How to Survive Your Clinical Fellowship Year and Not Burnout

By: Caitlin Haik, MCD, SLP

There are so many things I wish I could have told myself as a new graduate, a brand-new clinical fellow entering “the real world” for the very first time.

As a new SLP graduate, you must complete a nine-month clinical fellowship before you can apply for your full SLP license. In the speech-language pathology world, this is called your clinical fellowship year (or CFY). During this time, you work under the guidance of a licensed SLP supervisor, and you’re required to meet minimum experience requirements in areas like screening, evaluating, and treating clients ect.

I truly believe the CFY is such a blessing, it helps you build confidence in your skills while still having the support of a supervisor. I was incredibly fortunate to have an amazing one. I’ll never forget walking into my first day of work as an SLP. I was nervous because I didn't know anyone at my new school placement.

I remember walking up to the front desk of the school and saying, “Hi, I’m Caitlin the other SLP. I’m looking for my supervisor, Mrs. Megan."

I was so nervous. But looking back, I would have told myself: take a breath, you’re going to love this job, this community, and this experience.

My Top Tips for CF SLPs in the School Setting

1. Get organized early.

Once you know the school schedule, start organizing your caseload, therapy room, and calendar. Staying organized is essential when you’re managing 40+ students a week, IEPs, re-evaluations, and therapy logs. Trust me, your future self will thank you!

2. Don’t buy everything at once.

Hold off on buying tons of materials until you’ve seen your caseload and checked what shared materials are available. My supervisor had been in the district for ten

years and had a goldmine of toys, worksheets, books, and resources. Since I traveled between schools, I also had to think about what could fit in my therapy bag. Once I got to know my students and their interests, I slowly built up my own collection of materials tailored to them.

3. Give yourself grace.

You don’t have to be perfect but you do have to be professional. Prepare, plan, and proofread. When your supervisor explains something like how to draft an IEP or log session notes, write it down. You’ll be glad to have a reference once the busy season hits.

4. Schedule time for paperwork.

I tried to chart after each session when possible, but if not, I’d carve out time at the end of the day to finish all my notes. Try not to take work home unless absolutely necessary. There are enough hours in the day so you just need to plan well. And here’s a hard truth: you probably won’t remember your 9:00 a.m. Wednesday session

by Saturday afternoon. Get your notes done during the day, if you can!

5. Build relationships with your school team.

Get to know the teachers, paras, and other therapists. These people are part of your school support system. Some of my favorite sessions have been collaborative ones, whether co-treating with an OT or doing a push-in session with a teacher. When you work together, your students benefit the most.

6. Use themes to make planning easier.

I love building speech sessions around seasonal or monthly themes. In August, try a back-to-school activity. In the fall, maybe a pumpkin sensory bin. Themes bring structure and creativity to your sessions and they keep things fresh and fun!

7. Have fun.

Seriously. Enjoy this special time in your career. You only get one clinical fellowship year so use it to grow and learn! I’m forever grateful to my supervisor, my school team, my department, and especially the students and families who poured into me my first year as a CF.