Subject: Heather Watkins, a speech and language therapist. Married with one daughter. Lives in Tillicoultry, Scotland and works in Stirling and Alloa.
Age range: 30–40.
Interests: Outdoor pursuits.
RJL: What is your family background?
HW: I am the middle child of three. Both my parents are Christians and we were involved in a Baptist church in Glasgow. My father ran a business.
RJL: How did you become a Christian?
HW: I was at a Crusader camp at age 10 when I decided I had to make a choice.
RJL: How did you come to live in Stirling?
HW: When I finished university I did a gap year at an outdoor centre in Perthshire, where I met my husband John. After we married we lived in Fort William. When John got a job in the central belt I got a job in Stirling. This is closer to both our families.
RJL: What does a speech and language therapist do?
HW: Lots! Anything to do with communication, not just speech. I work with children and teens to 18 years who have any difficulty in communicating. Examples are: people who have a stammer; autistic children; young children who aren’t learning to speak and people who cannot use the right words, e.g. after a stroke. Also people who can’t speak and need to use sign language or alternative communication systems.
RJL: Could you have helped King George VI in the way that Lionel Logue did?
HW: I would hope that we could help, but Lionel Logue used ‘alternative’ methods. We need to focus on the effect of the disability on the person.
RJL: Are you subject to any influences or restrictions which impact on you as a Christian in your work?
HW: Yes; there are guidelines about not expressing our opinions about religion and politics – we are regularly reminded of these, particularly politics at the time of the election or the referendum. There is an expectation that we have a professional relationship, so I can’t offer to pray with a patient or recommend a church group that might help. Sometimes the fact of my faith comes up in conversation as I get to know families very well and it is frustrating if I could guide them to some help available at a church. It is difficult when I come to the end of what I can do and can’t offer help, e.g. with parenting through church courses.
RJL: Do you work with other Christians?
HW: Yes: in Sterling I work with five or six out of 20 and in Alloa five out of 12. Time pressures and distance of travel to work mean that we aren’t able to meet together.
RJL: Are there opportunities to witness?
HW: Yes: talking about our own lives, particularly with Pheobe’s situation (Heather’s five-year-old niece is undergoing a long course of chemotherapy following the removal of a brain tumour). This has enabled me to talk about my beliefs in respect of what God is like and why bad things happen. Working in the NHS, there is pressure about job cuts, etc. that opens up opportunities to talk about priorities for life and what is really important.
RJL: Do you have any regrets about your choice of career?
HW: Occasionally – most of the time I really enjoy it, but sometimes wish I had done something more medical, e.g. as a GP. I have a lot of job satisfaction. John has a deteriorating medical condition, so it is important that I can work from nine to five to support us.
RJL: What is hard about your job?
HW: Finding the balance between meeting needs and pressure on the service. I don’t always decide who is helped. My role is mainly clinical, but about ten per cent is leadership and case management which needs more time. Lots of paperwork, so I need to have a good attitude.
RJL: Are there any conflicts between your work and your family/church life?
HW: Balancing time is always difficult. I am the ministry leader for children’s work. We adopted our daughter when she was six and so she needs a little extra time. I don’t work outside my set hours.
RJL: Would you recommend speech and language therapy as a career for a Christian?
HW: It is a great job to do, but hard to recommend joining the NHS at the moment.
Quick fire questions:
• Shortbread or bourbons? / Shortbread
• Camping or glamping? / Glamping
• Hello or EN? / EN
• Strictly or The Voice? / Strictly
• Spa or restaurant? / Restaurant
• Plainsong or rap? / Plainsong
• NIV or ESV? / NIV
