title: Reflections on speech-language therapists' talk: implications for clinical practice and education.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research into the practices of speech-language therapists in clinical sessions is beginning to identify the way communication in clinical interactions both facilitates and potentially impedes the achievement of therapy goals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This target article aims to raise the issues that arise from critical reflections on the communication of speech-language therapists for both clinical practice and clinical education of future speech-language therapists.
  
  
  METHODS
  The paper reviews the past and current literature into the communication of speech-language therapists with their clients and provide examples drawn from the authors' own empirical research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It is argued that one cannot assume that the current rhetoric regarding collaborative practice matches what is currently done in clinical work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper calls attention to the need to evaluate critically the processes and nature of acculturation that occurs during the first stages of professional development as a student speech-language therapist through to the ongoing development of professional practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Language & Media, Faculty of Education & Arts, University of Newcastle, Callaghan Newcastle, Australia. Alison.Ferguson@newcastle.edu.au
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*