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Starting your first semester as a clinician can be stressful and nerve wracking at points, but everyone has to start somewhere! Soon enough you'll be wondering what you were ever nervous about. Until you reach that point, here are some helpful tips and tricks to make you feel a bit more comfortable about working with clients for the first time!
Ask Questions
Ask Questions
Don't be afraid to ask your supervisors questions. They have tons of experience and are always willing to help! Also talk to your fellow clinicians. They may have more experience/understanding of a certain disorder or have great ideas for fun activities.
Do your Research
Do your Research
Not sure the best way to treat Aphasia? Look it up! We have access to so many books and articles that can help steer you in the right direction. We're all new to this - we can't be expected to know everything right away, but we need to be willing to look for answers to our questions.
Listen to Your Clients
Listen to Your Clients
Who knows what your client needs/wants more than them and their caregivers? No one! Take the time to really get to know them. Learn what they like, what they usually do, who they talk to - it will help you target what will be most functional.
Manage Your Time
Manage Your Time
Both in and outside sessions! Make sure you're giving yourself enough time to get through your activities in your sessions. Sessions can become quite difficult if a client moves too quickly or slowly through activities. Helpful tip: always keep an extra activity in the back of your mind to pull out if they fly through something! Also manage your time well in your daily life. Leave yourself enough time to do homework, paperwork, study, and sleep!
Keep Up with Paperwork
Keep Up with Paperwork
Every session you have requires a lesson plan and SOAP note. That means if you have 4 hours of treatment, you have 8 documents a week to keep up with. If you're not careful about keeping up with it, you can become overwhelmed with trying to catch up. Set aside times for you to do your paperwork and you'll keep your files up to date!
Be Flexible!!
Be Flexible!!
Sometimes kids just REALLY want to play Sorry, or an adult client had a rough day and needs someone to talk through their communication frustrations with. Lesson plans are great and keep you prepared, but don't be afraid to deviate from them a bit if what you had planned wasn't what your client needs in the moment. Keeping your client engaged and willing to work is more important than using that great activity you had planned (even if it took you hours to prepare - just save it for next time).
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