Beyond the Caseload: Mission, Laughs & Life at PPT - Episode 12: First Year Of a New Grad

The first year as a therapist is equal parts exciting, overwhelming, and transformational and no one should have to navigate it alone. In this episode of Beyond the Caseload: Mission, Life at PPT, HR Director Tara sits down with Ms. Rissa, a Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellow (CF) from our Lake Worth clinic, to talk honestly about what the first year in pediatric therapy really looks like. From balancing internship hours while working as an SLPA, to ramping into a caseload, building confidence with evaluations, and finding your “people” for support, Rissa shares what helped her grow and what she wishes every new clinician knew going in. Whether you’re a new grad… a future CF… or a practice leader building better onboarding and mentorship… this episode offers real insight into how strong support systems create confident clinicians. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: • How Rissa balanced internship + SLPA work during school • What a supportive ramp-up process looks like (without being thrown in) • Why weekly supervision meetings matter in your first year • The role office teams play in making clinician life smoother • How documentation time supports sustainability and prevents overwhelm • Why hands-on training prepares you for administering assessments • The emotional “wins” that make pediatric therapy worth it • Practical advice for your first week as a new clinician • How collaboration across OT/PT/SLP helps you grow faster At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, growth is self-driven — but never unsupported. From structured onboarding and mentorship to administrative support and multidisciplinary collaboration, this episode highlights what it looks like when a practice invests in clinicians early… so they can show up fully for the children and families they serve. Because the first year doesn’t have to feel like survival, it can be the start of real confidence. About Progressive Pediatric Therapy: Progressive Pediatric Therapy (PPT) is a multidisciplinary pediatric therapy practice serving Palm Beach County, Florida, providing speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, feeding therapy, aquatics, and community-based services. We believe strong mentorship, collaboration, and sustainable systems build stronger clinicians and better outcomes for kids. Sponsored By: Galileo for Kids — a science-backed whole body vibration system supporting strength, balance, and meaningful progress in pediatric therapy. Connect With Us: Website: https://www.ppt4kids.com/ Instagram:   / progressivepedtherapy   Careers at PPT: https://www.ppt4kids.com/career-oppor...