This has been such a fun season of The Speech Source Podcast! As we wrap up our season of How I Made My Speech Path Business, Kim and Mary each take a turn in the interviewee seat and talk about how they themselves have built their own private practices.

First up was Kim Dillon talking about her private speech practice. Kim shares about the beginnings of her career, which started from what she thought was a babysitting job but led her to the field of speech pathology. Over the years, she transitioned from traditional employment to establish a flexible and successful private practice that aligns with her role as a mother of four and an active community member. Throughout the episode, Kim emphasizes the strategic use of preschool screenings to build her client base and the importance of cultivating strong, respectful relationships with preschool directors and teachers. This approach not only solidified her business in the community but also minimized travel time and maximized efficiency. Kim also highlights the flexibility of the SLP field, which has allowed her to adapt her career to her family’s evolving needs. The episode wraps up with Kim reflecting on the need for a balance between her desire to serve and adopting a more structured business mindset. This episode not only sheds light on the professional paths available within speech pathology but also serves as an example for integrating personal passions with professional aspirations.

Click here for more info about resources both Kim and Mary use in the their private practices.

If you're interested in signing up for The Speech Source Newsletter, click here. We will be sending future resources specific to what we have created for each of our practices (speech and language screenings, resources for parents and teachers, feeding, swallowing and OMT resources and much more!).

Also, if you haven't done so already, follow our podcast! You will be the first to know when new episodes release. We would also love for you to leave a review and rate our show. The Speech Source appreciates your feedback and support! Follow here!

Follow Kim and Mary on IG here! - https://www.instagram.com/thespeechsource/
For more information on speech, language, feeding and play - visit The Speech Source Website - https://www.thespeechsource.com/

In this epside, hosts Kim and Mary welcom Jena Castro-Casbon, a speech therapist with her own private practice and creator of the Start Your Private Practice and Grow Your Private Practice programs. Jena shares her journey into the field of speech therapy, initially inspired by her father's experiences with stuttering and his positive feedback about speech therapy. Despite her early aspirations to become an FBI agent, this personal connection led her to pursue speech pathology, and eventually creating The Independent Clinician.

Jena credits her father's business mind for sparking her entrepreneurial spirit, leading her to start her own practice shortly after becoming certified. She developed educational programs to fill the gap in resources available for speech therapists looking to start and grow their private practices. Her initiatives, which began as an ebook, have evolved into comprehensive online courses assisting thousands of students across the country.

Jena also discusses how her programs have expanded to include occupational therapists (OTs), ensuring the content is inclusive for various disciplines. She emphasizes the importance of staying current with industry changes and integrating these lessons into her teachings.

Jena highlights the challenges of insurance and reimbursements in healthcare, advocating for creative financing options like school contracts and state-funded grants. Her programs provide structured mentorship, offering real-world advice from experienced practitioners to those new to private practice.

She stresses the importance of robust legal and financial structures to protect and sustain private practices and strongly advocates for business education as essential to professional development in speech therapy.

We end this info-packed conversation with Jena sharing inspiring stories of the people she's mentored, underscoring the transformative impact of proper guidance in building successful private practices.

This episode is a must listen if you are ready to dip your toe into private practice or if you are ready to grow and multiply your practice!

Important Links:

Jena's Website - The Independent Clinician

Follow Jena on Instagram - Independentclinician

Start Your Private Practice Program

Grow Your Private Practice Program

Also, if you haven't done so already, follow our podcast! You will be the first to know when new episodes release. We would also love for you to leave a review and rate our show. The Speech Source appreciates your feedback and support! Follow here!

Follow Kim and Mary on IG here! - https://www.instagram.com/thespeechsource/
For more information on speech, language, feeding and play - visit The Speech Source Website - https://www.thespeechsource.com/

In this episode, Kim and Mary talk with Rachael Baethge as she shares how she created a flexible and sustainable business model that accommodates her roles as a mom and a speech therapist. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing personal and professional limits to avoid burnout, ensuring she remains effective in all her roles—business owner, mom, and speech therapist. Rachael highlights the value of sustainable growth over rapid expansion, accepting that not all goals need to be achieved immediately.

Transitioning from contracting in schools to starting her own business (Texas Speech Mom) and later a private practice gave Rachael more control over her schedule and activities. She leverages platforms like Instagram and Pinterest effectively to market her products, maintaining engagement through authenticity rather than chasing trends. Rachael discusses adapting her product offerings in response to changes in market demands and consumer behavior, ensuring her products remain relevant and in demand. Despite changes in social media algorithms, she focuses on cultivating relationships with her audience to keep her business relevant.

Rachael's business activities are closely integrated with her personal life, allowing her to manage her roles as a single mom and entrepreneur effectively. She underscores the value of having a supportive community of fellow entrepreneurs and how this network has helped her navigate personal and professional challenges. She shares her approach to creating engaging, useful products for speech therapists, focusing on quality and practicality to ensure long-term usability. Rachael reflects on the journey of balancing entrepreneurship with personal life, emphasizing the importance of taking things slow to build a lasting and fulfilling business. She advocates for knowing one's limits and working within them to maintain health and happiness across all aspects of life.

Rachael's story is a great and encouraging example of how understanding one's limits and focusing on sustainable growth can lead to a successful business that complements personal life's demands. We really enjoyed getting to know Rachael and are so excited to share her knowledge and resources!

Also, if you haven't done so already, follow our podcast! You will be the first to know when new episodes release. We would also love for you to leave a review and rate our show. The Speech Source appreciates your feedback and support! Follow here!

Follow Kim and Mary on IG here! - https://www.instagram.com/thespeechsource/
For more information on speech, language, feeding and play - visit The Speech Source Website - https://www.thespeechsource.com/