What if the stress, burnout, and uncertainty you’re feeling right now are actually guiding you toward something better? That’s exactly what happened to Kansas Staffy, who went from feeling overwhelmed in her clinical job to running a thriving private practice, Talk and Taste Pediatric Therapy, in Delta and Montrose, Colorado.

Kansas is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in AAC and feeding therapy. After working in home health, and outpatient clinics, she realized that traditional settings weren’t allowing her to take care of her health—or serve clients the way she wanted to.

Like many clinicians, Kansas once said, “I never want to own a business.” But after facing health challenges and the stress of an audit at work, she knew something had to change. With encouragement from her husband and support from the Start Your Private Practice Program, she took the leap. Within six months, she grew from zero to 25 clients and a full caseload.

Today, Kansas serves children from infancy through young adulthood, offering both home visits and office-based therapy. She continues to specialize in AAC and feeding while building strong relationships with families, OTs, and other local providers. Her practice is rooted in collaboration, flexibility, and creative problem-solving—especially important in a rural area with limited access to care.

In this episode, Kansas talked about how she built her business with her health and lifestyle in mind. She works Tuesday through Friday, with built-in time for rest, billing, and medical appointments. Her husband, who manages the local grocery store, has even become an unofficial “referral source,” spreading the word about her services throughout the community.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What helped her make that powerful mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur
• How she built a client base in a small rural community
• The ways she connected with other professionals and programs to grow her practice
• How she built her schedule and systems around her health, her values, and her life

Kansas’s story is proof that you can build a thriving private practice—even in a small town—when you combine persistence, creativity, and a clear sense of purpose. What started as a move for her health turned into a business that brings life-changing services to families who truly need them.

Want to build a private practice that gives you freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment—just like Kansas has? The Start Your Private Practice Program gives you the tools and guidance to get started. Learn more at www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com

Whether you want to Start or Grow 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.

Check out her website: talkandtastetherapy.com

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What if starting private practice could give you more freedom, fulfillment, and the ability to design work around your life—not the other way around? That’s what Sirisha Duvvuru, founder of Your Speech Matters in Frisco, Texas, discovered when she stepped away from her 9–5.

After 12 years in schools and home health, Sirisha loved her clients but felt weighed down by paperwork and limitations. At first, private practice felt intimidating, but she started small—with a simple flyer that landed her first client. What began as a side hustle quickly grew into a thriving feeding-focused practice and a source of freedom.

In this episode, Sirisha shares how she specializes in pediatric feeding therapy, partners with families directly, and enjoys the flexibility to be present with her two children. From bubble tea dates with her kids to speaking at professional conferences, private practice has given her space to grow both as a mom and a clinician.

In this episode, we discuss:

• From seeing private practice as “too intimidating” to starting with just one flyer on Facebook
• Built caseload through screenings & networking
• Carved out a niche in pediatric feeding therapy with a trauma-informed approach
• Practice brings income and freedom as mom, wife, and woman

Sirisha’s story is a reminder that private practice doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated—you can build it step-by-step. By starting small, leaning into your expertise, and designing your business with intention, you can create a career that serves both your clients and your life.

Want to create a private practice that gives you freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment—just like Sirisha has? Learn more about our Start Your Private Practice Program, where Sirisha and so many other SLPs and OTs have gotten the tools, systems, and confidence to make the leap. Visit www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com to learn more.

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.

Follow Sirisha on:

Instagram: instagram.com/your_speechmatters/

Facebook: Your Speech Matters PLLC

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sirisha-duvvuru-388406262

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-practice-success-stories/id1374716199

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

What if your private practice could finally give you the money, freedom, and balance you’ve always wanted—without the endless hustle or burnout?

That’s exactly what today’s guest, Ellie Richter, created for herself. Ellie is the owner of The Essential Teletherapist, and she’s transformed her career from driving all over town for clients to running a thriving telepractice on her own terms.

Ellie has been an SLP since 2010, working primarily as a bilingual therapist in nonprofits. In 2022, she decided to step away from traditional roles and test out private practice with just a handful of clients. By 2024, she went all in—rebranding, creating clear systems, and designing a practice that aligned with her values and family’s needs.

At first, Ellie took any client she could, driving around for home visits. But as a mom and primary parent, the stress of being on the road was unsustainable. Around the same time, health challenges within her family pushed her to rethink her income, schedule, and priorities.

With support from the Start and later the Grow Your Private Practice Program, Ellie clarified her vision, set her rates, and built a plan that worked. She leaned into her expertise in bilingual therapy and school contracts, while also developing a new passion—helping other SLPs succeed at teletherapy. Within her first year of going all in, Ellie hit six figures, built contracts through word of mouth, and created a business that truly worked for her life.

In this episode, Ellie shares how she specializes in bilingual evaluations, early intervention, and teletherapy. Through her practice, The Essential Teletherapist, she not only serves children and families but also trains other SLPs to deliver effective virtual services. And how she built her business around family life—choosing her hours, and creating systems for what she calls “maximal ease.” She continues to refine her practice so it’s sustainable long term, both financially and personally.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Ellie transitioned from nonprofit work to launching her own practice
• What it looks like to build a bilingual teletherapy and school contract model
• The mindset shifts she made to prioritize ease and balance
• And why aligning her business with her family’s needs has been the key to success

Ellie’s story proves that you don’t have to choose between being a present parent and building a successful career. With clarity, systems, and support, you can create a practice that works for you—and build it on your own terms.

Want to create a private practice that gives you freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment—just like Ellie has? The Start Your Private Practice Program gives you the tools and guidance to get started. Learn more at www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com

Whether you want to Start or Grow 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