Private Practice Success Stories

Do you feel trapped working at your current employer? You’re not alone. Many SLPs and OTs feel this way.

In this episode of Private Practice Success stories, I sat down with Sarah Sweeney, one of my Grow Your Private Practice students, to talk about how she felt trapped as well, which led her to start her own speech therapy private practice and turn her life around.

Sarah Sweeney is a board-licensed and certified speech-language pathologist with a special interest in orofacial myofunctional disorders and pediatric feeding. She graduated with a Master’s in Communication Disorders in 2017 from the University of Virginia.

Sarah’s special trainings and methods include International Association of Orofacial Myology (IAOM)™, PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets), The D’Onofrio Institute Diagnosing and Treating OMDs, DIRFloortime, and Feed the Peds.

During her spare time, she enjoys running, making music, researching, and spending time with her husband Luke, their son Finn, and her big mutt named Beau.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Why Sarah decided to start her private practice
• Surrounding yourself with people who believe in you
• The importance of exploring your relationship with money
• Being transparent with your private practice
• Setting boundaries
• How Sarah transitioned to having an office space
• Staying in your zone of genius and hiring
• The balance you can get with a private practice
• Using your creativity in your private practice

I love Sarah’s energy, how direct she is, and how she is creating a career and life that she loves. She saw a gap in her community and decided to fill it which gave her so much career satisfaction, freedom, and balance.

To learn more about how we help folks like Sarah inside of the Grow Your Private Practice Program, visit www.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:

Check out Sarah’s website: https://www.mysunshinespeech.com/

Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinespeechandmyo/

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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

Are you planning to leave your job in the next few months and shift into your own private practice full-time?

Starting your private practice part-time is the best way to start but it’s not the best way to grow. Most folks can handle seeing a handful of private clients after work and on the weekends, but if the word is out about your practice and your caseload is full, it’s time to start thinking about the steps that you need to take to safely leave your job and shift into full-time private practice.

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I’m sharing the 3 steps you need to take to successfully shift into full-time private practice. You’ll learn how to make sure that you’re ready to make the transition and the things you need to have in place so that you can hit the ground running.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:



• The impact of the pandemic on private practices
• Why you have the capability to run a thriving business
• Doing the math before leaving your job
• Picking a date to leave your job
• Tips for using caseload fillers
• Questions to ask yourself before you leave
• What’s included in the Grow Your Private Practice program

I hope this episode is helpful, especially if you’re thinking about leaving your job soon to pursue your private practice full-time. Going all in on your private practice is a big deal and I want to make sure you’re ready for it.

If you want help to shift into private practice full-time and make sure you hit the ground running when you leave your job, we would love to help you. Please visit www.GrowYourPrivatePractice.com/fulltime 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:

Learn more about the Grow Your Private Practice program: www.growyourprivatepractice.com/fulltime

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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

Are you looking to start a private practice on the side and transition to full-time private practice pretty quickly?

It’s amazing how fast you can grow when you get your private practice started. In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with one of my students, Lisa Geary, to talk about how she started and grew her private practice significantly in just one year.

Lisa is a speech-language pathologist with over 25 years of experience in a variety of settings including skilled nursing, outpatient rehab, public schools, and higher education. She served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at a university in Maryland, and she also worked as Learning Consultant for an AAC vendor company.

Following her relocation to Virginia, Lisa decided to follow her big dream and open her own speech-language therapy practice. Lisa uses space in her husband's dental office, and she has enjoyed converting former dental operatories into children's therapy rooms.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Lisa got started with her private practice
• How Lisa got her first clients
• Tips for working with insurance
• Standing out in your niche
• What Lisa was able to accomplish in a year
• Why businesses need systems to scale
• Lisa’s plans for hiring and growing her business further
• Being proactive about your finances

I love how Lisa knew that she wanted to have a private practice and just went for it. Now she is expanding beyond her wildest dreams, and I am so excited for her, her clients, and her community. She is a perfect example of what is truly possible for you when you take the plunge and start your own practice.

Fall Enrollment for the Start Your Private Practice Program is open through Friday! If you want help to start your private practice step-by-step and go through the exact same program Lisa did to get her ducks in a row and start seeing clients, come join us!

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 Lisa’s website: https://www.yorktowntherapy.com/

Follow Lisa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yorktowntherapy

Enroll for Start Your Private Practice: 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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Kristin Kudarauskas, a Start Your Private Practice and Grow Your Private Practice student, to talk about how she started a private practice that serves her community.

Kristin shares her journey of starting her private practice, how her faith supported her through the entire process, and how she uses one of our Casefiller Strategies that we teach in the Grow Your Private Practice program.

Kristin received her Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Emerson College in 2005. Considered a “Jackie of all trades,” she has served families and their loved ones from age 4 to 104 for over 17 years.

Early on, she had the honor to work with students in various public and private school systems, with a specific focus on enhancing communication for students on the Autism Spectrum and with moderate to severe physical disabilities. Kristin transitioned to serving adults with both developmental and acquired speech, language, voice, cognitive, and swallow deficits. It has been her dream to open and thrive in her own private practice to serve the greater community in which she lives. She resides in Fredericksburg, VA with her husband, three children, and two dogs.

Kristin holds her Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, as well as her Speech-Language Pathology license in the state of Virginia. A lifelong learner, Kristin enjoys engaging in a variety of continuing education courses to ensure her treatment protocols are effective and timely, providing top-of-the-line evidence-based approaches.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Kristin knew it was time to start her private practice
• When she decided to go all-in on her private practice
• How Kristin’s faith has carried her through her private practice journey
• The values that Kristin operates her business around
• The importance of building trust within your community
• Creating a practice that serves you

I have known Kristin for almost 20 years, so I may be a bit biased, but her dedication to her community and her values are truly inspiring. She is the perfect example of someone who had a great career as an SLP and worked in a variety of settings and then finally decided that she was ready to take full control over her professional, personal and financial life.

If you want to know more about our programs and see how we supported Kristin and how we can help you too, make sure to visit www.independentclinician.com.

Also, Private Practice Bootcamp starts TODAY! If you want help to plan a private practice that's perfect for you, come join us! This is our last big, free event of the year, so don't miss it.

Resources Mentioned:

Join the Private Practice Bootcamp: https://www.startyourprivatepractice.com/sept2022-bootcamp-o

Check out Kristin’s website: https://www.chancellortherapysolutions.com/

Follow Kristin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chancellortherapy/

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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

Are you holding back from starting your private practice because you’re worried that you don’t have enough money saved up?

This is what I hear from many SLPs and OTs, but you don’t actually have to have a bunch of money saved up! You can keep your costs very low at the start and grow as your practice grows.

In today’s episode of Private Practice Success stories, I sat down with Michelle Eliason who didn’t let the investment scare her. She started her private practice debt-free from her kitchen table and now she has grown it to two different locations!

Michelle Eliason is an Occupational Therapist and private practice owner. She began a consulting company in 2016 and now owns two neurological and physical restorative outpatient practices in New York as well as an online mentorship and resource site for occupational therapy students and practitioners seeking to utilize their full scope in clinical practice.

Michelle is now an OT mentor for our Start Your Private Practice students where she teaches them how to market their services on a shoestring budget, and her trainings have been an invaluable resource.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Why Michelle started her own private practice
• The importance of setting goals
• How Michelle started her business on a small budget
• Learning to think like a business owner
• How Michelle started multiple locations
• Why quality service over quantity is important
• Tips for growing your team

I love how Michelle saw a need in her area and decided to fill it. She had a simple beginning and is now experiencing so much success. And guess what? You can do the same! If you have something to bring to the table, you can start from your kitchen table, just like Michelle did. Let us help you get there!

If you want us to help you start or grow your SLP or OT private practice, please visit www.IndepenendentClinician.com to learn more about our free and paid programs!

Resources Mentioned:

Check out Michelle’s website: https://www.buffalooccupationaltherapy.com/

Follow Michelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ot_outpatient/?hl=en

Check out the BOT program: https://www.buffalooccupationaltherapy.com/bot-portal-experience/

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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

Referrals can be a powerful tool to utilize in your business. By serving your clients well and forming good relationships with others in related fields, you can change the trajectory of your private practice by receiving referrals.

In today’s episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Yasmin Rios-Schultz, a Start Your Private Practice student who grew her private practice to full-time and now gets a large number of referrals from doctors.

Yasmin Rios-Schultz lives in Austin, TX with her husband, son, and dog. She has been an SLP for 13 years and has owned her adult-focused private practice, Lake Austin Speech Therapy, for 2 years.

She is a mobile therapist and also provides telehealth for those who are outside of her driving range. She is a 6-time marathoner, and a lover of the outdoors, camping, road trips, and travel.

She formed her private practice to be independent and in charge of the decision-making for her therapy services. She wanted to decide her own work hours and gain the flexibility for herself and her family that she didn’t previously have when working for another company.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Getting clients through Medicare
• Tips for connecting with doctors to get referrals
• What Yasmin’s private practice looks like
• How private practices take time to build
• How her private practice helped Yasmin get Lasik surgery
• Yasmin’s plans for hiring help so that she can expand her practice
• The benefits of telehealth

Yasmin is a perfect example of someone who has a lot to offer and physicians in her area are taking note and referring to her. She's working with her ideal client population on her own terms and filling a need in her community. And guess what? You can do that, too! Just like I helped Yasmin get started, I would love to help you get started too.

It's almost Private Practice Bootcamp time! Our big FREE Private Practice Bootcamp event kicks off on September 26th. It's a 3-day event to help you plan a private practice that's perfect for you. It includes lots of participation prizes and giveaways!

To register, please visit www.planyourprivatepractice.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:

Check out Yasmin’s website: https://www.lakeaustinspeechtherapy.com/

Connect with Yasmin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakeaustinspeechtherapy

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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

As SLPs, a lot of us get into this profession because we just want to help people. Helping people is just what we do. And when we aren’t able to do that, it takes a serious toll on us emotionally. This quickly leads to burnout which can leave you feeling unhappy and unfulfilled.

But you don’t have to stay that way. You can find more fulfillment by starting your own private practice where you get to build the life you want on your own terms.

In this week’s episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Lydia Lacy, who was feeling stuck and unfulfilled in her job. This led her to start her own private practice which has given her so much more happiness and fulfillment.

Lydia started working for Detroit Public Schools right after graduating in May of 1999. She was placed in a Title 1 elementary school in the heart of the city and then moved around to other settings throughout the district. Lydia and her family moved to Georgia in 2011 where she continued to work in education. She has over 20 years of experience working in the school setting serving students from preschool to high school.

When it was time for a change of pace, she switched over to working for a private practice in 2018 but then moved back to the school setting as a contractor. That’s when she decided that maybe it was time for her to start her own private practice.

While researching, she came across Jena’s website and joined her Facebook group then reached out to some local therapists to ask more questions!

As a married mother with four children, Lydia is very busy working her full-time position in the schools while growing her part-time business, Katalyst Speech Therapy. It can be stressful at times trying to navigate each role, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

In her free time, she enjoys exercising, reading, spending time with her kids, and dating her handsome husband.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Lydia’s journey to starting her own private practice
• The power of connecting with other people in the profession
• How Lydia finds clients
• The benefits of being an insurance provider
• Lydia’s experience with accepting Medicaid
• The importance of having a mentor when starting a private practice

I hope you found this episode inspirational. I love Lydia’s persistence and how she finally took the steps and started her private practice. She is the perfect example of someone who wanted to do it, did it, and is now encouraging others to go for it too.

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

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Lydia’s website: https://www.katalystspeechtherapy.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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

Are you dreaming of more flexibility so that you have time for the things that you love?

Starting a private practice is the perfect way to live life on your own terms. You set your hours and you decide what’s important to you. Since it’s your private practice, you get to run it how you see fit.

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Tracy Droege to talk about how she grew her private practice with flexibility in mind so that she could still make time for her other passion- tennis. Tracy shares her goals for hiring, marketing tips, and how she plans to integrate systems as she grows.

Tracy Droge is an occupational therapist and certified ADHD provider in Temple, Texas. She started her OT private practice, The Rise Center, in order to have more flexibility as she cared for a sick family member. Although it was born out of a sad situation, she has been able to turn it into a happy one by caring for children and families who benefit from her services.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Tracy has created her practice around her life
• Tips for prioritizing things that are important
• When Tracy decided to start growing her private practice
• The hiring process
• The systems that have helped Tracy grow her business
• How Tracy stepped into the CEO role
• Time management tips for private practice owners

I hope you found this episode inspiring. I love how Tracy created a private practice with flexibility in mind. Between caring for family members and her tennis career, having flexible hours has allowed her to have significantly more control over her time than she would if she was working in a regular setting.

Want help to grow your private practice and get some help with hiring? Visit www.GrowYourPrivatePractice.com to learn more about how we can help!

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 Tracy’s website: https://risecentertx.com/occupational-therapy

Follow The Rise Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/risecentertx/

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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

Do you feel overwhelmed by the idea of starting a private practice?

Many SLPs and OTs feel that way and it’s totally understandable. Starting a whole business can seem like an impossible task when you are already dealing with overflowing caseloads. Rest assured, it can still be done! By taking little steps every day, you will be ready to take on your first private practice clients in no time.

In today’s episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Liz Seagrave Tantareanu to talk about how she did it little by little and now has a successful practice. You’ll also learn how she became a Medicare provider and how she deals with things like people pleasing and perfectionism.

Liz is the founder of Golden Coast Speech Therapy Services in San Rafael, California, and has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for over 10 years. Liz's clinical interests include neurogenic voice disorders and Parkinson’s Disease, care of the professional voice, gender-affirming voice therapy, early intervention for language delays and speech sound disorders, and literacy development. She is trained in LSVT LOUD®, SPEAK OUT!®, PhoRTE voice therapy, and Hanen: It Takes Two to Talk®.

Liz received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Science in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington. Her graduate work included research in the Vocal Function Lab at UW, investigating the construct of listener effort and speech intelligibility in individuals following total laryngectomy.

She completed a graduate internship at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford and a Clinical Fellowship at the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in West Los Angeles. She has worked across a range of settings and patient populations, including an interdisciplinary pediatric clinic, preschool early intervention classrooms, and acute and outpatient care, before founding Golden Coast Speech Therapy Services in 2020.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Liz got started in the profession and decided to start a private practice
• When Liz decided to make her first hire
• How becoming a Medicare provider grew her business
• Why confidence comes from taking action
• The importance of doing it scared
• How private practice allows Liz full control of her professional and personal life
• The benefits of taking small steps to start your own practice

It’s totally possible to jump into your private practice if that’s what you want. Just remember that it’s also okay if you just want to dabble and take it slow. As long as you do something to move the needle forward, even if it’s just writing what you want down on paper, you’re one step closer to making it happen.

Liz is the perfect example of taking small steps to help you build big dreams. If you want to learn how we help SLPs and OTs start, grow and scale private practices, please visit www.IndependentClinician.com.

Resources Mentioned:

Check out Liz’s website: https://www.goldencoastspeech.com/

Follow Liz on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goldencoastspeech

Podcast episode with Rene Robles and Christina Ramos: https://independentclinician.com/where-are-they-now-did-they-open-five-clinics-in-five-years-with-rene-robles-and-cristina-ramos-ccc-slp/

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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

Are you a military SLP or OT?

It used to be pretty complicated to start your own private practice as a member of the military since you had to relocate more often; however, that’s not really the case now. In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Rachael Harrelson, a decorated Navy veteran to talk about how she started a successful private practice on the side of her full-time job.

Even if you aren’t in the military, you’ll love this episode because Rachael shares some amazing tips for starting your practice on the side, the importance of Google reviews, and becoming a health insurance provider.

Rachael Harrelson, M.S. CCC-SLP is the owner of Southern Star Speech and Language Therapy in Burleson, TX. She is a Texas State licensed and nationally certified Speech-Language Pathologist. Prior to starting her practice, Rachael worked in various settings including in-patient rehabilitation, home health, and public schools.

Rachael received a Bachelor’s and Master's Degrees at Baylor University and is a veteran of the United States Navy, where she served 8 years as a Hospital Corpsman in the medical field. Rachael has had extensive experience assessing and treating clients with autism, articulation, apraxia of speech, phonological and fluency disorders as well as pragmatic and receptive/expressive language impairments.

​Rachael believes in a team approach to therapy and therefore encourages collaboration with parents, teachers, and other therapists to provide the most encouraging and successful environment for her clients.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• The route Rachael took to start taking insurance
• How Rachael utilized Facebook groups to grow her practice
• How military families can still start a private practice
• What to do if you want to move after starting your private practice
• How Rachael finds inspiration for her private practice
• How Google reviews can grow your business
• The importance of putting yourself out there

I love seeing the ways that students in my program are making their private practice work for them. Rachael wanted to take the summer to be more present for her kids, so she did! She adjusted her schedule to include summer hours where she took 4-day weekends. It’s her private practice, and she calls the shots.

Everything that worked for Rachael can totally work for you too. To learn more about how we help SLPs and OTs start, grow, and scale private practices (and how we can help you too!), visit IndependentClinician.com.

Resources Mentioned:

Check out Rachael’s website: https://www.southernstarspeech.com/

Check out Southern Star Speech on Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Southern-Star-Speech

Connect with Southern Star Speech Therapy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernstarspeech

Visit my website to learn about our programs: https://independentclinician.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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/