From Underappreciated School SLP to Confident Practice Owner with Kim Willard
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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. Kim Willard is a speech language pathologist and owner of Empower You Speech and Language Therapy in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Kim had been working in the field for nearly two decades when her family moved from Chicago to Tennessee. She was hoping to have a better work environment in her new location, but sadly her new school-based position did not live up to those expectations. After feeling undervalued in the school system, especially when other professionals received raises while SLPs did not, Kim began to question her future. A pivotal conversation with a friend led her to consider private practice, and she officially launched her private practice, Empower You, after joining the Start Your Private Practice program in July of 2023.
In this episode, Kim shares what it's like to run a solo, mobile private practice that prioritizes meaningful connections with families. Kim serves both children and adults, but has a special interest in gestalt language processors and also individuals who stutter. It has also been fantastic to watch Kim grow her private practice as part of the Grow Your Private Practice program. If you've been thinking about stepping away from the constraints of the school system and creating a private practice that lets you spend more time with your family, choose ideal clients, and serve your community on your own terms, just like Kim has, then this is a must-listen episode, so stay tuned. 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. Before we get started, can you please share your name, your location, and the name of your
private practice? Sure. My name is Kim Willard. I am in Middle Tennessee outside of Nashville in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and my private practice is called Empower You Speech and Language Therapy.
Kim, I am so excited to have you on. I've gotten to know you through your starting and growing your practice. And I can't wait for everyone to hear where you are right now. But before we get to that, can you please share a little bit about like how you got started in the profession and then when did you start thinking about private practice?
Yes, so this is kind of a long time coming. It's fun to look back. So I was 17 years into the practice. It's hard to believe. And maybe a little less than that. And we were moving to Tennessee from Chicago. And that was just kind of a lifestyle decision, not really for work. And I had this idea in mind that when we moved, that the lifestyle in Tennessee was going to be so much more relaxed and better.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–6:05
2
What motivated Kim to leave the school system and start a private practice?
6:05–9:56
3
How did Kim’s move from Chicago to Tennessee affect her career outlook?
9:56–14:41
4
What sparked Kim’s decision to join the Start Your Private Practice program?
14:41–19:27
5
How did Kim transition from a full‑time school job to launching her own practice?
19:27–24:01
6
What does a typical week look like for Kim running a mobile private practice?
24:01–26:49
7
How is Kim planning to grow her practice – services, hiring, and partnerships?
26:49–27:59
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from Private Practice Success Stories
She Spent 5 Years Too Scared to Start - Now She Has a 4-Room Clinic with Tiffany Fairdosi
She Started With Two Clients on the Side - Now She Has Nine SLPs and a Clinic with Samantha Taylor
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