Jillyan St. Laurent, M.A., CCC-SLP
As a clinical manager at Expressable and a speech-language pathologist myself, I’m proud to be part of a company that truly supports its therapists while delivering high-quality care to clients. Our staff of over 150 SLPs is organized into close-knit teams, each led by a clinical manager like me. That structure helps create an environment focused on ongoing learning, compassionate leadership, and strong clinical outcomes.
Want to know what it’s like to manage a team of SLPs providing teletherapy to clients across the country? Here’s a look at what a typical workday looks like for me, working from home and doing the work I love.
10:30 a.m. to noon: Easing into the day and connecting with my team
I usually start my day around 10:30 a.m., which is one of the many perks of having a flexible schedule at Expressable. A later start gives me time in the mornings to take care of myself. That might mean journaling, doing yoga, meditating, or taking my dog, Riot, out for a walk before I settle into my workspace.
Once I’m ready to dive in, I make myself a cup of tea and sit down at my desk with Riot curled up at my feet. I start by checking emails, reviewing my schedule, and catching up on messages from my team or colleagues that came in overnight. After making sure everyone has the support they need, I shift into meetings for the rest of the morning.
“I love that I get to help on a bigger scale in this position. Rather than focusing only on my clients, I get to help other speech therapists help their clients.”
Some of these meetings are with my fellow clinical managers, where we can talk through questions and clinical challenges or just check-in. I also meet one-on-one with the therapists on my team. I spread these meetings out across my week so I can meet with each therapist every other week.
One of my favorite parts of this role is the opportunity to support other SLPs. I absolutely love that I get to help on a bigger scale in this position. Rather than focusing only on my clients, I get to help other speech therapists help their clients. That ripple effect is incredibly meaningful to me.
12 to 12:30 p.m.: Lunch and a reset
I usually grab a quick lunch and take a short walk with Riot. I’m also usually starting a load of laundry or doing a quick cleanup around the house. I need a tidy home in order to be productive. Working from home definitely has its perks!
12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Chart audits, metrics, and professional development
After lunch, I dive into tasks such as reviewing client charts, reviewing therapist metrics like session attendance, and checking in on CEUs completed by my team. I also make sure everyone has had a chance to attend our latest Grand Rounds presentation.
As a clinical manager, I lead a monthly Grand Rounds session where I present on a topic relevant to our field ranging from parent coaching strategies to specific treatment areas like augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) or teletherapy best practices. These sessions are a chance for our therapists to learn, ask questions, and collaborate on real-world clinical situations.
3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Client sessions and evening support
In addition to managing a team, I keep a small caseload of my own. I often treat school-age kids in the afternoons, especially those who stutter or have speech sound disorders and language disorders. Evening appointments are convenient for kids who have after-school activities or whose parents work late. And many adult clients prefer to have their speech therapy sessions after their own work is done. I love being able to offer services at times that work for families.
Evenings can be especially busy for therapy sessions, and many of the therapists on my team are working with clients during this time. Even if I’m not in a session myself, I stay available to answer messages or help troubleshoot if someone needs support. Because I start my workday a little later, I can be available to therapists who work in different time zones, especially those on the West Coast. I make sure to build in breaks when I can to keep my energy up for the long days.
Take a peek into the life of another Expressable clinical manager with Natalie's video on Instagram!
Managing with compassion, teamwork, and support
Being a clinical manager means wearing a lot of hats. I’m always an SLP first, even when I’m not directly seeing a client. My top priority is supporting both my clients and my team. That might mean being a sounding board, offering feedback, guiding clinical decisions, or having honest conversations when needed.
There’s a quote I always come back to, which is something a principal once said to me when I worked in a school: “Everyone is doing the best they can.” That mindset reminds me to approach every challenge with empathy and a spirit of collaboration.
Want to join us?
If you’re an SLP looking for a supportive, flexible, and mission-driven workplace, I highly recommend checking out Expressable. We have a variety of opportunities for experienced clinicians, and we’d love to connect with you. You can see our current job openings here, or reach out to our team at recruiting@expressable.io. And if you want to stay in the loop, sign up for our career newsletter, Elevate. We'd love to connect with you!
