Speechie Side Hustle

In this episode, I am joined by Ashley Causey, a certified Speech-Language Pathologist with over 13 years of experience, as shares her journey from a burnout mom to the owner of a successful private practice, Speech at the Beach.

Starting as an in-home therapist during COVID-19, Ashley balanced private pay clients and insurance credentialing.

Over four years, her practice grew into a brick-and-mortar establishment with six therapists and two office staff, focusing on Gestalt language processing, literacy therapy, feeding therapy, and AAC.

She discusses the importance of flexibility as a mother, the impact of mentorship, and the support from her husband in launching her business.

Ashley also highlights how her therapy style evolved over the years, emphasizing strengths-based approaches and the meaningful speech course. She advises on maintaining work-life balance, supporting employees, and the role of insurance in her business growth.

In this episode, I am joined by Sneha Susan Jacob, an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist with over 20 years of experience and now CEO of Italk Inc.

Susan's journey spans from India to the United States, working in diverse settings from schools to skilled nursing facilities.

She shares her passion for early intervention and her approach to therapy. Susan's path highlights the importance of cultural adaptation, work-life balance, and the role of families in speech therapy.

In this episode, I am joined by Christina Cahill Longo, a Speech-Language Pathologist & Orofacial Myologist as she shares her journey from working in an acute medical setting to establishing a private practice in a school environment and discuss the development of comprehensive student services, including speech therapy, reading, and math intervention programs.

In this episode, we are joined by Paige O'Dwyer, a Speech-Language Pathologist and the Owner and Director of Communication Options, Inc.

Paige discusses the innovative approaches her practice takes in early childhood speech and language intervention, particularly through their Partners in Play program. This program focuses on providing a speech and language-rich, child-centered play environment for three-year-olds with severe communication needs.

Paige also shares her experience in balancing work and family life, offering insights on setting core values, maintaining flexibility, and the importance of continual growth and adaptation in the educational and therapeutic sectors.

In this episode, we are joined by Amruta Potdar as we dive into creating successful therapy sessions using principles of mindfulness and Montessori.

In this episode, we are joined by Lauren Hermann, a former medical Speech-Language Pathologist who transitioned into a career as a freelance copywriter.

Lauren shares her journey of combining her passion for Speech Language Pathology and writing into a viable career. Facing challenges like moving to a small town and the impact of COVID-19, Lauren turned to copywriting. She describes what copywriting entails, her daily work routine, and how she gained her first clients. Lauren also highlights the similarities between the skills needed as an SLP and those required in copywriting, and discusses the pros and cons of her new career.

In this episode, I am joined by Jessie Kensey, a Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist and owner of Simply Speech Therapy, as she shares her journey from being a high school English teacher to starting her own private practice. She discusses the motivations behind starting her business, the importance of building rapport with clients, and how her understanding of Gestalt Language Processing impacts her work.

In this episode, I am joined by Megan Hayes, MS, CCC-SLP, as we explore how working in a private practice setting differs from other professional environments.

The discussion focuses on the unique aspects, benefits, and challenges of private practice in comparison to alternative settings.

In this episode, we are joined by Martha Boiardt, an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist and founder of Miami Speech Therapy as she shares her expertise on bilingual speech therapy, discussing the importance of maintaining heritage languages while navigating language delays.

Martha addresses common challenges, including the lack of quality materials in Spanish and misconceptions about bilingualism. She also highlights her collaboration to create Spanish language therapy decks and offers practical tips for bilingual families.

In this episode, I am joined by Rachel May, a Speech Language Pathologist with over two decades of experience as we explore the challenges and benefits of pursuing entrepreneurship versus employment.

Rachel discusses her journey and the motivation behind starting her own private practice. She is also joined by her colleagues, Sheila and Amber, who bring extensive expertise in Occupational and Physical Therapy respectively. Their collaborative efforts demonstrate the holistic approach needed for comprehensive child development.

The conversation delves into the importance of interdisciplinary work, the evolving landscape of parenting influenced by societal and environmental factors, and the developmental significance of crawling. They also touch on topics like the impact of dietary and environmental toxins on child development and the benefits of telehealth in providing real-time, practical support to families.

Rachel and her team emphasize the importance of informed decisions and passionate commitment in entrepreneurship, while also acknowledging the security and benefits of a steady job.