Lauren Lustek, MS CCC-SLP
It’s a pleasure to introduce our October Teletherapist Spotlight, Lauren Lustek.
1. Tell me all about yourself.
I currently live in Madison, Wisconsin, sharing a cozy one-bedroom apartment with my boyfriend and our cat. My hometown is Eau Claire, Wisconsin, just three hours to the north of Madison. Besides my work, I have a strong passion for travel and am constantly on the lookout for my next destination. I love being outdoors and enjoy hiking and spending time in nature. I also enjoy artsy crafts and paint in my free time.
2. How long have you been with Unlimited Teletherapy?
I am going on my my second year with Unlimited Teletherapy.
3. What is your favorite part about working at Unlimited Teletherapy? What do you enjoy most?
One aspect that I truly enjoy is the collaboration I have with fellow therapists. You would think that working virtually would mean even less interaction, but that’s not the case. We have a wonderful group chat where we constantly exchange ideas and ask questions throughout the day. It actually feels more like a cohesive team than when I worked in person. Everyone is incredibly supportive, and there’s a strong sense of camaraderie that encourages each of us to be the best therapists we can be. I’ve also noticed that students are highly motivated by educational computer games. It’s a lot of fun to incorporate creativity into therapy sessions, using these games to make learning more enjoyable for the kids.
4. How did you get started in the industry?
I initially wanted to keep improving my Spanish skills, and that’s when I crossed paths with a girl who was already immersed in the field of communication disorders. I thought it was a fascinating combination of languages and speech therapy. Many students require assistance in Spanish, especially during assessments, and sometimes it’s their sole language. Being able to offer therapy in Spanish is incredibly rewarding. So, I decided to enroll at University of Wisconson-Madison and with each passing semester, it became evident that this major was a perfect match for my dual interests. I work on finding the best ways to assess bilingual students, ensuring to use a variety of assessment tools to accurately capture their skills and areas of growth. I’ve noticed that when we incorporate both languages into therapy, it keeps them engaged and helps them build on what they already know in Spanish.
5. What does a workday look like for you?
I typically have around 30 minutes before my first batch of students arrive. During that time, I review our previous session data and have a chat to prepare for the upcoming session, and I also take care of billing. I have an E-Helper at the school who works closely with the students and escorts them to the classroom to start my sessions. I usually touch base with her to catch up and see if there’s any important information I should be aware of. Sometimes, she talks to teachers or students and shares valuable insights about what’s happening with a particular student or class. I usually have another group of students at the end of the day and sometimes there is an IEP meeting sprinkled throughout the week with parents or teachers.
6. What, if anything, are you currently binge-watching? Or reading?
I came upon this book in Spanish that my partner has. It’s been a while since I last read a book in Spanish, but it inspired me. The book is titled “El Arte De No Amargarse La Vida.“
7. What’s one thing on your bucket list?
I have two things on my bucket list. First, I would really like to travel to other places in Colombia, especially since my partner is from Bogota. We’ve been there before, but we haven’t really had a chance to check out all the cool spots like, Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Medellín. It is one of my top priorities to explore more of Colombia and mark those destinations off my bucket list. Secondly, I have been wanting to learn how to crochet. I’ve seen some fantastic crochet tutorials online, and I’m really excited to dive into this hobby.
Lauren is one of many of our Teletherapists at Unlimited Teletherapy that is passionate, nurturing, and committed to supporting students to meet their individual goals. We are honored to have her on our team!
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