Private Practice Success Stories

Are you at maximum capacity with your clients that you see on the side and considering making the leap to full-time private practice?

I always recommend starting your private practice on the side, but there comes a time when you grow so much that you have to choose if you want to stay small or go all in. In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Ali Moulton, one of my Grow Your Private Practice students, to talk about how she started and grew her private practice.

Ali is a certified member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and is licensed as a Speech-Language Pathologist by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. She received her graduate degrees in Speech and Language Pathology and Learning Disabilities from Northwestern University. She received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a concentration in Speech and Language Pathology from Northwestern University.

Ali enjoys working with children of all ages and prides herself on having a child-centered approach to evaluations and treatment programs. She has experience working in the medical, clinical, and public school settings and has extensive training in interdisciplinary models of assessment and treatment to optimize outcomes.

Ali began her career at Kennedy Krieger Institute and participated in the Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) program. She has assessed and provided treatment for children with a variety of communication disorders, including speech sound production disorders [articulation disorder, phonological delay or disorder, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), Dysarthria], orofacial myofunctional disorders, cognitive communication disorders, receptive and expressive language disorders, fluency disorders, and language-based learning disabilities.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Ali got started with her private practice
• How she knew it was time to go full-time
• Setting boundaries as you grow
• How Ali finds her clients
• Marketing tips
• The benefits of having a mobile practice
• The systems that Ali uses to run her private practice

Straddling two worlds is hard. There comes a time when you have to make the leap from part-time private practice owner to full-time. With the Grow Your Private Practice program, Ali was able to make the transition without any stress.

I don’t want you to be stressed out in private practice, I want you to be successful like Ali. I hope this episode inspires you to take the leap so that you can start thinking like a business owner and find the success you deserve.

If you want help to grow your private practice in a successful vs. stressful way, we would love to help you in the Grow Your Private Practice Program.

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:

Apply to join the Grow Your Private Practice Program: https://www.growyourprivatepractice.com/

Check out Ali’s website: https://www.moultonspeech.com/

Follow Ali on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moultonspeech/

Connect with Ali on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisonmoultonspeech

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/

I am a firm believer that starting a private practice part-time is the best way to start, but it isn’t the best way to grow.

Growing your private practice takes time, support, and dedication. In today’s episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Amanda Donaldson, a Grow Your Private Practice student, to talk about how she knew it was time to invest in herself and her business and go all in to grow in a systematic rather than stressful way.

Although originally from Canada, Amanda spent most of her childhood in northeast New Jersey. She attended Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania where she completed the five-year accelerated program earning her bachelor's and master's degree as well as a teaching certificate. Immediately following graduation, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona.

Amanda worked for 4.5 years in various public schools and a charter school system. During this time, she worked with children from preschool to 8th grade and has ample experience with speech and language delays, developmental delays, Autism, specific learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, fluency, and nonverbal students. Additionally, she has more than four years of experience working with adults in a rehabilitation setting.

She started CommuniCAN Speech Therapy in September 2019 to be able to reach and serve clients and families in their home environments. As a young child, speech and language therapists made a difference in her life as she struggled with the articulation of certain sounds. Now, she is passionate about giving back and making a difference in the lives of others.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Amanda is on track to hit six figures her first year in business
• Why she chose to have a mobile office
• Why a smaller caseload creates a bigger impact
• Ways to attract new clients
• Marketing tips that Amanda uses to find clients
• Why Amanda wishes she would have started her private practice sooner
• Tips for hiring your first contractor or employee

If you have a growing caseload and you’re trying to decide if going all in on yourself and your private practice is your next move, I hope this episode is helpful.

People join the Grow Your Private Practice program when they are overwhelmed by their growth and know that they need help to build a sustainable private practice. This is exactly what we're helping Amanda and other growth-focused SLPs and OTs with.

Starting a private practice is easier than growing one. If you want help to grow your private practice in a successful vs. stressful way, we would love to help you in the Grow Your Private Practice Program. Click here to learn more: 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 Amanda’s website: https://www.communicanspeechtherapy.com/

Follow CommuniCAN Speech Therapy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Communican-Speech-Therapy-LLC/100057067825449/

Join the Grow Your Private Practice program: www.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/

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

Are you still dreaming of starting your own private practice?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with one of my Start Your Private Practice and Grow Your Private Practice students, Patricia Saenz. She started her private practice after just 5 years in the profession!

In this episode, she shares why she started her private practice and how she let go of imposter syndrome. She also shares some really good information about how to become an insurance provider.

Patricia has been a private practice owner for a little over a year and an SLP for 5. She is a single mom to a wildly outgoing and fun teenage boy. He's 15 and her best friend. Everything she has done was for him and because of him.

Her educational journey began in 2008 a year after her son was born. After changing degree programs and attending 7 different colleges over the course of 9 years, she graduated from Our Lady of The Lake University in 2017. She’s worked in school, home health, and clinic settings. She’s always known her path was to be an owner; however, she did not know how soon that time would come.

Her practice is built on the foundation of building strong relationships. It is so important to her to have all of her families and patients feel safe, encouraged, cared for, comfortable, and heard. While her practice is still fairly new, she feels more accomplished and fulfilled in her career than ever before. It has also improved her personal life.

When she is not working, she is spending time with her family. She enjoys watching movies, going to arcades, and bowling, and her newest activity has been escape rooms!

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Patricia decided to start her private practice
• How referrals helped her business grow
• The biggest advertising source for Patricia’s private practice
• The kinds of clients that she serves in her practice
• How you can be a generalist and specialist practice at the same time
• The benefits of working with a team
• How she got started with insurance
• How to deal with imposter syndrome

It can be scary to decide to follow your dreams and finally start a private practice. Imposter syndrome may tell you you’re not ready, but people like Patricia are the perfect example of why that just isn’t true. She knows what she wants, she makes it happen, and it is so inspiring.

I'm doing a Free Training called “How to Start Your SLP or OT Private Practice" on Tuesday, July 26th at 9 pm EST. I'm going to cover the ins and outs of private practice and major mistakes to avoid. Click Here to register: www.PrivatePracticeTraining.com.

Resources Mentioned:

How to Start Your SLP or OT Private Practice Training: PrivatePracticeTraining.com

Check out Patricia’s website: https://www.theheartoftherapytexas.com/

Follow Patricia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheartoftherapytx

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/

I have some big news! After 15 years of teaching SLPs and OTs how to start and scale successful private practices, I’m writing a book.

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at what went into my decision to write a book, who it’s for, and how to get your hands on a copy when it’s released.

This is something that has been on my radar for a long time and it is finally happening. I have been helping people start their private practices since 2008, and I have a lot of levels of people that I serve—everyone from people who are just thinking about getting started or who are considering whether a private practice is for them all the way to people in their “scale” phase. These are clinicians who are looking to grow their income with a multidisciplinary, multi-location private practice.

This means I have audiences with different folks who need to hear different messages. One of the largest groups though is the group of people who are still in the schools or hospitals thinking of starting their private practice. These are the people dealing with high productivity requirements, endless paperwork, unnecessary meetings, and low pay.

These people are often scared and have a lot of questions about whether they should start a private practice. So, this first book is for those that are on the path to private practice but haven’t started yet.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• The types of people I serve
• What this book is and what it isn’t
• What’s included in this book
• The tentative release timeframe for my book
• How to get the book when it’s released
• Bonuses that will be included with the book

I am having an absolute blast writing this book for you, and I hope that you’re looking forward to reading it. If you are in my SLP & OT Private Practice Beginners Facebook group, you’ll notice that I am starting to post things about the book! If you’re not in the Facebook group yet and want to be a part of the book creation process, join the group at PrivatePracticeFBGroup.com.

Want to be notified as soon as this book comes out and learn how to get the amazing bonuses? Head on over to PrivatePracticeBook.com and sign up to get notified as soon as it's available!

Resources Mentioned:

Get notified when the book is available

Join the free Facebook group

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/

Thinking about leaving your job and going all-in on your private practice? 

It’s a big decision and it can be intimidating, but it could change your life. In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with one of my Grow Your Private Practice Students, Sherley Jackson, to talk about her decision to go full-time with her practice as well as hiring, referrals, and so much more. 

Sherley L. Jackson is a Speech-Language Pathologist certified by the American Speech-Language Association and licensed by the Georgia Department of Education and Board of Speech & Language Pathology.  

With 22 years of experience in the field (in Louisiana, Florida, and North Carolina), 20 of which have been in the public school system, working with PK through 5th-grade students in special education programs. 

Sherley earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology from Florida State University. She earned a specialist degree in Special Education from the University of West Georgia. 

Her primary concentrations include early language development and articulation/phonological delays. Sherley engages in multicultural issues, IEP coaching and development, and new parent training on facilitating language development in everyday home activities. Sherley is recognized as a Hanen Certified Speech-Language Pathologist and a Master IEP Coach with Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Sherley got started with her private practice
• How she was able to fill her caseload so quickly
• The benefits of having a community when running a practice
• How becoming systems-focused helped Sherley grow
• Tips for finding the right hire
• When Sherley decided to go all-in with her practice
• Sherley’s plans for growth in the future

I hope you found this episode inspiring. I love how Sherley said that if that seed is in you to start a private practice, then that’s what you should be doing. If it’s been planted, it’s not going anywhere! You just have to take those steps to make it happen.

Are you ready to leave your job and go all-in on your private practice just like Sherley did? Want support with getting more clients, setting up systems, understanding your finances, and becoming a CEO? If so, we would love to support you in the Grow Your Private Practice Program. Click here for more information.

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 the Grow Your Private Practice Program: https://www.growyourprivatepractice.com/

Check out Sherley’s website: https://shoutsltherapy.com/

Follow Shout Speech and Language Therapy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoutSLtherapy/

Follow Shout Speech and Language Therapy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoutsltherapy/

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 feeling overwhelmed by the growth of your private practice and wondering if it’s time to hire? Or do you know that it’s time to hire but you don’t know who or how to do it?

When you first start your private practice, it’s completely normal to wear all of the hats; however, as your private caseload and demand start to grow, you will reach maximum capacity. There are only so many hours in a day that you can see clients and since seeing clients should be your priority, you might start to drop the ball about things like billing.

You may have started with no intention of ever hiring anyone, but as your practice grows, you’ll start to get more referrals than you can handle. That’s when it’s time to start thinking about hiring.

Among many other things, hiring is something that we help folks do in the Grow Your Private Practice program. In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I am sharing everything you need to know about hiring because whether you are in the hiring stages now or will be soon, this information will help you immensely.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• What the messy middle of growing your private practice looks like
• When to think about hiring
• Why hiring is an investment, not an expense
• The two different types of hires you’ll make
• Questions to ask yourself before hiring

Getting support during the hiring process is invaluable. No one knows how to make their first hire until they do it. Just like learning to become an SLP or an OT, it takes time and practice, but it is essential to growing your private practice and income.

If you're interested in learning more about how we help growth-focused private practitioners with the hiring process, visit www.GrowYourPrivatePractice.com/hiring and fill out the quick form below!

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 the FREE hiring training

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/

Summer is here, and it is the perfect time to start dipping your toe into the waters of private practice!

This is something that is often on people’s to-do lists for years before they finally take action, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Take advantage of the opportunity to get your ducks in a row over the summer so you can start taking on your first few clients. 

You might be thinking that by only seeing one or two clients to start, it isn’t really a private practice—but it actually is, so in this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I am helping you finally get started because I truly believe that there is no better time than right now. 

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Why summer is the perfect time to start seeing clients
• The importance of setting your business up legitimately
• How much you could make if you start this summer
• How to determine if there is a need for your services in your area
• The legal protection you need in place when you start your business
• What forms of payment to accept when you start taking clients
• How to find clients

I am here to teach you the true, legal way to finally start that private practice you have been thinking about. You don’t want to put yourself or your license at risk by cutting corners or not treating it as a legit business, so these are the first steps you’re going to want to take.

All that being said, starting your private practice is not as complicated as some people make it out to be. I hope this episode helps you understand the basics of what you need to know to get ready now to start accepting clients this summer. 

It's not too late to start seeing private clients this summer. For more information and support, join our Facebook group here!

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: 

SLP & OT Private Practice Beginners Facebook Group

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/

Sometimes you just need to go all-in on your private practice in order to achieve fast results.

In today’s episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with one of my Grow Your Private Practice students, Olivia Rhoades, to talk about her experience in the program.

We talk about what led to her decision to grow her private practice, how she differentiates her practice from others, how she made her first hire, and so much more. If you are interested in growing your private practice now or in the future and want a first-hand account from someone in the program, this episode is for you.

Olivia Rhoades is a speech-language pathologist by trade and a player at heart. To her, playtime is not an event, it’s a mindset. Every day…from the therapy room to the living room, she observes how taking a play-based approach to everything builds stronger relationships and provides the foundation for meaningful learning.

Throughout her career, she has served on committees, presented at conferences all around Michigan, and has had the privilege to help develop the communication skills of countless children. After six years working in elementary schools, she took the plunge into the world of private practice by founding Play Awhile, LLC.

At home, she’s a wife to one cute husband, momma to one cute toddler, and favorite cuddler to one cute terrier. Together, her family loves to hike, camp, bake, dance, and explore their own backyard!

A career in speech-language pathology is always fulfilling, but she is especially interested in early childhood language, AAC, communication differences related to autism, and building inclusive communities for all.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How Olivia made the decision to go all-in on her private practice
• How she hired four people in her first six months
• The way Olivia differentiates herself from other private practices
• Nontraditional ways to grow your private practice
• How virtual assistants can help your practice
• The balance a private practice can give you
• The benefits of investing in yourself

Olivia is such a great example of someone who joined one of my programs, did the work, showed up for the calls, went through the modules, and took full advantage of the programs and all they had to offer. It was so amazing to see everything she was able to accomplish in such a small amount of time.

Every decision that Olivia has made has contributed to her growth and success with her private practice. Do you have an existing practice and want help with hiring, growing your client base, setting up systems, and becoming the CEO of your practice? Visit GrowYourPrivatePractice.com to learn more!

Resources Mentioned:

Check out Olivia's website: https://playawhile.net/

Follow Olivia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playawhilespeech/

Follow Olivia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playawhilespeech

Grow Your Private Practice: https://www.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/

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

Ready to start your private practice but worried about the legal aspects?

You’re not alone. This is something that holds many SLPs back because they want to make sure they do it all legally but they don’t know where to start. The truth is, It can be risky to start a private practice if you don’t set it up the right way in the beginning. This is why I feel it’s my duty to help SLPs with this process.

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I am sharing how you can successfully protect yourself and minimize your legal, personal, and financial risks.

As SLPs, we are generally pretty risk-averse. This is why many don’t choose to start private practices in the first place. We are perfectionists and we tend to be afraid of making mistakes. However, making mistakes isn’t a bad thing. Mistakes are a learning opportunity, so don’t let that deter you from going after what you want.

There are easy ways to minimize risk. It may feel scary when you are just getting started because there is so much to learn. But in my courses, I teach you everything you need to know to get started in a secure, low-risk way.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Why mistakes are learning opportunities
• What essential protections you need
• Why your start-up costs aren’t as high as you may think
• Professional liability insurance and why it’s important
• Why protection is your most important expense
• Documents you must have when you start your private practice

I hope this episode inspires you to get started. Yes there are risks, yes you will make mistakes, but the biggest risk associated with starting a private practice is not starting at all. The steps to getting your business protected aren’t as complicated as you think! Don’t let that be the thing that holds you back.

I am running a special promotion right now so you can get my lawyer-reviewed legal form templates that you can completely customize and make your own. If you’re the kind of person that would rather be safe than sorry, these are 100% worth the investment. Check them out here!

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:

Grab the Private Practice Clinic Forms during our 2 Day Promo Event: https://www.privatepracticeforms.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/

Have you ever wished you had more financial security as an SLP?

We all know that many SLPs are overworked and underpaid, but what if I told you that you could make as much money as you want while setting your own hours by starting your own private practice?

It is possible! Today on Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with one of my Start Your Private Practice students, Danni Augustine, to talk about how she started her private practice with a bang and is now on track to retire both herself and her husband in their forties—yes, you read that right!

Danni has been an SLP for 5 years. After working in a variety of settings, she found her love for dyslexia intervention, myofunctional therapy, feeding, and all things birth-3. Not only has diving into these areas helped her business but it allowed her to fall in love with the SLP field again. She went from almost switching careers to now having a "boutique-style" private practice in Baton Rouge, LA, serving families in an office and home setting.

Connecting with her families and building relationships is what gets her up every morning (and her 20-cent coffee of course). In addition to her love for therapy, she has found a new passion for helping other SLPs gain freedom in their finances and careers. She is hoping to build a community of SLPs grounded in transparency, humility, and understanding the immense value of having a plan.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• How your private practice can fund your retirement
• Why it’s not greedy to want to be paid more for your skills
• The freedom and flexibility of working for yourself
• Tips for creating more financial freedom and security
• Mindset tips for running your own private practice
• How genuine connection will help you find more success
• The importance of relationship marketing
• How to budget and prepare to start your private practice
• How private practice can help you with your financial dreams

It’s not greedy for you to want to get paid what you deserve. You should be able to make the income you want while also feeling fulfilled and working the schedule you want. Private practice can open so many doors for you financially just as it did for Danni.

If you loved what Danni had to say, send her a DM on Instagram and check out her podcast. She has such amazing messages and tips for SLPs who want to do what she did.

Want to learn more about the ins and outs of private practice and grab a free Private Practice Salary Calculator? Watch our free on-demand training.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit the Thrive Therapies website: https://www.thrivetherapiesla.com/

Follow SpeechGoods on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechgoods/

Listen to the SpeechGoods podcast: https://speechgoods.onpodium.com/

Check out the SpeechGoods YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyCXhWiFSIuyq6qefLqievg

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/