Monday, June 10, 2013

Speech-Language Pathologist - Ready for Something Different?

It's that time of year, when many speech-language pathologists (SLP)s are so tired of massive amounts of paperwork (think: IEPs and insurance billing) and productivity standards! The question appears: what else can I do? (As more than one such burnt-out SLP told me, "If I do another ___ again, it will be too soon!")

After being asked this question by a total stranger on the telephone, I became intrigued, and spent a lot of time researching options. It turns out that there are many choices.

The first question is what intrigues a given SLP: favorite aspects of the field, preferred population and work hours, and even hobbies that could become involved.

How could these all become connected?

Eighteen SLPs who switched careers did so in a wide variety of creative ways. Details of their transition journeys are included in Alternative Career Options for SLPs, by Katie Schwartz (Business Speech Improvement, publisher).  (Many of these choices would also be applicable for burnt-out physical therapists, occupational therapists, and special educators.) Each story includes what the original career setting was, the process of change, what the person chose to do, the positives and the negatives of the choice, and how to get started in the new field, if the reader is interested.

The book also includes a self-assessment questionnaire, to help readers consider possible future options.

The book can be ordered from www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com.

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