What if your private practice could finally give you the money, freedom, and balance you’ve always wanted—without the endless hustle or burnout?

That’s exactly what today’s guest, Ellie Richter, created for herself. Ellie is the owner of The Essential Teletherapist, and she’s transformed her career from driving all over town for clients to running a thriving telepractice on her own terms.

Ellie has been an SLP since 2010, working primarily as a bilingual therapist in nonprofits. In 2022, she decided to step away from traditional roles and test out private practice with just a handful of clients. By 2024, she went all in—rebranding, creating clear systems, and designing a practice that aligned with her values and family’s needs.

At first, Ellie took any client she could, driving around for home visits. But as a mom and primary parent, the stress of being on the road was unsustainable. Around the same time, health challenges within her family pushed her to rethink her income, schedule, and priorities.

With support from the Start and later the Grow Your Private Practice Program, Ellie clarified her vision, set her rates, and built a plan that worked. She leaned into her expertise in bilingual therapy and school contracts, while also developing a new passion—helping other SLPs succeed at teletherapy. Within her first year of going all in, Ellie hit six figures, built contracts through word of mouth, and created a business that truly worked for her life.

In this episode, Ellie shares how she specializes in bilingual evaluations, early intervention, and teletherapy. Through her practice, The Essential Teletherapist, she not only serves children and families but also trains other SLPs to deliver effective virtual services. And how she built her business around family life—choosing her hours, and creating systems for what she calls “maximal ease.” She continues to refine her practice so it’s sustainable long term, both financially and personally.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Ellie transitioned from nonprofit work to launching her own practice
• What it looks like to build a bilingual teletherapy and school contract model
• The mindset shifts she made to prioritize ease and balance
• And why aligning her business with her family’s needs has been the key to success

Ellie’s story proves that you don’t have to choose between being a present parent and building a successful career. With clarity, systems, and support, you can create a practice that works for you—and build it on your own terms.

Want to create a private practice that gives you freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment—just like Ellie has? The Start Your Private Practice Program gives you the tools and guidance to get started. Learn more at www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com

Whether you want to Start or Grow a private practice or grow your existing private practice, I can help you get the freedom, flexibility, fulfillment, and financial abundance that you deserve. Visit my website www.independentclinician.com to learn more.

Resources Mentioned:

Follow Ellie on:

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Ps9xDECWXs6nlekB73hys?si=c1a521b8d9804cb1

Check out her website: theessentialteletherapist.com

Where We Can Connect: 

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-practice-success-stories/id1374716199

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