Introduction to Speech Teletherapy: My Early Experiences

When I first started my journey into speech teletherapy I absolutely loved it.  That was in the early stages of my journey. At that time I certainly appreciated the freedom and flexibility that it offered me.  Fast forward to today, now that I’m in my fourth year as a speech teletherapist and I am so glad to say that teletherapy is still a GREAT fit for me and my young family.  The ability to work from home and be present and available for my kids at the end of their school day is extremely important to me. Being a teletherapist has allowed me to do just that.

I have learned a lot over the past few years. Although working from home is a huge benefit of being a teletherapist it definitely is not the sole reason why I feel this service delivery model appeals so much to me.  One of the most gratifying parts of being a Speech-Language Pathologist is seeing our clients make progress. Helping them to achieve their goals is our primary goal.

Measuring Success: Outcomes and Effectiveness in Teletherapy

I have found, over the course of my journey as a teletherapist, that the outcomes I see in my students are significant, measurable, and long-lasting.  This truly drives me and has really renewed my passion for being a speech-language pathologist.  The fact that I am able to work 1:1 or 2:1 with my students has a major impact on the effectiveness of the therapy.  I am able to focus directly on the needs of my students and help to build their confidence.  Building a strong rapport makes capitalizing on their strengths even easier.  Not to mention, most of my students are drawn to the technology aspect of delivering their therapy sessions via the computer.  This aids in keeping them engaged and motivated, which also contributes to better outcomes.

Teletherapy vs. Traditional Settings: What Makes Teletherapy Stand Out?

After working in the traditional brick and mortar setting, I found that caseload sizes, mixed groups, and feeling tugged in so many different directions compromised the most important part of the job – delivering therapy.  Although my students were making progress, it was certainly slower due to the fact that most of my groups consisted of six or more students. In addition to larger groups, it also resulted in addressing varying needs and goals within the group.  The smaller caseload sizes that are inherent in being a teletherapist have allowed me to customize my materials to truly individualize the therapy sessions. This absolutely works very well for my students.

I have received so many direct messages, text messages, and emails from therapists all over the world wanting to know more about speech teletherapy.  I do love answering your questions and feel honored that you have turned to me.  One thing that I have said consistently is to please do your research before you venture into this new territory.

Pros and Cons of Contract Teletherapy: What You Need to Know

To be perfectly honest, every clinical setting has its pros and cons. It is extremely important to take an inventory of what’s important to you. This will ensure you’re making the best choice for YOU.  For me personally, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. I still strongly believe that speech teletherapy, as a service delivery model, is challenging (in a great way), rewarding, and refreshing.  So let’s talk a little about the cons that I have experienced.  To date, most companies that are offering speech teletherapy positions are only looking for contract therapists.  What does this really mean and how does it impact you as a professional?

Key Considerations for Contract Teletherapists

Being a contract therapist means you are an independent contractor. You don’t work directly for the speech teletherapy company. In this scenario you are ultimately self-employed.  You are responsible for additional expenses including, but not limited to, self-employment taxes, liability insurance, equipment, materials, and supplies.  As an independent contractor, there are no health insurance benefits, no paid time off, or guarantee of consistent hours.  The rates are still currently lower than the industry standard for SLP independent contract work. This is a huge trade-off, considering all the additional expenses.

So what are the pros?  For some, being an independent contractor is a very attractive option. It comes with tax write-offs, flexible scheduling, and an overall autonomy of being self-employed. As a contract therapist, you have the luxury of being able to decide how many hours per week you are interested in working. This gives you the ability to make your own schedule.  You decide which days you are available to work and how many hours you plan to work each day.  Keep in mind, building a caseload may take additional time. If you are only offering a small window of time each day this presents a challenge.  The more open and flexible you are with your time in the beginning, the quicker you are going to be able to establish a caseload.

Dealing with Frequent Scheduling Challenges

With the pros come some very important things to keep in mind.  Once your caseload is established and you have the number of hours that you require, there are a few other things to consider as an independent contractor.  Cancellations, student absences, and unexpected events. These events may include field trips, district-wide testing, or assemblies and will have a significant negative impact on your pay.  Various companies and school districts handle these situations differently. Therefore, it is important to ask specific questions about cancellations prior to signing your contract. This will help to ensure that you are clear on the policy to avoid surprises.

Another thing to consider is how indirect time will be paid.  As many of us know, the job of an SLP involves a significant amount of time on the backend. This includes documentation, phone calls, responding to emails, corresponding with case managers, and planning for our sessions.  When negotiating and discussing your hourly rate, be sure to clarify the rate. It’s important to know if your rate is billable for both the direct and indirect therapy time.

Exploring Salaried Speech Teletherapy Positions

Please note that being a contract teletherapist is not your only option.  If you require more consistency with your hours and benefits, there are speech teletherapy companies that offer full-time, salaried positions.  Unfortunately, at this time, salaried teletherapy positions are the exception not the norm.  As teletherapy continues to grow, I feel more companies will begin to make a shift in the direction of offering full-time salaried positions. This will be imperative for them to remain competitive in this ever-evolving arena.  I have worked as both an independent contractor and a full-time salaried teletherapist. For me personally, the consistent hours, benefits, and salary are of extreme value to me and my family.

Full-Time Placements

Salaried speech teletherapy positions are very similar to traditional brick and mortar settings. As a salaried speech teletherapist, you are paid a salary to delivery services.  Every company is different. In my experience, salaried positions offer benefits that include paid time off, health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401K options.  One of the big pros of a salaried position is the peace of mind knowing that you will be paid a consistent amount each pay period. This is true regardless of cancellations or unexpected events.  As a full-time salaried employee, there is an hourly weekly commitment that may range from 35-40 hours. In addition, set hours are expected to ensure that you are available to serve the various school districts’ needs.

Generally, a full-time salaried employee receives their equipment, paid training, licensure reimbursement (for states outside of their home state), continuing education allowances, and a library of resources to utilize.  Every company varies, so again, ask questions and get clarification during the interview process. This will allow you to make an informed decision.  For a list of potential teletherapy companies, read this Who Should I Work For post.

Final Thoughts: Is Speech Teletherapy Right for You?

If you are considering a career move towards speech teletherapy I hope this information is helpful to you.  I cannot stress enough how important it is to really do your research. This determine if this is a good fit for you.  I had the privilege of serving on the ASHA Telepractice Conference Committee in 2018 and will be serving again in 2019.  It was a very rewarding and enlightening experience. Seeing firsthand the increasing number of research studies being conducted to prove the efficacy of telepractice was inspiring.  I am thrilled to be on the cutting edge of our profession. I personally look forward to the continued growth of this amazing service delivery model.

As always, I would be happy to answer any additional questions that you may have.  Please feel free to leave your questions in the comments section below or email me directly at belinda@bvgslp.com.