Private Practice Success Stories

Latest Episodes:

Private Practice on the Homestead: Balancing Work and Family with Olivia Rae Jones Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

Thinking about how starting a private practice could give you more flexibility and time with your family?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with one of my students, Olivia Rae Jones, to talk about how she started her private practice on her homestead so that she could have more work-life balance.

Olivia shares about her recent resignation from her job, where she gets her clients, the home office that she's building is part of their recent renovation, and how she eventually wants to create a multidisciplinary clinic with multiple clinicians to serve her community locally.

Olivia Jones is a speech-language pathologist in rural south central Wisconsin. She earned her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology from Midwestern University - Downers Grove.

Private practice was the dream from the very beginning. Olivia developed her experience in SNFs, acute care, adult and pediatric outpatient, inpatient rehab, and finally, schools before making the leap into her own practice just 6 years into her career.

Olivia is focused on growing Marigold Speech Pathology Services to a full-time career with the support of her family on her multigenerational homestead.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

When and why Olivia started thinking about private practice
What kept Olivia focused and driven during the Start program
The need that Olivia filled in her community and the clients she gets to serve now
The home office Olivia is building for her practice
What Olivia’s private practice has done for her family
The huge demand for speech services
Why it’s okay to grow slow or at the pace that’s comfortable for you
Olivia’s plan for growing her private practice

I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Olivia! There are so many communities across the US where people simply don't have access to therapy services. Even in big cities where there actually are private practices, many of them have waitlists, which means there aren't enough providers.

Olivia was able to scale from 0 to 20 clients and will have many more than that with the help of both the Start and Grow Your Private Practice programs!

Want to learn how to start a private practice - just like Olivia? Visit www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com to learn how we can help you!

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 Olivia’s website: https://www.marigoldspeech.com/

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

Follow Marigold Speech on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marigold_speech/

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

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/

The Magic Speech Bus: A Private Practice on Wheels with Kristin Park Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

Want to start an out-of-the-box private practice?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Kristin Park who came up with an amazing idea to offer mobile speech therapy services and call her private practice The Magic Speech Bus, which is a customized converted bus that serves as a mobile speech therapy room.

In this episode, we discuss the start-up costs and legal and practical logistics of having a magic speech bus, as well as how Christine provides speech and language therapy services not just in the bus, but also in nature-based settings such as parks and playgrounds.

Kristin Park is an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist dedicated to helping kids overcome communication challenges. As the founder of Magic Speech Bus, Kristin brings a unique approach to therapy by incorporating the power of nature and outdoor settings.

With her innovative mobile therapy room, she creates a dynamic and immersive experience for clients, allowing them to connect with nature while working on their speech and language skills.

Kristin's creative and compassionate methods have transformed the lives of countless individuals, making her a trusted professional in the field.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

How Kristin came up with the idea for The Magic Speech Bus
How she got her first clients for her private practice
How Kristin maintains boundaries in her business
The costs associated with this type of private practice
The different creative ways that you can have a private practice
Kristin’s plans for the future of her business
How Kristin incorporates nature-based therapy into her private practice

I hope you enjoyed this episode with Kristin! I love how she came up with such a cool and innovative idea and went for it. Private practice doesn't have to be boring and traditional. Private practice is what you make it!

If you want to learn more from Kristin, check out her website, follow her on Instagram, and learn more about one-on-one consulting on this business model here.

Want to start your own outside-of-the-box private practice? Start with our Free Private Practice Training: www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com/Webinar.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Kristin’s website: https://www.magicspeechbus.com/

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

Get One-on-one consulting for SLPs interested in learning more about the bus-based model: www.magicspeechbus.com/book-online

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/

Leveraging Your Private Practice Time and Income with Stephanie Clairmont Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

Interested in learning about other ways to be in private practice?

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Stephanie Clairmont, a retired registered dietitian who now teaches health practitioners how to add online programs to their practice.

We discuss how she got started in private practice and why she left, how she builds in work-life balance to reduce burnout and spend more time with her kids and on self-care. We also dive into why it's important to invest in your business education along with your clinical education and so much more.

Stephanie Clairmont is the founder and lead facilitator at The Leveraged Practice. Stephanie has supported hundreds of colleagues with her webinars and online programs to build their own practice and launch online programs. She has worked intimately with a handful of professionals to help them launch online programs with great success making multiple 5-figures in their launches and reaching hundreds of clients.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

How Stephanie got started in private practice and how quickly it grew
Overcoming the fear of doing things differently and thinking outside the box
How Stephanie approaches burnout and work-life balance
Why SLPs and OTs need to stand up for themselves
The importance of investing in your business education
How digital products and services can grow your business
Overcoming imposter syndrome and fear of judgment
The power of taking a chance on yourself

I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Stephanie! She is a perfect example of someone who offered something different through her private practice and is teaching other healthcare professionals how to offer different things, too. If you want to learn more from her, check out her podcast and follow her on Instagram.

Private practice doesn't have to be a cookie-cutter thing. You can add streams of income like contracts, coaching courses, classes, and more.

Adding income streams to existing private practices is something that I help folks do inside of the Grow Your Private Practice program. To learn more, visit Growyourprivatepractice.com.

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Stephanie’s website: https://theleveragedpractice.com/

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theleveragedpractice/

Listen to Stephanie’s podcast: https://theleveragedpractice.com/podcasts/

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/

Building a Small But Thriving Practice Focused on Literacy and Dyslexia With Heather Caska Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

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

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/

Creating a More Casual Private Practice with Julie Barry Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

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

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/

Creating a New Life Through Private Practice... With Time for Jet Skiing with Jamie Giannino Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

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/

Building a Thriving Traditional Practice with Shanna Klump Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

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

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/

Starting a Private Practice as a Neurodiverse SLP Private Practice Beginners with Jennifer Corie May 29, 2023

Show notes

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/

Early Career Private Practice with Bradi O'Rourke May 22, 2023

Show notes

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/

Starting an Adult Neuro Focused Practice with Lauren Schwabish May 15, 2023

Show notes

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/.

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/