Speech Therapy Private Practice Myths

Thinking of starting a private practice? Sometimes the move can feel daunting. You can probably think of three reasons why it doesn’t make sense for you to start. But, some of those reasons might actually be myths. As it turns out, speech pathologists start seeing clients independently in all sorts of ways and you might be closer than you think! 

Myth #1: I need an office.

You might dream of a grand office with brightly-painted walls, filled with tables, little chairs, and shelves piled high with every type of speech therapy material imaginable. But to start a private practice, you need much less than that. Many speech pathologists start seeing clients independently without an office space. 

You can see clients in their home, virtually via teletherapy, or in a community space like a park or a library. Plus, you’ve likely already created materials of your own for your students or patients, and you can use those to conduct sessions. A beautiful office space might be in your future, but don’t let it stop you from taking the first step to seeing clients on your own! 

Myth #2: I need lots of time.    

Your days are already packed. Between dropping off the kids at school and making it to work on time, it can already feel like there’s not enough time in the day. The idea of finding ten hours per week to see private clients feels impossible. But, the beauty of private practice is that it’s completely flexible. You’re the boss! You set your own hours and availability. 

If you can only see one client per week, that’s great! A single client could be an awesome opportunity to test out private practice, while still keeping your day job. You can start by designating an hour on Wednesday afternoons for an independent client and see how it grows from there. 

Myth #3: I need lots of experience. 

If you’ve completed grad school and your CF year, you’re ready! Think about it: you’re basically working independently right now. Your supervisor might check in on your classroom every couple months or double check a progress note for a client, but for the most part, you’re doing it by yourself. Parents are already trusting you to work with their child and they’re likely seeing positive outcomes. There’s no reason why you couldn’t deliver the same quality of services on your own. There is no threshold for being ready for private practice. If you’ve been working for three years or thirty years, you’re ready to apply your expertise in a new way!  

For these reasons, you might be closer than you think to starting a private practice of your own. If you’re still worried about the business and billing side of seeing clients independently, a solution like our Beaming Health Network might be a great onramp for you. Take the first step, you’re more ready than you think!