Growing a Hybrid SLP Practice: Offering 1:1 Therapy and IEP Advocacy for Maximum Impact with Colleen Ashford

From Private Practice Success Stories by Jena Castro-Casbon

February 16, 2026 · 37 min · Episode 360

About this episode

Colleen Ashford discusses her mission-driven speech therapy practice that combines therapy with IEP advocacy.

What if your private practice could be a platform for change—for your clients and yourself? Today’s guest didn't just start a private practice; she built a mission-driven business that blends speech therapy with fierce advocacy. She traded burnout for autonomy and now uses her voice to empower families navigating the complex world of IEPs. I’m so excited to introduce you to Colleen Ashford, a speech-language pathologist and one of the dedicated clinicians inside our Grow Your Private Practice Program. Colleen is the owner and founder of Ashford Speech and Advocacy PC, a mobile and virtual private practice based in Vista, California where she provides evaluations, treatment, consultations, and advocacy at IEP meetings. For Colleen, starting her own practice was about more than flexibility and income—it was about authentic, values-driven work. She has created a unique model that allows her to serve early intervention clients and act as a special education advocate, ensuring families are supported at every step. In this episode, Colleen reveals how leaving the constraints of clinic and school jobs allowed her to design a practice that fits her life, serves her community deeply, and…

People in this episode

Guest: Colleen Ashford

Topics covered

private practice
speech therapy
IEP advocacy
burnout
autonomy

Keywords

hybrid practice
advocacy
early intervention
values-driven work

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Grow Your Private Practice Program, Ashford Speech and Advocacy PC

Places: Vista, California, Southern California