The Power of Coherent Storytelling with Dr. Carol Westby

Guest: Carol Westby, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL

Earn 0.1 ASHA CEU for this episode with Speech Therapy PD: https://www.speechtherapypd.com/courses/coherent-storytelling

In this episode, Dr. Westby, an ASHA fellow with numerous accolades, delves into her extensive experience in speech pathology and her work on narrative and expository development, trauma, and more. The discussion explores the significance of personal narratives, research evidence, and practical strategies for parents and clinicians. Whether you're an SLP, educator, or parent, you'll gain valuable insights into the role of storytelling in mental health, self-regulation, and identity formation.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Speaker Overview

03:05 The Importance of Personal Narratives

05:16 Research and Case Studies on Personal Narratives

07:14 Global Research Initiatives

10:44 Reminiscing and Autobiographical Memory

20:49 Challenges in Autobiographical Memory

31:56 PTSD and Autobiographical Memory

33:12 Narrative Exposure Therapy for Children

35:22 Global Tales Consortium and Personal Narratives

38:43 Adolescents and Autobiographical Reasoning

43:22 Evaluating Personal Narratives

47:42 Interventions and Reminiscing Strategies

55:14 The Importance of Emotions in Memory

56:36 Using Biographies to Teach Traits

59:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About the Guest:

Dr. Carol Westby, PhD, CCC-SLP, is a consultant for Bilingual Multicultural Services in Albuquerque, NM, and holds an affiliated appointment in Communication Disorders at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. She is a fellow of the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), has received the Honors of ASHA and the Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Achievement Award, and holds Board Certification in Child Language and Language Disorders.