Motivating the Unmotivated: Tips for Engaging Reluctant Teens

Hallie chats about motivating the unmotivated student. She shares tips for engaging reluctant teens.

This week on SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie tackles a common challenge for SLPs working with older students—engaging reluctant teens in speech therapy. Drawing from her experience, she breaks down practical, compassionate strategies to turn crossed arms and silence into connection and growth. From building rapport and respecting boundaries to incorporating students’ interests and empowering them with choice, Hallie shares creative, low-prep ideas that make therapy fun and relevant. Tune in for tips that will transform resistance into enthusiasm, helping students stay motivated and making your sessions more rewarding and stress-free.

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• The reason behind the reluctance of older students.
• Strategies for building trust and rapport.
• Simple, creative therapy techniques that require minimal prep.
• Student-led goal setting and decision-making.

Here’s what we learned:

• Compassion and empathy helps foster better student engagement.
• Building rapport is a continuous process, going beyond the initial days.
• Relating speech therapy to students’ personal experiences and aspirations increases active involvement.
• Creative, relevant activities keep sessions engaging and dynamic.
• Allowing students to choose goals and activities increases participation.
• Highlighting strengths boosts confidence and reduces resistance.

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

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