From Schools to Private Practice: An Inspiring Journey with Darla Gardner

Private Practice Success Stories

Does working in schools have you feeling stuck with no control over your career? If you want to get that control back, this episode is for you!

Today I am joined by Darla Gardner, an SLP with a pediatric private practice outside of Dallas, Texas. Darla worked for over 20 years as a school-based SLP. After learning the school administration wanted her to move to a different campus, she decided to join our Start Your Private Practice Program and start a private practice instead.

In this episode, Darla shares her private practice startup journey, from how she kept overhead costs low, to the fulfillment she gets from meeting the needs of her community.

Darla was a school-based SLP for 21 years. During this time, she developed a passion for partnering with parents to intentionally target early speech and language skills in the home. After discovering that low-income, pre-school-aged children in her area were on 18+ month waiting lists for speech therapy services at clinics more than 20 miles away, she decided to open her own clinic, Wonderfully Made Therapies.

Through her private practice, she can serve the children most at risk for later academic concerns by providing early speech and language services close to home.

In Today's Episode, We Discuss:

• Darla’s history of working in schools
• Recognizing the gap between what the school offered and what her patients needed
• How she went about furnishing her practice for cheap
• What happens when you get out of your head and put yourself out there
• How private practice lets her work with parents more than she could in the schools
• The variety of services Darla’s practice offers now and what she hopes to offer in the future

If you want to better meet the needs of your community in a way the schools can’t, I hope Darla’s story will inspire you!

Whether you want to start a private practice (like Darla!) 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 Darla on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msgardeniasspeechroom/

Check out Darla’s TPT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/ms-gardenias-speech-room

More of Darla’s resources: https://www.speechroomresources.com/

Where We Can Connect:

Follow the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/private-practice-success-stories/id1374716199

Follow Me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/independentclinician/

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slp.private.practice.beginners/

Mentioned in this episode:

Discover the only 5 numbers you need to track to double your practice income in 2025 - perfect for practice owners who are great with client data but nervous about business metrics! Sign up for the Money Metrics Workshop on January 15th at 8pmEST for just $37! www.growyourprivatepractice.com/metrics