Travis Dockter SLP

My Approach

Make It Fun

My first job is to build a positive rapport with whomever I am working with. I prefer to do this by creating a fun environment—an environment where trying is prized above “getting it right”. Where a physical reward or “prize box” is not needed since the interaction is “prize” enough.

If the approach needed to increase someone’s engagement is for me to be silly, I am not afraid to do that. For example, I enjoy using improvisational techniques in order to help teach social skills and non-verbal communication.

It has been my experience that people make more progress when they are having fun and enjoying an activity rather than working on improving something that might be giving them anxiety.

Prioritize Targets

Most individuals have a variety of skills they need to work on. Sometimes these skills are “secondary skills” that need to be improved to work on the primary skill. For example, working memory is needed to follow complex verbal directions.

When it comes to communication, nothing works individually in a vacuum.  Every skill, personal experience, identity, and challenge works together to shape and influence how someone communicates and views the world.

I strive to increase an individual's awareness of what their challenges are, what they are doing, and what they want. I also weave instruction and awareness of executive functioning and critical thinking skills into the therapy I provide.

If possible, I prefer to focus on individual skills that are negatively impacting a client’s day-to-day life either with their friends, family at work, or at school. I also like to find a “pattern of errors” to focus on. A specific skill that can be identified as negatively impacting the efficient functioning of something else.

Maintain Gains

It is extremely rewarding to watch a client learn and use new skills for the very first time. I consider myself lucky to be able to To watch their world open up produce specific sounds for the very first time.

I have seen changes happen in one session, slowly over the course of many sessions, or all at once after having worked on a specific skill for several months.

When possible, I want to find ways for an individual to work on skills on their own. There are many different ways this could look like.

This could include watching and interacting with 10 minute videos, review information for 5 minutes throughout the week, work on online activities, or include a client’s parent, caregiver, or significant other in the therapy or assigned homework

I do not require “homework” to be completed and do not always assign it. I meet the individual where they are at. The last thing I want to do is increase someone’s anxiety or sense of shame for not completing their “speech homework”.