Download the show notes and full transcript of the conversation.
In this episode, James Berges speaks candidly about his doubts in grad school about being a clinical SLP for his entire career. As it turns out, he wasn’t alone! Learn how James ultimately faced and overcame his fears to transition from clinical work into creating content to help other SLPs explore their own career transitions.
In this conversation with James you’ll hear about many practical online resources, for both new grads and experienced SLPs alike, to explore and learn if and how you may transition careers at some point in time and make the most of your SLP skills and education in your chosen career.
Discussion & Reflection Questions
- Do you think you’ll be in your chosen SLP field for your entire career? Or are you hoping to diversify or transition to something else?
- Are you feeling burnt out as an SLP grad student? Have you thought about how your grad school skills and knowledge are transferable?
- What other personal or professional traits do you have that you can combine with your SLP skills and knowledge ?
- Do you ask yourself questions about the range of careers that may align with your values?
- Have you thought about the practical aspects of the work you want to do? For instance, the hours, the remuneration, and locations of work.
- Think about what you love about being SLP and what you don’t love. How can you mostly work with the aspects you love about being an SLP in your career?
“We’re not going to judge you. We’re a supportive community. We’re going to welcome you and give you resources. Because at the end of the day, it’s not helpful to the field, or to your students, or your learners, your clients, if you’re burnt out and you’re not engaged. So, you’re not really doing anyone a favor by staying in a career that you’re burnt out on. Or, maybe you’re not burnt out, you just want to do something different, because life is long, and you want to try something else.” – James Berges
About James Berges
James Berges is an SLP and content marketing strategist. He enjoys helping clinicians find fulfilling non-clinical work at slptransitions.com, and helping ed-tech companies scale their impact at heartycopy.com.
In his spare time, James loves to read, build side projects, rock climb, hike, skate, and snowboard.
SLP Transitions helps you find alternative careers and side-hustles to clinical speech pathology work. No more burnout, just career satisfaction.
Mattie Murrey Tegel, MA, CCC-SLP, L, CPC, CLSC
Medical Speech-Language Pathologist and Founder of Fresh SLP
Mattie Murrey-Tegels is the founder and SLP behind Fresh SLP and The Missing Link for SLPs Podcast. She’s been “in-the-trenches” as a medical SLP around the world for over 25 years and now an Assistant Professor for 3 years. She is thrilled to be adding this dream of a podcast because paying her experiences forward is something she is very passionate about. If you ask her patients and students, one thing they will remember is how much she loves her job! She may not look like it but she is a huge introvert and when she is not actively working as an SLP, she is almost always reading, writing (writing over 1,000,000 words a year), or listening to amazing Chicago Blues bands. She also loves being outdoors and definitely enjoys soaking up the sun at her home in Minnesota, where warm and sunny days can be limited. She’s ridden motorcycles for many years, raced sled dogs, hiked huge mountains yet she cherishes the quiet moments of climbing into a hammock to nap or timeless conversations with friends and family.
The Missing Link for SLPs podcast and Fresh SLP is her legacy, giving back to a career that has so richly rewarded her.
Thank you for listening to The Missing Link for SLPs podcast! If you enjoyed the show, I’d love you to subscribe, rate it and leave a short review. Also, please share an episode with a friend. Together we can raise awareness and help more SLPs find and connect those missing links to help them feel confident in their patient care every step of the way.
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Not a substitute for a formal SLP education or medical advice for patients/caregivers.
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