logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2022
23m 19s

Billing Medicaid and The Importance of M...

Jena Castro-Casbon
About this episode

As SLPs, a lot of us get into this profession because we just want to help people. Helping people is just what we do. And when we aren’t able to do that, it takes a serious toll on us emotionally. This quickly leads to burnout which can leave you feeling unhappy and unfulfilled. 

But you don’t have to stay that way. You can find more fulfillment by starting your own private practice where you get to build the life you want on your own terms. 


In this week’s episode of Private Practice Success Stories, I sat down with Lydia Lacy, who was feeling stuck and unfulfilled in her job. This led her to start her own private practice which has given her so much more happiness and fulfillment. 


Lydia started working for Detroit Public Schools right after graduating in May of 1999. She was placed in a Title 1 elementary school in the heart of the city and then moved around to other settings throughout the district. Lydia and her family moved to Georgia in 2011 where she continued to work in education. She has over 20 years of experience working in the school setting serving students from preschool to high school. 


When it was time for a change of pace, she switched over to working for a private practice in 2018 but then moved back to the school setting as a contractor. That’s when she decided that maybe it was time for her to start her own private practice. 

While researching, she came across Jena’s website and joined her Facebook group then reached out to some local therapists to ask more questions! 


As a married mother with four children, Lydia is very busy working her full-time position in the schools while growing her part-time business, Katalyst Speech Therapy. It can be stressful at times trying to navigate each role, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.


In her free time, she enjoys exercising, reading, spending time with her kids, and dating her handsome husband.


In Today's Episode, We Discuss:


  • Lydia’s journey to starting her own private practice
  • The power of connecting with other people in the profession
  • How Lydia finds clients
  • The benefits of being an insurance provider
  • Lydia’s experience with accepting Medicaid
  • The importance of having a mentor when starting a private practice


I hope you found this episode inspirational. I love Lydia’s persistence and how she finally took the steps and started her private practice. She is the perfect example of someone who wanted to do it, did it, and is now encouraging others to go for it too. 


If you would like to learn more about our programs and how we support SLPs and OTS who want our help to start and grow their private practices, please visit www.independentclinician.com. 


Resources Mentioned: 

Visit Lydia’s website: https://www.katalystspeechtherapy.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/

Follow Me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jena.castrocasbon/

Mentioned in this episode:

Register for the "See Clients This Summer" Free Training Event --> www.PlanYourPrivatePractice.com

Up next
Oct 6
Making More and Working Less By Setting Up Her Private Practice for Maximal Ease: with Ellie Richter
What if your private practice could finally give you the money, freedom, and balance you’ve always wanted—without the endless hustle or burnout?That’s exactly what today’s guest, Ellie Richter, created for herself. Ellie is the owner of The Essential Teletherapist, and she’s tran ... Show More
41m 17s
Sep 29
Growing Her Practice By Offering Gender-Affirming Voice and Adult Neuro Services with Anne Quirk
What if you could combine your passion for helping people with the freedom to serve the clients you love most? That’s exactly what Anne Quirk discovered when she launched True Self Speech Therapy in Providence, Rhode Island.Anne is a speech-language pathologist specializing in ne ... Show More
36m 40s
Sep 22
From PRN to Private Practice: Building an Adult Focused Practice with Amanda Smith
What if the career you thought you’d never leave ended up being the springboard into something even better? That’s exactly what happened to Amanda Smith, who turned years of hospital experience into her own private practice, Lasting Language Therapy Services, in Woodstock, Georgi ... Show More
41m 48s
Recommended Episodes
May 2018
Mindfulness, Compassion and Work: Leah Weiss
Her ninth-grade teacher changed her life, but the loss of a friend followed by time in service of Tibetan refugees in India would lead Leah Weiss to change the lives of thousands in ways she never saw coming, until they arrived.Leah Weiss, Ph.D., MSW, is a teacher, researcher, an ... Show More
54m 47s
Nov 2021
SLP 129: Personal Growth Through Challenging Times with Liz Sefton
‘I think I have been lucky that I’ve always done the work on myself over the years. So I have a sort of collection, a tool kit in place that keeps me positive. Or when things feel tough, I’ve got something to go to, to help me through those difficult times. And definitely, my ess ... Show More
1h 7m
Aug 2018
Lydia Pinkham
Thanks so much for listening to Historical Figures. Parcast has another podcast called Great Women of Business where we profile amazing female business leaders. This episode is on Lydia Pinkham, an historic figure in her own right! We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we do! ... Show More
1h 3m
Sep 2022
Ep. 35 - Health & Wellness Tips for Filmmakers with Lydia Hurlbut
Doing something a little different on episode 35 of the Hollywood Editing Mentor Podcast. Gonna be talking all about health & wellness, something that I’m truly interested in and get excited about.  It’s a topic that I hadn’t touched upon in a while and something that I wanted to ... Show More
59m 48s
Feb 2022
Leah Weiss on Workplace Burnout
Leah Weiss is a researcher, lecturer, consultant, and author. She teaches compassionate leadership at the Stanford School of Business and is a principal teacher and founding faculty member of Stanford’s Compassion Cultivation Program, conceived by the Dalai Lama. In 2019, she co- ... Show More
58 m
Jan 2022
055 Bela (Desai) Patel: Why I help people heal naturally and live happier and healthier lives
On today's episode I had a wonderful conversation with Bela (Desai) Patel. Bela spent the first 17 years of her career as a consultant pharmacist practicing in nursing homes in USA. Most of this time was spent reviewing patients’ charts and making recommendations regarding their ... Show More
1 h
Jan 2015
The Power (and Heartbreak) of Being Called to Serve: Danielle Butin
"People who are not listened to need those who are listened to to fight like hell for them."How many times have you heard an inspiring story of incredible service and heart and then thought, "How does that even get started?"Probably a lot.Because the truth is, most of us would lo ... Show More
1h 2m
Sep 2022
229. From Burnout to Thriving: Soul Client Interview w/ Bethany
When I first met Bethany, she was feeling isolated, lost, and caught up in the rollercoaster of having three kids in five years. She found my podcast and tried out some self-help books, but eventually realized that private mentorship was the next step to really getting out of the ... Show More
41m 8s
Jan 2023
The Art & Practice of Separating School from Life: 5 Clear Steps with Dr. Lori Friesen
Are you wondering how you can feel more balanced between work and your personal life?  In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, I sat down with a dear friend, Dr. Lori Friesen, who is doing amazing things for her community. When I heard about what she does, I knew I had to have her on ... Show More
21m 8s