This investment in relationships is often seen in other aspects of their lives. Speechies tend to have a compassionate nature and are often very close to their family and friends (and pets!).
They know that good communication is a vital part of relationships. That’s often one of the reasons they choose speech pathology as a career.
2. They’re patient
Speechies work alongside people who find it hard to express themselves easily. They know how hard a client is working to communicate and they respond with patience and encouragement.
Speech therapy can be a long journey for some clients but good speech therapists celebrate milestones along the way. They’re overjoyed when a client masters a new sound or skill after long, hard work.
3. They’re creative
There’s no foolproof manual for speech therapy that works every single time. Each patient has their own unique personality, family situation and therapy needs. A technique that worked brilliantly for one client may not work at all well for another.
Good speechies are adaptable and creative. They’re able to tailor evidence-based therapies to suit a particular client.
They’re fun too. Especially when working with children, therapy needs to be enjoyable. Good speechies are great at turning therapy exercises into fun activities that kids enjoy practising.
4. They’re organised
With high levels of need in the community, speechies are usually juggling a high caseload. They can’t turn up unprepared for a therapy session. They need to have planned that session’s activities as part of a broader therapy plan for that client.
5. They’re lifelong learners
Good speechies are lifelong learners who are keen to sharpen their skills or discover new approaches to therapy. They soak up learning wherever they can – from peers, mentors, training courses, conferences or courses. Then they put it into practice, implementing new techniques, assessing the outcomes and fine tuning as they go.
Why work at SpeechEase?
If you recognise yourself in those traits and are a qualified speech pathologist, we’d love to hear from you.
SpeechEase has clinics in both Mackay and Townsville staffed by a team of fun, bubbly and supportive individuals with a desire to help those with speech and language challenges to be known for who they are, to have a voice and to show the world that they have something to say worth listening to.
When you work at SpeechEase, you benefit from:
- A competitive salary
- Flexible hours
- Weekly supervision
- A professional development package
- A career progression pathway.
If that sounds good, then we’d love you to apply to join our team.
Disclaimer
All information is general in nature.
