Overcoming Imposter Syndrome to Build a Successful Practice as a Filipino SLP with Gaella Doutis
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How did Gaella’s early experiences lead her to become a speech‑language pathologist?
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.com backslash roadmap to sign up. Now on to the episode. In this episode, we sit down with Gayla Dougas, a speech language pathologist and founder of Speechbox in Las Vegas. An immigrant from the Philippines, Gayla shares her journey of overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome to build a thriving private practice and also expand into special education tutoring. Gala opens up about the self-doubt and imposter syndrome that she faced early on, what ultimately gave her the confidence to take the leap into private practice, and how the Start Your Private Practice program helped her to get started. One cool thing is that Gala and a group of peers from the START program actually get together on a regular basis to share strategies for finding clients and also networking.
In this episode, Gala also shares her future plans, everything from hiring staff to supervising students and exploring consultation opportunities in the Philippines. If you've been thinking about starting your own private practice, But feel held back by fear or uncertainty, then this episode is a must listen, 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.
So before we dive in, can you please share your name, your location, and the name of your private practice? Hello
everyone, my name's Gayla Dowdis and I am located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and my practice is Speechbox LLC for the speech therapy part. And then I just started something new, which is Speechbox Academy, which is special education and 504 tutoring for kids that have IEP and 504 plans.
Okay, so I am so excited to do this with you because I've gotten to know you in the Start Your Private Practice program. And you actually came in and spoke to some of our boot campers, which was so much fun. And I was like, I need to have you on the podcast because I need everyone to hear your full story. So before we get into what you're currently doing with your practice and your tutoring business, I would love for you to share with our listeners how you got started in the profession and Then when did you start thinking about private practice?
So I came to the United States in two thousand and two. Prior to that, I had an undergrad in communication arts. So I was gonna be a copywriter at an ad agency. That was the trajectory of my career. And so obviously, coming here, it didn't really work out. All the jobs that I was applying for wasn't really what I wanted. I got married, and my husband was stationed in an army base. We were in Fort Irvine, California, and then I saw the speech therapist come in.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
How did Gaella’s early experiences lead her to become a speech‑language pathologist?
0:00–6:29
2
What sparked Gaella’s decision to start a private practice in Las Vegas?
6:29–10:56
3
How did the Start Your Private Practice program help Gaella overcome imposter syndrome?
10:56–16:25
4
What strategies did Gaella use to attract her first private‑practice clients?
16:25–22:07
5
How does Gaella balance work hours, family life, and business boundaries?
22:07–26:37
6
What role does the Las Vegas SLP support group play in her professional growth?
26:37–31:45
7
What are Gaella’s plans for hiring staff and expanding SpeechBox Academy?
31:45–36:01
8
What advice does Gaella give to SLPs who are hesitant to launch their own practice?
36:01–40:17
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