Private Practice Success Stories

Do you want to know a question I get asked all the time? I get asked,  “Jena, when should I invest in an EMR system?” I’m excited to share a special solution with you today!My simple answer is always this, the moment you start seeing your first client is when you should be thinking about having an EMR, or electronic medical record. In this episode, I’m sharing a very special offer from Simple Practice and how you can use it to transform your private practice.In Today's Episode, We Discuss:Why time management is so important when you’re first starting outHow Simple Practice will help you save more time and make more moneyReal-life examples of how Simple Practice has helped my studentsI truly believe Simple Practice is an investment in your practice’s professionalism and efficiency! To save money on Simple Practice and get a free 7 day trial + 40% off for six months + a 1:1 onboarding call,  use my link: www.startyourprivatepractice.com/simple to claim this offer.Whether you want to start a

Are you a newly graduated SLP already wondering if private practice is for you? You will love this episode!My guest today is Katja Piscitelli, a speech-language pathologist with a pediatric private practice in Sacramento, California. She launched her private practice, Total Spectrum Speech Therapy, immediately after her clinical fellowship at just 25 years old. You may know her from Instagram as @bohospeechie.After graduating, Katja knew that she wanted to start her private practice right away. after taking a school job, she joined the Start Your Private Practice Program and started seeing private clients on the side.In this episode, Katja shares the backstory of starting a private practice so early on in her career, as well as how she developed her niche.With a passion for helping autistic children and their families thrive, Katja Piscitelli has dedicated herself exclusively to working with autistic children. She has taken an even deeper dive into Gestalt Language Processing for the last five years.Her exper

Does working in schools have you feeling stuck with no control over your career? If you want to get that control back, this episode is for you!Today I am joined by Darla Gardner, an SLP with a pediatric private practice outside of Dallas, Texas. Darla worked for over 20 years as a school-based SLP. After learning the school administration wanted her to move to a different campus, she decided to join our Start Your Private Practice Program and start a private practice instead.In this episode, Darla shares her private practice startup journey, from how she kept overhead costs low, to the fulfillment she gets from meeting the needs of her community.Darla was a school-based SLP for 21 years. During this time, she developed a passion for partnering with parents to intentionally target early speech and language skills in the home. After discovering that low-income, pre-school-aged children in her area were on 18+ month waiting lists for speech therapy services at clinics more than 20 miles away, she decided to open

Are you afraid of marketing to doctors because you are intimidated or don’t want to come across as pushy or salesy?  Be sure to tune in to this episode!If you find approaching doctors intimidating, you are not alone! We know they are busy and well-respected in the medical field. So it’s easy to feel like you don’t have the confidence or experience to ask for referrals.But this fear is only holding you back from growing your practice and helping more people. This is something that comes up a lot and I’m excited to talk about how to move past it.In this special solo episode, I’m talking about how to confidently market your private practice to doctors and specialists without feeling pushy, salesy, or overwhelmed.In Today's Episode, We Discuss:How to reframe your fear of selling yourself to offering a solution insteadWhy consistency will be key for developing long-term relationshipsMy helpful resource for establishing referral relationshipsI hope this episode will help you take that first step to building su

Are you interested in branching out from working as a clinician with kids and working to support their parents instead? You’ll love this episode!My guest today is Kelli Meyer, a speech-language pathologist who bridges the gap between parents and SLP. Through her own efforts and with the help of Private Practice Success Stories, she learned how to make money on her terms and pursue what she was passionate about.In this episode, Kelli discusses her role in offering consultations and coaching to support parents.Kelli Meyer is a proud mother of two and a passionate pediatric Speech Language Pathologist. With a specialized focus on Childhood Language Development, she is dedicated to empowering parents, caregivers, and professionals alike through informative content creation.Welcoming her son into the world in 2024 reignited her desire to support families on their communication journey. From crafting engaging courses to leading enriching play classes and workshops, her mission is to equip parents, educators, and pr

If you've been thinking about private clients and either have a passion for working with adults or have kids you want to be home for, this episode is for you!Today I’m talking with Heather McCurdy, mom to triplets and owner of an adult-focused private practice, Mindful Speech Therapy, in Valparaiso, Indiana.After hearing about it from a friend, Heather used the Start Your Private Practice Program to create a practice that aligns with her values and lifestyle.In this episode, Heather shares how her private practice journey gave her the freedom to continue working with adult clients and stay at home to raise her triplets.Heather McCurdy  is an adult-focused private practice owner and serves patients in-person and virtually in the state of Indiana. Heather loves treating patients with post-traumatic brain injury (including athletes post-concussion) and dementia. When Heather's not working, she enjoys spending time with her three kiddos. In Today's Episode, We Discuss:What happened when Heather realized

If you’ve been feeling so burned out from work that you’re thinking about quitting the field altogether, this episode is for you! Joining me today is Anna Humes, an occupational therapist with a pediatric private practice in San Diego, California. After personal reflection and listening to the Private Practice Success Stories Podcast, Anna took the leap to establish her own business. Her practice, Well Played Pediatric Therapy, quickly became financially successful, allowing her to exceed her previous income within four months.In this episode, Anna will share her journey of starting her private practice and her diverse career path, which included working in multiple outpatient clinics, school contracts and even taking a two-year break from occupational therapy.Anna started Played Well Pediatric Therapy in 2023 after 13 years in the field. Her career has spanned across the United States in outpatient, school, and early intervention settings. Played Well is a work of love, passion, and the mindfu

If you’ve been thinking of starting a private practice, but want to start part-time before diving into full-time, tune in for this episode!I interviewed Kathleen Salata, a dedicated speech-language pathologist and the owner of Journey Pediatrics Therapy Services in Livonia, Michigan. Kathleen joined the Start Your Private practice program in 2020 and used the pandemic period to get her business all set up. She began her private practice on the weekends while maintaining a full-time job at a hospital.In this episode, Kathleen shares her journey of transitioning from having a part-time private practice to leaving her full-time job and being in private practice full-time.By August 2021, Kathleen had secured a sublease for a room to use on weekends while maintaining her full-time job. In June 2022, Kathleen transitioned to working at her practice full-time. Today, Journey Pediatrics Therapy Services occupies a three-room suite complete with a waiting room and sensory gym.Kathleen treats a wide range of speec

Do you have a specific end goal for your private practice, but aren’t really sure how to get there? This episode is perfect for you!I sat down with Heather Anderson, a speech-language pathologist with a private practice in Monroe, Michigan. Heather started out as a medical SLP, later became a pediatric SLP to start her own private practice, and now sees all ages through her practice, Your Voice Speech Therapy. I helped Heather get started through the Start Your Private Practice Program. As her business took off, she leveled up to the Grow Your Private Practice Program, which has helped her create a thriving practice doing what she loves.In this episode, Heather shares what it was like starting her practice on the side of a full-time job, why she pivoted to pediatric services, and how that flexibility eventually allowed her to get back to her zone of genius and experience huge growth. Heather graduated from The University of Toledo in 2016 with a Master of Arts. Her first exposure to speech pathology

Is the only way to earn more money to take on more clients? Thankfully not! But this is where I see so many private practice owners get stuck. In this episode, we're diving into one of the most important topics for private practice owners, which is how to increase your earnings by diversifying your income streams.In Today's Episode, We Discuss:Why you don’t need to see more clients to make more moneySelecting revenue streams that work for your practice to pursueHow to set up those streams for successExamples of how stream stacking work I originally intended this episode for my new private podcast, but the insights are just too valuable to not share with my bigger audience!Be sure to tune in, because I’m sharing the exact strategies that I have used to help hundreds of private practice owners, just like you, increase your profits without burning out or having to see more and more clients.Want to learn how to add income streams to your practice? Sign up for our upcoming training called How to Gro

Are you managing a full caseload but still feeling stuck financially? In my experience,  clinicians starting out in their own practice run the business side of things like a clinician, and not like a business owner. In this episode, I’m sharing three beliefs that every private practice owner should embrace to establish a thriving private practice.In Today's Episode, We Discuss:A sneak peek into my brand new podcastWhy profitability does not equal greedHow to think like a CEORemember, your practice is a business! And the key to a thriving private practice is to adopt a business mindset. You’ve mastered clinical skills over the years, so it’s time to gain business knowledge and skills that will help you, your business, and most importantly, your clients.If you already have a private practice and you're ready to dive deeper into topics like profitability, expanding your income, hiring the right team, and setting up systems that actually work, then I’ve got something special for you.Head over to ww

Want to make more money and work fewer hours? My guests in today’s episode are doing just that!Brandie Johnson and Alyssa Fittipaldi are alums of the Start Your Private Practice program, who join me during this episode to share their experiences and insights on how they transition from traditional job settings to owning their own practices. Brandie is a speech-language pathologist with a pediatric private practice in the Portland, Oregon area. She started her private practice called Growing Roots, only having two and a half years of experience as an SLP. Even though she's early in her career, she is thriving in private practice. Alyssa is a speech-language pathologist in the Tampa Bay area, and she started her private practice called Talk to Talk Pediatric Therapy after discovering the independent clinician Instagram and also this podcast. Alyssa realized that she could start her private practice sooner than she thought, so she started seeing private clients on the side and quickly grew her clientel

Have you been thinking about seeing your own clients to earn extra money this year? If the answer is yes, this episode of Private Practice Success Stories is for you!Starting my private practice was one of the most transformative decisions of my life. In addition to a $24k raise, it brought about immense satisfaction to me and my clients and also saved me from the grips of burnout, something that you might be able to relate to. In this episode, I’m sharing how I started my private practice, and how you already have the skills and knowledge to do the same so you can take control of your career and financial freedom.In Today's Episode, We Discuss:The story of how I earned an extra $24k in addition to my hospital salaryWhy relying solely on budgeting isn’t enoughHow learning to earn more money is your best strategy for financial empowermentSeeing private clients allowed me to build a financial safety net for my family, and it was the best decision I ever made. I hope this episode inspired you to take the ne

Have you been thinking about starting a private practice in your small town? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories! I sat down with Gabby Hewitt, a speech language pathologist with a private practice specializing in orofacial myology in a small town in North Dakota. She opened her practice while knowing there was a lack of speech therapy services in her hometown and wanted to fill that gap. I got to know Gabby during her time in the Start and Grow Your Private Practice programs and it has been amazing to watch the impact she has had bringing a much-needed service to her rural area. In this episode, Gabby talks about how she started her practice right out of her CF, how clients find her, why she hired an assistant, and how specializing in feeding and myo has helped clients be drawn to her.Gabby is an ASHA Certified SLP specializing in orofacial myology, oral myofunctional disorders, and pediatric feeding and swallowing. She is currently in the certification proces

Have you ever considered having a nature-based therapy private practice? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories! I sat down with Kate Glennon, also known as the "Outdoorsy SLP,”  a speech language pathologist with an innovative private practice in New Hampshire. Kate has created a unique private practice that operates primarily outdoors, providing nature-based therapy to her clients. She highlights the benefits of outdoor therapy to improve regulation and connection for both the therapist and the client, as well as the unique language tasks that natural settings can provide. Kate started her private practice after working in a traditional practice for 12 years. She discusses what it’s like to own a practice, have a deployed husband in the military, and have 3 kids! I got to know Kate during her time in the Grow Your Private Practice Program and it has been amazing to get to reflect on her journey and the factors that led her to develop this unconventiona

Do you struggle with getting stuff done in your private practice? If so, this episode of Private Practice Success Stories is going to be great for you to listen to. Julie Pera and Theresa Harp are speech language pathologists who sat down with me to share their experience and insights on the intersection of time management and private practice. In this episode, Julie shares her journey in the Grow Your Private Practice Program after transitioning from a public school setting to private practice, driven by a desire for a more manageable workload and better work-life balance. Theresa, a Productivity Coach, shares how she combines practical systems with cognitive strategies to help SLPs and OTs feel less overwhelmed and more in control. If you’ve been thinking about improving your time management and want to implement more effective systems in your private practice, you don’t want to miss this episode! In Today's Episode, We Discuss:Why time management is crucial as a private practice ow

Have you ever thought about starting a non-traditional private practice or offering social events for your clients? Then this episode of Private Practice Success Stories is for you! I sat down with Barbara Earley and April Lowe who co-own a very innovative private practice in Georgia called Social EdVentures, which includes small group social outings for teenagers and young adults with varied diagnoses and abilities. In this interview, they discuss how they started off very informally - with a small group outing at a bowling alley - which quickly expanded to include regular social outings for young adults and adolescents with diverse needs, ranging from typical college students to non-verbal individuals using AAC devices. In this episode, Barbara and April describe their program's evolution, the value that the participants get from the outings, and the importance of real-world learning and social skill development. They even discuss a connection to the popular Netflix series, Love on the Spectr

In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I’m diving into a topic that every private practice owner needs to understand: Why having a strategic Private Practice Growth Plan for your practice is super important. Just like you need a plan before you start your practice, it’s actually even more important for you to have a plan to grow your practice in a way that’s successful, profitable, and sustainable. Building a successful practice doesn’t happen by accident. It requires deliberate goals and steps to achieve them. Many private practice owners spend their days reacting to whatever comes up, but if you want to grow, you’ve got to be proactive. You need to set clear, actionable goals and ensure every step you take moves you closer to those goals.Oh, and at the end of the episode, I’m sharing details about my brand new, exclusive podcast for growth-focused private practitioners! In Today's Episode, We Discuss:The one thing you need to do if you want to grow your private practiceThe

Dreaming about specializing and opening a non-traditional private practice? You don’t want to miss this episode of Private Practice Success Stories! I sat down with Caitlin Zeien, a speech language pathologist with a private practice in Chicago, Illinois that offers highly-specialized social cognitive language-based therapy. Caitlin developed a passion for social cognition and social pragmatic language, leading her to specialize in neurodiversity-affirming therapy. Her practice focuses on older children and young adults, a niche that differentiates her from other practitioners. In this episode, Caitlin discusses her journey and experiences, highlighting the non-traditional ways she has built her private practice.Despite the challenges, including a cross-country move and adapting to new professional environments, Caitlin's passion for specializing in social cognition and pragmatic language continued to grow and now she has a successful private practice.Caitlin is the proud owner of Socially Mind

How do you know if you’re in the messy middle of private practice growth? In this episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I’m going solo to speak to the people who are in the growth phase of their private practice journey, and not just the beginners. The growth phase starts after you get five private practice clients or more. Why? Because most people can see five private clients on the side of their job relatively easily. However, once you get to five clients and beyond, time becomes tighter and you have to decide whether to stay small or to grow your private practice in terms of more clients, which of course requires more time, but also lets you to be able to do more services. The problem is, some people get stuck there! That’s where I come in. My job as a private practice business coach is to help you get through the messy middle as quickly and easily as possible. So in today's episode, I'm going to be talking about what the messy middle is, how to know when you're there, and i