Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP
Some people just seem to be natural communicators. They can state their ideas clearly, come up with a quick response, and keep a conversation flowing.
For others, communication may feel more challenging. But the good news is that this is a skill you can learn!
What you have to say is important. If you’d like to speak more clearly, improve your professional communication or social skills, or conquer a fear of public speaking, working one-on-one with a speech therapist can help. Let’s take a look at what communication coaching involves, what coaching sessions might look like, and how to get started.
What is communication coaching?
Communication coaching can address a variety of concerns. You might want to improve in any of these areas:
Putting your thoughts and ideas into words
Telling a story or explaining an idea
Speaking more smoothly, without stumbling over your words
Enunciating clearly instead of mumbling
Improving the overall effectiveness of your communication
Many times, a person in communication coaching does not have a diagnosed speech concern or a medical condition that causes communication problems. They’re simply looking for professional support to improve their communication. They may be focused on how they communicate at work–for example, public speaking, giving presentations, talking with clients or customers, networking, or interviewing. Or their focus might be communication in social settings–when they’re with friends, making conversation, meeting new people, or talking on the phone.
Communication coaching is typically an elective service. This means that insurance likely will not cover treatment, so the client pays for the service out-of-pocket.
How does communication coaching work?
Speech therapy sessions are tailored for each individual and what they want to accomplish. During the first session, your speech therapist will work with you to develop goals that are personalized to your needs. Then, in each session, you’ll take specific steps toward those goals.
Your speech therapist will help you practice functional speech skills that you can easily adapt and carry over to your job or social settings. Let’s take a look at some examples.
Your goal: To speak more clearly
Maybe your friends and family constantly say “What did you say?” or ask you to repeat yourself. Your coaching sessions can focus on clear articulation, breath support, and projecting your voice.
In most cases, your speech therapist will provide exercises to complete during sessions that increase in difficulty as you progress. So you may begin learning these new skills and practicing them with words and phrases, before building up to conversations.
Your goal: To better express your thoughts and ideas
Your speech therapist may focus on verbal formulation, which enables you to clearly convey your thoughts and ideas through speech. You may learn techniques such as pausing, creating a mental picture of what you want to say, and planning your words. This will help you stay on track with your message and share it effectively.
Your goal: To improve your conversation skills
Maybe you want to get better at everyday conversation skills or making small talk. In communication coaching, you might practice some of the following techniques:
Asking questions: If you struggle with social anxiety or don’t know what to say, ask a question! Most people like people who are interested in what they have to say. Plus, it takes the immediate pressure off you to speak. Have some questions on hand to ask (“What did you do this weekend?”) if you freeze up.
Asking open-ended questions: This type of question is great at prompting people to speak more. Some examples of open-ended questions might be “How do you feel about ____?” or “What are your thoughts on ____?”
Pausing and pacing: Using pausing and focusing on your rate of speech can allow for better communication. The conversation isn’t rushed, and you have more time to formulate what you’re trying to say. The listener benefits as well, since they have time to process what they hear and form their own response.
Your goal: To get better at making friends
It’s not always easy to make new friends as an adult. This can be addressed in communication coaching. You might focus on conversational practice or taking other people’s perspectives. You and your speech therapist can plan, role-play, and talk through a variety of situations, such as starting a conversation or asking a new friend out to coffee.
Why choose a speech therapist for communication coaching?
There are a variety of communication coaches who provide these services. Many of them aren’t clinicians. So why choose a speech therapist?
A speech therapist, also known as a speech-language pathologist, is a licensed professional with expertise in all aspects of speech, language, and communication. When you work with a speech therapist, they can also address the physiological elements of speech (such as voice, articulation, or stuttering) as well as any psychological aspects (such as fear of talking) that may be affecting how you communicate. At the start of your coaching sessions, your speech therapist will perform a clinical evaluation to rule out any specific speech and language diagnoses.
A speech therapist is a licensed professional with expertise in all aspects of speech, language, and communication.
To find a speech therapist who offers communication coaching, start by calling or researching therapists in your area, or those who offer services online. Talk with them about your specific areas of concern. It’s important to find a speech therapist who’s experienced in this area.
Expressable offers online coaching focused on both professional and social communication. You’ll work one-on-one with a licensed speech therapist to set personalized goals, understand your challenges, and shift your mindset, all to speak more clearly and effectively with others. Find out more in a free consultation call with one of our specialists!
