Today we’d like to introduce you to Genevieve Richardson.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
In the summer of 1990, between my sophomore and junior years of college, I fell in love with the field of speech pathology and the concept of helping people.
My first exposure to the field was at a community hospital, working with a speech pathologist who specialized in teaching patients to talk again after a laryngectomy. A laryngectomy is a surgical procedure in which the larynx (voice box) is removed to treat cancer of the larynx. After a laryngectomy, the individual can no longer speak traditionally as the breath now travels through a stoma (a hole) at the base of the neck, and the vocal folds have been removed. In this situation, the speech pathologist’s role is to help the individual learn to communicate effectively by using alternative communication methods and coping with the emotional and psychological impact of losing their voice.
I volunteered with the speech pathologist that summer and the attendees of a laryngectomy support group. Spending time with these individuals, I understood that each one felt they had a new lease on life. They worked diligently to find another way to communicate, and they had a story they wanted to share with others.
Before the end of summer, I changed my major to Communication Disorders, announced to my parents that I had changed my major (after the fact), and informed them that I would be getting a Master’s degree. The new path was meant to be because Communication Disorders was taught at my university!
From that summer to today, I have spent my career working exclusively with adult clients with stroke or other neurological conditions. My first job was at a free-standing acute rehabilitation hospital, working in the stroke unit. After four years at that hospital, I gained experience in home health care, acute medical rehabilitation, and outpatient treatment centers.
I started LIFE Speech Pathology and LIFE Aphasia Academy® to serve the aphasia and chronic aphasia populations and their families. Aphasia is any impairment in speaking, listening, reading, writing, or thinking resulting from any brain injury, stroke, or neurological condition. I wanted to do more than provide treatment. I believe in whole person + whole family treatment, support, and resources. That means we look at everything from the psychological and emotional well-being of the client, physical activity, family life, support, and speech and language issues. Lives are complex, so we will address and discuss everything that can help or hinder rehabilitation progress. Under the umbrella of LIFE Aphasia Academy, I also host the Listen for LIFE podcast. We’re 37 episodes strong and plan to keep going. The podcast focuses on tackling the topics and needs and providing emotional and therapeutic resources to the aphasia community. As you can read, there are multiple facets to my mission of supporting the aphasia community.
In addition to my “day jobs,” I train and support speech pathologists who want to learn how to start and deliver services to their clients via telepractice. I also provide guest lectures to several universities teaching future speech pathologists about telepractice.
Since 2014, I have worked exclusively with the chronic aphasia population via telepractice. I love telepractice because of its ability to harness the power of the internet, tune into the creativity of the clinician, and provide specialty services to clients who are motivated to improve their communication and are willing and able to use the computer to accomplish their goals.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The business road is smooth when you consider the mission of my work. I am very clear on my mission, whom I serve, and how to solve their concerns and provide support. That is the easy part. I have an amazing husband and two teenage daughters, and my parents, friends, and colleagues support me daily. They believe in my mission. My oldest daughter is my podcast coordinator.
I am challenged to build the private practice from a marketing perspective, having consistent referral partners. Only some people with aphasia are the right fit for telepractice. Not every medical provider believes a person with aphasia can improve even years after a stroke. Building a private practice requires the knowledge and skill for day-to-day evaluation and treatment. The practice requires marketing, infrastructure, and HIPAA compliance. That only reads like a little work when I see it written here, but it is time-consuming. I started doing much of it myself and continued doing 85% of it. I am in a financial position to hire assistance to address different aspects of the business. Add hiring and human resources, and technology policy to the list too!
Despite the challenges, I wake up daily with gratitude that I can do all I can to support the aphasia community. But, of course, I want the business built yesterday. Each week that passes, I am attracting various supporters to my mission, supporting me in all of my endeavors. Balancing the day-to-day work of seeing clients, building a business, running the podcast, networking, and building community relationships can prove challenging, but I love it!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about LIFE Speech Pathology + LIFE Aphasia Academy®?
LIFE Speech Pathology is not just a private practice. As you can glean from everything I have shared, it’s a mission. Moments after, I decided to start the practice, and I sat in front of my computer, looking at the IRS website to create the employer identification number and what to call the practice. LIFE is the word that resonates with me. LIFE Speech Pathology is dedicated to helping others with aphasia. Do More, DO LIFE. The dragonfly is my spirit bug, as well. After I created the business, I was approached by a beautiful bright orange dragonfly. The dragonfly symbolizes transformation, change, adaptability, and self-realization in cultures worldwide. From that day forward, I am continually reinforced by the appearance of various dragonflies. The most manifestation was the label of a bottle of wine given by one of our friends.
For LIFE, it’s about community, resources, and ongoing support because the rehabilitation journey doesn’t stop when one is discharged from inpatient or outpatient speech pathology treatment. WE DON’T BELIEVE IN PLATEAUS. There is always another way, method, and angle to help our clients reach their communication goals. For those who have goals to achieve, we will find a way to help them reach their goals.
Let’s end by discussing what matters most to you and why.
What matters most to me is giving hope to the aphasia and chronic aphasia community by supporting them long-term on their rehabilitation journey. My motivation every day is the survivors and their families. When one is discharged from rehabilitation, even with residual speech, language, or thinking deficits, the families are now “on their own.” The survivor and their spouse or partner often become isolated because other family members, friends, and community members don’t know how to help. They feel uncomfortable because they feel bad for the family’s circumstances. They often cope with this discomfort by staying away and not initiating contact. It’s not that they don’t want to help. They might not be comfortable or know how to have a difficult conversation. Many spouses and families of stroke survivors also don’t know how to ask for help. As a result, they often “go it alone.” I refuse to be a part of this isolated life for stroke survivors. My companies are here to support, provide resources, and teach families and survivors how to advocate for themselves and get the services they need and deserve so they can live a life they love.
Pricing:
- Medicare Part B participating provider
- Accepts out-of-network insurance
- Concierge communication wellness program
- Listen for the LIFE Podcast
- Telepractice educator, trainer, and coach
- Coming Soon: The Aphasia Field Guide: a course for spouses, families, and caregivers caring for a loved one with aphasia
- Loves to speak to the community about speech pathology, stroke rehabilitation, telepractice, and more
Contact Info:
- Free Consultation HERE
- Website: https://DoLIFESpeechPathology.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifespeechpathology/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoLifeSpeechPathology/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevieve-richardson-02a85411/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@listenforlifepodcast2023/videos
- Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listen-for-life-podcast/id1621948384
