The challenge
When Vanessa first started working on her private practice, Peek-a-Boo Speech, she was excited — and overwhelmed. She had early intervention experience, strong relationships in her community, and a deep desire for more flexibility. Like many first-time practice owners, she downloaded templates, built a website, and enrolled in Jena Castro-Casbon’s Start Your Private Practice course.
But even after checking all the boxes, things didn’t take off the way she expected.
“I thought I was set up for success — I had a website, I was on social media, I let people know I was open. But I wasn’t getting any clients.”
She spent months trying to get leads before she started second-guessing whether private practice was really viable for her.
“I had a major case of imposter syndrome. I started to think, maybe I’m just not cut out for this.”
How Vanessa partnered with Origin
Vanessa partnered Origin in October 2024. Here’s how Origin supported her:
- Insurance Credentialing: Helped Vanessa get credentialed with major insurance companies like Anthem, Cigna, and Tricare — guiding her through the process and helping avoid costly mistakes.
- Referral Generation: Personally visited 50+ pediatricians and preschools in her area. Shortly after we partnered, she began to see referrals tailored to her location, caseload goals, and client preferences.
- Billing & Admin: Took over claim submission and follow-up — eliminating time-consuming phone calls with insurance companies and giving Vanessa time back to focus on therapy.
- Community & Mentorship: Brought Vanessa into a supportive network of like-minded SLPs — and later invited her to help co-design Origin’s provider experience.
“What sold me was the front office / back office model. I still run Peek-a-Boo Speech — but I’m not doing it alone anymore.”
The results
Vanessa now sees a caseload of 20 in-home clients — her ideal caseload at this time in her career. Her systems run smoothly, she no longer feels overwhelmed, and she finally has the kind of practice she dreamed about at the beginning.
“I’m not burned out. I’m organized, I’m getting paid, and I have time for myself now. It feels really sustainable."
She’s also helping mentor other SLPs who are just getting started, offering the kind of support she wishes she had earlier.
Advice to other SLPs
“I thought needing help meant I wasn’t ready — but asking for help is what made my practice take off.”
You don’t have to do it alone — and you don’t have to wait.
Learn how Origin makes it easier to launch and grow a private practice.
