Description

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie chats with Karin Hartunian Koukeyan—a speech-language pathologist with 28 years of experience and founder of SpeechFit—about a topic that might surprise you: public speaking. Karin shares her winding SLP journey from bilingual child interpreter to telepractice pioneer to private practice owner, and dives into why SLPs are uniquely equipped to help clients (and colleagues!) overcome public speaking anxiety. From IEP meetings to parent nights to real estate presentations, this conversation is packed with practical strategies, an eye-opening look at communication coaching as a service offering, and a reminder that it's never too late to color outside the lines in your career.

Bullet Points to Discuss: 

• How Karin's multilingual upbringing led her to SLP and eventually public speaking coaching 
• Why SLPs are uniquely qualified to address public speaking anxiety 
• Practical strategies for managing nerves and communicating more effectively 
• How public speaking coaching translates to working with middle and high schoolers 
• Building a communication coaching side hustle or private practice offering

Here’s what we learned: 

• Public speaking anxiety affects up to 90% of people—and SLPs are uniquely equipped to help. 
• The pause is your most powerful tool. Say something, let it land, and resist the urge to fill the silence. 
• Frameworks and scripting train the brain to communicate more confidently—whether it's an IEP meeting or a big presentation. 
• Breath work, visualization, and role-playing are go-to strategies for taming nerves before and during a talk. 
• Adding dialogue to a story instantly makes it more engaging—try it with your middle and high schoolers too. 
• Communication coaching is a real and viable private practice offering for clients who need support but don't qualify for traditional services.

Learn more about Karin Hartunian Koukeyan: 

Website: https://www.speechfitslp.com/ 

Website: https://karin-hartunian-koukeyan.mykajabi.com/sign-up-for-speechfit-slp-courses-8884c4d7-381e-49b9-8f2c-0d41b49592dc 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechfitslp/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-hartunian-koukeyan/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-hartunian-koukeyan/

Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/speechfit-slp 

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:  

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup

📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book

Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets