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What if the moment you felt most defeated was actually the push you needed to build something extraordinary? Today's guest turned an ultimatum on her living room couch into a multi-faceted clinic that serves families, schools, and the next generation of SLPs. I'm so excited to share her incredible journey with you!
I'm reintroducing you to Samantha Taylor, a passionate speech-language pathologist, advocate, and the founder of Olive Speech Therapy and the Empowered Parent Network. With over 17 years of experience, Samantha has dedicated her career to empowering families of children with unique needs through expert guidance, strong community support, and a commitment to breaking down barriers in education and communication.
But Samantha's path to private practice wasn't a straight line, it started with a positive COVID test, a conversation with her husband, and a sudden realization that she just couldn't go back to school. After working in the schools for years, she hit a wall with unrealistic expectations and burnout. In January 2021, while quarantined with COVID, she made the terrifying decision to leap. By day ten of her quarantine, she had built a website and was ready to go. She fully transitioned to private practice in June 2022, and the rest is history.
Samantha blends evidence-based practices with a deeply personal, family-centered approach that focuses on empowering parents just as much as treating kids. In 2025, her exceptional courage, vision, and innovation were recognized when she received the Trailblazer Award, honoring a woman who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in her field.
Today, Samantha has a growing practice with a team of 9 SLPs. She has successfully hired and mentored multiple clinical fellows, diversified her revenue streams with school contracts and CPSE services, and is now expanding into parent advocacy.
Outside of being an SLP and business owner, Samantha's favorite roles are being a mom and an advocate. Her mission, both professionally and personally, is helping families recognize their strengths, find their confidence, and realize that they are the experts on their own children.
In Today's Episode, We Discuss:- How to use school contracts as a "security blanket" while you build your caseload
- The exact moment she realized she had to hire
- Why diversifying your income streams isn't just smart, it's survival
- The deeply personal story of how her own son's journey shaped her mission to empower parents, not just treat kids
Samantha is truly living proof that you know way more than you're giving yourself credit for. She didn't have a perfect plan; she just had a desire to serve and a willingness to figure it out. And that was enough to build something extraordinary and earn recognition as a true trailblazer in the process.
Her story does not have to be the exception. You, too, can build the private practice of your dreams even if you're starting from a place of burnout or fear.
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 Samantha on
Instagram: instagram.com/olive_speech_language_therapy/ & instagram.com/parenthood.unscripted/
Facebook: @olivespeechtherapy
Check out her website: www.olivespeechtherapy.org
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/
