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What is Life Participation Approach?

  • Writer: Vicki Chia Hui Lin, M.S., CCC-SLP
    Vicki Chia Hui Lin, M.S., CCC-SLP
  • Oct 15
  • 4 min read

What is a Life Participation Approach in Speech Language Therapy After a Stroke, Brain Injury, or a diagnosis of a neurological disorder?

By a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) Who Still Can’t Keep a Houseplant Alive but Knows a Thing or Two About Communication Recovery


Let’s be real: recovering from a stroke or brain injury is no walk in the park. It can feel more like a hike up a mountain—with a backpack full of bricks, in flip flops. And if you or your loved one is facing challenges like communication or swallowing change (i.e., aphasia, dysarthria, dysphagia, or cognitive difficulties), you’ve probably already been told about speech therapy. But what kind of speech therapy?


Let me introduce you to one of my favorite approaches because it’s effective, empowering, and dare I say... actually human.

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So, What Is a Life Participation Approach?


The Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA) and really, to all areas of speech therapy after stroke, brain injury, neurological disorder is a person-centered model. It's not just about “fixing” speech, language, memory, or swallowing problems (though we work on those too!). It’s about helping people get back to living their life—whatever that looks like for them.



Instead of asking, “How can we improve this person’s skills in finding a word by 20%?” we ask:

“How can we help you get back to book club?” “How can we help you confidently order your favorite latte?” “How can you feel more like yourself again?”

This approach puts the individual’s goals, identity, and daily life at the center of therapy, not just the impairment. Because let’s face it: you are more than a set of test scores.


Why Is This So Important?

When someone experiences a stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI), everything can feel like it’s been turned upside down. Communication, memory, swallowing, and social roles difficulties and they are not just about function, they are about identity.


This is where the life participation approach shines. It’s about reclaiming roles—as a parent, grandparent, friend, worker, volunteer, dog mom, or trivia night champion.


And it’s not just for people with aphasia (e.g., difficulty finding, understanding, or writing words) or dysarthria (difficulty speaking clearly), it’s equally powerful for those navigating cognitive-communication difficulties or swallowing challenges (#swallowingdifficulty is real, my friends!).


What Does This Look Like in Therapy?

A few real-life examples:

  • A retired teacher with aphasia practices telling stories to her grandchildren again.

  • A dad with dysarthria uses speech and voice strategies so he can cheer at his kid’s soccer game.

  • A young professional recovering from TBI works on memory strategies to return to work. Not just any work, but that dream job they fought so hard to get.

  • A foodie with dysphagia builds a swallowing plan to get back to the family Sunday dinner table.


That’s what adult speech therapy is all about. Real people. Real life. Real goals.

It’s a Team Effort (With Snacks, If We're Lucky)

Life participation therapy is collaborative. You, your family, your SLP, and sometimes even your dog or cat (they’re great listeners) are all part of the team.


We also make space for counseling and emotional support because grief, frustration, and identity shifts are part of the recovery journey. Therapy isn’t just exercises and flashcards. It's also the occasional cry, laugh, or "did I just say that?" moment.


TL;DR: Speech Therapy Isn’t About “Fixing” You

It’s about supporting the whole you: your voice, your brain, your relationships, your dignity, and your joy & quality of life.


Whether you’re relearning how to say “I love you,” remembering your grocery list, or just wanting to swallow without fear; you deserve to participate in your life fully. Not just exist. THRIVE.


Final Thoughts (and Hashtags Because This Is the Internet)

If you’re on this journey, or supporting someone who is: I see you. And you don’t have to go it alone.


Speech therapy is about more than therapy. It’s about restoring connection, confidence, and purpose.


Let’s build a life that’s rich in participation, not just in recovery.


Helpful and Free Resources:


Have Questions?I’m here to help—whether you’re a family member, care-provider, or a speech language therapist. Drop a comment, send a message, or give us a call!


Learn more about speech-language-voice-cognitive-swallow therapy or what we do as speech language pathologists, and our in home and virtual private speech therapy settings:

call/text us at 818.823.8022 or email us at hello@thechatroomtherapy.com.


We provide virtual speech therapy visits/telehealth visits in California, and in home services in Montrose, La Crescenta, La Canada, and Pasadena, CA areas.


We also provide speech therapy in Mandarin Chinese. 中文/國語語言治療

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Vicki Chia Hui Lin, M.S., CCC-SLP

Founder, The Chat Room Therapy


Vicki is a California licensed and American Speech Language and Hearing Association certified speech language pathologist. She is a highly accomplished and award-winning Speech-Language Pathologist and an educator with extensive experience with both adults and children, with particular specialties in gender affirming voice therapy, adult voice disorders, post stroke or head and neck cancer related voice, communication, cognitive, and swallow difficulties.  Vicki has received various accolades, and is recognized for her excellence in patient care, life participation therapy approaches, education, and leadership in the field.



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