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A Speech Therapist's Journey from Disability to Healing

Writer's picture: Catherine WaltersCatherine Walters

From Personal Struggle to Professional Passion: A Story of Resilience


Catherine Walters | March 18, 2024



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Healing Journey of a Speech Therapist


Thank you so much for stopping by my humble corner of speech therapy cyberspace! I’d like to share with you a little more about who I am as a person, as my life experiences have significantly shaped my clinical presence. Before becoming a speech therapist, I grew up in a very artistically inclined household. All of my family members are musicians and artists. I began painting in my mom‘s art studio as a young child. As an adult, I continue to sell commissioned work and prints while also working as a speech-language pathologist. Art has always been a staple of my life and continues to nourish my spirit. It is ultimately where my healing journey as a speech therapist began. I’ve incorporated music and visual expression into many of my sessions, but I’ll discuss that further in another post.



Facing Personal Disability: A Turning Point


My personal experience with disability led me to this beautiful profession where I am able to help others overcome their own communication obstacles. 


It all started during my last year of college at UC Irvine in 2006 when I was studying and working abroad in Argentina. I was 21 when all of a sudden I began to experience mysterious pain in my hands. The pain shot up into my arms anytime I started using my fingers. I ended up having to end my internship at the Organization of American States and go back home to seek medical care. I ended up seeing neurologists, rheumatologists, physical therapists. Nobody knew what was going on. I had bloodwork, MRIs, x-rays done. My doctors couldn’t figure out what was going on with my hands. Medical and rehabilitative treatments weren’t working and I just continued to experience this disabling pain anytime I used my fingers to write, type, paint, or draw. 


Pursuing Speech Therapy: Overcoming Obstacles


I ended up graduating and not knowing how I would make a living. It was a very difficult time in my life, one which continues to give me so much empathy for my own clients who are suffering from disability. A couple of years later, the pain continued, and was only getting worse. During a trip to South Korea where I was visiting my mom, I met an orthopedic surgeon and pain specialist who thought I should undergo carpal tunnel release surgeries on both wrists. They were sure that I had carpal tunnel syndrome. I wanted a quick solution so badly that I decided to go through with the surgeries, even though other doctors had been hesitant about giving me this diagnosis. For a month, I couldn’t use my hands at all, not even to eat. As my hands began to heal from the surgeries, I was devastated to discover that the underlying pain was still there. Fast-forward to an additional unsuccessful surgery, years of physical and occupational therapy, acupuncture, a variety of chiropractic interventions, herbalists, you name it – I’ve done it! 


To this day, I still don’t have a diagnosis and the pain has traveled to other joints in my body. I know this sounds like a heavy story, and it is. But the beautiful thing about what I am telling you is that my own disability inspired me to help others. Through the support of Department of Rehabilitation (a governmental organization that provides vocational support for people with disabilities), I was able to go back to school and get my masters in speech-language pathology. It took me double the time it takes most people to graduate, but I was able to learn how to overcome the barriers that people with disabilities face, including discrimination, negative attitudes, accessibility issues, and financial challenges. As I studied about disability in the context of speech-language pathology, I was also navigating it within my personal life. 


Empathy in Practice: Supporting Others


I have learned through all of my experiences that dealing with disability (the social, economic, and physical barriers) can sometimes be more difficult than dealing with the medical condition itself. I have become a stronger clinician because I understand firsthand what it's like to face these challenges and can empathize with my clients on a deeper level. My chronic pain essentially has empowered me to provide more effective support and guidance.


During my speech therapy sessions, I focus on self-advocacy. I grasp the significance of navigating life with a disability, and in my interactions with clients, I prioritize establishing a nurturing environment where they can flourish. My approach centers on identifying your strengths and building upon them as we progress together!

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At E-Speech Cafe, I provide a range of online speech and language therapy services for adults and children of all ages. I also offer Spanish classes for speech therapists who are looking to enhance their bilingual abilities with clients. My goal is to help clients of all ages, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, races, dis/abilities, religious affiliations, gender identities, sexual orientations, and neurodiverse abilities to achieve their speech and language goals in a safe, secure, and private online space - one cup of warmth at a time. 

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Connect with me

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catherine@espeechcafe.com

Text or call 707-336-2851

Please keep in mind

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Online speech therapy available to California and Florida residents only.

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Private pay only.

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Telehealth information:

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For telehealth guidelines and more information, visit the Florida Department of Health.

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