We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Taylor Mashburn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the best advice you ever gave to a client? How did they benefit / what was the result? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

Working in the medical field, I frequently encounter individuals who are generally anxious. They’re anxious about a recent medical diagnosis that is affecting their communication skills, about whether my intervention will be effective, and about who I am and what the future holds. Often, people come to me seeking help for a child who is developmentally delayed, an ADHD or autistic adult overwhelmed by daily challenges, or an adult seeking transgender voice training—someone who has already shown great courage by seeking gender-affirming care.

When I observe that patients or their parents/caregivers are feeling discouraged due to unmet expectations, I explain the process of setting goals in speech therapy. Our goals are never set at 100% accuracy; instead, they are typically set at 80-85% accuracy over three consecutive sessions. Why? Because true success is not measured by perfection, but by consistency. Consistently showing up, trying your best, and making progress is the key to achieving meaningful results.

Taylor, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Taylor Mashburn, and I am a Speech Language Pathologist, commonly known as a Speech Therapist. My journey into speech therapy began in high school when career aptitude tests required us to explore potential professions by shadowing professionals. I shadowed a pharmacist, a librarian, and a speech therapist. The speech therapist I observed left a lasting impression on me through their meaningful impact on people’s lives. What might look like simple play and connection to an outsider was actually the intricate work of helping a child develop language skills. I vividly remember when a parent informed the speech therapist that their child had finally said “mama” for the first time. The mother burst into tears, as did the speech therapist and I. This moment revealed to me the profound impact that helping someone communicate can have. As a big talker myself, often getting into trouble for talking too much in school, I was hooked on the idea of making a difference in this way. I went on to earn my undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders and completed my master’s program in speech pathology, both at Western Carolina University.

I don’t see myself as a ‘problem solver’ for voice or communication difficulties. Instead, I view myself as a guide. The patient is always the expert in their own experience, and my role is to provide guidance, tips, and exercises to enhance their speech, language, and communication. I prioritize getting to know my clients, connecting with them, and building a rapport before expecting them to listen to or trust me. I believe in ‘connection over compliance’—respecting who they are as individuals is far more important to me than expecting them to follow my orders. My approach is collaborative rather than prescriptive, focusing on working together with my clients to achieve their communication goals.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My life could probably be described as a series of pivots. In 2022, I reached a point of complete burnout in my profession. At the time, I was working as a speech therapist for adults in their homes and assisted living facilities. Although the job was always fulfilling, I was increasingly frustrated with the business aspects and how I was treated as an employee. Often, I felt like nothing more than a workhorse, expected to bill codes to generate revenue for the larger healthcare company. This situation left me enraged, and I realized I needed to find a way out of clinical speech therapy.

Seeking a change, I reached out to a friend who worked from home as an employment recruiter. I joined her in September 2022 and quickly excelled in the role. My superiors frequently praised my ability to build strong relationships with the companies we contracted with. While I appreciated the compliments, a part of me felt a sting because I missed the one-on-one connections with clients. Although I was grateful for the break from speech-language pathology, I soon realized that recruiting wasn’t my ultimate path either. This realization led me to the solution of taking on private clients.

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

Beyond knowledge, the most valuable asset for succeeding as a speech pathologist—or in any helping profession—is having an activity you do purely for fun and entertainment, unrelated to your job. It’s crucial to detach your sense of meaning and worth from your work and connect with who you are at your core. In helping professions, if your entire identity is tied to your job, burnout is a significant risk. This advice also applies to my entrepreneur friends! I understand that your business may feel like your entire life, but there’s a vast world out there waiting for you to enjoy. Embrace life simply for the joy it brings.

Take time to do nothing. Disconnect from your phone for an entire weekend, camp under the stars, savor indulgent food, try a new dance class, learn pottery, or share belly laughs with friends. This, too, is self-care. By taking care of yourself, you can sustain your mission and continue making a difference. I believe in you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.knoxspeech.com
• Instagram: @knoxspeech

Image Credits

Nunn Photography