R A C H

25/09/2025

Some of us grow up thinking we’re “too much,” “too distracted,” or “just bad at follow-through.”

Learning how ADHD actually shows up (especially in women) gave me language, context, and a lot more self-compassion.

But here’s the thing → executive functioning challenges aren’t just an “ADHD thing.” They show up across all of our caseloads, from preschoolers to high schoolers and even in ourselves as SLPs.

💛 That’s why I’m so excited to be hosting a free webinar with AbleNet on how to support executive functioning for everystudent you serve (not just those with an ADHD diagnosis).

We’ll talk about:
✨ What executive functioning really is (beyond attention)
✨ Hidden EF barriers that impact communication + learning
✨ Practical, ready-to-use strategies for your whole caseload

Save your spot through the link in my bio-can’t wait to see you there!

💛 Drop a heart if you’ve ever felt those EF struggles yourself or have a story you want to share

ADHD, adhdslp, speech therapy, executive functioning, SLP

19/09/2025

I’m SO happy to be back here with you all after some time away ✨ Big changes have been happening — I’ve settled into Chicago, stepped into a new non-clinical role, and continued diving DEEP into the world of executive functioning (especially to support my ADHD brain through it all!). 💡

Keep an eye out for new offerings coming soon on this page! I can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on with you! (Especially my upcoming course with !)

Until then… fill me in: what’s something new you’ve been up to this past year? Drop a comment!

SLP, Chicago, non-clinical, private practice owner, gastroparesis, adhd, neurodivergent

12/09/2025

Join me on Sept 26 to learn about executive functioning and some of my favorite strategies to utilize in speech therapy!

✅ Unlock Executive Functioning Success with ableU!

Join us for Executive Functioning 101: Foundations & Practical Strategies for SLPs with R A C H - Rachel Musial, M.A., CCC-SLP

🗓️ September 26, 2025
⏰ 12:00pm CDT | 60 minutes
💡 Earn 0.1 ASHA CEUs

In just one hour, you’ll:
✔️ Discover what executive functioning is and why it matters for communication, learning, and participation
✔️ Explore three key developmental components and their impact on your students
✔️ Gain practical, evidence-informed strategies you can use right away to make a meaningful difference

We’re here to support your professional journey—connect with fellow SLPs, expand your toolkit, and empower your practice!

🔗 Save your spot today: https://bit.ly/4mebU6H

25/04/2022

7 years.

There are 7 years between these two pictures.

In these 7 years there has been an incredible amount of changes, shifts, growth, cycles, challenges, surprises, and gifts .

In these 7 years I’ve worn many hats: undergraduate student, researcher, sorority sister, bartender, masters student, graduate assistant, front desk worker, clinical fellow, certified speech-language pathologist, content creator, expat, mentor, podcast host, reiki practitioner… the list goes on and on.

But the thing that’s stayed constant?
The fact that I am human first.

I am ever-changing, growing, and learning.
I make mistakes, I take risks, I question myself.
I lean into my gifts, I trust my intuitive voice.
I have days where I am at 100.
I have days when I can’t get out of bed.

I don’t have all the answers. Heck, I don’t think any of us do.

What I do have is the ability to be reflective. Through my journaling and meditation practice I’ve found ways to let the little things go, release guilt, feel my emotions, and celebrate life.

If I could go back and tell my younger self anything, it would be this: everyday you’ll know more than you did the day before. You are doing the best you can with the tools that you are given. There will be hard moments, but you will get through them.

Life is a series of choices. And even if sometimes we make the “wrong” one, we can always use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Let’s release the self-judgements and honor our younger selves with love and compassion ♥️♥️♥️

23/02/2022

📢 CALLIN ALL GRAD STUDENTS!!⁣
⁣
My CF workshop is BACK for a 3rd round!⁣
⁣
I got such great feedback from my first few round of participants so I wanted to bring this back again for any grad students who are beginning the CF job search.⁣
⁣
My CFY was absolute MADNESS, HOWEVER, it taught me SO much about self-advocacy and finding what works for my needs.⁣
⁣
The job search can be an overwhelming process, so I’ll be covering topics such as…⁣
⁣
♡ The requirements of a CF⁣
♡ The role of a supervisor ⁣
♡ How to actually find a CF⁣
♡ Details about different settings⁣
♡ How to craft a resume that stands out⁣
♡ Interview tips and questions to prepare⁣
♡ How to negotiate for MORE money ⁣
♡ How to accept an offer & prepare to start⁣
♡ Lessons I learned from my CFY⁣
♡ Q&A to answer any other questions⁣
⁣
This is a LIVE 1 hr workshop where I’ll cover ALLLLL the things you need to feel confident about finding AND landing your clinical fellowship.⁣
⁣
It’ll also be recorded for all participants, so if you can’t attend you can always watch the replay & reach out to me directly with any follow up questions.⁣
⁣
AND I’ve thrown in a BRAND NEW resource for everyone attending! This resource contains my top interview tips to understand exactly what YOU want, interview questions you may be asked, and questions to ask the place you are applying to to ensure you are getting all the information you need to make an informed decision. (Swipe for a sneak peek!!)⁣
⁣
Grab your tickets at www.connectionswithrach.com and please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.⁣
⁣
Looking forward to connecting with you all LIVE on Sunday, March 6th at 12pm CST.⁣
⁣

14/02/2022

Experience is the best teacher.⁣
⁣
It really is.⁣
⁣
Through my time working as a speech therapist, and through my time growing up, I’ve learned invaluable lessons both in my personal and professional life. ⁣
⁣
Many of these came from mistakes I made, experiences I said “yes” to even though I was scared, and colleagues that challenged my methods and ideas.⁣
⁣
When I look back on my younger SLP self, I see someone who was enthusiastic, passionate, and well-intentioned. Going into this field I only knew a fraction of what I know now, and again, most of that knowledge came from EXPERIENCE.⁣
⁣
Grad school Rach had NO idea what was in store, and clinician Rach continues to approach this field with open arms, open ears, and the drive to learn & grow.⁣
⁣
Here’s to always learning, leading with compassion, and remembering that we are all humans first, and therapists second.⁣
⁣
✨What would you add to this list???⁣
⁣

10/02/2022

My why.⁣
⁣
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been everyone’s cheerleader 📣 Growing up the oldest of three ensured that I was a natural leader, a caretaker, and a positive role model. ⁣
⁣
I was also an incredibly enthusiastic kid. I was bold, loud, and creative. I was ALWAYS talking, always sharing the recent melodrama in my five year old life, or excitedly sharing updates about the latest disney movie 🎥 ⁣
⁣
I loved playing; ESPECIALLY with my younger siblings. We’d make up games where we’d be princesses 👸 at boarding school, or we’d own a restaurant and secretly have super powers. Any chance I had to spend time with them, I’d take it. ⁣
⁣
As I got older, I started to use my voice and creativity to step into theater 🎭. I loved performing and FINALLY having an audience for my storytelling. ⁣
⁣
My voice has always been my world. I felt as though it allowed me to bring joy, fun, and connection into my everyday life.⁣
⁣
On the flip side, my siblings struggled finding that same love for their voice 😕⁣
⁣
From a young age they received speech therapy, both in school and privately, and I saw firsthand the power it could hold and the gains that could be made.⁣
⁣
I thought, what an incredible job!! I could use my creativity, my love for play, AND my voice to make a meaningful impact?! How perfect! ⁣
⁣
So, from a young age I just knew that I would become an SLP. I had to, it was in my blood.⁣
⁣
This.⁣
This is my why.⁣
⁣
Speech therapy changed my life and my family’s lives forever. I’m SO grateful for all of the speech therapists that supported my siblings and their growth. They truly made a lifelong impact on all of us 🥺⁣
⁣
This field is a gift to so many, including me, and I want us all to remember the meaningful and lifelong impact that we can create.⁣
⁣
What is your why? Do you know?⁣
⁣
I’d you’re feeling frustrated with the field, burnout, or just overwhelmed I recommend taking some time to remember YOUR why. It can re-ignite your passion and re-energize you so that you can continue to be the rockstar that you are and continue to make difference in the lives of so many ♥️⁣

08/02/2022

Connection is such powerful medicine ♥️

Yesterday, Rachel Musial] held space for me to speak my truth on her podcast! It was my first time, I nervous as heck…but I realized that this experience was exactly what I needed to finally get out of the cocoon phase I have been in for so long. I’ve been MIA on here for many reasons…..

I’ll be honest on here and tell you why. I’ve been sitting with my post partum depression, trying out the use of meds for it, unlearning old ways and learning so many new skills, adjusting to a new career, working on my marriage, connecting with my kids, trying to find my voice again, self healing, feeling very very lost and unmotivated, realizing and accepting that I am neurodivergent, being hard on myself for not meeting all of my goals last year, organizing my thoughts and figuring out my big why, confused about the content I even want to share and questioning whether or not I even have anything worth sharing…..

But I’m speaking my truth now and I am at peace with myself for speaking authentically. I hope that by speaking my truth, I can inspire you to speak your truth, too. Like Rachel Musial] said- we are humans before anything else and we are desperately seeking the human connection that we have been socially deprived from in the last two years.

It’s time for my metamorphosis phase and I am so ready to spread my wings! 🦋 It’s time for human connection by speaking our truth.

14/12/2021

For me, some of the best gifts I’ve gotten are ones that I would never buy for myself 🎁 ⁣
⁣
Sure, I’ll use a Starbucks gift card, but I’d much rather get a gift to experience something new or invest in something I wouldn’t normally splurge on.⁣
⁣
These are all items that have supported me in living a mindful and holistic life. Even if I don’t use them everyday they have been crucial in supporting me in my lifelong journey of… well, life! I know they are always there as an option in my “self care toolbox 🧰 ” (as I like to call it).⁣
⁣
There are so many ups and downs in our daily lives and sometimes we take for granted the little things that can keep us grounded, present, and at peace 🧘‍♀️ ⁣
⁣
Why not help someone build THEIR toolbox 🧰 of self-care to manage those ups and downs whenever they need?⁣
⁣
Here you can find some of my favorite books, lifestyle items, and sensory regulation tools that have supported me in my self-care journey.⁣
⁣
They are all linked in my amazon bio for you to grab for yourself or someone else you love this holiday season. ⁣
⁣
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️⁣
⁣
Truly though, the best gift you can give someone is your support. Simply holding space for someone and letting them know you are there is a priceless and invaluable gift. ⁣
⁣
In a world full of unknowns, be someone’s constant. ⁣
⁣
That is the best gift of all 🥺⁣
⁣
⁣

06/12/2021

Looking for a way to give the gift 🎁 of mindfulness this holiday season?⁣
⁣
I’ve put together my favorite items that I believe help encourage kids to make mindful choices in their everyday life.⁣
⁣
💫 Mindfulness is the act of bringing awareness to the present moment without judgement or expectation.⁣
⁣
The items I chose help littles learn, apply, and practice mindfulness to help them bring focused awareness, support sensory regulation, and release feelings of anxiety or worry.⁣
⁣
📚 BOOKS:⁣
The books (and cards) I chose here help teach slowing down, releasing expectations, and gentle self-talk in a variety of situations. Not only do these books teach valuable skills, they offer diverse pictures and characters :)⁣
⁣
🔧TOOLS:⁣
These are tools for sensory regulation and for focused awareness. They are items I go to when we need a focused activity that can also provide various types of sensory feedback. Integration of these into sessions regularly has helped my littles regain focus and let go of some of the worries/stress they may be feeling.⁣
⁣
🧩 ACTIVITIES AND GAMES:⁣
To practice identifying emotions, regulation strategies, and mindfulness techniques I enjoy using games and activities for repetition and hands-on learning. Not only is it great practice for my students, it also helps me retrain my inner child that it's okay to feel my feelings and learn HOW to do that in an effective way.⁣
⁣
If we want to raise mindful, compassionate, and confident littles we need to start teaching them HOW to identify, acknowledge, and work with their feelings in a fun and relatable way.⁣
⁣
I can personally say I’ve noticed a HUGE 🤯 shift with my littles when I incorporated these items into my sessions. I’m hopeful that you will too🤞🤞🤞⁣
⁣
ALL of these are linked in my amazon storefront in my bio for you to grab for any kids in your life⁣
⁣
‼️‼️‼️And stay tuned for part 2 on mindful gifts for adults!⁣

⁣

23/11/2021

When life challenges me, I find it powerful to focus on the positive lessons I can learn from whatever experience is unfolding.

I find this encourages me to see the bigger picture and energizes me to continue to move forward.

These are a few things I’ve been embracing recently. Take what resonates with you :)

I’m curious to know what YOU’VE been embracing lately and would love to hear from you below ⬇️

♥️♥️♥️

19/11/2021

Self-compassion is something we ALL can work on.

Often, we can be our own worst enemy 😵‍💫

We say harsh statements to ourselves that we would NEVER say to someone we cared for.

We typically don’t offer ourselves the same kindness, encouragement, or patience that we would offer a good friend, a client, or a partner.

While it’s important to be discerning of our own actions, it’s also important to be GENTLE in the way that we do it.

Practicing self-compassion allow us to move past those automatic (and often negative) feelings we may hold when we don’t reach an expectation or goal that we set for ourselves.

I wanted to share a few affirmations I repeat to myself when I notice my inner critic is being extra loud or judgemental. They help me re-frame my thoughts and remind me to give myself the love I give others.

Today, give yourself some grace, perhaps a tight squeeze, and remember you are only human ♥️