Episode 86: Your Private Practice Questions Answered w/ Guest Host Martha Speech

Are you considering opening a private practice? Is opening your own clinic something you’ve thought about - or are you more serious about starting a practice this year?
In this episode, guest host Martha Speech interviews Sarah, and the following questions (and more!) are answered?

  • How do you get started with marketing?

  • How did you get your first clients?

  • Should I start with accepting insurance or private pay only?

  • Should you buy assessments right away?

  • How do I deal with no shows or canceled appointments? Should I charge for them?

  • What should I do while I’m still in my “day job” to prepare to open my clinic?

    ….and more

Connect with Martha Speech: Clinic Website, Instagram, Teachers Pay Teachers

Want occasional updates from us and the freebies that go with selected episodes? www.slphappyhour.com/newsletter

Would you consider reviewing the podcast on Apple Podcasts? https://apple.co/2PuZc8c


This episode was sponsored by SLP Happy Hour’s landforms /R/ reading unit, which you can find at: https://www.slphappyhour.com/shop/landforms

Time Stamps

2:40 Martha describes her private practice 

4:00 Lightning Round 

8:20 Martha asks - Why did you start a private practice? 

8:48 What challenges did you face in your private practice that you didn’t see coming? 

11:38 What do you recommend for marketing and what do you not recommend doing? 

17:46 How did you get your first client? 

24:30 I’ve heard horror stories about billing insurance - what was your experience? 

(FYI I talked about filling out the application and being in network, I failed to mention it usually takes 3-4 months for insurance to process that paperwork packet to become in network.) 

27:00 What is a prior authorization and how do you go through that process with clients? 

30:10 How do you handle no shows and cancellations? 

36:10 Do you do evaluations? And when did you purchase assessment materials? 

41:26 How do you know when you need to hire administrative help? 

43:50 How to find Martha Speech Online marthaspeech.com or Martha Speech on IG or TPT

44:57 Martha shares a self care challenge - use no shows and cancels to your advantage

“The regrets I do have about communication is not being direct...be direct and be compassionate.”
Sarah 


“You do have to take a certain amount of calculated financial risk to start a clinic...that’s why not everyone does it.”
Sarah

Are you considering opening a private practice? Is opening your own clinic something you’ve thought about - or are you more serious about starting a practice this year? In this episode, guest host Martha Speech interviews Sarah, and in this episode…
Are you considering opening a private practice? Is opening your own clinic something you’ve thought about - or are you more serious about starting a practice this year? In this episode, guest host Martha Speech interviews Sarah, and in this episode…




Episode 85: A Framework for Making Small Changes that Lead to Big Results w/Robyn Downs

In this episode, Robyn Conley Downs shares her framework for making small changes add up to big results.
In this interview with Sarah, Robyn shares:

  • Her work history (including working with plenty of SLPs and children with Autism as a Behavioral Specialist) and why she decided to make some career changes

  • How self compassion for the days we don’t achieve our goals can help us keep going

  • A framework for making small changes the lead to big results

    ….and more

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Episode 83: When Work isn’t the Most Important Thing

In this episode, the cohosts each share four changes they’ve made this year to prioritize their home lives over their work lives, and what they are still struggling with.

In this episode of the SLP Happy Hour Podcast, you'll learn tips to prioritize your home life when your worklife seems more stressful than ever, plus some easy lessons and a self care challenge.

Book Spotlight by a Black Author An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Sarah and Sarie each share four tips for prioritizing your home life including: making sure your to-do list includes both home and work items, scheduling out your day in 30-minute increments with work and home priorities, having an after work wind down routine, protecting and defending boundaries (including work emails, phone calls, and texts on non-work days or after work hours), having a buddy who keeps you accountable leave work on time, cultivating a mental brain space where you don’t think about work when you aren’t there (which takes time and practice), and creating a to-do list that includes both work and home items.

The cohosts share two easy lessons on this episode. Sarah shares how reading about unusual animals has been motivating for her older language and articulation students and recommends reading more about the Sea Lamprey. Sarie shares a Google Form where you can do a Harry Potter escape room.

This episode is sponsored by the (TPT Link, Boom Link) R Pets Boom Cards Unit, where you can get done-for-you /R/ readings with comprehension questions, perfect for groups or students with language and articulation goals.

Want occasional updates from us and the freebies that go with selected episodes? www.slphappyhour.com/newsletter

Would you consider reviewing the podcast on Apple Podcasts? https://apple.co/2PuZc8c

In this episode of the SLP Happy Hour Podcast, you'll learn tips to prioritize your home life when your worklife seems more stressful than ever, plus some easy lessons and a self care challenge.






Episode 82: 5 Essential Factors To Consider Before You Leave Your Job

Are you unhappy in your job this year? Feeling a bit more stressed than usual? Considering making a change in the future? In this episode, the cohosts share 5 factors to consider first, which will get you more clarity and more motion - whatever you decide to do next.

Also in this episode, Sarie shares about GoGo Speech and their green screen activities.

Sarah asks - is your check engine light on? And references this podcast episode.

5 Things To Consider Before You Leave Your Job

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Episode 81: Stepping Away From My Job Midyear with Jenn Alcorn

Have you thought about leaving your job this year?


According to our informal poll, 70% of you don’t know if you’ll be finishing out your work contract this year or have had moments where you’ve considered quitting.

With rising demands on SLPs and increased rules and regulations and less support around Coronavirus, many SLPs have reported feeling unhappy with their current work situation. But is it time to leave? How do you know when it’s time to leave? How can a job change be a part of your self care plan? And how to do make a graceful exit when you can’t leave midyear, but know you won’t be going back?

These questions are answered by Jenn Alcorn who runs the popular Crazy Speech World Blog.

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Ep 78: Do This if You Need Help Releasing & Letting Go

In this solo episode Sarah shares her experience with schools stress trying to make Coronavirus therapy - and the backlog of evaluations - work.


This episode discusses:

  1. Why now is a time when many SLPs are feeling impostor syndrome

  2. The definition of stress and why now is a time of unprecedented SLP stress - at least in our current careers

  3. What to do with feelings of ineffectiveness, dread, & overwhelm at work

  4. “I choose to not resist,” and on not hooking in our emotions to what is happening. Acceptance is giving into the reality.

  5. Developing our distress tolerance in times of adversity

  6. What do you think the year “should be”? Have you taken time to grieve that loss?

  7. Noting - what am I feel right now?

  8. Look for what is not unpleasant.

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