Private Practice Success Stories

For many SLPs and OTs, the path to this career isn’t always straightforward.

And that’s okay!

If you are looking for a way to integrate your unique career path into private practice, you’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories.

I sat down with Jaimie Gant, a Start Your Private Practice student, whose previous career in law enforcement led her to discover the field of speech pathology. She was then driven to open her own private practice by the desire to be her own boss.

In this episode she talks about her unconventional path to being an SLP, how networking helped her find more clients, and why she recommends a five-year plan for clinicians to determine if private practice is right for them.

Jaimie Gant, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is the owner and founder of Avec Therapy Services, a speech therapy private practice in Tampa, FL. Jaimie is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and Certified Dementia Practitioner with experience in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation settings.

Her diverse background in healthcare, criminal justice, and state regulatory licensure and investigations has allowed her to serve her community in a variety of settings. Jaimie’s mission at Avec is to connect with clients and families to provide personalized care that improves the quality of their lives.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• When Jaimie decided to shift careers and become an SLP
• When she knew that private practice was right for her
• How Jaimie found her first client
• The power we have to continuously change and evolve
• Tips for finding clients for your private practice
• How to decide what payer sources to accept
• The impact of having a willingness to learn something new
• The benefits of making a five-year plan for your life and business
• Jaimie’s plans for the future of her private practice

I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Jaimie! I love how she discovered her passion for SLP and private practice through her career experience in criminal justice. She is a perfect example of someone who found flexibility and independence through owning her own private practice.

Private Practice Bootcamp starts next week! Come join us to learn how to plan a private practice that's perfect for you. Register now by requesting to join the Pop Up Facebook Group.

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:

Register for the Private Practice Bootcamp: https://www.facebook.com/groups/857453469713890

Visit Jaimie’s website: https://www.avectherapy.com/

Follow Jaimie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avectherapy/

Follow Jaimie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechwithjaimie/

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 go all in on your private practice?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with one of my students Michael Johnston to discuss how she did it! I got to know Michael in the Start Your Private Practice Program and oh my goodness has she grown quickly!

She is one year into her private practice journey and already has a multidisciplinary practice serving 100 clients a week because she’s in a rural area that desperately needs services because it didn’t have any pediatric therapy services.

In addition to wanting to serve her community, Michael started her private practice to have more flexibility for her family. Michael is the type that likes to go “All In” and she has with her private practice.

Whether you live in a rural or populated area, if you’ve been thinking about starting a private practice to fill your needs, your family's needs, and the needs of people in your community, this is a must-listen episode!

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• When Michael made the decision to go full-time with her own private practice
• How Michael filled the need for services in her community
• The payer sources Michael accepts in her private practice
• How to find your very first clients
• The power of word-of-mouth referrals and reviews
• Why Michael decided to offer multiple disciplines in her practice instead of just speech
• Where Michael’s private practice is located and her plans for expansion

I hope you found this episode with Michael inspiring! I love how dedicated she is to her community and how she wants to bring services and jobs to her local area. She is a perfect example of someone who had a goal and went all in to get it. And you can too.

If you would like to know more about our Programs and how we work with SLPs and OTs - just like Michael to start and grow their practices, please visit www.IndependentClinician.com/learn-with-jena/.

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 Michael’s website: https://www.fundamentalpediatrictherapy.com/

Follow Michael on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fundamental_pediatrictherapy

Follow Michael on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FUNdamentalpediatrictherapy

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 one of my favorite episodes of the year: My Private Practice Predictions for 2024! And specifically, I’m talking about how to thrive in a changing economic landscape.

I’m going to make 3 BIG predictions that you’re going to want to know if you’re thinking about starting your private practice this year.

I’ll give you a hint of one of them: The Importance of Diversification of Income.

I tell my students in the Start and Grow Your Private Practice programs all the time about how business isn't something that you learn once. Just like you're a lifelong learner for clinical education, it's important to invest in being a lifelong learner for your business education.

One of the reasons is that this landscape of practice changes every few years, and you need to be prepared and know how to navigate the ups and downs, the feast and famine cycles, and different positive and negative trends when it comes to things like finances, marketing, hiring, and more.

So I know what I'm talking about. And no matter where you are in the private practice journey, I know that the information that I'm about to share can really help you.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How we are planning to support even more students in our programs this year
• The shift toward lifestyle private practices
• Positioning your private practice in a changing economy
• Why diversification of income is crucial

Those are my private practice predictions for 2024!

I hope you're feeling as energized and excited about the future of private practice as I am. My word for 2024 is 'Evolve' – because it's all about evolving with the times, simplifying complexities, and thriving in our practices.

Beginners, Private Practice Bootcamp starts on January 22nd! Click here to register by requesting to join the private Facebook group!

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 the Private Practice Bootcamp: www.PlanYourPrivatePractice.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/

Have you ever considered running a private practice while living abroad?

I sat down with Dyan Dickerson who is a speech-language pathologist with a virtual, floortime-focused private practice in the US and London. Dyan discovered her passion for floortime therapy after working with a very special child and his family during undergrad.

In this episode, Dyan shares her love of floortime therapy and talks about how starting her own private practice allowed her the freedom to move abroad with her family while still seeing clients virtually.

Dyan is an SLP, private practice owner, and mom working in America and the UK. Dyan worked at The Floortime Center in Bethesda MD straight out of grad school after falling in love with the Floortime Approach and DIR model in her undergraduate program.

She learned from a team of amazing professionals while working there and was able to be a part of some great experiences from giving trainings, lectures both stateside and abroad, and being a part of a top-notch team.

But she always wanted to open her own practice one day, having control over her therapy, schedule, and programs. And when her family started to grow- it was the perfect time to make the switch. She is passionate about supporting and advocating for neurodivergent children and their families and sees individual clients, has intensive programs, and helps to train other therapists wanting to use a child-led, developmental therapy approach.

As a private practice owner, she sees the importance of keeping up collaborative relationships as well as continuing her education with courses around her niche.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Dyan’s journey into private practice
• The power of finding your clinical passion
• How Dyan packed up her family and private practice and moved to London
• How intensives can be used in your therapy sessions
• Creating a private practice that fits around your life not the other way around
• The freedom and flexibility to do what you want, where you want with a private practice
• Dyans plans for the future of her private practice
• Why you need people to collaborate with, even as a private practice owner

I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Dyan! She is a perfect example of someone who found the flexibility and freedom to travel and make her own schedule by starting her own private practice.

Want our help to start or grow your private practice in a strategic and profitable way? Please visit https://independentclinician.com/learn-with-jena/!

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 Dyan’s website: https://www.floortimefla.com/

Visit Dyan’s TpT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Floortime-Florida

Follow Dyan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floortimefla/?hl=en

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 about starting a private practice to find more flexibility in your life? You’re going to love this episode!

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Martha Boiardt, a Grow Your Private Practice student who started her private practice in 2020 after becoming a mom and wanting the flexibility to spend more time with her family.

Martha talks about how she went from working for a private practice to starting her own! Starting her private practice gave her the flexibility and freedom she needed as a parent to care for her own children while continuing to serve the needs of children in her community.

She also discusses the importance of parent coaching and her future plans to offer a support group to her clients' families.

Martha Boiardt, MS, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist based in Miami, FL. She became a practicing SLP in 2010, working in private practice, public schools, and specialized private schools.

In 2014, she founded Miami Speech Therapy with the goal of running a mobile practice that focused on a family-centered approach for each client. When she is not working with clients in their homes and schools, she enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 children, and their pets Allie and Sunny.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Martha went from working at a private practice to starting her own
• The benefits of having your own private practice
• How Martha discovered the type of business owner she wanted to be
• The types of clients she serves in her private practice
• How Martha is incorporating parent coaching into her practice
• A fantastic way to get referrals for your business
• Martha’s plan for the future of her private practice
• The power of collaborating with other professionals

I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Martha! I love how she talked about how her priorities changed once she became a parent. She found that serving families through her private practice allowed her to feel fulfilled and have more freedom to spend time with her family.

Want our help to start or grow your private practice in a strategic and profitable way - just like we helped Martha? Please visit https://independentclinician.com/learn-with-jena/!

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 Martha’s website: http://www.miamispeechtx.com/

Follow Martha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miamispeechtherapy/

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 what the potential is if you just start your private practice as a side gig?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Gina Sanfelippo who started her private practice on the side shortly after graduating. After gaining experience and seeing the growth potential, Gina left her school position in June 2023 to focus on expanding her private practice.

I got to know Gina during her time in the Grow Your Private Practice Program. It has been amazing to watch her private practice become successful while also finding a better work-life balance and being able to focus on her expertise and passion in assistive technology.

In this episode, she talks about starting out by seeing private clients on the side of her full-time school job, growing her business, and hiring. She found that working with her own clients was more energizing and fulfilling, and her client base grew steadily, leading to a successful transition.

Gina Sanfelippo is a pediatric speech therapy private practice owner specializing in assistive communication (AAC), along with providing therapy in areas like early intervention and articulation. She focuses on neurodiversity-affirming and child-led therapy strategies that support the whole person in order to see successful therapy outcomes.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Gina’s journey into private practice
• The fulfillment Gina found by picking her own specialty and working with her own clients
• How quickly and steadily Gina grew her private practice
• How Gina embraced hiring to help balance her workload
• How school contracts can help keep your options open and increase your income
• Why setting boundaries can prevent burnout as a business owner
• The grace we all need to have with ourselves, particularly with mistakes
• The power of leading with helpfulness
• How private practice can help you embrace living in the moment

I hope you loved this episode with Gina! She is a perfect example of someone who transitioned to a full-time private practice and was able to hire to help balance her workload and allow her to continue coaching basketball, which was important to her. She was then able to protect her boundaries, prevent burnout, and find a better work-life balance.

Want our help to start or grow your private practice in a strategic and profitable way - just like we helped Gina, please visit https://independentclinician.com/learn-with-jena/

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 Gina’s website: https://www.bktherapyllc.com/

Follow Gina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bees_knees_speech_therapy

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/

Have you been thinking about starting a private practice so that you can provide more personalized care for your ideal clients and have more work-life balance? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories! 

I sat down with Lexey Pruitt, a Start and Grow Your Private Practice student who started her private practice on the side when living in St. Louis and then moved to Houston and has been building it from there.

In this episode, she talks about establishing new connections and marketing herself in a new city, how she receives a lot of referrals through a directory associated with a certification program, and the benefits of being an in-home mobile therapist, which often allows for more personalized care and time for parent coaching. 

Lexey Pruitt is a certified speech language pathologist, founder of Leading Little Language, LLC, and an NLA-trained clinician. Lexey specializes in early language development and Gestalt Language Processing. 

After graduating from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Lexey worked in the school system in southern Illinois, where she found her love for early language and working with non-speaking and Autistic children. 

She initially opened her private practice as a part-time practice by driving to clients' homes and daycares in St. Louis, MO, and the southern Illinois area, after school hours and on summer breaks. Following a move to Houston, TX, Lexey reopened her business as a full-time venture and enjoyed its growth over the last year!

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• The moment Lexey knew she wanted to pursue private practice
• What it’s like to start a private practice in a new area 
• The marketing activities Lexey did to grow her practice
• The types of clients that Lexey gets to work with in her private practice
• How Lexey became trained in Gestalt language processing
• How having a private practice enabled Lexey to provide coaching to parents
• Lexey’s goals for growth in the next 6-12 months in her business
• How you can get out of the day-to-day activities by hiring help
• How life-changing the income from your private practice can be 

I hope you loved this conversation with Lexey! Her story is so inspiring. She is a perfect example of someone who had a goal and made it happen. 

If you would like to know more about our Programs and how we help support SLPs and OTs - just like Lexey - and you want our help to start and grow your private practice,  please visit https://independentclinician.com/learn-with-jena/.

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: 

Follow Lexey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadinglittlelanguage/

Follow Lexey on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadinglittlelanguage

NLA-trained clinician registry: https://www.meaningfulspeechregistry.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/

Looking for flexibility and freedom in your life? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories!

I sat down with Victoria King Erb. She started her private practice during the pandemic in 2020 after she almost left the profession due to high caseloads and difficulty providing children with quality services.

I got to know Victoria during her time in the Start and Grow Your Private Practice Programs and it has been amazing to watch her start her practice and find the flexibility needed as a new mom and a business owner to successfully be able to grow.

In this episode, she talks about expanding her therapy practice, hiring help, getting a physical location, and how she became credentialed with insurance companies to accommodate more clients.

Victoria King Erb is a pediatric speech-language pathologist located in Southern California. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Redlands. She’s been an SLP for over 5 years. She started as an SLP in the public schools.

Then she started the Start Your Private Practice program during the pandemic and opened her practice in the summer of 2020. She started seeing private clients in the home and transitioned to clinic-based services over a year ago.

She has been married for two years to her husband who is a physical therapist and they just had a baby girl this summer.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Why Victoria decided to start a private practice
• The clients Victoria serves in her practice
• When you know it’s time to hire help
• The insurance credentialing process and how it helps you serve more clients
• When Victoria knew it was time to grow into a physical location
• The possibilities available when you have your own private practice
• The flexibility private practice gives you
• How Victoria plans to grow her private practice in the near future

I hope you loved this conversation with Victoria! She is a perfect example of someone who started small but was slowly able to expand her services all while juggling a move, maternity leave, and motherhood.

She now has the flexibility and financial freedom she strived for all while providing high-quality services to children and their families.

If you want our help to start or grow your private practice (just like we've helped Victoria!) please visit https://independentclinician.com/learn-with-jena/.

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 Victoria’s website: https://www.kingspeechtherapyservices.com/

Follow Victoria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/king.speech.therapy/?hl=en

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/

Is your work impacting your mental health? 

You’re not alone. In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Renée Bruder to talk about how starting a private practice allowed her to finally start prioritizing her own mental health and self-care.

I got to know Renée during her time in the Grow Your Private Practice Program where it’s been amazing to watch her practice grow to be exactly what she needs. 

In this episode, she talks about her mental health, how she’s embraced the neurodiversity movement and shifted her practice to work more with autistic children and Gestalt Language Processors, and her goals of expanding her income streams, hiring, and moving to a larger office space.

If you’ve been thinking about starting or growing a private practice and want to make sure you're prioritizing your health in the process, this is a must-listen episode!

Renée Bruder is a pediatric speech language pathologist and owner of Heyday Speech & Language Therapy just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She began her practice a little over a year ago with the goal of creating the work-life balance she so desperately needed. 

Her practice mission is to be committed to providing effective therapy services using a child-led, play-based approach that values and honors each child's strengths while providing support and guidance toward authentic and meaningful communication. 

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Renée’s journey into speech and why she decided to start a private practice
• The impact her career had on her mental health 
• The types of clients that Renée works with in her private practice
• How Renée was finally able to prioritize self-care with her private practice
• Why private practice is a great option for neurodiverse individuals
• Why Renée decided to take a neurodiversity-affirming approach in her private practice
• How she plans to grow her private practice in the future
• Tips for marketing your private practice
• The momentum that builds when you start growing your practice

I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Renée! She is a perfect example of someone who didn't let herself stay stuck in a position or a role that wasn't serving her, and instead created a life and a career for herself that is supportive and flexible, which is not only helping her but helping her clients too.

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 https://independentclinician.com/learn-with-jena/

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 Heydey Speech website: https://www.heydayspeech.com/

Follow Heydey Speech on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heydayspeechslp/

Follow Heydey Speech on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heydayspeech

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 if you should start a private practice so that you can have more flexibility for your family? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories!

I sat down with Krista Jones to discuss how she did just that. She started her private practice after realizing that the long hours and low pay for her job weren’t enough for her family.

I’ve gotten to know Krista during her time in the Grow Your Private Practice Program and it has been amazing to watch her take off and truly build a practice that she loves while having the income and time flexibility that her family needs.

In this episode she talks about where she gets most of her referrals- hint: it’s a great strategy for pediatric clinicians! She also discusses what she’s doing with her clinic space and her plans to hire additional staff so that her clinic can run without her so that she can focus on other aspects of her business and still be there for her family.

Krista was born and raised in Southern California and moved to Georgia in August 2022. She started her SLP journey as a CF in an outpatient clinic treating individuals across the lifespan, however, the majority of her caseload was "late talkers" ages 0-3.

After 2 years at the clinic, she transitioned to an elementary school in order to spend more time with her children. Krista always knew she wanted to eventually open her own speech clinic, and when she and her family moved to GA, the opportunity presented itself!

She started offering free speech and language screenings to preschools and just recently opened her brick-and-mortar! She is looking forward to hiring soon and growing her practice.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Krista’s experience as an SLP and why she decided private practice was right for her
• How Krista began to grow her caseload for her private practice
• Where she gets most of her referrals
• The clinic Krista opened in order to help even more patients
• How Krista decided how much clinic space she needed for her future vision
• The flexibility you get with your private practice to be with your family
• The tragic circumstances that lit a fire under Krista to make her private practice dream a reality
• Krista’s plans for the future of her private practice

I hope you loved this episode with Krista! She is a perfect example of someone who knew that she was stuck in a job that wasn't supporting her and that in order for things to change, she needed to make a change. And just like Krista, you can do this too.

If you would like to know more about our Programs and how we help support SLPs and OTs - just like we supported Krista, please visit https://independentclinician.com/learn-with-jena/.

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 Krista’s website: www.sweettalkersga.com

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweettalkersga/

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/