Holiday gift for speech therapist?

[Anonymous]

Is this typical? And if so what do you give? I'd like to because ours is awesome but I'm not sure what's appropriate.

[Anonymous]

We usually provide a homemade treat and a note. We struggle financially but want to show our appreciation for what the therapists do for us.

[Anonymous]

SLP here. I probably receive gifts from about 75% of my clients and they range from a lovely card to $100 checks. The ones I always liked the best were the ones with a note or drawing from the kiddo, gift cards to places like Starbucks or stores I would like (ex. Aveda, Crate and Barrel, Lucy), or notecards or other such practical stuff. After a while, you really just don't need another picture frame or candle, no matter how much you truly appreciate the gesture. Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

18:45- SLP here again. I looove getting homemade treats. Yum. Good choice!

[Anonymous]

World Market has bins with small stuff you can put in a gift bag...mini mustards, chocolates, cookies, cheese spreads, etc (a few bucks each)...so I usually fill a bag with a variety of stuff. But recently someone told me that I shouldn't get teachers/therapists sweets or food because they might be on a special diet...woops, I've been doing it for years.

[Anonymous]

Some places don't allow their STs and OTs to accept gratuities of any kind. When my child was in EI and therapies were covered by insurance I gave modest gifts after making sure I was not violating any ethics codes. We appreciated that services were covered and these people were driving to our home to provide services. With private practitioners who we pay a large sum out of pocket, I gave holiday cards with notes of thanks because one of the interventionists worked at a place where gifts were discouraged. I did not see anyone giving gifts around holiday time so it looks like people followed the guidelines.

[Anonymous]

If your child receives services in a hospital based setting, you really can't give your therapist a gift. It's against ethics for us to accept anything above $10. Honestly, I would be touched just by a note telling me how much you are appreciating my services (if that's the case) or a $10 gift card to Starbucks is always great! I've been a SLP for many, many years and you never get tired of hearing that you are helping someone!

[Anonymous]

13:19 thanks for that input. Is it against ethics for all ST's to accept gifts above $10 or does it vary by center? Is there anything in the speech therapist ethics code about accepting gifts?

[Anonymous]

I wonder how many of these posts were written by the same person.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if 15:16 is a ST who works at a hospital and accepts $100 checks as gifts and doesn't want this practice questioned. STs deserve gratitude and appreciation, but our ST charges top dollar, drives a fancy car and sends her kids to expensive schools. I don't think she needs a hundred extra dollars as a gift from people struggling to handle all the bills of their child with SN. She is also too classy to accept that much anyway.