Communication, Camaraderie, and Confidence: Aphasia Boot Camp

Each June for the last seven years, the Memphis Speech and Hearing Center (MSHC) transforms into a powerful space for growth, healing, and connection through Aphasia Boot Camp, an intensive, person-centered therapy program for adults living with aphasia.     

“Aphasia Boot Camp is about more than therapy. It’s about helping people reconnect with their lives,” said Springs. “You see real change over the course of the month, not just in speech and language skills, but in confidence and connection.”

The Boot Camp has become one of MSHC’s most impactful and enduring clinical experiences. Designed for individuals who have experienced strokes, traumatic brain injuries, or progressive neurological conditions resulting in aphasia, the intensive program runs for four weeks, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants engage in a blend of individual and group therapy sessions, receiving personalized support while building a sense of community.  

What made Aphasia Boot Camp 2025 especially unique was its regional reach. Clients traveled from six different states to participate: Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Ohio. Many relocated to Memphis temporarily, staying in hotels or short-term rentals, demonstrating extraordinary commitment to their rehabilitation journey. “Their decision to travel and relocate to an unfamiliar city showed their determination and grit,” said Ballinger. “We were honored to be a part of their journey.”  

The diversity among participants this year reflected the wide-reaching nature of aphasia. Clients’ ages ranged from 30s to 80s, and backgrounds included entrepreneurs, professionals with advanced degrees, and individuals navigating very different stages of recovery. Some were relearning their children’s names, while others were preparing to reenter the workforce.  

Each day was filled with purposeful activities designed to treat aphasia and cognitive-communication challenges, and to restore a sense of agency, connection, and identity for participants. Among the most powerful components of the program were the small conversation groups, which created meaningful opportunities for shared communication. Given the often isolating nature of aphasia, these group sessions reminded participants that they are not alone in their experiences. Clients discovered a safe, supportive space where they could take their time to communicate, and where everyone, clients and student clinicians alike, listened with patience, curiosity, and respect. This kind of environment is especially meaningful for individuals who are often misunderstood, overlooked, or marginalized. Ballinger noted that, “The room was filled with support, laughter, and celebration. The students and I got front row seats to watch camaraderie and confidence take root and grow.” 

Springs echoed that sentiment, reflecting on how the camp’s immersive structure helps graduate students connect with participants as whole people with families, friends, hopes, and dreams. “We talk a lot about evidence-based practice and data collection, but what really makes a difference for a successful clinician is building relationships and connecting with the person next to you. The immersive nature of Boot Camp makes it quite impossible to miss that lesson.”  

One of the most heartening aspects of the 2025 Boot Camp was the connection built within the entire community of participants and their support networks. Springs said, "It was heartwarming to watch clients and caregivers reach out to others; to see the hugs, the laughter, and the way everyone’s personalities blossomed over the course of the month.” Clients and caregivers alike formed meaningful relationships, offering encouragement, exchanging contact information, and even requesting an Aphasia Boot Camp "yearbook” to commemorate the experience. Caregivers shared heartfelt reflections on the impact of the camp: "The whole team of people who worked very hard for the clients deserve a big thank you,” one caregiver shared. Another volunteered that “They touched our hearts from Day 1. Anyone who participated in this warm atmosphere would have seen improvements in the end."

 

This year’s program reaffirmed what clinicians have known all along: aphasia therapy is not just about words, it’s about rebuilding lives. The students who participate gain invaluable clinical experience, but more importantly, they witness the power of compassion, persistence, and human connection. Student clinician, Emily Johnson, reflected, “Aphasia Bootcamp not only changes the lives of people with aphasia, but also the student clinicians. It was an honor to witness the gains each client made this year! This experience furthered my excitement to be a SLP, and I am extremely grateful to have been a part of it.”

 

Ultimately, Aphasia Boot Camp continues to be a flagship experience at the Memphis Speech and Hearing Center, helping individuals with aphasia rediscover their voices, reconnect with their communities, and reclaim their stories.

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Aphasia Bootcamp 2025: Program Team 

Clincal Faulty/Supervisors	Students
Tawni Ballinger (founder/ 2025 leader)  Justine Springs (2025 leader)  Caroline Royal-Evans  Cille Heehs  Julie Marshall  Kelli Owens (founder)  Name Name Name Name Name	Gabriel Rowin  Clara Bednarek  Abby Shainberg  Alexa Cortez  Sophie Blatt  Rachel Schwantes-Barreto  Ambria Murphy  Lacey Halley  Miranda Fritz  Elizabeth Wardlow  Eve Knight  Molli Fee	Megan Simmons  Lillian Neal  Sophie Borhi  Isabella Montecillo  Emily Johnson  Laurel Hansen  Albreia Etienne  Christine Mahoney  Hannah Dugan  Allison Donahue  Emily Witt  Nathalie-Khue Trinh