Designing Your Dream Schedule: Balancing a School Contract and Private Clients with Sheila Cina

From Private Practice Success Stories by Jena Castro-Casbon

April 13, 2026 · 26 min · Episode 368

About this episode

Sheila Cina shares her journey of building a private practice while balancing her role in the school system.

Have you ever had a client (or caseload) that made you think “I could do this so much better if I just have my own space”? For today’s guest, building her own private practice wasn’t just about clinical freedom—it was about finally doing therapy the way she always knew it should be done. And the best part? She did it all while keeping her dream role within the school system. I’m so excited to introduce you to Sheila Cina, a speech-language pathologist and a valued member of the Grow Your Private Practice Program. Sheila is the owner and founder of The Talking Place, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sheila’s journey into private practice is a masterclass in intentionality. Through a mix of side gigs, cold calls, and a leap of faith, she built a practice that not only serves her ideal clients but also allows her to mentor over 100 SLPs in her district. In this episode, Sheila discusses how she went from doing books in her husband’s basement to building a thriving practice, all while maintaining a flexible schedule and a collaborative network of colleagues. She specializes in compassionate, research-aligned, stutter-affirming therapy for children, teens, and adults. Her work centers…

People in this episode

Guest: Sheila Cina

Topics covered

private practice
speech-language pathology
therapy
work-life balance
mentorship

Keywords

flexible schedule
stutter-affirming therapy
client empowerment
intentionality

Mentioned in this episode

Products: The Talking Place

Places: Minneapolis, Minnesota