After my last post, a number of parents and SLPs have contacted me to find out what typical therapy sessions with young adults look like on a weekly basis. They were especially curious about how therapy can support young adults who struggle with managing emotions, staying organized, and navigating social situations. Many of these young […]
One Step at a Time: Therapy for Young Adults that Works Read More »
As a parent, ensuring your child receives the right interventions for their reading or writing deficits is crucial. However, many narrowly focused reading and spelling programs emphasize isolated aspects of reading and writing. While these approaches can limitedly help with specific skills, they often fail to address the broader, critical contributions of oral language and
Dear Parents: Ask the Right Questions to Get the Right Services Read More »
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has long been a well-researched gold standard in psychotherapy for addressing emotional regulation, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. However, its effectiveness relies heavily on the individual’s ability to comprehend and engage with its cognitive and verbal demands. For individuals with language impairments and pragmatic deficits, CBT alone will fall
Why CBT Falls Short Without Language and Pragmatic Therapy Read More »
In a recent post, I emphasized the the importance of contextualized language interventions over traditional, decontextualized therapy methods. I explained how embedding language goals into meaningful, real-world activities—such as literacy-based tasks and narrative therapy—results in greater engagement, better learning, and improved generalization of skills. Today I wanted to illustrate how incorporating engaging materials such as
Treating students with psychiatric impairments requires a multifaceted approach. While psychotherapy remains a cornerstone in the management of psychiatric issues, its effectiveness can be significantly limited if cognitive and communicative aspects are not addressed concurrently. This post explores the crucial role of SLP-led social pragmatic therapy, complementing psychotherapeutic interventions, with a particular emphasis on perspective-taking,
Enhancing Psychotherapy Outcomes: The Critical Role of Social Pragmatic Therapy Read More »
Students with language and learning needs face challenges in their social interactions with others. Among the essential aspects needed for social interactions is pragmatics, which encompasses the ability to use language appropriately in various social contexts. This post explores why solid pragmatic abilities are fundamental for self-advocacy purposes in students with socialization difficulties. Pragmatic abilities
The Role of Pragmatic Abilities in Facilitating Self-Advocacy Read More »
Pragmatic deficits refer to difficulties understanding and using language in context, particularly in social situations. Pragmatic deficits manifest when students struggle with the social nuances of language, such as interpreting figurative language, understanding non-verbal cues, and navigating conversational turn-taking. These deficits can have far-reaching consequences on various aspects of communication, including oral narratives, reading comprehension,
The Impact of Pragmatic Deficits on Speaking, Reading and Writing Read More »
Pragmatic challenges, particularly those related to social communication, can have profound and lasting effects on various aspects of a person’s life. When left untreated, these challenges can significantly impact educational attainment, vocational success, and romantic relationships. This post explores the lifelong implications of untreated pragmatic challenges and the ripple effects they can have on a
Lifelong Implications of Untreated Pragmatic Challenges Read More »
Peer pressure is a pervasive aspect of childhood and adolescence, influencing social behaviors, attitudes, and decision-making. Children with social pragmatic deficits, characterized by challenges in understanding and applying social communication skills, may be particularly susceptible to the influence of peer pressure. This post explores how children with social pragmatic deficits are vulnerable to peer pressure
The Vulnerability of Children with Social Pragmatic Deficits to Peer Pressure Read More »
Social communication plays a pivotal role in the development of relationships, friendships, well-being, and mental health. However, some children may experience difficulties in this domain, leading to what is known as social pragmatic deficits. Social pragmatics refers to the use of language in social contexts, including the ability to interpret and respond to verbal and
Manifestations of Social Pragmatic Deficits in Children Read More »