Private Practice Success Stories

Are you thinking about starting a private practice but want to keep it small?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Heather Caska who plans to do just that. She talks about her clinic space, how she gets clients, how she wants to stay small on purpose, and why growth doesn't mean having a large practice.

If you've been thinking about starting a private practice to serve a specific population, or if you want to see an example of a smaller but thriving private practice, you aren’t going to want to miss this episode.

Heather is a certified speech-language pathologist and owner of HBC Language and Literacy. She has over 10 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist. Heather is also the President of the Arizona Branch of the International Dyslexia Association.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona and completed her Master's in Clinical Speech-Language Pathology from Northern Arizona University.

She has experience working with a variety of communication disorders; however, her true passion lies in working with children with dyslexia and their families and educating other SLPs on their role in early identification of dyslexia.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Heather’s SLP journey and why she decided to start her private practice
• How Heather gets her clients
• The transition from home health to a brick-and-mortar practice
• Who Heather helps in her private practice and what she does for them
• Why Heather decided to keep her private practice small
• How Heather keeps sight of what really matters and sets boundaries in her business
• The other areas Heather wants to explore outside of clinical practice

I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Heather! Growth means different things to different people, and my goal for you and anyone in the Grow Your Private Practice program is to help you grow your private practice to a level that feels right for you. For many people, that means serving your community without overbooking your schedule.

To learn more about the Grow Your Private Practice Program, visit GrowYourPrivatePractice.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 Heather’s website: https://www.soarwithwords.com/

Follow Heather on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soarwithwords/

Learn more about dyslexia education: https://soarwithwords.teachable.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/

Are you interested in the idea of creating a private practice that is fun and casual?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Julie Barry who created a private practice that isn’t stuffy or rigid. She made it her own and now she gets to keep it casual with her private clients.

Julie busts a ton of private practice myths and shares a refreshing perspective on what private practice can be. If you've been thinking about starting a private practice, but you're a more casual person and just want to deliver effective therapy without all of the stuffiness, this episode is for you.

Julie Barry is in her 12th year as a practicing clinician. She has worked in acute care, subacute rehab, SNF, IP/OP pediatrics, NICU, specialized school, preschool, private practice and she now has her own private practice.

Julie loves training and mentoring newer clinicians - it’s what shaped her into the type of clinician she is today.

Later in her career, she discovered a passion for motor speech disorders, particularly Childhood Apraxia of Speech. As of October 2022, she is a PROMPT-trained clinician and has been focusing on developing this craft to best serve her caseload.

Her caseload currently consists mostly of late-talkers, early autism, apraxia, preschool speech sound disorders, and all things language.

When not working as an SLP she is navigating parenthood with her husband Nick and their boys ages 4 and 7.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Julie’s experience as a private practitioner and how she keeps it casual
• Why Julie prioritizes approachability with her clients
• The transition from a regular SLP job to private practice
• Why your work is your best representation of you as a therapist
• How Julie brings in clients through referrals and social media
• Private practice myths that many people believe and why they aren’t true
• The flexibility Julie has now that she is a private practitioner
• Why you shouldn’t wait until you’re “ready” to dip your toes in private practice
• The power of creating policies and sticking to them
• How Julie prioritizes balance and being present

I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Julie! I love how authentic she is and now she attracts the right clients for her. When you have your own private practice, you can make your own decisions and your own rules. There’s no such thing as a perfect private practice, only one that’s perfect for you.

Starting a private practice can be complicated. You need a Roadmap - quick! Download our free Private Practice Roadmap to learn how to get started. www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com/Roadmap

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:

Get your free Private Practice Roadmap: www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com/Roadmap

Follow Julie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkwithtoys/

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/

Are you experiencing burnout?

With the large caseload sizes and low pay, this is something that many SLP and OTs are facing, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave the field you love.

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Jamie Giannino, a Start Your Private Practice student, who experienced burnout and reached a point where she was ready to leave her career as an SLP entirely.

However, she decided to take the leap and join the Start program and is now a successful private practice owner whose practice gives her financial freedom and time to prioritize fun in her life…like jet skiing!

If you've had struggles in the past, personal, financial, or otherwise, and you're looking for a better way, private practice could be the answer. Jamie's story is powerful, and I hope that hearing it and how she's been successful as a result is inspiring to you.

Jamie Giannino, MA CCC-SLP is the owner and founder of Wordwise Speech Therapy; a boutique Speech Therapy practice with big plans to help close the accessibility gap in pediatric speech services.

It’s her mission to provide high-quality play-based speech therapy from a place of true connection, with a down-to-earth, fun vibe that kids and families love!

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• The adversity Jamie experienced in her life and career
• The people who changed the course of Jamie’s life
• Why you have to be careful of who you take advice from
• How respect and cultural competence propelled Jamie’s career
• The importance of women supporting women
• How Jamie designed her private practice with fun in mind
• What happened with Jamie joined the Start program
• The cost of staying in certain jobs compared to your private practice
• The problems with what’s happening in the schools
• What a typical day looks like for Jamie as a private practice owner
• Why the best boss for you is you

I hope you enjoyed this episode with Jamie. She has overcome so much and now she gets to set her own schedule, make the money she deserves, and live the lives she always dreamed of. I am so proud of her for taking control of her life and creating her private practice.

To learn how to create a flexible schedule through private practice (just like Jamie!) watch my free training on How to Start Working with Private Clients at www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com/Webinar.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Jamie’s website: https://wordwisespeech.com/

Learn more about Jamie’s coaching program: http://begrowlearnslp.com/

Check out Jamie’s speech foundation: http://www.wordwisespeechfoundation.com/

Follow Jamie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wordwisespeech/

Follow Jamie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speechdirecttherapy

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 with a full team, a robust clinic, and hundreds of clients?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with one of my students, Shanna Klump to talk about how she did just that. She grew quickly from a small private practice to a large brick-and-mortar practice that has a team and environment that supports her needs.

Shanna talks about how she got started and also how she grew quickly, what her private practice looks like, and recommendations for other private practitioners who are looking to have brick-and-mortar clinics with teams

Shanna is the founder and CEO of Kid Connections Therapy and The Apraxia SLP. She has over 15 years of experience in a variety of clinical settings, including public schools and private practice. In all these settings, she has had the opportunity to serve as a graduate student supervisor and a clinical fellowship year supervisor.

In her private practice, she oversees a team of six Speech-Language Pathologists providing services to children with a variety of speech, language, and swallowing/feeding needs. Shanna specializes in assessing and treating speech sound disorders, including Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

Additionally, she has special interests in Down Syndrome and Autism. Shanna believes in the value of the therapist-family relationship and utilizes a family-centered, child-focused approach to her treatment.

She is certified to provide the Hanen It Takes Two to Talk program and is Bridging trained in PROMPT. Through The Apraxia SLP, Shanna offers coaching and consulting to other SLPs specifically on topics related to Childhood Apraxia of Speech and other motor speech disorders.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Shanna started her practice and how the Start program helped her grow
• How accepting insurance grew her business
• How hiring a team has helped Shanna grow her private practice
• How her private practice is supporting her while she goes on maternity leave
• The shift that happens when you commit to your private practice as your sole source of income
• Why boundaries in your private practice are a good thing
• The importance of systems and processes in your business
• How Shanna supports her clients and what her private practice looks like
• What Shanna’s team looks like and how she focuses on employee retention
• The passion project that her private practice has enabled her to pursue

I hope you enjoyed this episode with Shanna! She has amazing energy and has learned to truly think and act like a CEO. I am so proud of the life that she's built and thrilled that she and her husband are welcoming a sweet new baby into their lives with plenty of business support and systems to make a solid maternity leave possible.

She is a perfect example of someone who had a dream and made it happen. If you want to learn more about how we help folks like Shanna grow their private practices, visit GrowYourPrivatePractice.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 Shanna’s website: https://kidconnectionstherapy.com/

Visit The Apraxia SLP website: https://theapraxiaslp.com/

Follow Shanna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidconnectionstherapy/

Follow The Apraxia SLP on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theapraxiaslp/

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/

Are you a neurodiverse SLP thinking about starting a private practice?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Jennifer Corie, a Start Your Private Practice student, who started her practice in 2021 after getting her PhD.

She talks about how she sees clients virtually, how clients find her, her specialties, and why private practice has been great for her as a neurodiverse person.

Jennifer Corie, PhD, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is licensed in Louisiana and telehealth licensed in Florida. Jennifer has 15 years of experience in various settings with pediatric and adult clients. Jennifer started her private practice, Iceberg Therapy Services, in May 2021, and went completely full-time at her practice a year later.

Jennifer primarily provides diagnostic autism services and consultations. She is passionate about using a neurodiversity-affirming approach. Her passion is informed by her personal experience with neurodivergence. Jennifer is a mother of two and enjoys nerdy hobbies in her "free time".

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• The path Jennifer took to start her private practice
• How she chose the types of clients she wants to work with
• The importance of finding the right work environment for you
• Why self-employment is a great option for neurodivergent people
• The income potential with a private practice
• How having a private practice has helped Jennifer as a neurodivergent SLP
• How Jennifer works with her autistic clients
• Where Jennifer finds her clients
• The systems and organization plans Jennifer has for the future of her practice

I hope you enjoyed this episode with Jennifer! I love how she started her private practice so that she could have more flexibility and full control of her environment which has drastically improved her quality of life. She wasn’t able to thrive in traditional SLP settings, so she created her own private practice that had everything she needed.

If you want to learn more about Jennifer, make sure to visit her website, and follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

If you would like help to start your own private practice, just like we helped Jennifer, please visit www.independentclinician.com to learn more about our programs!

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Jennifer’s website: https://www.icebergts.com/

Follow Jennifer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IcebergTherapyServices

Follow Jennifer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iceberg_therapy_services/?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/

Are you wanting to start a private practice but are worried that you are too early in your career?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories. I sat down with one of my Start Your Private Practice students, Bradi O’Rourke, who is a 25-year-old private practice owner.

She was working for another private practice fulfilling school contracts as a contractor and then decided to start her own private practice where she does school contracts and hires contractors to fulfill the work.

She was initially nervous to start a business early in her career but decided that it was now or never and went for it.

Bradi is 25 years old and graduated with her master's degree in communication disorders and sciences in 2021. Bradi attended Eastern Illinois University for both her bachelor's and master's degrees.

She launched her private practice called Braxy Speech Therapy soon after receiving her ASHA CCC. Bradi is passionate about providing play-based therapy and having families involved in her therapy sessions. She also is thankful that she has been able to hire SLPs to see private clients and to contract with schools while paying them a high rate that reflects their worth.

Bradi Plans to move to Nashville in June of 2023 and has big plans for Braxy Speech Therapy, including opening up a physical clinic space.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Why Bradi decided to start a private practice
• Why you don’t need decades of experience to start a private practice
• The different ways that Bradi got her first clients
• The huge need for private practitioners
• Why you can’t get stuck in analysis paralysis
• How Bradi works with contractors to run her private practice
• How the Start program helped Bradi learn the ins and outs of starting a business
• Bradi’s plans for expanding to a physical private practice location
• The power of a well-optimized website when moving your practice to a new city

I hope you enjoyed this episode with Bradi! I love that she knows that she has a lot to learn, and she is comfortable enough to learn as she goes. That’s such a great trait to have as a business owner!

If you want to learn more from Bradi, you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok!

Want help starting your private practice just like we helped Bradi? Join The Start Your Private Practice Program today by visiting StartYourPrivatePractice.com!

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Bradi’s website: https://www.braxyspeechtherapy.com/

Check out Bradi’s TpT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:Eat%20Speech%20Repeat

Follow Bradi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braxy_speech_therapy/

Follow Bradi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Braxyspeechtherapy

Follow Bradi on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eat_speech_repeat?lang=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 an adults-focused private practice?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with one of my Start Your Private Practice students, Lauren Schwabish, to talk about how she started her own private practice during the pandemic and is loving working with adults with brain injuries, aphasia, and executive functioning deficits.

Lauren shares where she gets clients, where she sees clients, how she handles billing, and her plans to get more into consulting.

Lauren Schwabish M.S., CCC-SLP is the owner of Neuro Speech Services, a private practice based in Northern Virginia, specializing in person-centered assessment and treatment of cognitive-communicative disorders related to stroke, brain injury, concussion, ADHD, and other neurologic and neurodegenerative conditions.

Lauren received her Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in Communicative Disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds a master’s degree in communication sciences from Hunter College of the City University of New York. She is licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is a certified member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

She has over 22 years of experience working in hospitals and acute rehabilitation centers and is passionate about providing meaningful and accessible health education about the brain to patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Lauren got started in her career and why she decided to start a private practice
• Why Lauren loves being a private practice owner
• How the Start program taught her the business skills she needed to succeed
• The importance of building up a referral network
• The freedom private practice gives you to do the work you’re passionate about
• The consulting work that Lauren is doing along with her private practice work
• Lauren’s plans for her business in the future

I hope you enjoyed this episode with Lauren! She took her decades of experience and is now fully in control of her life and her clinical practice by having her own private practice. She is an example of someone who wanted something and went for it and I hope you found her story as inspiring as I did.

If you want to learn more about how we help SLPs and OTs start their own private practices, just like we helped Lauren, head over to https://independentclinician.com/learn-with-jena/.

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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 Lauren’s website: https://www.neurospeechservices.com/

Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurospeechservices/

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/

Should your private practice accept insurance?

This is something that a lot of SLPs and OTs wonder about when they open their private practice. There are many things to consider, and in this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Lauren Hastings to dive into the topic.

Lauren Hastings is a speech-language pathologist, private practitioner, doctoral student, advocate, and educator. Basically, Lauren is a multi-passionate person who I've gotten to know over the years because we're both committed to helping SLPs be successful in private practice.

Lauren is very knowledgeable about insurance and third-party payer sources, and we get into a lively discussion about whether or not private practices should take insurance, higher credentials, and more.

If you’ve been thinking about becoming an insurance provider in your private practice, this is a must-listen episode!

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• The importance of mentors and a community when starting a private practice
• Lauren’s private practice journey
• Tips for streamlining your systems in your private practice
• How boundaries help prevent burnout
• What to consider when you are thinking about accepting insurance
• Why insurance is a great idea for most people
• What getting credentialed means and the process of doing it
• The biggest mistake people make when applying for credentialing
• Laurens plans for the future of her business and why it’s okay to pivot

I hope you enjoyed this episode with Lauren. I love how committed she is to helping private practitioners navigate the insurance world and making it less overwhelming and scary. I also love that she isn’t afraid to pivot and grow.

To learn more about how we can help you start, grow and scale your private practice, please visit IndependentClinician.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:

Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassyslp/?hl=en

Follow Lauren on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenHastingsSLP/

Follow Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-hastings-m-s-ccc-slp-96942b36/

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/

Networking is a great way to attract clients to you, and it can be a huge factor in the success of your private practice.

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with LeslieAnn Williams to talk about her private practice journey. She talks about her background growing up in Trinidad, her goal of growing her private practice to the full-time level, and the importance of networking when it comes to attracting clients.

LeslieAnn is the owner and clinician at Integra Speech LLC, a mobile outpatient practice in Maryland. She serves adults with disorders and diseases of the nervous system and has a particular interest in stroke recovery, dementia care, and voice therapy for persons with Parkinson’s Disease.

If you've been thinking about starting your private practice and you want to hear how one of the students in the Start Your Private Practice program has done it, this is a must-listen episode!

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How LeslieAnn got started as a speech therapist
• Why she decided to join the Start program
• The best way to grow a caseload as a specialty provider
• The power of nurturing and cultivating relationships
• The benefits of opening an adult private practice
• How LeslieAnn started her private practice with the end in mind
• Why you can’t compare your journey to others
• The importance of community when you’re starting and growing a private practice

I hope you enjoyed this conversation! I love how determined LeslieAnn is to have a private practice that allows her to have more control over her life so she can have more flexibility and freedom that will allow her to spend more time with her family. LeslieAnn is the perfect example of someone who has a dream and is going for it.

Want help to start your private practice - just like we've helped LeslieAnn? Let's get you set up and started. Please visit StartYourPrivatePractice.com to learn more.

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 Integra Speech website: https://www.integraspeech.com/

Follow LeslieAnn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrowneyedslp/

Follow LeslieAnn on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075937217454

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 wished that you could hear directly from people who have gone from being regular SLPs or OTS to successful private practitioners after going through the Start Your Private Practice Program?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I’m introducing you to three amazing Start Your Private Practice alums. They are Farwa Husain, Teresa Ochoa, and Claudia Davisson, and they all three came from different backgrounds.

One was a school-based SLP or OT who couldn't wait to get out. One took time off from the profession to raise her kids and then came back and started a private practice working just three days a week, and another started her private practice small and on the side of her job as a school SLP, but actually retired early and has grown her private practice with school contracts and also contractors.

All three of these students had the same fears, doubts, and hesitations that you do, but they decided to go for it and join the Start Your Private Practice program to create a new future for themselves and their families

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• The stories of these three students
• How private practice helps you create change
• The freedom you can get from starting a private practice
• How a private practice can help you take back control of your life and finances
• The benefits of having school contracts
• How having a private practice can impact the lives of your family
• The hardest part of starting a private practice
• The benefits of having a support system when starting out
• Why you don’t need to worry about competition in your area
• Their favorite parts of the program

I hope you found this episode helpful! I love how these students took a chance on themselves and have found so much success. We don’t learn about starting a private practice in grad school, and I am so happy to offer this program so that you can get the help and support you need to start your private practice and take back control of your life and finances!

Making the decision to start a private practice is a big decision - but it could also be the best decision. I can’t wait to help you start your private practice. To join the Start Your Private Practice Program, visit 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 the Start Your Private Practice Program

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/