ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What if the worst career news you've ever received turned out to be the push you needed to build the career you actually deserve? Today's guest took an unexpected layoff right before the holidays and turned it into the flexible, fulfilling private practice she never knew she wanted. I can't wait for you to hear her story!
I'm thrilled to introduce you to Megan Jimeno, a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist with 23 years of clinical expertise spanning both adult and pediatric populations. She is the owner and founder of Winsome Speech, a mobile private practice based in Spokane, Washington.
Megan's journey hasn't been a straight line. She started in inpatient rehab and skilled nursing, where she fell in love with giving a voice to those often lost in the system—but she hated the productivity demands and the "machine" of Medicare. She eventually switched to pediatrics and spent nine years at a small clinic, building deep relationships with families and even creating an in-school program that served kids during the school day.
Then, just two weeks before Christmas in 2025, everything changed. She received an email letting her know the clinic was closing its doors by February. With a daughter at home, a father-in-law to care for, and a caseload of kids she didn't want to abandon, Megan had a choice: find another employer who would fit her strict schedule, or bet on herself and start her own practice.
In March of 2026, after the unexpected closure of the clinic she had been with for 9 years, she took a leap of faith to launch her own mobile practice, bringing specialized therapy directly to children in homes, private schools, and daycares.
In this episode, Megan discusses how she navigated the terrifying leap into business ownership even though she'll be the first to tell you she is no expert in business and is figuring it out as she goes.
Outside of patient care, Megan is a mom, a caretaker, and an advocate for believing in yourself, even when the path feels impossible.
In Today's Episode, We Discuss:- What to do when you’re forced into private practice and have no time to overthink it
- The power of staying mobile and using a “cloffice” to keep expenses low
- How she strategically balances private pay and insurance-based clients while protecting her flexibility
Megan is truly proof that you don't need to have a decade-long dream or a business background to build a successful practice. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is take a deep breath, look at what you've created, and say: "Wow. This is mine. I did that."
If you're ready to stop waiting and start building a practice that's truly aligned with your goals, Private Practice School is here to help. We start with a Personalized Private Practice Plan and then give you the tools, such as the Life First calendar and our Numbers Made Simple Calculators, and me in your corner every week, whether you're opening the doors or growing what you've already built.
Please visit www.PrivatePracticeSchool.com to learn more, and follow me on Instagram @independentclinician for more tips, inspiration, and resources to support your private practice journey.
Resources Mentioned:Follow Megan on:
Facebook: facebook.com/share/1DnHTeFwjc/
Instagram: instagram.com/winsomespeech/
Check out her website: winsomespeech.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/
