Many therapists feel as though they have limited upward mobility in their careers. 

Graduate programs understandably focus on direct clinical practice and understanding evidence-based practices.

Unfortunately, this leaves many clinicians unprepared to navigate policy work, salary negotiations, or running a business. 

This makes many therapists less confident in advocating for reasonable caseloads or better compensation because they feel they have limited options for earning a living. 

That’s why I invited Rachel Archambault to episode 194 to talk about how state and local policy impacts clinical disciplines and how therapists can expand their career options. 

Rachel Archambault M.A. CCC-SLP is an award-winning speaker and consultant for trauma-informed care as well as a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP). She collaborates with service providers (SLPs, doctors, PT/OT, etc.), parents, businesses (schools, hospitals, universities, rehab), and communities to incorporate trauma-informed care into their setting. 

In 2018, Rachel was an SLP at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL when an internationally publicized traumatic event happened at her workplace. After wondering how she could better work with her students (and self) who had undergone trauma, she found trauma-informed care. Her lived experience of trauma in combination with her profession allow her to bridge the gap for SLPs and other service providers who want to learn about and implement trauma-informed care in any setting. Rachel is a neurodivergent SLP, (PTSD & ADHD) and advocates for mental health trainings for SLPs. 

Rachel uses her unique journey to help put a face to trauma for healthcare providers, parents, and universities.

In this conversion, we discuss:

✅Negotiating salary for SLPs at the district level and giving public comment. 

✅Making a case for districts to hire additional clinicians; including how to show the negative impact of high caseload numbers. 

✅How to stay informed and understand how state and local policy impacts your ability to provide quality services. 

✅Common knowledge gaps for clinicians; including people management, business operations, sales, marketing, and personal finance. 

Listen to Rachel’s previous interview on De Facto Leaders here: EP 115: Trauma-informed care for therapists, teachers, and school leaders (with Rachel Archambault) Link here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ep-115-trauma-informed-care-for-therapists-teachers-and-school-leaders-with-rachel-archambault/

You can learn more about Rachel’s services or how to book her for a speaking engagement here: https://www.ptsdslp.com/

Follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/ptsd.slp/

Follow her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/PTSD.SLP/

Connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-archambault/

Listen to the Speech Science Podcast here: https://www.speechsciencepodcast.com/episodes

In this episode, I mention the School of Clinical Leadership, my program that helps related service providers develop a strategic plan for putting executive functioning support in place in collaboration with their school teams. You can learn more about that program here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadership

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. 

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