Building a Thriving Autism Practice While Raising Two Young Kids with Emily Vernon
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What inspired Emily Vernon to start her own autism OT practice?
Starting a private practice isn't what it used to be. Today's clinicians are starting private practices much quicker, easier, and cheaper than before. And they aren't guessing their way through it or getting stuck in analysis paralysis, they're following a tried and true roadmap in order to save time, money, and frustration. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel or struggle to figure out how to start a private practice on your own. We've helped thousands of SLPs and OTs through this process and now we want to help you too. For a limited time, I'm offering a free copy of our private practice roadmap, specifically for SLPs and OTs who are curious about private practice and want to see what the journey looks like.
To download your free copy, please visit startyourprivatepractice dot com backslash roadmap to sign up. Now on to the episode. Welcome back to another episode of the Private Practice Success Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Jenna Caster Kasvon, and I'm so excited to introduce you to Emily Vernon. Emily is an occupational therapist and founder of Spectrum Connections in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She's been an OT for 15 years, is a mom of two, and has built a solo practice so deeply rooted in her community that word of mouth is her primary mechanism for getting referrals. I've gotten to know Emily in the Grow Your Private Practice program, and it has been so much fun to watch her practice grow over the past year.
But here's what I love most about Emily's story. She started her private practice in a way that felt safer, more intentionally, and honestly more realistic for a mom with young kids. And guess what? It worked. In this episode, Emily opens up about how she built a full caseload for herself, the low cost, and setup. My non-traditional but fantastic space where she sees clients, creative payment options that she's leaning into beyond insurance and private pay, and her advice for taking imperfect action, especially if you're a fellow type B, ADHD, or big picture thinker. If you've ever felt like you need the perfect space, the perfect plan, or the perfect time to start, then this episode is for you. Emily's story will show you what's possible when
When you stop overthinking and just take that first step. Let's dive it. I'm Jenna Castro-Kasbon, speech language pathologist, business coach, and creator of the Start Your Private Practice System. And I'm on a mission to turn stuck SLPs into successful private practitioners. If you're tired of dealing with high productivity requirements, high caseload sizes, and low pay, it's time to take control of your professional, personal, and financial life and finally get the freedom, flexibility, and financial abundance that you deserve by working with private clients in your own practice. Join me here each week as I share tips, best practices, and inspirational interviews on the Private Practice Success Stories podcast.
If you're a private practitioner or one in the making, you're in the right place, so let's get started. Alright, so before we get started, can you please share your name, your location, and the name of your private practice?
Sure, Emily Vernon. I'm in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the clinic is called Spectrum.
connections. Okay, Emily, I'm so excited to do this with you. I've gotten to know you pretty well over the last year or so in the GROW program. And I want our listeners to really hear what it's like to have a growing private practice. But before we get to what things are like now, take us back to the beginning and share kind of how you got started in the field and then at what point did you start thinking about private practice?
Yes, so I've been in OT since two thousand and eleven. It's crazy to think that it's been like fifteen years. Already. And so um I've always worked with pediatrics. That's kind of my specialty. I've always loved working with kids of all types of diagnoses. Um I specialize now in autism, in the OT side of things. And I think really I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Like I've always kind of had a side gig, you know.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What inspired Emily Vernon to start her own autism OT practice?
0:00–4:35
2
How did Emily build a full caseload while raising two young kids?
4:35–8:15
3
What low‑cost, non‑traditional space does she use for client sessions?
8:15–11:43
4
Which creative payment options does Emily use beyond insurance and private pay?
11:43–15:33
5
What advice does she give for taking imperfect action as a Type B/ADHD thinker?
15:33–18:52
6
How is Emily planning to grow her practice with group programs and summer camps?
18:52–23:11
7
How does her flexible schedule impact her family life and work‑life balance?
23:11–26:34
8
Where can listeners find Emily online and learn more about Spectrum Connections?
26:34–29:48
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from Private Practice Success Stories
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From 2 Clients on the Side to Ready to Hire — Then She Decided She Didn't Want To with Bianca Gizzi Fusco
She Told Her Dad She’d Never Start a Private Practice - Now She Has a Successful Clinic and Growing Team with Sarah Landry
She Started at 26 With One Referral - Now She Has a Downtown Office and a 3-Year School Contract with Becca Vilsaint
She Didn't Hate Her Job BUT She Left to Start a Private Practice Anyway with Heather Danielkiewicz