We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Donaldson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I was living in New Jersey but went to school in Scranton, Pennsylvania. I attended a five-year program where I received my bachelors, masters, and teaching certificate in five years. After graduation, my brother was in Tucson and my parents knew they would ultimately want to retire in Arizona, which would likely be in a few years. So I decided that rather than beginning a career in the east, I would pick up and move to the west coast where my family would all eventually be, plus the weather rarely disappoints! I applied for jobs while still on the east coast so I had no idea what area I wanted to live with. I came across this contracting agency in a magazine from American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), our governing board and emailed the contact. From there, the recruiting process was simple! We did a few virtual interviews and when I came out to get familiar with the area, we did an in-person interview and made the offer formal. On that same trip, my dad and I visited 40, yes 40, apartment complex all over the Phoenix valley in a week to determine where I wanted to live. Once I determined that, I told the contracting company and they found me a job in that area. For someone from out of state and unfamiliar with the school districts and areas, it made it very easy to transition. It was a perfect job situation for me to get my feet wet in Arizona.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

When I was a child, I had a speech therapist who came to my house to help me with some of my articulation skills as I had difficulty with the production of the “s” and “r” sounds. I knew I always wanted to work with children and the initial obvious answer was to become a teacher. My mother reminded me of my experiences working with a speech therapist and shared some of the “before and after” recordings with me. I began to look into the field a little more and realized it was a perfect fit. It allowed me to work with children but in a smaller scale (more individualized) while serving others and making a difference in the lives of others while giving back to a field that made in a difference in my own life. I am so glad I took the path I did because it was led to me to so many new doors and opportunities many of which I would not have had if it weren’t for being in this field.

I went to school in Scranton, Pennsylvania, yes, where the office is filmed although, no, I have never watched all the seasons. There I completed an accelerated five-year program where I received by bachelors, masters, and teaching certificate. After graduation, I came out to Phoenix, Arizona: my brother was in Tucson and we knew my parents would also be making their way west upon retirement a few years later. I worked in the schools for 4.5 years full time and worked at a rehabilitation hospital for 3 years part-time on the weekends.

In 2019, I opened up CommuniCAN Speech Therapy, as a part time business on the side of my other commitments. I focused on providing in-home services since (a) I did not have the time or means to open a clinic and (b) it allowed for me to see children in their natural setting while making things convenient for the family. In January 2022, I quit my job in the school system and transitioned to being a business owner and speech-language pathologist full time! From there, my business quickly grew and expanded and continues to do so. Now, I have a team of three therapists including myself and an administrative assistant. We cover a wide area of the Phoenix, Arizona valley serving children and adults in home and/or via telehealth. Our team is a small family feel business that puts our clients and families first believing in collaboration and individualized approaches in a natural environment.

CommuniCAN Speech Therapy is dedicated to delivering skilled, individualized, and high-quality services backed by evidence and experience. We believe in family involvement and a client centered approach to foster progress and help every individual achieve maximum success. Our mission is to help clients overcome challenges and to provide support and resources to families and the community. We are fueled by our passion for making a positive lifelong difference in the lives of others.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Communication and organization is key in our field! Not only with the clients but also with families and other professionals. To name a few others, organization, patience, and creativity are essential components to help one succeed as a speech-language pathologist. Furthermore, being open-minded and always willing to learn something new is something you will find in this career. There is no black and white but rather there can be a lot of grey area, which can come with variability. What works one day, may not work another; or what works for one client, may not work for another. No days as a speech-language pathologist are ever the same and the change which makes for a fun, exciting, and unpredictable day.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Growing up, we are often told to be independent. Even as youth when we reach a certain age, we want to be able to do things for ourselves. I can remember I couldn’t wait for the day I got my license and didn’t have to wait for 15 minutes for my mom to come pick me up because she was running late. Then, we looked forward to being independent as we moved on to college. From there, the level independence continues on an upward trajectory. When I started my business, I wanted to do it all by myself, except for some help with my father who happens to be an accountant so he could help me with the finances and taxes (the boring stuff). There are many days when I just want to do it all myself! However, now, as a growing business owner while still servicing clients, I am realizing I cannot do it all. I had to unlearn that it’s okay for that independence trajectory to go down in some aspects of work and/or life. I can’t put more hours in the day and I had to learn that while I can do a lot, I can’t do it all. I now have an administrative assistant who works all the magic on the backend and two other therapists seeing clients. The freedom I feel when I sit down at the end of the night with my fiancé and realize that if it weren’t for these people I’d still be working, is so relieving and rewarding. It’s okay to not be fully independent in all areas of your life and in fact that can make you more free in others.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.communicanspeechtherapy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/communicanspeechtherapy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057067825449

Image Credits
Steve Whitt, photographer