Author: Jesse Nerenberg, Reg. CASLPO, Speech-Language Pathologist
Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024

1. Introduction

2. What is Flow?

3. Speech as a Motor Activity

4. The Role of Flow in Speech Therapy

5. Why Flow is Important

• Effortless Communication

• Improved Confidence

• Enhanced Learning

• Stress Reduction

6. How to Achieve Flow in Speech Therapy

• Set Clear Goals

• Challenge Yourself

• Focus on the Process, Not Just the Outcome

• Use Feedback to Improve

• Create a Positive Environment

• Practice Regularly

• Incorporate Enjoyable Activities

7. Embracing Flow in Your Speech Journey

Imagine a moment when everything just clicks—whether you're playing a sport, playing an instrument, or even having a conversation. You feel completely engaged, time flies by, and it all feels effortless. This experience is often described as "flow." Flow isn't just a concept for athletes or artists; it's something that can play a crucial role in speech therapy as well.

Recently, I was having a final session with a client, and they described how they felt during a recent meeting with a colleague. “My speech was like butter,” they said. This was a person who, just a few weeks earlier, had reached out wanting to work on their verbal communication because they felt their speech in professional settings was choppy and inconsistent. They wanted to find a more dynamic way to express their ideas. What was most remarkable to them was how “easy” it felt to have that professional chat with a colleague after spending several weeks diligently working on their oral communication. “You found your flow,” I replied. And by flow, I did not mean airflow or the flow of ideas—I was referring to the concept of being “in the zone” when action and consciousness melt into one, and you lock into an optimal performance of a chosen task. It is that feeling of energized focus that makes you feel fully involved and invested in an activity.

As a client working with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) at Well Said, you might wonder how flow fits into your therapy sessions. How does it help you improve your speech, and how can you tap into this powerful state? In this post, we'll explore what flow is, how it relates to speech as a motor activity, and how you can work with your SLP to achieve it during your sessions.

Flow is a psychological state where a person is fully immersed in an activity, experiencing a sense of focus, involvement, and enjoyment. It’s the sweet spot where challenge meets skill, allowing the person to perform at their best without feeling overwhelmed or bored. This is why the client felt that their speech during that meeting was “smooth and easy”—they were tapping into this balanced state of mind.

All sorts of people experience this state of flow: artists, writers, athletes, musicians, actors. Essentially, anyone who engages in some sort of activity they find challenging and stimulating can experience flow. When the basketball player describes the game where every shot and pass felt easy and the game seemed to be moving in slow motion—that is flow. When the painter describes her brush as taking on a mind of its own and the painting on the canvas seems to flow out of her as if controlled by a higher power—that is flow. When the musician feels truly alive and free in a performance—that is also flow.

In the context of speech therapy, flow can be the moment when all the different aspects of speech—like breathing, articulation, and vocal tone—come together seamlessly. It’s when you’re able to express yourself without conscious effort, and the speech sounds natural and fluid.

As I mentioned in last month’s blog post, to understand how flow relates to speech therapy, it’s important to recognize that speech is a motor activity. Just like riding a bike or playing a piano, speaking involves coordinated movements of muscles, including those in your tongue, lips, and vocal cords. Speaking is movement. Breathing, phonation, articulation, resonance, and intonation all play a role in translating our inner thoughts into speech.

Each of these components needs to work together in harmony for speech to be clear and effective. In therapy, your SLP helps you build and refine these motor skills, much like a coach would guide an athlete to improve their physical performance.

So, how does flow fit into this complex process of speech production? When you achieve flow in speech therapy, the different motor components of speech come together smoothly. You’re not thinking about every little movement; instead, you’re focused on communicating your thoughts and feelings. This is the moment, usually late in the process, when it feels like everything seems to “fall into place” and come together.

1. Effortless Communication: When you’re in a state of flow, speech feels natural and effortless. You’re not overthinking how to produce each sound; it just happens. This can be especially encouraging if you’ve been working hard to correct specific speech patterns.

2. Improved Confidence: Flow can boost your confidence in speaking situations. When everything works together, you’re more likely to participate in conversations without fear of making mistakes.

3. Enhanced Learning: Flow facilitates learning by allowing you to practice speech patterns in a more natural, engaging way. This state of immersion helps reinforce the motor skills you’re developing in therapy.

4. Stress Reduction: Achieving flow reduces the mental and emotional strain that often comes with speech practice. You’re not as focused on potential errors or difficulties, which can reduce anxiety and make the process more enjoyable.

Achieving flow in speech therapy doesn’t happen overnight, but there are strategies you and your SLP can use to get there. Here’s how you can work together to find your flow:

1. Set Clear Goals:
   Clear, achievable goals give you a sense of direction and purpose in your therapy sessions. Whether it’s mastering a particular sound, improving your fluency, or becoming more comfortable in social situations, having a goal to strive for helps you focus your efforts. Your SLP will work with you to break down these goals into manageable steps, so you always know what you’re working toward.

2. Challenge Yourself:
   Flow happens when the challenge of an activity matches your skill level. If a task is too easy, you might get bored; if it’s too hard, you might feel frustrated. Your SLP will adjust the difficulty of exercises to keep you in that sweet spot where you’re pushing your limits but still capable of success. For example, if you’re working on articulation, your SLP might start you off with single sounds, then move to words, sentences, and spontaneous conversation as you improve.

3. Focus on the Process, Not Just the Outcome:
   It’s easy to get caught up in the end goal of perfect speech, but flow is about enjoying the process. Pay attention to the sensations of speaking, the feel of your tongue and lips as they form sounds, and the rhythm of your breath. I often tell my clients to “focus on sensation” just as much as how they sound, if not more. Being mindful during practice helps you stay present and engaged, which is key to achieving flow.

4. Use Feedback to Improve:
   Feedback is crucial for refining motor skills. Your SLP will provide you with constructive feedback to help you adjust your movements and improve your speech. Sometimes, this feedback might be immediate (like during a session), and other times it might be something to reflect on between sessions. The goal is to use this feedback to make continuous progress, gradually bringing you closer to that state of flow. By focusing on the process and physical sensations, you are also improving your awareness of your state of being when you communicate, which is a form of progress in itself.

5. Create a Positive Environment:
   Flow is more likely to occur in a supportive, positive environment. Your SLP will create a space where you feel safe to experiment with your speech, make mistakes, and try again. Positive reinforcement and encouragement are essential for building the confidence you need to reach flow.

6. Practice Regularly:
   Like any motor skill, speech improves with practice. The more you practice, the more likely you are to achieve flow. Your SLP will provide you with exercises to practice at home, helping you build consistency and gradually integrate these skills into your daily life.

7. Incorporate Enjoyable Activities:
   Flow is closely tied to enjoyment. Find ways to practice speech that you find fun or meaningful. This might include reading aloud from a favorite book, singing along to music, or engaging in conversation with friends and family. Identify activities that not only target your speech goals but also bring you joy.

Flow is a powerful concept that can enhance your speech therapy experience. By working closely with your SLP, setting clear goals, challenging yourself, and focusing on the process, you can tap into this state of effortless communication. Remember, flow is not about perfection; it is about finding a rhythm where everything works together, making speech feel natural and enjoyable. Because, after all, in a sense, that is what human communication is all about.

As you continue your speech therapy journey, keep the concept of flow in mind. Whether you’re working on articulation, fluency, or professional communication, strive to create moments where speech feels effortless and engaging. These moments of flow will not only boost your confidence but also bring you closer to your communication goals.

To speak with a psychotherapist or one of the speech-language pathologists at Well Said: Toronto Speech Therapy, schedule an initial consultation by clicking the link below or calling (647) 795-5277.