WholeStory Speech

WholeStory Speech Rochel Lieberman, Ph.D. CCC-SLP: Researcher & Speech-Language Pathologist She co-treats parents and children using SEST at her practice, WholeStory Speech.

Dr. Rochel Lieberman is a researcher and speech-language pathologist, with social communication disorder as her area of expertise. She is the co-founder of Story Emotion Social Therapy (SEST), an approach to address social, emotional, and language skills.

01/02/2026

If social skills worked by telling kids what you to do, your child would already be doing it.

When kids freeze, melt down, or forget what they “know,”
it’s not refusal.

It’s overload.
Before fixing.
Before teaching.
Before correcting.
Pause.
Listen..

Understand the story first.
Skills come back when the story makes sense.
Story first. Skills follow.

12/30/2025

Knowing about the pause
is different from using it.

MicroBook One is available now.

And soon, I’ll guide a gentle Zoom
to help you practice the pause together.

Support is coming 🤍




12/15/2025

Today I’ll show that empathy starts by paying attention.

Not fixing.
Not teaching.
Not rushing them through the feeling.

Just noticing.
Their eyes. Their body. The moment they hesitate before they speak.

When a child feels seen, they don’t have to work so hard to be understood.
When we slow down enough to pay attention, connection happens naturally, and everything else grows from there.

This is the kind of work I care about most: small moments that quietly change the way our kids feel with us.

If you want gentle, realistic ways to practice this (without adding more to your plate), my microbooks are made for exactly that.
You can find them in my Stan Store, link in bio.

~

empathy in parenting
how to connect with your child
supporting children’s emotions
mindful parenting moments
raising emotionally healthy kids
parent child connection
helping kids feel understood
emotional regulation for children
gentle parenting support

12/05/2025

Today I’ll speak about loneliness as something we all understand: the kind that slips in even when our homes are full and our calendars are packed. Parents know this feeling in a very specific way, giving so much, holding so much, and still wondering if anyone really sees us. But naming it doesn’t make us weak; it makes room for connection. It reminds us that behind every packed lunch, bedtime story, and school drop-off is a parent who also needs to feel understood. When we make room for connection, even in small seconds, we remind ourselves we’re not alone in this season. Someone else has felt this. Someone else gets it. And connection can start right here.

~~
parent loneliness,parent emotion,mom loneliness,dad loneliness,feeling unseen as a parent,parent mental load,emotional parenting,connection parenting,parent burnout support,lonely mom help,real parent feelings,modern parenting stress,parent community support,parent validation,motherhood honesty,fatherhood honesty,parenthood emotions,emotional well-being for parents,parent overwhelm,

12/01/2025

WholeStory knows what it feels like for parents to be overwhelmed and challenged when their kids struggle socially. It can feel like there’s no hope, like you have no power to fix things.

That’s why I created the WholeSecond Microbook series.

You may feel like you have to make massive changes overnight. But WholeSeconds Microbooks teach you how to start with just one second of learning new skills to support your child’s social journey.

Every book in this series is:
● Affordable
● Compact, yet comprehensive
● Designed to track your personal progress

Start with one skill today — get your WholeSeconds E-Book Microbook, link in bio 🔗

11/19/2025

Sending love to all the people this week!

Trip come and go, but the memories stay forever.
Last year at the ASHA Convention in Seattle, I started the trip by speaking at a local school. I still remember the parents’ feedback, their appreciation and gratitude.

Then I walked into the ASHA convention and saw my book’s image displayed. It was surreal. Every late night, every draft, every “is this worth it?” suddenly felt seen.

From the book signing, to thoughtful conversations with researchers, to dinner with my PhD committee chair… those moments weren’t just highlights, they were reminders of why this work matters.

WholeStory is about connection, conversation, and the humans who grow through it.
Grateful for the community that keeps believing in this work with me.

Here’s to memories that stay forever and the stories we’ll keep telling. 🥂

speech language pathology strategies, social communication intervention for children, pragmatic language therapy ideas, speech therapy SEL tools, language-based social emotional learning, mindful communication strategies for kids, emotional regulation speech therapy, visual supports for social language, connection-based speech therapy, neurodiversity affirming speech therapy, autistic communication support through story, child-centered communication therapy, storytelling language interventions, parent coaching speech therapy, ASHA Convention highlights, speech therapy research collaboration, SLP professional development training, evidence-based SEL speech therapy, speech therapy curriculum design, SLP author spotlight, speech therapy graduate research, SLP mentorship academia, SLP conference presentation, school-based speech therapy SEL, teacher and SLP collaboration, parent partnership in speech therapy, classroom social language support, language learning for anxious kids, whole child communication education, belonging through communication, Story Emotion Social Therapy, storytelling SEL communication program, mindful language storytelling therapy, emotional language narratives for kids, SEL storytelling curriculum, language-based belonging building

11/16/2025
10/27/2025

Today I’ll notice the story under the silence.
Because sometimes what your child isn’t saying says the most.

When a child goes quiet, it doesn’t always mean they don’t care, don’t know, or don’t want to talk, it often means they don’t yet have the words to match what they feel.

In WholeStory's Story Emotion Social Therapy (SEST), we teach parents and therapists to listen between the words: to gently uncover the emotions, needs, or thoughts that live underneath the quiet moments. That’s where true connection begins. 💞

Try this today:
Pause. Notice the silence.
Ask yourself, “What story might be underneath?”

It’s a WholeStory skill — and a whole new way to understand your child.

🗓️ Want daily reminders like this for yourself or your team? My WholeStory Calendar is made just for you.

~~
parenting tips • child communication • emotional connection • how to help my child talk • mindful parenting • speech therapy tools • child silence meaning • connect with my child • social emotional learning for parents • SEST approach

10/23/2025

Ever feel like your child’s words don’t match what’s really going on?
You’re not alone. So many parents tell me, “I try to listen, but I don't feel like I really understand what my child's trying to say.”

➡ Here’s the truth: kids don’t always say what they feel. They need to feel safe and understood.
That’s why, in WholeStory's Story Emotion Social Therapy (SEST) approach, I teach parents a WholeStory skill called listening to understand - pausing to hear what your child means, not just what they say.

💡Today I’ll reminder:

Today I’ll pause long enough to listen for what my child means, not just what they say.

When you practice this WholeStory skill, you shift from correcting behavior to understanding emotion — and that’s where communication and calm begin to grow.

👨‍👩‍👧 Try this today:
Next time your child snaps or shuts down, take a breath and ask yourself, “What are they trying to tell me?”
That one pause can turn tension into trust.

⭐ Want gentle reminders like this every morning?
They’re all inside my WholeStory Parent Calendar - a year of small, powerful mindset shifts that strengthen connection one day at a time.

Because every child has a story and when you listen with heart, you help them share their WholeStory. 🤍

~~~~~
mindful parenting, emotional regulation for kids, daily parenting reminders, how to connect with my child, parenting communication tips, understanding child behavior, emotional intelligence parenting, gentle parenting tools, how to stay calm as a parent, positive parenting calendar, parenting affirmations

10/22/2025

Every parent deserves to help their child thrive socially. If you've ever wished parenting came with daily reminders this is for you!

I’m Dr. Rochel Lieberman, and I created “Today I’ll” reflections to help parents and kids make sense of their social world one mindful moment at a time.
Each reflection is a tiny reminder to slow down and connect in a way that builds understanding, calm, and confidence.
Read one in the morning, during carpool, or before bed, and let it guide how you show up that day.
Start with me today and see how small shifts can change the way you and your child understand each other 🤍
🎥 Watch the trailer above and follow for your daily “Today I’ll” reminder.

~~~~
parenting connection, social emotional learning for parents, mindful parenting, calm communication, emotional regulation for kids, parent child relationship, parenting tools, SEL reminders

Address

801 Mt Vernon Pl NW
Washington D.C., DC
20001

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when WholeStory Speech posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram