Tag: SLP Tips

9. Feeding Therapy 101: Tips for SLPs Just Starting Out
7-minute read

That First Feeding Case Feeling…

You walk into the therapy room, spoon in one hand, visual schedule in the other—and there’s a toddler across from you turning their head, refusing every bite. Your first instinct? Panic. But here’s the truth: if you’re a new speech-language pathologist (or SLPA) stepping into feeding therapy, you’re not alone in feeling unsure.

Feeding therapy is incredibly rewarding, but it’s also complex. You’re not just helping a child eat—you’re supporting their sensory development, oral motor skills, emotional regulation, and family dynamics. It can feel overwhelming at first—but with the right tools, guidance, and mindset, you can thrive.

Starting your feeding therapy journey as an SLP? This guide simplifies what you need to know—from essential tools and tips to trusted strategies and credible resources—so you can confidently support pediatric feeding and swallowing. Plus, get our free therapy quick sheets to use during sessions.

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click a link and purchase a product, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I believe are valuable to therapy practice.

Let’s dive in.

What Is Feeding Therapy, Really?

Feeding therapy goes far beyond “getting kids to eat more.” As a speech-language pathologist, you’re trained to evaluate and treat the underlying skills needed for safe, efficient, and enjoyable feeding.

That includes:
- Strengthening oral motor skills for chewing and swallowing
- Managing sensory sensitivities or aversions
- Encouraging variety and volume in food acceptance
- Educating families on pacing, cues, and realistic goals
- Collaborating with interdisciplinary team members when necessary
Feeding therapy may look different across settings—from NICU follow-ups to early intervention home visits—but the principles remain the same: safe intake, skill building, and caregiver involvement.

For a foundational overview, explore ASHA’s Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Guidelines

Start with the Right Tools

The good news? You don’t need a closet full of expensive gadgets. Here are some beginner-friendly, trusted tools you’ll likely use often:
- ARK Z-Vibe: A must-have oral motor tool for sensory input and pre-feeding exercises.
- Chewy Tubes Set: Great for jaw strength, coordination, and reducing biting behaviors.
- TalkTools Honey Bear Straw: Ideal for teaching controlled straw drinking with limited flow.
- Maroon Spoons: A classic for safe, shallow spoon feeding.
- ezpz Tiny Spoon Set: Soft silicone spoons that promote independence and reduce gag triggers.
- Food Scissors: Help cut up food into manageable bites right before or during sessions.
These tools help build oral tolerance, reduce sensory defensiveness, and support developmental readiness.

Understand Oral Motor & Sensory Foundations

Before working on “what” to eat, SLPs must understand “how” the child processes food orally and sensory-wise. These foundational factors often explain many feeding challenges:
- Weak jaw, lip, or tongue muscles
- Hypersensitive gag reflex or aversive textures
- Limited oral exploration or mouthing in infancy
- Excessive drooling or messy mealtime behavior
That’s where oral motor exercises and sensory-based strategies come in. You might use vibration for stimulation, chewy tubes for jaw stabilization, or soft spoons to build tolerance. Sessions should be playful, exploratory, and low-pressure.

Curious about integrating sensory strategies? Check out the SOS Approach to Feeding

Create a Consistent Mealtime Setup

Children thrive on structure and predictability—especially when food is involved. Whether you’re working in a clinic, home, or school setting, try to keep the environment calm, familiar, and supportive.

Here’s how:
- Use a visual schedule or picture sequence to set expectations
- Stick to the same feeding chair, plate, and utensils each time
- Minimize distractions (no screens, bright lights, or loud noise)
- Use adaptive tools like the ezpz Mini Mat to separate textures visually
Remember: consistency doesn’t mean rigidity. It simply reduces the stress response and increases participation.

Coach Caregivers with Compassion

Feeding issues often feel emotional for families. As an SLP, your role includes not just treating the child—but supporting the caregivers through education, validation, and realistic expectations.

Help parents:
- Recognize subtle cues (turning head, pushing away food)
- Understand progress isn’t always linear
- Use language like “Try this bite” instead of “You have to eat this”
- Explore books like Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating to reinforce strategies at home
Caregiver involvement is one of the strongest predictors of feeding therapy success.

Know When to Refer Out

Even experienced SLPs don’t do feeding therapy alone. Know your scope—and when to refer to others on the care team:
- OTs – when posture, fine motor, or sensory processing issues are affecting feeding
- Nutritionists – for growth concerns, calorie tracking, or restrictive diets
- GI Specialists or ENTs – for signs of reflux, allergies, or structural concerns
You’re not “giving up” by referring—you’re strengthening outcomes through collaboration.

See this model in action via Stanford Children’s Interdisciplinary Feeding Program

Your Confidence Will Grow With Every Bite

Feeding therapy is dynamic. It’s messy, creative, and deeply rewarding. If you’re a new SLP starting out, remember: you don’t need to know everything on day one. Trust that your clinical skills, compassion, and continued learning will guide you.

Start with one child. One tool. One small goal. The rest will come.

Therapy Support You Can Use Right Now

Grab your FREE Quick Reference Sheets for OT, PT, and ST—designed to help you during sessions with feeding tools, intervention ideas, and treatment tips.

Download Your Free Quick Sheets

Looking for something more in-depth?
Our growing series of therapy pocket guides offer expanded content, strategies, and printable tools for busy rehab professionals:

📘 OT Pocket Guide — Available now

Get the Ebook

Get the Paperback

🗣️ ST Pocket Guide — Releasing this month
📅 PT Pocket Guide — Coming October

Let’s Learn From Each Other

Do you have a favorite feeding therapy tip or go-to tool for new SLPs? What helped you feel more confident when starting out?

Drop your insights or questions in the comments below—we learn best when we learn together.
May 21, 2025
7. How Rehab Therapists Can Promote Mental Health: 7 Practical Tips
7-minute read

Affiliate Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click a product link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use or believe are helpful in therapy.

Introduction: It’s Not Just the Body We’re Treating

If you’ve been in the therapy world long enough, you’ve probably had that moment: your client breaks down mid-session, shares something heavy, or just zones out with that distant look. And suddenly, the exercise or language drill you were working on doesn’t feel like the real priority anymore.

As rehab therapists, we aren’t mental health providers—but we are people who spend a lot of time with our clients. We notice changes. We build trust. We often see sides of people that others don’t. And yes, we can absolutely play a role in supporting their mental health.

Here are seven approachable, research-backed ways to do just that.

1. Make Trauma-Informed Care Your Default

You may not always know your client’s history—but chances are, many of them have faced trauma. Whether it’s a stroke survivor coping with a sudden loss of independence or a child with complex medical trauma, our clients bring invisible wounds into the therapy space.

A trauma-informed approach means offering consistent routines, choices, and clear explanations. Even small gestures—like giving a client control over the order of activities—can make therapy feel safer.

Try This: A simple visual support tool like a feelings flip chart can give clients a way to express emotions they may not have words for.

Learn more about trauma-informed care from NCTSN.

2. Create a Calm Space That Invites Regulation

Think of your therapy space: does it promote calm—or chaos? A sensory-friendly environment can make a huge difference, especially for clients dealing with anxiety, ADHD, or overstimulation.

That doesn’t mean a full makeover. A few thoughtful additions—like a small aromatherapy diffuser, a decluttered workspace, or natural light—can help regulate emotions. A weighted lap pad works wonders for grounding, especially in pediatric or neurodivergent sessions.

Bonus: A calm environment benefits you, too.

3. Sprinkle in Mindfulness and Grounding Tools

Mindfulness isn’t just yoga and silence. In rehab, it might look like a guided deep breath, a pause between transitions, or a grounding activity before a challenging task.

Quick mindfulness cards like these are perfect for adding a reflective moment between tasks. They work across age groups, especially when adapted into visuals or movement.

You can even build these into treatment goals: sustained attention, emotional regulation, and even functional communication.

Explore more mindfulness practices from Greater Good Science Center.

4. Build Trust Through Compassionate Communication

Therapeutic rapport isn’t fluff—it’s the foundation of everything we do. Our clients need to feel heard, understood, and safe, especially when they’re working through something hard.

Try weaving in open-ended questions, reflective statements, and emotion-based vocabulary. A visual reminder like the “How Are You Feeling Today?” chart on your wall can help both kids and adults express themselves during sessions.

This is where our skillset overlaps with mental health—through empathy, clarity, and patience.

5. Use Activity as a Safe Outlet for Emotions

Rehab therapy can be deeply emotional, whether it’s frustration over slow progress, grief from a new diagnosis, or the joy of regained independence.

Build in ways for clients to release or express what they’re feeling. Use creative outlets like journaling, drawing, or storytelling during sessions. For pediatric clients, this could be puppet play or pretend scenarios. For adults, it might be reflective prompts or role-play.

Keeping your own self-care journal on hand also models emotional processing in a subtle, powerful way.

6. Be Aware of Burnout—In Clients and Yourself

Clients with chronic or long-term rehab needs often show signs of burnout: loss of motivation, irritability, even hopelessness. We can help by adjusting expectations, validating their experiences, and celebrating small wins.

But therapist burnout is real, too. We give a lot, emotionally and physically. Add in productivity pressures, and it’s no wonder burnout rates are rising.

Build small moments of care into your day—a mindful pause, a short walk, even a faux plant on your desk to brighten your view. It’s okay to protect your energy. Your clients will benefit from it.

7. Normalize Help and Know When to Refer

Mental health doesn’t have to be taboo in rehab settings. Normalize talking about feelings, struggles, and resources. When you spot red flags, don’t ignore them—refer.

You don’t have to do it all. Just be someone who notices.

Create a simple resource list with local therapists, support groups, or mental health hotlines. Sites like MentalHealth.gov and Psychology Today are great starting points for finding professional support.

Conclusion: A Little Goes a Long Way

We may not be mental health professionals—but as rehab therapists, we’re often a trusted presence during tough times. The way we speak, listen, and show up matters. Sometimes just being there—consistently and compassionately—is the best support we can offer.

Let’s keep showing up for our clients—not just as clinicians, but as humans.

Grab Your Free Quick Reference Sheets

Designed for OT, PT, and STs who want smart tools, not more paperwork.
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Looking for More Clinical Tools?

Explore the Productive Rehab Therapist Pocket Guide Series for expanded tools and structured quick references:
- OT Pocket Guide – Out now! Available on Amazon, in
eBook

Paperback
- ST Pocket Guide – Launching this month!
- PT Pocket Guide – Releasing October 2025
Stay organized, empowered, and confident—whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned therapist.

What about you?

What’s one small thing you’ve done that made a big impact on a client’s emotional well-being?

Let’s build a conversation—drop your story in the comments below.
May 13, 2025