[WardRhiannon]

I also posted this in Education and Career, but I thought it couldn't hurt to post this here as well.

I've been interested in speech therapy as a career for the past year or two. I was planning to get a post-bacc/master's in the field right after graduation, but decided at the last minute not to go.

I worked as a tutor and English workshop leader for a couple of years. I do enjoy some aspects of teaching, but occasionally had trouble explaining things and sometimes had issues being assertive.

I am verbally skilled and have an interest in the healthcare field and linguistics, so speech pathology is most likely a good career path for me. I do plan on job shadowing in as many areas as possible before I make my decision, but can anybody give me any perspective on this? Is all I need is more self-confidence and someone to watch me during clinicals?

[MegaTuxRacer]

Developing Te (if you haven't already) will help out with communicating the more technical aspects of what you're trying to do. And I think assertiveness will come with it. Just keep in mind that feelings are going to have to be hurt in this line of work, but the end result is worth it. Just let the people you're working with know that you're with them to the end and remain supportive yet firm. You know what they need to do, and that is why you're the teacher.

[Aqualung]

An ex girlfriend of mine was a speech pathologist. She loved it & the pay was decent. She worked in a clinic where they did all kinds of different therapies. Sometimes it was frustrating & other times rewarding. She said they used some kind of instrument that took a "picture" of voices & they were like fingerprints in that no 2 voices match. Sounds sort of like a high-end oscilloscope. She said it was a competitive field to get into but that was at the Master's degree level. Unfortunately the manager of the clinic was all about making money so he pushed everyone to get patients in & out fast & she burned out & quit. A lot depends on who you work for.

[wisdom]

I used to know someone who worked as a speech therapist in a school. One-on-one with kids, I assume. She seemed to like it. I don't know her personality type (because I didn't know her well and she was hard to read) and would guess she isn't INFP, but she had the intelligence, anxiety, and desire to help people that often are found in INFPs. In other words, the occupation seems potentially INFP-friendly.

[Meowmixmuffin]

My aunt is a Speech Language Therapist / Pathologist. I've gone to work with her a couple times - Once at a clinic, and once at an elementary school. She works three jobs. The other is at a retirement home.
I think it would be extremely fulfilling for an INFP to do work in such a field. My aunt works with disabled and learning impaired children - Anywhere between having a slight lisp to being downs syndrome. She also works to rehabilitate elderly people after having strokes and the like. They say it takes a certain kind of person to do that kind of work. Me, I feel that INFP's are that certain kind of person. I've considered it as a career for myself as well. She loves her job.
Some reasons I think it would be good for an INFP is that in general, we have a desire to "do good" for the world. In a career like speech therapy, you can do good for the world by helping and rehabilitating people in need and young children. In addition, you can sort of gauge your successes in a very INFP-friendly way. You might not necessarily get recognition from the whole world, or a lot of promotions or a shiny gold name plate for your desk, but you can tell how well you're doing by the improvement you see in your patients. To me, and I think to most INFP's, that's a much more fulfilling way of feeling successful.

I would consider it, seriously. From what I've seen and what I know from my experiences with my aunt, it seems like a nearly perfect career for an INFP.

Edit:
I'll mention this.
When my aunt took the MBTI, she tested as an ISTJ. Me, I've known her long enough to recognize that she is most certainly not - But when she's at work, she sort of has to be.
It's important in a career where you're dealing with disabled or sick people that you develop your T... There will be times when you need to remove yourself emotionally, or you will be ineffective at doing your job. The J in particular is interesting to me - My aunt has 7 cats and her house is quite possibly one of the messiest I've ever seen, random pieces of Salvador Dali artwork hanging on the walls (which are all different colors), clothes, bags, food and work strewn ALL OVER the house... Her living space and her vehicle are both a total disarray, at all times. At work, though, she makes a point to be extremely organized. It's been said that INFP's will "fail to notice a stain on the carpet for months, but meticulously pick at a piece of dust on their project book". My guess is that she probably tested as a J because her shadow function is strong and she uses it often.
Regardless of my aunt's type, I know the few days that I did spend working with her kids were enlightening and wonderful. Every-day work in that field, I think, would be the perfect fit for an INFP.

[WardRhiannon]

Thanks for the insight. I have no problem with tapping into my J side (I occasionally test INFJ). I think my biggest obstacle would be in developing my Te, but with enough effort I could. I still need to job shadow and take a class or two in the field to be sure that I want to pursue another bachelor's/master's degree.