AuthorInterview

After six years in the business field where I worked in the personnel department of a major computer manufacturing company, I met my husband and resigned from the company because we moved to another part of the state. I looked for teaching jobs again with the only openings being in speech pathology. So, I tried it again in the school system. Another speech pathologist I worked with convinced me that we needed to get our masters degree in the field. For two years and three summers we faithfully drove into Boston pursuing our graduate education at Northeastern University. I have been in the field ever since then. The more educated I became in the field, the more I loved it. I believe this is the work I am meant to do.

What do you like the best about your work?

What I like best about being a speech pathologist is helping people to communicate. To be connected to people on an individual basis, identifying their problems and planning a program to help them is fulfilling. Every day is filled with new experiences because I am working with human beings. I have worked with babies, toddlers, preschoolers, school aged children, teens, young and older adults, and the elderly. I have worked in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, patient homes and in private practice. Over the years I have presented workshops to teachers, parents and general audiences on communication disorders. The opportunities in this field are endless. Being a speech pathologist is a stimulating, rewarding and exciting profession to be in.

What are the drawbacks to being a speech pathologist?

Speaking from my own experience, the one drawback I have had was doing too much. There is such a need for speech pathologists that often the caseload of patients is too much for one person to handle. I kept doing the work, handling too many patients each day because I felt they needed me and I could not say, “No.” When the overbearing caseload never goes away, eventually it can take its toll on one’s job satisfaction and one’s physical and mental health. It took me many years to learn that I cannot help ALL people. I had to learn to say, “No” sometimes. People who are in the helping professions need to have a life outside of their fields as well.

What type of writing do you do?

After years of owning my own private practice, I wanted to share with the world how to develop a private practice so I wrote, On Your Own: A Resource Manual for Starting a Successful Private Practice as a Solo Practitioner in Speech-Language Pathology. It was published by PRO-ED, an international publisher, in 2001. When I sold my practice in 2003, I had many experiences I wanted to tell others about so I wrote Teach Me To Talk. Over the years I have written and published articles for newspapers and small magazines about communication disorders and general tips on talking. I write fictional stories and poems, although I rarely pursue publication of them.

Why do you write?

I write for two reasons. One is that it is a way for me to share information I believe many people want to know about. The speech pathology writing I do has influenced young adults become speech pathologists. I have helped others start their own practice in this field through my first book, On Your Own. My second book, Teach Me To Talk, appeals to a wider range of readers because it deals with basic human conditions. I also write for my own personal satisfaction. There is no better feeling than letting my fingers flow to the movement of my pencil or pen on a blank sheet of paper. I often surprise myself when I re-read my writing at a later date. I read somewhere that “writing is a form of prayer.” For me, this is true.

Do you have any mentors in the field of speech

pathology or in your writing work?

As a young girl, my mentors were my teachers. I loved every teacher I ever had. Their endless work and untiring ways of teaching inspired me to want to become a teacher. In college many of my professors impressed me with their dedication to their areas of expertise. There are too many teachers and professors who have influenced me to be able to name them all here. What I loved about all of them was their deep interest in books, reading, learning and teaching. Some of my favorite authors are Madeline L’Engle, Gwendolyn Brooks, Elizabeth Berg, Julia Cameron, May Sarton and Doris Grumbach. My two main writing mentors are Julia Cameron and May Sarton. Julia’s book, The Artist’s Way, led me to develop daily writing habits and expand my creativity. I am currently working in her book after The Artist’s Way which is The Vein of Gold. These are books where the reader has to do tasks the author explains. When one applies what Julia teaches, one’s writing and life expands and improves. May Sarton, who died in 1995, is my number one mentor. Her journal writings as well as all of her numerous books I have read so far have inspired me. She was a lover of solitude, the ocean, flowers, writing and reading----all of which I love. I have learned so much about life by reading her writings. I wish she were alive today so that I could travel up to York, Maine to visit her at her home by the sea.

You owned your own practice at one time.

What made you decide to go out on your own?

In my mid-thirties I began to question my career path for the rest of my life. Was I going to retire as a school speech pathologist in my sixties? Those long years ahead doing the same work I was doing then in my thirties made me unhappy. I needed more of a challenge. I wanted to use my business skills I had from my past personnel work. I had many new ideas with little opportunities to implement them. So, I researched the area I lived in at the time. I found out there were no private practices dealing specifically with children and that most of the private schools and daycare centers had no speech pathology services. When I decided to go out on my own I was told that it would be quite a challenge because the services I planned to offer were free in the public schools. Although this was true, there was a substantial market of private schools to offer my services to as well as parents of public school students who sought out private therapy. When I went out on my own I always took a calculated risk. The amount of money I spent to start my business was never too risky that I would be left in financial ruin had it not been successful. My husband was always a big supporter and helper in my business endeavors which helped me to make my dreams become a reality.

How do you balance working, writing and your personal life?

I am a great fan of exercising. Years ago, I ran many miles each week and entered a few races for the fun and challenge. Now, I fast-walk for an hour two or three days a week, practice a yoga/exercise routine a couple of other days and sometimes I have a treadmill workout. I try to exercise four to five days a week, preferably in the early morning. When I exercise I feel the stresses of my mind and body melt away. It gives me more energy throughout the day as well as it uplifts my spirits. Working three days a week as an independent contractor speech pathologist gives my life balance because on my days off I often garden, read, or go leisurely here and there with my husband. I tend to do my best writing in the early morning. There are no interruptions then, my thoughts are fresh and my writing flows. My faith in God and daily prayers keeps my life moving smoothly.

What advise would you give to someone who may be

interested in becoming a speech pathologist?

Anyone interested in becoming a speech pathologist should contact the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association at 1-800-638-8255 or online at www.asha.org. to obtain career information. Several high school and college students have contacted me over the years to learn more about the field. I always made time to meet with them because I wanted to encourage others to join this rewarding field. Those interested in the profession could contact local speech pathologists in their area to see if they would be willing to meet with them and share what they do.

Do you have any more books or writings brewing?

My next book thought is being kept to myself for the moment. Right now, I want to share Teach Me To Talk with my readers.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

How did you decide to become

a speech pathologist?

Becoming a speech pathologist was my second choice of a career. All my life I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. When I graduated from college in 1975 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, I was awakened to the fact that the teaching profession was flooded with new graduates and no demand for them. I applied for teaching jobs in numerous cities and towns within my hometown of Massachusetts as well as surrounding states and even overseas. All I ever received were rejection and no vacancy letters. My minor was in speech pathology so I reluctantly accepted a position as a Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Impaired. After one year of this work, I decided to look into the business field because I was not happy with the speech work I was doing.

ANN COLEMAN