Private Practice Success Stories Jena Castro-Casbon

Wondering how you can get more clients in your private practice? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories! 
I sat down with Melissa Perez, a speech-language pathologist with a private practice called Honeybee Speech in El Centro, California. She decided to start her private practice after experiencing burnout from teletherapy and discovering the Start Your Private Practice program in 2022.

Melissa has been one of our Start Start students who recently joined The Grow Your Private Practice Program. 

Melissa grew quickly, quicker than she thought she would.  In this episode, she talks about how she went from zero to 30 clients in the first 3 months of starting her practice. Melissa shares how she started out by renting a dentist’s waiting room for $50 a month, and expanded her practice through referrals and taking small, consistent steps.

Melissa Perez graduated with a Masters of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from New York University in May of 2020. She has spent the majority of their career working as a teletherapist for a clinic based in Palm Desert, CA. There, she had the opportunity to work with individuals across the lifespan with various communication difficulties. 

It was during her time there that she found a true love for working with children with speech sound disorders and the early intervention population. Once the idea of opening a private practice popped into her head, she knew they wanted to focus on those two areas. 

To date, it has been 8 months since she opened her private practice and it was truly the best decision she ever made.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

Why Melissa decided that private practice was right for herHow her private practice took offWhy you don’t have to start big, you can start small How Melissa went from 0-30 clients in 3 monthsThe shift from traditional employment to fully self-employedThe cool things that Melissa has on the horizon for her private practiceWhy other practices aren’t your competitionWhere Melissa gets her clients The power of running your practice like a business

I hope you enjoyed this episode with Melissa! I love how she found a way to grow her practice through a variety of referrals and by taking small, consistent steps in the right direction.

If you would like to know more about our Programs and how we help support SLPs and OTs who want our help to start and grow their practices, please visit www.IndependentClinician.com/resources.

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: 
Follow Melissa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivhoneybeespeech/

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: a...

Have you been thinking about starting a neurodiversity-affirming private practice? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories! 
I sat down with Samantha Rothman, an occupational therapist with a private practice called Play and Purpose in Phoenix, Arizona. She decided to start her private practice after being laid off during the pandemic and realizing she didn’t want to rely on others for income anymore.

Join us as she talks about creating a neurodiversity-affirming practice with a whole-child approach. Samantha discusses how she grew her practice to include 5 therapists, as well as the importance of setting boundaries to avoid burnout as her practice grows.

Samantha is a licensed and board-certified pediatric occupational therapist, DIR Floortime provider, and the owner/founder of Play and Purpose. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Health and a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from Florida Gulf Coast University.

She enjoys using a "whole child" approach, including all aspects of being human-especially focusing on emotional and mental health. She is passionate about using child-led and non-compliance-based techniques to promote engagement and self-advocacy skills.

Samantha has experience working with children who have unique needs and consulting with schools/parents to ensure great outcomes. Additionally, she enjoys helping parents to advocate for services and programs that may be beneficial to the child's progress.

Outside of patient care, Samantha is devoting time to mentoring new therapists and building/supporting our team. In her free time, she enjoys reading, kayaking, traveling, and weightlifting.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

How being laid off led to her starting a private practice Why Samantha decided to focus on neurodiversity-affirming practicesThe burnout many therapists feel in traditional settingsHow Samantha eased into private practice The freedom and happiness you get when you have your own private practiceWhy boundaries are so important in private practiceWhen she decided it was time to hire help How Samantha helps her employees feel valued and appreciatedHow she finds her clients using Facebook networking groups and referralsSamantha’s plans for the future of her private practice

I hope you loved this episode with Samantha! I love how she focuses on neurodiversity-affirming approaches and created a practice that allows her to provide the quality care her clients deserve.

If you would like to know more about our Programs and how we help support SLPs and OTs who want our help to start and grow their practices, please visit www.IndependentClinician.com/resources.

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 Samantha’s website: https://playandpurposeaz.com/
Follow Samantha on Instagram: ​https://www.instagram.com/playandpurposeaz/

Where We Can Connect: 
Follow the Podcast: a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-practice-success-stories/id1374716199" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Have you ever thought about starting a coaching-based private practice? You’re going to love this episode! 
I sat down with Emily Gavin who decided to take the leap into private practice with encouragement from her peers and spouse after being laid off from her job.

In this episode, she talks about her journey from SNFs and inpatient rehab to owning her own dementia-focused business. Emily shares how caring for her mother-in-law with dementia inspired her special interest. 

Emily S. Gavin, MS, OTR/L, came to occupational therapy as a second career in 2012 at the age of 41. After a few years of clinical work in geriatrics, she transitioned into a management position at a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Philadelphia, PA.

 This non-traditional setting allowed her the freedom to develop specialized knowledge in dementia care training, though she always felt the vulnerability of being a middle manager. 

Being laid off in May of 2023 seemed like the perfect time to start PhillyCare Coaching LLC, the private practice she'd always thought of as the next thing.

Emily hopes to complete her Post-Professional OTD at Thomas Jefferson University in late 2025. She has also earned an Advanced Practice Certificate in Coaching, and will soon be a certified practitioner of Skills2Care®, an evidence-based program supporting caregivers of people living with dementia. She uses the Allen Cognitive Disabilities Model to inform her treatment plans.

Emily lives in the Germantown section of Philadelphia with her wife and four cats. Someday she will have time to knit again.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

The moment that brought Emily to become an OT and start a private practiceWhen she realized her passion for dementia patientsHow she kicked imposter syndrome to the curbHow long it took Emily to get her first private practice clientThe types of clients Emily works withHow she networked to grow her private practiceThe power of referrals in growing your private practice


I hope you enjoyed this episode with Emily! I love how she overcame imposter syndrome and remained persistent in opening her private practice. 

If you would like to know more about our Programs and how we help YOU - just like we helped Emily - please visit www.IndependentClinician.com/resources.

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 Emily’s website: https://phillycarecoaching.com/
Follow Emily on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093197558689
Follow Emily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillycarecoaching
Connect with Emily on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-s-gavin-ms-otr-l-94966454/
Listen to her podcast: a...

Have you ever dreamed of opening a small niche private practice so you can specialize in working with your dream clients? 
If so, you’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories. I sat down with Jodie Wallis, who decided to take the leap into private practice when her mentor moved locations, leaving an opening in her area.
In this episode, she talks about how she discovered her love of feeding therapy and turned it into her own private practice, what it’s like to have ADHD as an SLP and entrepreneur, and the importance of hiring an assistant to manage her workload. 
Jodie Wallis is a speech-language pathologist and certified lactation counselor who specializes in pediatric feeding. She focuses on functional outcomes with the ultimate goal of helping to reduce stress in families related to feeding difficulties. She is committed to helping families feel heard and supported.
Her approach combines skilled intervention with parent coaching so that a child’s therapy plan can easily be incorporated into daily routines. Her areas of expertise include optimal breast and bottle feeding, successful transition to solids, transition from tube to oral feeds, expanding “picky” eating, managing reflux, and working with medically complex babies.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in the state of Missouri, Certificate of Clinical Competence through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and Certified Lactation Counselor.


In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

How Jodie found her passion for feeding therapyWhen she knew that private practice was the path for herHow she balances her private practice caseloadThe power of having multiple sources of incomeWhere Jodie gets her referrals for infant feeding therapy The freedom to build your own schedule that you get as a private practice ownerThe shift from clinician to CEO What it’s like having a private practice as someone with ADHDThe power of finding your person and hiring someone who can help you growJodie’s vision for the future of her private practice

I hope you loved this episode with Jodie! She is a perfect example of someone who set a strong foundation for their business and used their creativity and skills to make it bigger and better. 


If you would like to know more about how we helped Jodie grow her private practice, please 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: 
Visit Jodie’s website: https://www.flourishingkidstherapy.com/
Follow Jodie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FlourishingKidsTherapy/
Follow Jodie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishingkidstherapy/
Mentioned in this episode:
Do you want to get set up and ready to treat private clients this summer? (or even before then?) If so, we’re offering a Free Private Practice...

Dreaming of starting a private practice with a specialization? You’re going to love this episode of Private Practice Success Stories! 
I sat down with Kaitlin Malcahey, a pediatric speech-language pathologist with a private practice called Competent Communicators. She first started thinking about private practice while feeling burned out during COVID, and by 2022 she took the leap and did it. 

I got to know Kaitlin during her time in The Grow Your Private Practice program, and it has been so amazing to watch her business shift to become AAC focused and watch her create the work-life balance she craved. 

She shares how she loves working with kids and how she’s becoming known for specializing in AAC. Kaitlin also shares the fulfillment she gets from being able to work with clients in a more personalized, meaningful way.

Kaitlin is an SLP with over 8 years of experience who opened her own practice in January of 2023. She specializes in AAC, gestalt language processing and sensory-informed play-based therapy. 

She particularly enjoys working with clients 6 and under and incorporating their families into therapy sessions. She has taken the Meaningful Speech course for natural language acquisition, countless AAC courses and Jessie Ginsburg sensory trainings. 

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

When Kaitlin decided to start her own private practiceHow she saved money on getting her own clinic spaceWhy she decided to specialize in AAC clientsHow she got her first referrals in her private practiceWhy there really are enough clients to go around for everyoneHow utilizing Google Reviews can help grow your private practiceHow private practice helps you make more of an impact on the clients you work withThe work-life balance you get when you have a private practice

I hope you enjoyed hearing from Kaitlin! I love how she created her own private practice so she could work with more AAC clients. She is a perfect example of someone who wanted more work-life balance, and found that and so much more through private practice.

If you would like to know more about our Private Practice School and the Programs that we offer to support SLPs and OTs who want our help to start and grow their practices, please visit PrivatePracticeSchool.com/resources.

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 Kaitlin's website: https://www.competentcommunicators.org/
Follow Kaitlin on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/competentcommunicatorsllc/
Follow Kaitlin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlinmulcaheyslp

Where We Can Connect: 
Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-practice-success-stories/id1374716199
Follow Me on Instagram: a href="https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Welcome to a special episode of Private Practice Success Stories! 
In this episode, I’m making a huge announcement about the future of private practice education, and it’s the biggest announcement in Independent Clinician history.

Introducing…Private Practice School!

We are rebuilding the structure of our programs to make them bigger and better than ever. The private practice movement is growing, and Private Practice School is at the center of it.

Private practice is truly an opportunity to change your life, your family's life, and the lives of your clients and their families, and we are so excited to help you achieve that with Private Practice School. 

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

The 2 core principles that drive everything we do at Independent ClinicianHow we are rebuilding our programs to make them stronger than everHow this growth will impact our current students and programs What you can expect from this bigger, stronger program 

The Private Practice Movement is growing, and Private Practice School is at the center of it.

If you haven’t started your practice… let’s get going. Head over to StartYourPrivatePractice.com right now, enroll in the Start Your Private Practice Program, and let’s help you get set up and start seeing private clients so you can help more people while making more money.

If you’ve already started your practice… let’s keep going. Head over to GrowYourPrivatePractice.com right now and join The Grow Your Private Practice Coaching Program so that we can help you #levelup your private practice and your life. It’s time to scale your income and impact - without scaling your time.

To learn more, please visit PrivatePracticeSchool.com/resources right now, enroll in whichever Program is right for your level, and let’s make your private practice dreams a reality… together.

See you in private practice school!

Resources Mentioned: 
Learn more about Private Practice School: PrivatePracticeSchool.com/resources
Start Your Private Practice: StartYourPrivatePractice.com
Grow Your Private Practice: 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/
Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Mentioned in this episode:
Do you want to get set up and ready to treat private clients this summer? (or even before then?) If so, we’re offering a Free Private Practice Bootcamp April 22th - 25th that you’re not going to want to miss. To sign up, Just head on over to PlanYourPrivatePractice.com.