The "Someday" Trap: How to Stop Dreaming and Finally Start Your Practice with Kara Nelson

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Private Practice Success Stories 10 min 1 speaker 1 chapter transcribed 9 hours ago

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Jena Castro-Casbon 0:00

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.

Jena Castro-Casbon 0:44

To download your free copy, please visit startyourprivatepractice dot com backslash roadmap to sign up. Now on to the episode. If you've been listening to this podcast and thinking, I want to do that, then enrollment in the Start Your Private Practice program is open right now through Friday, May 1st at Midnight Pacific. The START program is our step-by-step program specifically for SLPs and OTs who want to build a private practice the right way and who don't have a business background, extra time, and don't want to waste time or money figuring out everything on their own. More than 3,600 of your SLP and OT peers have gone through it. They're in all fifty states. They're seeing clients, earning extra income, and a lot of them will tell you doing the most meaningful work of their careers.

Jena Castro-Casbon 1:33

And almost every single guest that you've ever heard on this show, well, they're start program alums. So if you've been inspired by the guests that you've heard on the Private Practice Success Stories podcast, well, they didn't DIY it. The START program is how they became successful in private practice. The start program. Walks you through everything from the legal setup to finding clients, billing, insurance, documentation, taxes, and more. It's completely self-paced and comes with mentorship and a private community, so you're never stuck. This isn't a go figure it out yourself course. This is a comprehensive program and we're with you the whole way. Just one private client pays for the entire investment.

Jena Castro-Casbon 2:16

It's also a tax-deductible business expense, and we have flexible payment options. You've been gathering information. You know that you want this. So head on over to privatepracticecourse.com to learn more and enroll today. I can't wait to help you start your private practice. Welcome back to another episode of the Private Practice Success Stories podcast. I'm your host, Jenna Kester Kasbon, and today I'm so excited for you to meet our guest, Kara. Nelson. Kara is a speech language pathologist and the founder of San Jorita Speech Spot in San Jorita, Arizona, which is a small town just 20 miles from the Mexico border. She's also a mom who, after years in the schools and a brief stint working for someone else's private practice, finally asked herself, why am I losing part of my money to someone else when I can do this for myself?

Jena Castro-Casbon 3:03

In this episode, Kara shares her journey from going Going from a someday dream to leaping into private practice. And now she's built a business that gives her the flexibility that she needs as a mom while still serving the preschool population that she's always loved. We talk about everything from how Kara transitioned from school-based work to private practice and how she knew it was time, the value of starting mobile to build momentum without the overhead. A few unexpected doors that opened, including the ability to rent clinic space from a church, which was a very inexpensive way to get started, and finally her advice for clinicians who are nervous about taking the leap. If you've ever thought I should do this for myself, or you're a self-described type B personality, wondering if private practice is really something that you can do, then this is proof that it is absolutely possible.

Jena Castro-Casbon 3:54

So let's dive in. I'm Jenna Castro-Kasbon, speech language pathologist, business coach, and creator of the Start Your Private Practice System.

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Chapters

1 chapters

1 What are the biggest advantages of starting a private practice today? 0:00–10:47

Speakers

1 identified

Jena Castro-Casbon 7 min

Topics in this episode

Instagram 2 Facebook 2 Mexico 1 Arizona 2 Tucson 1 Private Practice Success Stories 2 independentclinician.com 1 Jenna Castro‑Kasbon 2 Start Your Private Practice System 1 Start Your Private Practice program 2 Flagstaff 1 Northern Arizona University 1

Source

Recorded23 Feb 2026

Publisherfeeds.captivate.fm ↗

Transcriptspeaker-named · 100+ languages

Handlerec:20523705

Show notes

What if the next step in your career was simply saying "yes" to yourself? For many clinicians, the idea of starting a private practice feels like a "someday" dream. But for today’s guest, "someday" arrived a lot sooner than she expected — and it completely changed her career.I’m thrilled to introduce you to Kara Nelson, a pediatric speech-language pathologist, mom, and the founder of Sahuarita Speech Spot, a private practice serving families in a rural-suburban community in Southern Arizona, just 20 miles north of the Mexico border.Kara specializes in gestalt language processing and neurodiversity-affirming therapy, supporting children from first words through early literacy. She has grown her practice beyond traditional speech therapy by adding reading tutoring, school contracts, and community partnerships, all while raising her family and figuring out how to scale a business without losing the heart of the work. She is a shining example of what happens when you combine clinical expertise with a leap of faith—and she’s been a joy to watch grow from the very first steps of her journey all the way to where she is now.From working as a speech tech in the schools to building a thriving practice with a brick-and-mortar location and a growing team, Kara’s story proves that private practice isn’t just for the "type A" planners—it’s for anyone willing to go all in.In this episode, Kara shares how she moved from feeling stuck in the school system to creating a practice that fits her life, her family, and her community.Kara Nelson has been working in the schools since 2007, starting as a speech language technician before earning her master’s degree from Northern Arizona University. She spent over 15 years in educational settings before realizing she was ready for something different.A self-described "all or nothing" person, Kara didn’t waffle when the idea of private practice took hold. She started small—mobile and part-time—while continuing to work in early intervention and the schools. But it wasn’t long before her caseload grew, and so did her vision.Today, Kara runs a busy practice that offers both speech therapy and literacy support out of a permanent location. She’s learned to leverage technology, streamline her systems, and even bring on a team member. And through it all, she’s stayed grounded in her mission: helping kids communicate and connect.In Today's Episode, We Discuss:How Kara transitioned from school-based work to private practice—and why she knew it was timeThe value of starting mobile to build momentum without the overheadThe unexpected doors that opened—like renting space in a churchHer advice for clinicians who are nervous about taking the leapKara’s journey is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to have every detail figured out before you start. You just have to begin. Whether it’s gaining confidence to have parents in the room, posting on Facebook to find clients, or deciding to build walls in a leased space—each step builds on the last.Her story does not have to be the exception. You, too, can create a practice that grows with you—if you’re willing to take the first step.Want to build a private practice that fits your life—whether you’re type A, type B, or somewhere in between? The Start Your Private Practice Program can give you the tools and step-by-step guidance to get started. Learn more at www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com.Whether you want to start a private practice or grow your existing private practice, I can help you get the freedom, flexibility, fulfillment, and financial abundance that you deserve. Visit my website www.independentclinician.com to learn more.Resources Mentioned:Follow Kara on Facebook: facebook.com/sahuaritaspeechspotCheck out her website: sahuaritaspeechspot.comWhere We Can Connect:Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-practice-success-stories/id1374716199Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

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