1. Working with Families and Caregivers
Heather Moore Ph.D CCC-SLP
Elise Peltier MS CCC-SLP

2. Discussion Questions
What questions do you have about working with families and caregivers?
What experiences do you already have?
How comfortable do you feel engaging families and caregivers in the therapeutic process?
Elise

3. Some Basic …..
Do’s
Don’t
Things to consider
Elise

4. Do’s Listen to families and caregivers Communicate
Show you are listening through body language and feedback
Empathize
Defer judgment
Communicate
Monitor your tone of voice, body language, rate of speech
Be mindful of professional jargon
Give concrete examples and written information
Elise

5. More Do’s Acknowledge Strengths Demonstrate Respect and Patience
Applies to parents, families, caregivers
Demonstrate Respect and Patience
Parents, families and caregivers are people too
Put yourself in their shoes and see the situation from their perspective.
Help the family member or caregiver see the world from the client’s perspective
Elise

6. Don’ts Don’t make assumptions or generalizations
Each situation is unique and each person has specific needs
Don’t talk poorly about other professionals or services
Educate clients appropriately
Monitor your own opinion for professionalism
Elise

7. Connections
Caring for individuals with cognitive communication challenges can be isolating for the individuals and families
Increase connections and educate and advocate for resources
Elise

8. Empowering Family Members and Caregivers
How do we engage families and caregivers in the therapeutic process?
What have you already learned in class?
Heather

9. Empowering Family Members and Caregivers
What are the benefits of engaging parents and other caregivers in the therapeutic process?
How can we do engage them across assessment and intervention?
Homework vs. strategy

10. How do adults learn?
If you want to learn a new way of doing something how would you want someone to teach you?

11. Coaching Principles
Teach/ Demonstrate
Practice
Reflect

12. Pediatric Examples LAPE Preschooler working on narrative skills
School aged child with SSD
Heather

13. Case Examples – Adults
Client with actively involved SO as main caregiver
Client living alone
Client living in residential care
Elise

14. Questions and Discussion

15. References
Bradham, T.S. ( 2013/5/21)The Top 10 Take-Aways for CSD Work with Families.Asha Leader Blog. Retrieved from; work-with-families.