Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaina Aktan.
Hi Shaina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my journey to becoming a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in 2009 when I changed my majors from linguistics to communicative sciences and disorders during my undergraduate studies at Temple University. After graduating in 2013, I landed a job as a Mental Health Therapist and worked primarily with Autistic children and adolescents. In 2016, I moved to San Diego, California, to pursue a job as a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) to solidify which career path I wanted to take. I worked as an assistant for 6 years across pediatric private practice, telehealth, and school settings. I finally pursued a master’s degree in 2019 from New York University. Over the years, I envisioned owning a private practice that provides therapists of all kinds with work-life balance and opportunities to thrive in their roles while serving a variety of populations across numerous settings. In 2023, I was finally offered the perfect opportunity to buy my best friend’s private practice of 5-6 therapists and put my visions into place. That now includes a team of 18 therapists, including SLPs, SLPAs, and soon mental health therapists!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
So far, it has been a nine-month journey of smooth and bumpy roads, but all leading us in the right direction! I am lucky to have met, interviewed, and hired several passionate therapists to build an amazing team. That’s been the smoothest part. The hardest part has been navigating insurance and balancing spreadsheets (not what I earned a master’s degree in). Thank goodness my husband is our Chief Financial Officer and has proudly taken on that arduous role!
As you know, we’re big fans of Shaina Speaks Therapy & Coaching, Inc. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Shaina Speaks Therapy & Coaching, Inc. is a speech therapy private practice based out of La Mesa, CA. We provide speech therapy services within homes, our private clinic, virtual sessions, and selected school contracts throughout San Diego County. We specialize in providing evidence-based treatment while cultivating meaningful relationships with our clients, students, and/or patients. We empower our families, caregivers, and/or teachers to embrace intervention in their daily, academic, and social routines for life-changing moments and long-lasting growth. We pride ourselves in being Neurodiversity (ND) Affirming and knowledgeable across the lifespan. Our approach involves connection, coaching, education, and advocacy from a place of passion and love for what we do.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Shaina Speaks Therapy & Coaching, Inc. used to be called just “Shaina Speaks” and started as an aspiring SLPA consultation company to help assistants become licensed nationwide.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shainaspeaks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shainaspeaks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaina-aktan/
