Private Practice Success Stories

Dreaming of starting a private practice with a specialization? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories!

I sat down with Kaitlin Malcahey, a pediatric speech-language pathologist with a private practice called Competent Communicators. She first started thinking about private practice while feeling burned out during COVID, and by 2022 she took the leap and did it.

I got to know Kaitlin during her time in The Grow Your Private Practice program, and it has been so amazing to watch her business shift to become AAC focused and watch her create the work-life balance she craved.

She shares how she loves working with kids and how she’s becoming known for specializing in AAC. Kaitlin also shares the fulfillment she gets from being able to work with clients in a more personalized, meaningful way.

Kaitlin is an SLP with over 8 years of experience who opened her own practice in January of 2023. She specializes in AAC, gestalt language processing and sensory-informed play-based therapy.

She particularly enjoys working with clients 6 and under and incorporating their families into therapy sessions. She has taken the Meaningful Speech course for natural language acquisition, countless AAC courses and Jessie Ginsburg sensory trainings.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• When Kaitlin decided to start her own private practice
• How she saved money on getting her own clinic space
• Why she decided to specialize in AAC clients
• How she got her first referrals in her private practice
• Why there really are enough clients to go around for everyone
• How utilizing Google Reviews can help grow your private practice
• How private practice helps you make more of an impact on the clients you work with
• The work-life balance you get when you have a private practice

I hope you enjoyed hearing from Kaitlin! I love how she created her own private practice so she could work with more AAC clients. She is a perfect example of someone who wanted more work-life balance, and found that and so much more through private practice.

If you would like to know more about our Private Practice School and the Programs that we offer to support SLPs and OTs who want our help to start and grow their practices, please visit PrivatePracticeSchool.com/resources.

Whether you want to start 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:

Visit Kaitlin's website: https://www.competentcommunicators.org/

Follow Kaitlin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/competentcommunicatorsllc/

Follow Kaitlin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlinmulcaheyslp

Where We Can Connect:

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

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Welcome to a special episode of Private Practice Success Stories!

In this episode, I’m making a huge announcement about the future of private practice education, and it’s the biggest announcement in Independent Clinician history.

Introducing…Private Practice School!

We are rebuilding the structure of our programs to make them bigger and better than ever. The private practice movement is growing, and Private Practice School is at the center of it.

Private practice is truly an opportunity to change your life, your family's life, and the lives of your clients and their families, and we are so excited to help you achieve that with Private Practice School.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• The 2 core principles that drive everything we do at Independent Clinician
• How we are rebuilding our programs to make them stronger than ever
• How this growth will impact our current students and programs
• What you can expect from this bigger, stronger program

The Private Practice Movement is growing, and Private Practice School is at the center of it.

If you haven’t started your practice… let’s get going. Head over to StartYourPrivatePractice.com right now, enroll in the Start Your Private Practice Program, and let’s help you get set up and start seeing private clients so you can help more people while making more money.

If you’ve already started your practice… let’s keep going. Head over to GrowYourPrivatePractice.com right now and join The Grow Your Private Practice Coaching Program so that we can help you #levelup your private practice and your life. It’s time to scale your income and impact - without scaling your time.

To learn more, please visit PrivatePracticeSchool.com/resources right now, enroll in whichever Program is right for your level, and let’s make your private practice dreams a reality… together.

See you in private practice school!

Resources Mentioned:

Learn more about Private Practice School: PrivatePracticeSchool.com/resources

Start Your Private Practice: StartYourPrivatePractice.com

Grow Your Private Practice: GrowYourPrivatePractice.com

Where We Can Connect:

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

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Wondering how private practice can help you get more flexibility in your life? This episode of Private Practice Success Stories is for you!

I sat down with Evelyn Pierce-Ruhland, a pediatric speech-language pathologist with a private practice in Kingsville, Ohio called Inspire Speech and Language Therapy.

After working in the schools for 10 years she was overwhelmed by the high caseloads, paperwork, and long hours. Feeling the burnout, Evelyn quit her job, joined the Start program, and had her first client within two weeks!

In this episode, she talks about how the marketing tactics from the Start program helped her build her caseload to start seeing pediatric clients in local libraries across her rural area.

She also discusses how the flexibility of having her own private practice gives her the power to make her own schedule and have more work-life balance.

Evelyn Pierce-Ruhland has been an SLP for over 30 years. She worked for 11 years and then had the privilege of taking time off to homeschool her children. She returned to work 4 years ago just before COVID hit.

She has worked in a private clinic with OT/PT, an ENT's office, the schools, and now has her own private practice.

She specializes in working with the pediatric population. She enjoys working with families as they begin their journey toward full communication with their child.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• When Evelyn got her first real taste of private practice
• How the field has changed and why clinicians are more burned out than ever
• How Evelyn got her first client within the first two weeks
• How the Start program helped Evelyn market her business
• How you can perfect your pricing for your practice
• What a typical day looks like as a private practice owner
• Types of payment options you can offer in your private practice
• The flexibility

I hope you loved hearing from Evelyn! She is a perfect example of someone who took a chance on herself by joining the Start program and found the work-life balance she knew she deserved.

If you would like to know more about our programs and how we help support SLPs and OTs who want our help to start and grow their practices, please visit www.independentclinician.com/resources.

Whether you want to start 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:

Visit Evelyn’s website: https://inspirespeechtherapy.com/

Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspireSpeechTherapy

Learn more about our programs: www.independentclinician.com/resources

Where We Can Connect:

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

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Wondering about different types of private practice models? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories!

I sat down with Meghan Samuels, who started her private practice in order to have more flexibility, work-life balance, and time to spend with her family.

In this episode, she talks about how she started offering language enrichment groups for toddlers and preschoolers in her area, and then expanded this idea and began selling the curriculum to other SLPs!

Meghan is a Nashville-based speech-language pathologist. Meghan has been an SLP for 10 years and a private practice owner for 2 years. Meghan's private practice was opened out of necessity for her family - to work but be present for her family.

Over the past two years, Meghan has built a practice focused on the early childhood population. Language-rich play ™ opportunities are a major part of the Tiny Talkers PLLC business model. Tiny Talkers Groups are held within the Nashville community and provide more families access to an SLP for development concerns, additional support for communication, and supported interactions with peers in a play-based environment.

Meghan has launched the Tiny Talkers Group Curriculum to provide SLPs with low-prep plans for incorporating small groups into their practices. Tiny Talkers Parent Handouts and coaching support to SLPs in their small group journey are also available. The Curriculum and resources are available on her website www.tinytalkersgroupcurriculum.com.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• The leap of faith that led Meghan to start her own private practice
• How she came up with small group ideas
• Meghan’s time-saving tips that simplified planning for her groups
• How she serves clients in different areas
• Meghan’s experience hiring contractors for her private practice
• The power you have to create your own dream job with your private practice
• How Meghan helps other SLPs create this type of private practice model
• The freedom and flexibility you get with a private practice

I hope you loved this episode with Meghan! I love how she noticed a need for language enrichment groups in her area and turned her therapy model into a curriculum to help other SLPs. She is a perfect example of someone who took a leap of faith to make it all happen for herself and others.

If you would like to know more about our Programs and how we help support SLPs and OTs who want our help to start and grow their practices, please visit www.IndependentClinician.com/resources

Whether you want to start 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:

Visit Meghan’s website to see her resources and curriculum: www.tinytalkersgroupcurriculum.com

Visit the Tiny Talkers website: https://tinytalkersnashville.com/

Where We Can Connect:

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

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Thinking of starting a private practice with a partner? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories!

I sat down with two students from the Start Your Private Practice program, Jessie Lanford and Josephine Lougee. They are a speech-language pathologist and physical therapist duo with a private practice in Augusta, Georgia. They started their private practice after working together and realizing they had similar goals and wanted more autonomy and work-life balance.

In this episode, they talk about building their multidisciplinary practice together, getting referrals through social media and networking, and the importance of creating a caring company culture.

Jessie Lanford, PT/DPT, and Josephine Lougee, SLP are the founders of Better Days Therapies of Augusta. Both clinicians have almost 5 years of experience working together in different outpatient pediatric clinics and a local hospital. They decided to start the journey of owning a private practice and just celebrated their 1 year anniversary in their first clinic!

Josephine and Jessie have made their dreams a reality and have quickly realized that the sky is the limit when you own a private practice. The foundation for Better Days Therapies not only reflects the morals, values, and ethics of these two clinicians but also offers an encouraging working environment to promote passion and professional growth.

Their journey has taught them so much along the way and they are learning new things each and every day. In the beginning, they took the time to establish a team of business professionals to guide them along this journey. As a member of the Start Your Private Practice group, the course gave them the resources and confidence to take the leap into full-time ownership.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• When and why Josie and Jessie decided to start a private practice together
• How they got their first clients
• When they decided to go full-time with their practice
• What it’s like to have a partnership in your private practice
• The variety of ages and specialties you can work within your own practice
• Their plans to help educate other SLPs and OTs in the community in the future
• How Jessie and Josie approach marketing their private practice
• How they help their therapists avoid burnout

I hope you loved this episode with Josie and Jessie! I love how they turned their shared vision into a reality to open their own private practice. They are a perfect example of how teamwork can really make the dream work!

Want to start a private practice - just like Josie and Jessie - but don't know how?

Please visit www.IndependentClinician.com/resources to learn more about our programs.

Whether you want to start 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:

Check out Josie and Jessie’s website: https://www.betterdaystherapies.com/

Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterdaystherapies_augusta/

Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085393383346

Where We Can Connect:

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

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Ready to finally make the transition from schools to private practice?

You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories. I sat down with Kim Jenkins, a pediatric speech-language pathologist with a private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. She started her private practice in 2018 after feeling inspired to become her own boss.

She shares how she started her private practice journey by seeing clients on the side while working full-time in the schools, and how much she loves the flexibility, freedom, and control over her schedule that she gets from owning her own private practice.

Kim Jenkins is a pediatric SLP and the owner of Empowering Speech Services, a private practice in Atlanta, Georgia, that specializes in speech therapy for autistic children who are gestalt language processors.

Through Empowering Speech Services, she creates an environment that celebrates and supports neurodiversity, emphasizing the unique abilities and strengths of each individual.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Kim Jenkins is also a content creator, author, and public speaker. Her written work is geared toward parents, caregivers, and fellow professionals seeking to better understand neurodiversity and speech therapy.

In addition to her career, Kim is a mother to two college students, Sean and Joshua, and a "Dog Mom" to three lively canine companions: John, Luke, and Danny. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, and exercising.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Kim got started in the private practice world
• The impact of setting big goals in your private practice
• How Kim began to find her first clients
• The power of switching from a scarcity mindset to an abundant mindset
• The freedom and flexibility you get when you’re your own boss
• The different ways you can set up your private practice
• Why you should embrace multiple forms of income
• The power we all have to create our own reality
• Why now is the best time to start a private practice

I hope you enjoyed this episode with Kim! She is a perfect example of someone who didn't think she could be a business owner initially, but realized that anyone can do it as long as you have the right tools and mindset.

If you would like to know more about our programs and how we help support SLPs and OTs who want our help to start and grow their practices, please visit www.IndependentClinician.com/resources

Whether you want to start 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:

Visit Kim’s website: www.empoweringspeechservices.com

Follow Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweringspeechservices/

Visit Kim’s TpT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Empowering-Speech-Services

Check out her services: https://stan.store/kjenkins47

Where We Can Connect:

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

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Wondering how you can market to medical private practices?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I spoke with Meaghan Arnold, a speech-language pathologist with an adult and geriatric-focused private practice in Tyler, Texas. She began her career working in skilled nursing facilities and home health and quickly realized the need for continued care. This prompted Meaghan to start her own private practice in 2020.

We discuss how being passionate about your niche and patient population is key to success. Meaghan shares why she is so passionate about physician and community education and emphasizes the importance of both clinical care and business aspects in running a healthcare practice.

Meaghan Arnold is a speech-language pathologist and owner of Speech Swallowing and Neurological Rehabilitation, a private practice in Tyler, Texas. SSNR exclusively serves the adult and geriatric populations across voice, speech, memory, cognition, language, and swallowing deficits.

Meaghan received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona and her Master of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Meaghan has worked in skilled nursing facilities, home health, and the outpatient setting in Texas for the last eight years. Meaghan is a three-time ASHA ACE award recipient and is passionate about the importance of lifelong continuing education.

She prioritizes her participation in community outreach events and patient education. Meaghan has presented at local conferences, support groups, universities, and physician offices across topics including dysphagia management in the head and neck cancer population, deviations from typical in the aging swallow, communication changes in the dementia population, and risk mitigation and decision-making in dysphagia.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Meaghan’s story of how she became a private practice owner
• The importance of selling your services
• How having a private practice allows you to prioritize what matters with your patients
• Ways to find referrals for your practice
• The key to successful word-of-mouth marketing
• What you need to know if you struggle with a fear of failure
• The mindset shift from selling to advocating
• How to perfect your elevator pitch when asking for referrals from medical practices
• The importance of thinking and acting like a business owner
• What it’s like to own a private practice as a mom

I hope you enjoyed your conversation with Meaghan! She is a perfect example of someone who turned her niche clinical interests into a thriving business where she has full control over which populations she works with.

If you would like to know more about how we can help you start your private practice (just like we helped Meaghan!) please visit www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com.

Whether you want to start 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:

Visit Meaghan’s website: https://ssnrtx.com/

Follow Meaghan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ssnr_tx/

Follow Meaghan on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068718896885

Where We Can Connect:

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

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I’m sharing something a little different. I sat down with Rachel Archambault, who is a speech-language pathologist and trauma educator. 

She started her Instagram account and consulting practice, The PTSD SLP, after experiencing a traumatic event at work. This experience led Rachel to discover trauma-informed care and how it could help her better serve her students and professionals understand how

In this episode, she talks about what trauma-informed care is, why it matters, and how to apply the principles to your interactions.

This isn’t a private practice-specific episode but it’s information that all private practitioners need - even if you don’t think you need to know it. I promise. This episode is well worth your time because it will inform how you practice and how to interact with not just clients, but everyone you know. 

Rachel Archambault, MA CCC SLP, is an SLP Program Specialist in Broward County Florida. Previously, she was an SLP at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida. On 2/14/18, a traumatic event happened at her workplace. This led her to look up resources for her students who had undergone trauma. 

She found trauma-informed care and has been presenting to SLPs and related fields ever since. Rachel created @PTSD.SLP to serve as a place where she could post resources, answer questions, and support SLPs using trauma-informed care. Rachel is also a cohost of the Speech Science Podcast. 

She recently created PTSD SLP, LLC to provide trauma-informed consultations and presentations to educators and healthcare providers.  

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• The tragedy that got Rachel into trauma-informed care 
• The first steps if you want to become more trauma-informed
• Why it’s important that we understand the trauma people have experienced
• How to find out what trauma someone has experienced in a sensitive way 
• Using inclusive and non-violent language to avoid causing more harm 
• The importance of having an emotional regulation toolbox

I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Rachel. People like her are making a huge impact and I hope that she inspires you to embrace trauma-informed care in your practice. To learn more about trauma-informed care and Rachel Archambault's work, please visit https://www.ptsdslp.com/ and follow her on Instagram. 

Whether you want to start 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: 

Visit the PTSD SLP website: https://www.ptsdslp.com/

Follow Rachel on Instagram: Instagram.com/ptsd.SLP

Get a copy of What Happened to You: https://www.amazon.com/What-Happened-You-Understanding-Resilience/dp/1250223180

Where We Can Connect: 

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

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Interested in learning more about turning your niche as an SLP or OT into a thriving private practice? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories.

I sat down with Jaime Perez, who is a speech-language pathologist and lactation consultant with a private practice in Tampa, Florida. She started her private practice after facing burnout in the hospital setting and wanting to spend more time with her family.

I got to know Jamie during her time in the Start program and it has been so exciting to watch her find her niche in feeding therapy.

In this episode she talks about her journey from event planner to SLP, finding her calling in the NICU, and how private practice empowered her to put her family first.

Jaime Kaley Perez is an ASHA-certified Speech Language Pathologist, passionate feeding specialist, and mother of two crazy boys. She is also a Certified Neonatal Therapist, Certified Neonatal Massage Therapist, Certified Lactation Counselor, and has been treating medically complex infants and children in hospitals and neonatal intensive care units for over 10 years.

She loves tiny humans and is a strong patient advocate and supporter of parents. She tackles feeding difficulties with a holistic focus and believes the best care is family-centered.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Jaime’s journey to becoming a pediatric SLP that worked in the NICU
• How you can work a lot less hours and make the same money or more
• Where Jaime does the most marketing for her private practice
• The power of networking and collaboration
• How Jaime became a lactation consultant and why it is so helpful during speech services
• Why Jaime decided on a mobile private practice
• The freedom you get when you have a private practice
• The fulfillment you get from building a private practice yourself
• How to bring your joy back as an SLP or OT

I hope you loved this conversation with Jaime! I love how she found her niche in feeding therapy and built a practice that brought her joy for the profession back to life.

She is a perfect example of someone who had fears about jumping into private practice, but took a chance on herself and was rewarded with the flexibility and freedom she craved.

If you would like our help to start your private practice - just like we helped Jaime get started - please visit StartYourPrivatePractice.com

Whether you want to start 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:

Visit Jaime’s website: www.thrivingjoy.com

Follow Jaime on Instagram: Instagram.com/thrivingjoytherapy

Where We Can Connect:

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

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Ever wish you could hear directly from the “regular” SLPs or OTs who transformed into successful private practitioners after going through the Start Your Private Practice Program?

Their words?

Their experience?

Their outcomes from being in the program?

Well, now you can!

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I’m going to introduce you to 3 amazing Start Your Private Practice student alums: Lexey Pruitt, Claire Powers, and Asha LeRay.

All 3 of these Start students came from different backgrounds and had their own unique reasons for starting their own private practices. Some had experienced burnout early on in their careers, and others wanted more freedom and flexibility in their day-to-day lives for their current - or future families.

All 3 of these students had the same fears, doubts, and hesitations as you do, but they decided to go for it, join The Start Your Private Practice Program, and create a new future for themselves!

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How fast your life can completely change with a private practice
• How a private practice helps you do what you are passionate about and receive the financial stability you deserve
• Tips for maintaining your private practice even during a big move
• What it’s like to transition from part-time to full-time in your private practice
• How you can use your skills to grow your private practice
• The power of working in under-served populations
• How having a private practice can change the life of your whole family
• The freedom to work with clients the way you know can truly help them
• Great ways to get clients for your private practice
• The confidence being a private practice owner gives you
• The best way to grow your income in a shorter amount of time

Weren’t those stories so powerful? I hope that as you listened to their stories you saw yourself in various aspects of their lives and can see how they’ve transformed their careers by being in private practice.

They took a chance on themselves by joining the Start program, and it worked to give them the future they needed whether they were seeking freedom, flexibility, fulfillment, or financial independence.

Enrollment for the Start Your Private Practice Program is OPEN! Come join the *exact same Program* used by our panelists by going to: www.PrivatePracticeCourse.com!

Whether you want to start 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:

Join us in the Start Your Private Practice program: www.PrivatePracticeCourse.com

Where We Can Connect:

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

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/