131: Clinicians Conquering Chronic Cases with Abbe Simon, M.A., CCC-SLP
As empathic professionals, SLPs create relationships with their clients. When clients face chronic communication conditions, it is important for clinicians to know when to part ways even when ongoing progress is being made. This episode will include a discussion about the reality of making this process possible.
Topics covered:
Relationship centered care, empathy, chronic communication conditions, A-FROM, beginning with the end goal in sight, weaning from tx and discharge planning, therapeutic tensions, client related reasons for discharge, therapist related reasons for discharge, external reasons for discharge
Differentiate between chronic and temporary communication disorders and how our role as SLP might be different when length of treatment varies.
Relationship centered care- are we clinicians doing this without even knowing we are?
How exactly do we say “goodbye” to the clients with chronic conditions?
the Discussion Guide
Download your free Discussion Guide to unpack the information covered in the episode at a deeper level. The Discussion Guide can be used in a group setting or on your own.
Resources
#icommunicare (on Instagram)
Hersh, D. (2003). ‘Weaning’ clients from aphasia therapy: Speech pathologists’ strategies for discharge. Aphasiology 17 (11): 1007–1029
Hersh, D. (2009). How do people with aphasia view their discharge from therapy? Aphasiology 23 (3): 331–350
Worrall, L. (2019): The seven habits of highly effective aphasia therapists:
The perspective of people living with aphasia, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.
Thanks for these great resources, Abbe!
Abbe Simon, M.A., CCC-SLP, has been a speech language pathologist for 24 years. She has worked in a variety of settings including acute and rehabilitation hospitals, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, aphasia centers, and outpatient clinics, while seeing clients privately. Throughout her career, she has remained passionate about working with adults with neurological language disorders resulting from stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, brain tumors, degenerative disease, and/or age related memory decline.
Abbe specializes in evaluating and treating people who have APHASIA. Her approach revolves around an individual's goals to create functional, engaging, relevant, and purposeful outcomes that go beyond a treatment room. She provides therapy driven by evidenced based practices while modifying programs to suit each individual client’s needs. Abbe prides herself on the relationships she builds with clients and their communication partners.
After years of serving people with aphasia, Abbe learned and witnessed the power of intense and consistent skilled therapy. Her work as communication coach and group leader at renown aphasia centers allowed her to see the benefit of immersing in productive language opportunities that last more than a typical 45 minute session.
Abbe developed RCAP to offer a unique 3-hour/day program so that clients can address multiple goals with a functional approach that targets the use of repetition, errorless learning, and multi-modal communication. Longer therapy sessions allow clients the opportunity to benefit from a relaxed pace, self-driven goals, and the opportunity to maximize neuroplasticity beyond a contained therapy environment.
While she recognizes the importance of traditional speech therapy, Abbe is passionate about applying learned communication strategies and tools into "real life" situations. Intensive programs include time spent outside of the treatment room in order to carry over learned skills. This is what makes RCAP unique. Building and strengthening relationships despite the presence of aphasia.
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