In this episode of The ScaleSmart Podcast, I sit down with Ellie Richter, bilingual speech therapist and founder of The Essential Teletherapist, to talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable practice using virtual services. Ellie shares her journey as she transitioned from in-person services to 100% virtual school contracting, and how teletherapy became not just a service model, but a way to protect her energy, time, and family life.

This conversation goes far beyond private practice, speech therapy, tools, and platforms. We talk honestly about boundaries, buy-in, and the mindset shifts clinicians need to stop bending their businesses around everyone else’s expectations. If you have ever felt stretched thin, frustrated by inefficiency, or unsure how to advocate for a model that actually works for you, this episode will help you rethink what is possible.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why teletherapy struggles often come from a lack of training and systems, not the model itself
• How clear boundaries reduce stress, resentment, and decision fatigue in private practice and school contracting
• When virtual and hybrid services make sense, and how to stop trying to convince the wrong clients
• Using data, progress tracking, and communication to build trust with parents and school districts

If you are curious about virtual services but worried about pushback, burnout, or doing it “wrong,” this episode will give you a grounded perspective on how teletherapy can support both client outcomes and your quality of life.

Connect with Ellie

Website: www.theessentialteletherapist.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theessentialteletherapist/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566987832697 

Connect with Hannah

Website: www.cuedcreative.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/cuedcreative

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CuedCreative

Download the free guide to Step Into Your CEO Era: https://www.cuedcreative.com/podcast

Sign up for our next workshop: https://www.cuedcreative.com/join-us

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