Claude CoWork for Speech-Language Pathologists

What is Claude CoWork?

Claude CoWork is the practice of using Claude as a dedicated, context-aware assistant that plugs directly into your speech-language pathology workflow. Instead of starting from scratch every time you open a chat window, you configure Claude with your practice context, documentation preferences, and clinical style so it consistently produces output that is useful from the first draft.

Claude-native prompts. The prompts in this guide use Claude's native XML tag structure (<context>, <instructions>, <format>, <avoid>) for more precise, consistent output. These tags help Claude parse your intent with less ambiguity. They work in ChatGPT too, but are optimized for Claude.

Speech-language pathologists carry a documentation and materials development burden that competes directly with treatment time. Therapy notes that must document skilled intervention and measurable progress every session. IEP goals that need to be specific, measurable, and defensible at team meetings. Progress reports for schools, insurance companies, and parents that all require different framing. Therapy materials tailored to individual clients across wildly different age groups and disorders. Parent and caregiver handouts that translate complex communication strategies into daily practice. These tasks are essential but repetitive, and they are exactly where Claude adds the most value.

This guide shows you how to configure Claude for SLP-specific work, the five workflows that will reclaim the most time in your day, and the privacy guardrails that are non-negotiable in clinical and school-based settings.

Install the Speech-Language Pathologist Plugin

This guide works on three Claude surfaces. The plugin is the fastest path on two of them. Pick whichever you use:

If you're on Cowork (desktop or mobile app)

Claude Cowork is Anthropic's agentic workspace — Claude completes work autonomously and returns finished deliverables. The Speech-Language Pathologist plugin packages the workflows below as native skills and slash commands.

Open the Cowork plugin directory in your desktop app.
Filter by Cowork, search for "Speech-Language Pathologist", and click Install.
The plugin's slash commands and ambient skills are now available in any Cowork task.

If you don't see the plugin in the directory yet, install via custom marketplace: paste https://github.com/alexclowe/awesome-claude-cowork-plugins in your Cowork plugin settings.

If you're on Claude Code (CLI)

Install from your terminal:

claude plugin add alexclowe/awesome-claude-cowork-plugins/speech-language-pathologist

The plugin's slash commands and skills load on next session.

If you're on Claude.ai (web chat only)

Plugins aren't directly installable on the web chat surface. You have two options:

Use the prompts in this guide directly in a Claude Project (covered in the next section). Same outputs, more typing.
Upload the plugin's skills as a zip via Settings → Features → Custom Skills (Pro/Max/Team/Enterprise plans). Higher friction; only worth it if you want the auto-activating skills, not the slash commands.

What the plugin gives you (any surface)

Slash command	What it does
`/therapy-note`	Draft SOAP session notes for speech therapy with targets, cueing levels, and accuracy data
`/iep-goal`	Generate SMART goals for IEPs aligned to standards with measurable criteria and benchmarks
`/progress-report`	Create progress monitoring reports with data summaries, goal status, and recommendations
`/therapy-material`	Develop custom therapy activities and materials tailored to specific targets and age groups

Auto-activating skills (no command needed — Claude applies them when relevant):

Speech-Language Pathology — Articulation, language, fluency, voice, and AAC documentation with evidence-based clinical frameworks
Educational Documentation — IEP writing, SMART goals, progress monitoring, IDEA compliance, and standards alignment

The plugin works standalone for one-off tasks. Pair it with the surface-specific setup below for persistent context across every task — that combination is the full Claude CoWork setup.

Setting Up Claude for Speech Therapy Work

Surface note: The Project setup below is for claude.ai web users. Cowork users have their own task-context mechanism (set context once when starting a Cowork task). Claude Code users get the plugin's ambient skills automatically — no Project setup needed. The workflows themselves are surface-agnostic — paste the prompts wherever you're working. Step 1: Create an SLP Project. In Claude, go to Projects and create one called "SLP Practice" or similar. This is your persistent workspace with context that carries across conversations.

Step 2: Set your custom instructions. In the Project settings, add:

You are my speech-language pathology documentation and materials assistant. Here is my context:

<practice-profile>
- Role: [Staff SLP / CF-SLP / Private practice owner / School-based SLP / Travel SLP]
- Setting: [School / Private practice / Hospital / Outpatient clinic / Early intervention / SNF / Home health]
- State: [Your State]
- Documentation system: [IEP software, EMR name, or practice management platform]
- Common populations: [Pediatric articulation / Language delay / Fluency / Apraxia / Aphasia / Dysphagia / Voice / AAC / Cognitive-communication]
- Documentation style: [SOAP format, narrative notes, data-driven session logs]
</practice-profile>

<rules>
- All goals should be specific, measurable, and evidence-based
- IEP goals must be written in measurable, observable terms per IDEA requirements
- Therapy notes should document skilled intervention, client response, and data (accuracy percentages, cueing levels)
- Parent/caregiver handouts should use plain language and provide actionable home practice strategies
- Never generate content for a specific identifiable student or patient — all scenarios must use de-identified information
- Remind me to verify all clinical details and data before finalizing documentation
- Reference ASHA practice guidelines when applicable
</rules>

Step 3: Upload your templates. Add your preferred session note template, IEP goal bank or format, progress report template, and any district or facility-specific documentation requirements.

Step 4: Always work inside this Project. Every new conversation inherits your context automatically.

Your Top 5 Workflows with Claude

1. Therapy Session Notes

Session documentation must capture skilled intervention, client data, and clinical reasoning every visit. Claude drafts structured notes from your session data.

<task>Draft an SLP therapy session note from these details (de-identified client).</task>

<context>
- 6-year-old male, articulation disorder (phonological processes: fronting, stopping)
- Session 14 of current treatment plan
- Target sounds: /k/, /g/ in initial and medial positions
- Setting: School-based, pull-out individual session, 30 minutes
</context>

<instructions>
Use this session data:

Subjective: Student arrived engaged, reported practicing his "K words" at home with mom. Teacher notes improved intelligibility in classroom.

Objective:
- Minimal pairs activity (/k/ vs /t/): 85% accuracy at word level (was 70% last session), self-corrected on 3/4 errors after auditory discrimination cue
- /k/ initial position — structured picture naming: 80% accuracy with visual cue (was 65%), 60% accuracy independent
- /g/ initial position — structured picture naming: 70% accuracy with visual cue (was 55%), 45% accuracy independent
- Phonological awareness task (identifying initial /k/ vs /t/ in words): 90% accuracy
- Conversational probe (5-minute sample): /k/ correct in initial position 40% of opportunities, /g/ 25%

Assessment: Student showing consistent progress in structured tasks. /k/ approaching criterion for word level (90%). /g/ progressing but requires continued structured practice. Carryover to conversation remains the primary focus going forward. Skilled SLP services continue to be required for phonological intervention and carryover strategies.

Plan: Continue 2x/week. Progress /k/ to phrase level next session. Maintain /g/ at word level. Send home practice words for both targets. Consult with classroom teacher on embedded practice opportunities.

Format as a clinical session note with clear data documentation. Include accuracy percentages and cueing levels.
</instructions>

<avoid>Student identifiers, school name, teacher names, vague data descriptions.</avoid>

Before Claude: 10-15 minutes per session note, often written during lunch or after school. After Claude: 3 minutes to input data, 3 minutes to review and finalize.

2. IEP Goals

Writing IEP goals that are measurable, defensible, and aligned with educational standards is one of the most scrutinized parts of a school-based SLP's job. Claude helps generate well-structured goals.

<task>Write IEP speech-language goals for a de-identified student.</task>

<context>
- 8-year-old female, 3rd grade
- Eligibility: Speech-Language Impairment
- Areas of concern: Expressive language (syntax, narrative skills), articulation (/r/ distortion)
- Current levels:
  - MLU: 5.2 (below age expectation of 7+)
  - Narrative assessment: Produces stories with basic setting and action sequence, missing initiating events and character reactions. Difficulty with temporal and causal connectors.
  - /r/ production: Distorted in all positions in connected speech. 40% accuracy at sentence level with visual model.
  - Academic impact: Difficulty with written narrative assignments, oral presentations lack coherence, peers sometimes have trouble understanding her
</context>

<instructions>
Write 3 annual IEP goals (1 articulation, 2 language) with:
- Measurable criteria (accuracy percentages, frequency counts, rubric scores)
- Condition statements (given what support, in what context)
- Observable behaviors
- 2-3 short-term objectives or benchmarks per goal that show progression

Goals should be educationally relevant and tied to classroom participation and academic success. Follow IDEA documentation requirements.
</instructions>

<avoid>Non-measurable language ("will improve"), goals not tied to educational impact, student identifiers.</avoid>

Before Claude: 20-30 minutes per student drafting and refining IEP goals. After Claude: 5 minutes to input assessment data, 5 minutes to review and customize.

3. Progress Reports

Progress reports communicate treatment outcomes to parents, schools, and payers. Claude structures these for each audience.

<task>Draft a quarterly progress report for a de-identified pediatric client in private practice.</task>

<context>
- 4-year-old male, childhood apraxia of speech (CAS)
- Treatment approach: DTTC (Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing) and ReST (Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment)
- Frequency: 2x/week individual, 45-minute sessions, 24 sessions this quarter
- Baseline (3 months ago) vs. current:
  - Functional consonant inventory: 8 consonants to 13 consonants
  - Syllable shapes: CV and CVC only to CV, CVC, CVCV, and emerging CVCVC
  - Single word intelligibility (unfamiliar listener): 35% to 55%
  - Connected speech intelligibility (unfamiliar listener): 20% to 35%
  - Functional communication: Used 15 word approximations consistently to 40+ words and 10 two-word combinations
- Goals met: 1 of 3 (expanded consonant inventory to 12+)
- Goals in progress: Intelligibility 70% single words, two-word combinations in 80% of communication attempts
- Parent report: "He is talking so much more. His preschool teacher can understand him now most of the time."
</context>

<instructions>
Format as a parent-friendly progress report that also satisfies insurance documentation requirements. Include:
- Summary of treatment approach and frequency
- Objective data with baseline comparisons
- Goal-by-goal progress analysis
- Clinical impressions and prognosis
- Recommendation for continued services with justification
- Updated goals for next quarter

Tone should be professional but accessible to parents.
</instructions>

<avoid>Clinical jargon without explanation, patient identifiers, overpromising outcomes.</avoid>

Before Claude: 20-30 minutes per progress report. After Claude: 5 minutes to input data, 5 minutes to review and personalize.

4. Therapy Materials

Creating engaging, targeted therapy materials for diverse caseloads consumes enormous time. Claude generates custom materials tailored to specific goals and interests.

<task>Create a set of therapy materials for targeting regular past tense -ed.</task>

<context>
- Target population: Early elementary students (ages 5-7) working on regular past tense morphology
- Skill level: Students can produce present tense verbs but omit -ed in past tense contexts 70%+ of the time
- Interest themes to incorporate: dinosaurs, space, and animals
- Session format: 30-minute individual or small group (2-3 students)
</context>

<instructions>
Create:
1. A list of 20 target verbs organized by -ed pronunciation (/t/, /d/, /id/) with 5-7 verbs per category
2. A short narrative story (8-10 sentences) using 10+ past tense verbs, themed around a dinosaur adventure — include comprehension questions that require past tense in the answer
3. A structured elicitation activity: 10 picture description prompts (describe what the character already did) using the target verbs
4. A sentence completion task: 10 sentences with blanks requiring past tense verb forms
5. A brief carryover activity parents can use at home (bedtime routine: "Tell me 3 things you did today")

All materials should be appropriate for the age range and engaging enough to maintain attention.
</instructions>

<avoid>Irregular past tense verbs (those are a different target), overly complex vocabulary, materials requiring extensive printing or preparation.</avoid>

Before Claude: 30-60 minutes creating targeted therapy materials. After Claude: 5 minutes to specify parameters, 5 minutes to review and adapt.

5. Parent and Caregiver Handouts

Parents and caregivers are the most important factor in carryover. Claude generates practical handouts that translate therapy strategies into daily routines.

<task>Create a parent handout for supporting language development at home for a late talker.</task>

<context>
- Target audience: Parents of toddlers (18-30 months) with expressive language delays
- Children are in early intervention speech therapy
- Parents have varying education levels and available time
- Goal: Provide strategies parents can embed into existing daily routines without adding extra "therapy time"
</context>

<instructions>
Include:
- A brief, reassuring explanation of what "late talker" means (2-3 sentences)
- 6 strategies parents can use during everyday routines, each with:
  - The strategy name in plain language
  - A 1-2 sentence explanation of what to do
  - 2 specific examples tied to real routines (mealtime, bath, getting dressed, playing, reading)
- A "What NOT to do" section (3 items: do not quiz, do not withhold, do not force repetition) with brief explanations of why
- A "When to contact us" section (red flags, scheduling follow-up)
- Encouraging closing statement

Keep it to one page. Warm, supportive tone. No jargon.
</instructions>

<avoid>Clinical terminology, guilt-inducing language, implying the parent caused the delay, strategies that require purchased materials.</avoid>

Before Claude: 25-35 minutes writing and refining a parent handout. After Claude: 5 minutes to generate, 5 minutes to personalize for your practice.

Prompt Engineering Tips for Speech-Language Pathologists

1. Always include accuracy data and cueing levels. Claude writes dramatically better session notes when you provide specific percentages and the level of cueing required. "80% accuracy with visual cue, 60% independent" gives Claude everything it needs.

2. Specify the disorder and approach. "Childhood apraxia of speech using DTTC" produces completely different content than "articulation disorder using traditional approach." Claude adapts its language, goal structure, and intervention descriptions to the specific methodology.

3. State the audience for every document. Parent reports, IEP team documents, and insurance progress reports all need different framing of the same information. Always tell Claude who will read the output.

4. Include the educational or functional impact. For school-based work, every goal and document should connect speech-language deficits to educational participation. Add "tie all goals to classroom and academic impact" to your Project instructions.

5. Ask Claude to check your goals for measurability. Paste an IEP goal and ask: "Is this goal specific, measurable, and observable? Could another SLP collect data on this goal without additional clarification?" This is the standard your goals need to meet.

6. Use Claude to generate multiple material variations. Say "Give me this activity themed around 3 different topics: space, cooking, and superheroes" so you can rotate materials across sessions without creating everything from scratch.

Privacy & Compliance

HIPAA and FERPA compliance are mandatory. In medical settings, HIPAA applies. In school settings, FERPA governs student records. Never enter real student or patient names, dates of birth, school names, or any identifying information into Claude. This is a hard rule, no exceptions.

De-identify all clinical and educational scenarios. When using Claude for documentation support, change or omit identifying details. Use "6-year-old male, articulation disorder" instead of any real student or patient information. Adjust ages, omit school names, and never include district-specific identifiers or IEP system reference numbers.

Claude drafts, you finalize. Every note, IEP goal, and handout that Claude produces is a draft. Your clinical review, verification, and signature are what make it a valid document. You are the clinician and IEP team member of record, not Claude.

Verify evidence-based practices. Claude does not have access to the latest ASHA practice portal updates or your client's full evaluation. Always verify that generated content aligns with current evidence-based practices and your clinical findings. Treatment approaches and goal recommendations should be cross-referenced with your professional judgment and current literature.

Maintain professional judgment. Claude is a documentation and materials tool. It does not observe your client, hear their speech, or understand the nuances of their communication profile. Clinical decision-making remains entirely your responsibility.

Check your employer's AI policy. Many school districts, hospitals, and private practices have specific policies about using AI tools with student or patient information. Review these before integrating Claude into your workflow, even with de-identified data.

Going Further

Ready to take your SLP practice further with AI? Explore these resources:

Browse our full library of speech therapy AI resources and prompt packs for additional templates
Run the AI readiness audit for speech-language pathologists to see where AI fits in your practice
Check out AI tools designed for SLPs to streamline documentation and therapy preparation