Hallie chats with Sarah Bishop about being a generalist SLP

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Sarah Bishop—14-year school-based SLP, California Speech-Hearing Association president, and union rep—about why being a generalist is actually your biggest flex. Sarah shares her winding path to the field (spoiler: it starts with an art history degree and museum tours), why school-based SLPs need to stop apologizing for knowing a little of everything, and how to keep growing without losing your mind. This one’s for every SLP who’s ever felt like everyone else has a specialty except them.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• Why the generalist label gets a bad rap—and why it shouldn’t
• How to figure out what continuing education you actually need
• What a PLC is and how to start one even if your district doesn’t have one
• The mindset shift that makes it easier to grow without burning out
• How school-based SLPs define their expertise differently than private practice

Here’s what we learned: 

• Own the generalist title. Any kid walks through your door, you know where to start. That’s not nothing—that’s everything.
• You will get things wrong. So will every SLP who’s been in the field for 14 years. Let it go and keep moving.
• Connection is the intervention. Showing up, caring, and actually paying attention to a kid? That’s already therapeutic.
• Find your people. You don’t need a huge community. Start with one SLP buddy or one district PLC meeting.
• Know your role. Private practice treats the disability. You remove barriers to education. That’s a different—and equally valid—job.

Learn more about Sarah Bishop: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawahfwend 

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:

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