Why I Created The Essential Teletherapist, LLC

Mar 31

I became a speech-language pathologist because I wanted to help children communicate.

Like many clinicians in this field, I believed that if I showed up for my students, worked hard, and kept learning, I could make a meaningful difference in their lives. And in many ways, that has always been true. Speech therapy can change a child’s confidence, their ability to learn, and how they connect with the people around them.

But over time, I started noticing something that didn’t sit right with me.

Across the schools and communities where I worked, there were always students waiting for services. Sometimes it was because districts couldn’t find enough clinicians. Sometimes it was because resources were stretched thin. Sometimes families simply didn’t have access to providers nearby.

At the same time, I watched incredibly talented speech-language pathologists struggle under heavy workloads and rigid systems that made it difficult to sustain their careers long term. (For reference, there is currently a Facebook group with 13,000 SLPs looking for career alternatives. That should be a concern!) Many clinicians were and are working tirelessly for their students while feeling burned out, under-supported, or limited in their professional options.

The result was a frustrating reality: students who needed services were going without them, while clinicians who wanted to help were facing systems that made the work increasingly difficult to sustain.

I kept thinking, there has to be a better way.

When I began exploring teletherapy more seriously, I started to see what might be possible.

Technology alone isn’t a solution. But when used thoughtfully, telepractice can expand access to speech-language services in ways that traditional service models sometimes can’t. Schools can connect with highly qualified SLPs regardless of geography. Families can access services that might not exist in their local community. Clinicians can build more flexible and sustainable careers while continuing to do meaningful work with students.

Telepractice opened a door to something I had been hoping for: a way to support both students who need services and clinicians who want sustainable careers.

The Essential Teletherapist grew out of that idea. (and for more details on the personal start of that journey, you can read that here)

My purpose is simple: to ensure every child has access to high-quality speech therapy while empowering speech-language pathologists to build sustainable, fulfilling careers.

That purpose guides everything I do.

Through virtual speech-language services, professional training, and practical guidance, The Essential Teletherapist supports clinicians, schools, and families in delivering effective, evidence-based teletherapy. My goal is not only to expand access to speech-language support but also to strengthen the profession itself by helping clinicians feel confident and supported in modern service delivery.

The work is grounded in a few core beliefs.

I believe every student deserves access to high-quality speech-language support, regardless of where they live.

I believe speech-language pathologists deserve careers that are sustainable, respected, and fairly compensated.

I believe ethical, evidence-based practice should guide every decision we make as clinicians.

I believe our profession becomes stronger when clinicians collaborate, support one another, and share knowledge openly.

And I believe technology, when used thoughtfully, can help us improve access and deliver services more effectively.

These values guide the work of The Essential Teletherapist every day.

When I think about the future of speech-language pathology, I imagine a field where access to services is no longer limited by geography, where schools have the support they need to serve their students, and where clinicians can build careers that allow them to thrive professionally while maintaining balance in their lives.

That future will take collaboration, innovation, and thoughtful leadership across our profession.

But I believe it is possible. And that is the future I am working toward through The Essential Teletherapist.

As I began working more deeply in telepractice, colleagues started asking how they could do the same. Many clinicians were interested in virtual therapy but felt unsure where to start. Teletherapy requires its own set of skills, systems, and considerations, and there are not always clear pathways for learning how to implement it effectively. That is part of the reason I created The Essential Teletherapist, a training designed to help speech-language pathologists build confidence in delivering high-quality virtual services.
If you’re curious about how telepractice can fit into your work, you can learn more about the training here.