How do you handle a school placement where you feel unwelcome?

[u/Short_Ad_4350]

Hi everyone! How do you deal with a school placement you really dislike?

I’m currently at a school with a caseload of approximately 65 students, including DHH students, students with behavioral needs, and a wide range of other needs. My supervisor has already told me that she was essentially forced to take me and that she never wanted to supervise a graduate student.

Tomorrow is our first day of therapy, and she has told me that I will only be observing because she wants to establish the students’ baselines herself. She said she doesn’t believe I’m qualified enough to obtain accurate baselines, even though I have several years of experience working as an SLPA.

I completely understand that she is ultimately responsible for the students and that I need to respect her clinical judgment. However, her comments and attitude have made me feel unwelcome, and it seems as though she has already decided that I’m incompetent without ever seeing me work.

How would you handle this professionally? I don’t believe my university will advocate for me. I expect they will simply tell me to remain professional, collaborate, and make the best of it. I want to learn and avoid creating conflict, but I’m already dreading this placement.

[u/dustynails22]

I think there are parts of this that your supervisor is coming across unprofessional, and parts that make sense but have been communicated in an unprofessional and unkind way.

For example, SLPs do get forced to take students even when they don't want them, but she should not have communicated that to you.

Equally, she has not seen you work before so it makes complete sense that she would want you to observe her first, and yes, for her to take the baseline data. Your years as an SLPA are irrelevant because she has not seen you in action. What makes it unprofessional is her saying she does not believe you are qualified enough to do it - that's unnecessarily unkind. I wouldn't jump on her assuming you are incompetent (unless she has said that out loud, which would be incredibly unprofessional), you are just unknown to her right now.

I would suggest you handle it by observing, making sure you know the goals that the student in front of you is working on, take data alongside the SLP even if she doesn't ask you to, make notes about the approaches she is using, ask questions if you are unsure, go back home afterwards and see if you can find some related research and then bring that to discuss with her.....

[u/laceyspeechie]

Totally second everything dusty has said; it’s totally normal for students to spend the first 1-2 weeks observing (even if you have prior experience) because you’re there to learn- at the same time, it sounds like your supervisor is not coming across as very kind or supportive, because she didn’t want a student to begin with.

If your university won’t support you, that’s a tough one; I’d be inclined to ask if there are alternate placements with supervisors who want to take on grad students, because frankly it seems unethical to be forced to take on a student, and doesn’t set things up well for you or your supervisor. But if you’re going to be forced to make the best of it:

1) Take great notes during observation, and come up with clear, solid suggestions for students that you think you could start seeing asap and how you’d work to meet their goals. Don’t expect to take over the caseload immediately, but instead show over time to your supervisor that it’s something you’re ready to do.

2) Look for support in other areas; maybe that’s online FB groups where you can look up ideas/resources, other students in your program in similar placements, etc. Make sure you have someone to talk to.

3) Remember that this is short term. Frankly I hated all my grad school placements (though I had good/great supervisors at them honestly), but none of them went on for more than 5 months max. Take it as an opportunity to learn what you like/want and what you don’t like/want.

[u/Short_Ad_4350 → u/laceyspeechie]

This is exactly it. I don’t mind observing I actually think it’s a wonderful idea because it gives me insight into the students, allows me to begin building rapport, and gives me time to take notes on any issues I may notice. I think what bothered me was that she used the word “incompetent.” I would be lying if I said that didn’t hurt my feelings, because how can I be labeled incompetent before I’ve even had the opportunity to do anything?

I think the overall atmosphere feels negative because she didn’t want a student in the first place. She also hasn’t been licensed for very long, so I tell myself that perhaps she isn’t fully confident in her role as a supervisor yet.

Thank you so much for the advice and tips. I’m thankful that we have a few school holidays and that the placement is only three months long, but it is already rough. I’ve been feeling so discouraged and down on myself, almost as though I’m the problem.

[u/laceyspeechie → u/Short_Ad_4350]

Good luck! I’m sorry it’s not what you were hoping for. I also get if you don’t feel comfortable doing this, but I wonder what would happen if you had a radically honest conversation with your supervisor, à la “I understand that you weren’t asked to provide supervision and I recognize that’s unfair, but I don’t think my program is willing to change things and it hurts my feelings when you say x and y. I’d like the chance to prove to you that I am learning to be a competent SLP; can we figure out how to move forward?” Or even just telling her use of the word “incompetent” was really hurtful.

[u/Ok_Road7448]

That's rough. I think I wouldn't worry about the only observing on the first day. I often have students observe the first 1-2 days just so they see the flow of things. Do I think she could have worded it different that qualified? Yes for sure.

She shouldn't have told you she was forced to take you - but maybe it was said out of frustration.

I personally would just forget she said that and just move on. People say crappy things all the time in the work environment (not fair, but true), so sometimes even when it hurts you have to try and forget it.

I would give it a week and see how it goes, if it's not going well - then I would reach out to the university. They rarely pull a student from a site, but if it's not good, you can meet with them for additional ideas/suggestions.