Addressing Stress, Overwhelm, and Burnout in School-Based SLP Practice

School-based speech-language pathologists have a range of roles and responsibilities as clinical service providers and members of school teams. Based on the results of the 2024 Schools Survey: SLP Workforce and Work Conditions, SLPs reported having large, dynamic, and varied caseloads; demanding workloads; and work environment conditions that may not be equitable. These and other factors may lead to feelings of overwhelm. Typically, when experiencing overwhelm, a person may still be working toward—and even meeting—goals.

A person may face excessive demands and pressures beyond what they can manage when experiencing overwhelm. This constant state of stress can deplete their energy and emotional resources, leading to feelings of exhaustion and detachment. Over time, this chronic stress can result in burnout. Taking steps to manage overwhelm can help prevent the escalation of stress and exhaustion that often leads to burnout. Marante et al. (2023) discussed the impacts of overwhelm on SLPs in this April 2023 LSHSS article.

The Workload Factors That Contribute to Overwhelm [PDF] checklist and priority-setting matrix can help with

• identifying workload tasks that lead to feelings of overwhelm; 
• defining action steps that allow you to make adjustments to workload tasks; and
• developing a plan that is right for you.

Addressing feelings of overwhelm early allows you to develop personal coping and management strategies that can improve your workflow and help you handle stressors—which, in turn, may improve your overall job satisfaction.

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged, excessive occupational stress. It often results from a combination of high workloads, demanding responsibilities, and insufficient support over a certain period of time. Burnout can affect anyone, but school-based SLPs are particularly at risk due to the unique demands of their role.

Symptoms of Burnout

• Emotional Exhaustion: Feeling drained, overwhelmed, and unable to cope with the demands of the job. This can manifest as feelings of being emotionally spent and having a reduced sense of personal accomplishment.
• Depersonalization: Developing a sense of detachment from students, colleagues, or the job itself. This might involve becoming cynical or negative about one’s work and feeling disconnected from students’ needs.
• Reduced Professional Efficacy: Feeling ineffective or incompetent in one’s role, leading to decreased productivity and satisfaction. This can impact the quality of therapy and interactions with students. 

How Burnout Affects School-Based SLPs 

• Reduced Effectiveness in Therapy: Burnout can impair an SLP’s ability to deliver high-quality therapy. Emotional exhaustion and reduced professional efficacy can lead to less effective therapy sessions and less engagement with students.
• Decreased Job Satisfaction: Persistent stress and exhaustion can diminish job satisfaction, leading to feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction with one's role and achievements. This can affect motivation and enthusiasm for the job.
• Impaired Professional Relationships: Burnout can affect relationships with students, colleagues, and administrators. SLPs may become less patient, more irritable, or more detached—all of which can impact collaboration and the overall school environment.
• Physical and Mental Health Issues: Chronic stress associated with burnout can contribute to physical health problems such as headaches, sleep disturbances, and gastrointestinal issues—as well as mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.
• Increased Absenteeism and Turnover: SLPs experiencing burnout may be more likely to take sick leave or seek new positions. High turnover rates can disrupt services for students and can place additional strain on remaining staff.
• Difficulty Managing Workloads: High caseloads, administrative responsibilities, and additional school-related duties (e.g., bus or lunch monitoring) can become overwhelming. Burnout can make it harder to manage a large number of students and to complete necessary paperwork and other work-related responsibilities—leading to inefficiencies and stress.

Addressing Burnout

To mitigate burnout, it’s essential for SLPs to adopt strategies such as practicing self-care, seeking support from peers and supervisors, implementing time-management strategies effectively, and setting boundaries to maintain a healthy work–life balance. It is also important for SLPs to learn how and when to self-advocate and to communicate stressors prior to reaching the state of burnout. Schools and organizations should also consider providing adequate resources, professional development, and support systems to help SLPs manage their workload and reduce stress.

Burnout is a significant concern for school-based SLPs due to high caseloads, administrative duties, and limited resources. Here are strategies to help address burnout:

Ready To Tackle Burnout? Use These 11 Tools

1. Support and Collaboration
   Building a strong network of colleagues can provide emotional support and practical advice. Collaborative problem-solving and sharing resources can reduce individual burdens and foster a sense of community.

2. Regular Supervision and Feedback
   Receiving regular supervision and constructive feedback from supervisors can provide support and guidance. It’s important for SLPs to have a space to discuss challenges and receive positive reinforcement.

3. Mentorship
   Establishing a mentorship relationship with a more experienced SLP can provide guidance, support, and perspective. Mentors offer advice on managing caseloads, coping with stress, and navigating challenging situations.

4. Advocacy
   Engaging in advocacy within the profession can help address systemic issues contribuiting to burnout. This might include advocating for better resources, reasonable caseloads, and supportive policies.

5. Boundaries
   Establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life is essential. Clear communication with supervisors about workload and expectations can also help.

6. Delegation and Collaboration
   Collaborating with other school staff and delegating tasks when appropriate can help manage workload. For example, working with classroom teachers to implement strategies or utilizing paraprofessionals for some tasks can reduce the burden on the SLP.

7. Time Management
   Prioritizing tasks and setting realistic goals can help manage workloads more effectively. Time management training can lead to significant reductions in burnout.

8. Professional Development and Continuing Education
   Engaging in ongoing professional development can enhance job satisfaction and reduce feelings of burnout. Look for workshops, webinars, and continuing education courses relevant to your field.

9. Stress Reduction Techniques
   Practicing various techniques to help you reduce stress—and making these techniques part of your regular routine—is a proven way to manage and prevent burnout. Here are some suggestions:

• Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can significantly reduce stress and burnout.
• Regular Breaks: Taking short, regular breaks throughout the day can help manage stress levels. Set up a timer on your phone or schedule email reminders to help you remember to take breaks!

10. Workload and Caseload Management Resources
    Tools for evaluating describing and adjusting information about workloads and caseloads can help with time management, service delivery and stress.

11. Telehealth Services
    Using telehealth for therapy sessions offers flexibility and can reduce the physical and emotional strain associated with traditional in-person sessions.

Implementing these tools can help school-based SLPs manage their workloads more effectively and reduce the risk of burnout. Remember: It’s important to start small and gradually incorporate these practices into your routine.

By integrating these strategies, school-based SLPs can better manage their stress levels, improve their job satisfaction, and enhance their overall effectiveness.

Works Cited

Marante, L., Hall-Mills, S., & Farquharson, K. (2023). School-based speech-language pathologists' stress and burnout: A cross-sectional survey at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 54(2), 456–471. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_LSHSS-22-00047

ASHA Resources and Tools

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-a). Advocacy. 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-b). ASHA Workload Calculator. https://www.asha.org/slp/schools/workload-calculator/https://www.asha.org/advocacy/ 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-c). Connecting audiologists and speech-language pathologists with mental health resources. https://www.asha.org/practice/connecting-audiologists-and-speech-language-pathologists-with-mental-health-resources/ 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-d). Continuing education. https://www.asha.org/ce/ 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-e). How to: Writing collaborative goals for IEPs. https://www.asha.org/practice/ipe-ipp/how-to/writing-collaborative-goals-for-ieps/

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-f). Interprofessional education/interprofessional practice (IPE/IPP). https://www.asha.org/practice/ipe-ipp/ 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-g). Supervision. https://www.asha.org/practice/supervision/ 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-h). Supporting your well-being: A virtual town hall for assistants, audiologists, and SLPs [Zoom Recording].

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-i). Tackling burnout in the school setting: Practical tips for school-based speech-language pathologists. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2021_PERSP-20-00262 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-j). Telepractice [Practice Portal]. https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/professional-issues/telepractice/ 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.-k). Tips for battling burnout. https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/tips-for-battling-burnout/full/