What If I Have No Idea What I’m Doing?!" Real Talk for CFs & New Grad SLPs Entering the Schools

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie gets honest with new grads and CFs who are quietly wondering if they’re already behind. She talks through what imposter syndrome actually looks and feels like in those early weeks — the brain-blank first session, the late-night Google spiral — and why all of it is completely normal. If you’re a new SLP asking “what if I can’t do this?”, this one was made for you.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• Why imposter syndrome hits hardest when no one’s watching
• Four things that will actually get you through those early sessions
  • Shrink the moment — just pick one thing to target
  • One activity, stretched across every group and goal you’ve got
  • Narrate your thinking out loud — that’s the therapy
  • Expect the clunky sessions — even the veterans have them
• Hallie’s recipe for a speech lesson that works no matter what

Here’s what we learned: 

• Feeling clueless doesn’t mean you’re underprepared. It means you’re new.
• Language is hard because it overlaps with everything — slow progress is still progress.
• Adaptability is the skill that will carry you further than any material or lesson plan ever will.
• The confident SLP you’re trying to be right now is built through exactly these messy, uncertain moments.
• You don’t have to do this alone — and there’s no rule that says you have to.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup

📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book

🎓✨ Grab your free spot at CF Bootcamp 2026 here! https://www.speechtimefun.com/cfbootcamp2026​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets