A New Take on the Three “C’s” for SLPs: Strategies for Improved Therapeutic Presence

Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, serves as a speech-language pathologist with Wolfe Speech Therapy, LLC, in Staunton, VA, and adjunct professor with North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, NC. Additionally, she is the acclaimed host of “First Bite: Fed, Fun, Functional,” a weekly speech therapy podcast that addresses “all thangs” of pediatric speech therapy and is presented by SpeechTherapyPD.com. Michelle authored "Chasing the Swallow: Truth, Science, and Hope for Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders." She is an accomplished lecturer, traveling across the nation delivering courses on best practices for the evaluation and treatment of medically complex infants, toddlers, and children with respect to their pediatric oropharyngeal dysphagia, pediatric feeding disorder, as well as language acquisition within the framework of Early Intervention. She currently volunteers as the Topic Chair for the Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders committee for the 2024 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention and volunteers as the co-chair for the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia (SHAV) Dysphagia and Pediatric Feeding Disorder Group, as well as a convention committee for the 2025 annual SHAV Convention. She has served as the Treasurer for the Council of State Association Presidents (CSAP), is a Past President of the South Carolina Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (SCSHA), a graduate of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Leadership Development Program (ASHA LDP), a recipient of the Pediatric Feeding Disorder Awareness Champion from Feeding Matters, a recipient of the Louis M. DiCarlo Award for Outstanding Clinical Achievement from the SCSHA, a recipient of the State Clinical Achievement Award from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Foundation, recognized as an ASHA Innovator in 2023, and eleven-time recipient of ASHA’s ACE Award for continuing education.

Stephanie Michele Sweigart is the leading expert on mindfulness and compassion-based practices in special education. She is certified as a Teacher of Mindfulness Meditation and as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Stephanie Michele is a presenter for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s national convention, 2023. She is the founder of a woman-owned Non-Public Agency, Golden State Speech Pathology Services, Inc. since 2013. Stephanie Michele is the author and creator of the popular course, “ShiftMakers: 1.0” and “The Framework to Becoming a Mindful Speech Clinician.” She is also a speaker and YouTube host for SpeechTherapyPD.com. Her insights have been featured on numerous podcasts including “Keys for SLPs” and “Speech Science Podcast” where she shares her passion and thought leadership on professional holistic practices. She believes in the mission and is a supporting member for The Center for NonViolent Communication. Stephanie’s unwavering dedication to empowering individuals to use clear and compassionate communication underscores her mission to make a profound impact in the world of special education.