The Story Behind What We Do
I’m Mattie and I’m the founder and SLP behind Fresh SLP. I’ve been “in-the-trenches” as a medical SLP for over 25 years now and love my job, and I am thrilled to be adding this dream of a website as the cherry on top! It’s something I am very passionate about. If you ask my patients and students one thing they will remember about me, they will tell you how much I love my job!
Here’s a little bit of my story: Before I was an SLP, I was a technical writer for a financial company that hired IBM to create computer programs. My job was to work with the computer programmers, understand the difficult programs that they were creating, conceptualize the big picture, then turn around and write about it in simple terms so those on the front financial line could comprehend and implement those programs effectively.
After being a technical writer for 3 years, I went to visit my older sister, who was just finishing her day as a medical SLP. Although I enjoyed what I was doing as a writer, I remember always being so tired and wanting to nap during the day. I would get so sleepy and bored! Her job did not look boring-it looked rewarding! Long story short, I returned to school for my master’s degree in Communication Sciences Disorders.
Now, I’ve had a great career, working for over 25 years around the world (mostly in the US) with adult and pediatric patients in a variety of medical settings. And now I am an Assistant Professor and Clinical Supervisor for an accredited CSD program!
Throughout the course of my career, I am sure because of my critical thinking skills and writing skills, I have constantly created, written, and implemented programs for my patients. I put a little comment out there on Facebook land and learned there was a huge need for adult resources. I decided to combine my writing skills with my SLP skills and FreshSLP was born.
I feel so proud of my students when I see that light-bulb moment and hear those “Ah-ha’s”. I love it so much that I have created a podcast where I answer those “Hey, Professor!” questions, connecting those missing links you’ve had since graduate school. Have you ever wanted to go back to grad school and ask your professor? Now you can!
I am also a certified speaker for NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) and I strive to create a well-rounded hard-skill and soft-skill focus on what we as SLPs do in the world. You will find threads of resiliency and mental wellness woven throughout all my work, be it podcasts, blogs, mentorship, or material development - I see the big picture and bring the smaller pieces into focus.
So the birth of Fresh SLP has been a bit of a journey and we are still in our embryonic stages. Behind me is a wonderful, dedicated team of women who are passionate about making a positive impact in the world as well. They support me in realizing my dreams as I support you in realizing yours, whether it be through concept-driven and engaging therapy materials, the creation of a strong Fresh SLP community, or simply meeting your needs individually, Fresh SLP is here for you. With Fresh SLP, I know that I am giving back to a career that has so richly rewarded me.
Why Fresh SLP
Because Fresh SLP is different. Fresh SLP is all about YOU and supporting you in being the best SLP you can be. We focus not only on the technical parts of being an SLP but also on the ART of being an SLP. Here we tie critical thinking, common sense, mental wellness and passion into one cohesive bundle, supporting you in being the best SLP you can be. Fresh SLP is not just a slogan, it’s a way of thinking. It’s you.
- Dysphagia
- VFSS Templates
- Voice
- Expressive Aphasia
- Receptive Aphasia
- Dysarthria
- Memory Loss
- Attention Deficit
- Problem Solving
- And more!