11/07/2025
When I first started out as an SLP, I followed the models I was taught — adult-directed, goal-oriented, and highly structured sessions. I never entered a therapy room without a visual schedule or perfectly curated data sheets. Special interests were only offered as rewards at the end of the session if the client performed well enough. But even then, something about it always felt off. The sessions felt more about compliance than connection, more about “fixing” than understanding.
As I gained confidence, I began to question those methods. I started listening to my clients. To their needs, their sensory experiences, their communication styles, and what truly brought them joy.
That’s when everything changed.
When I began embracing special interests within therapy instead of holding them hostage until the end, I discovered a whole new world — and I’ve learned so much from my clients along the way. I can tell you more about dinosaurs, cars, Pokémon, video games, and elaborate shape creations than I ever imagined possible — and each session feels more connected, more joyful, and more authentic.
Embracing neurodiversity-affirming therapy meant shifting from “how can I make them communicate like me?” to “how can I support them in communicating as themselves?” It meant centering autonomy, connection, and authentic communication.
