In this episode, Luba sits down with Nicole Casey, speech language pathologist, clinic owner, and the creator of the Child Led SLP community, for a conversation that is equal parts clinical insight and personal honesty. Nicole unpacks what "child led" therapy actually means, clearing up the common misconception that it equals no structure or goals, and explaining how following a child's lead leads to deeper generalization outside of sessions. The two also get into what parents really need emotionally before strategies can even land, why finding the right therapist fit matters, and how Nicole accidentally went viral on Instagram, built a 100K following, and pulled off a 15,000-person summit while running a clinic and raising two kids. It's a refreshing reminder that you can grow a business and a platform without losing the heart of why you started.

Nicole's links:

https://childled.org

https://alignedrubricframework.com

(00:01:27) Child-Led Communication Development in Speech Therapy

(00:07:49) Building a Supportive Therapy Team for Children

(00:10:18) Empowering Parents through Non-Judgmental Support

(00:24:02) Speech Therapy Community Thrives Online During Pandemic

(00:29:15) From Clinic Owner to Movement Builder

(00:35:34) Purposeful Connection Through Compassionate Entrepreneurship

(00:38:52) Building Business Success Through Compassionate Growth

Somewhere along the way, parents were made to believe that advocating for their child means being difficult, confrontational, or “that parent.” In this solo episode of The Growth Lab, speech-language pathologist and child advocate Luba Patlakh challenges that narrative and explains why advocacy is not aggression, it’s clarity. Drawing from years of experience supporting families through IEP meetings and school systems, Luba shares the mindset shifts and practical language that can completely change how these conversations unfold. From asking the right questions to regulating emotions in high-stress meetings, this episode gives parents the tools to advocate with confidence, stay steady in difficult rooms, and ensure their child’s needs are truly heard.

(00:00:46) Empowered Parental Advocacy for Child Services

(00:10:41) Power of Clarity in Effective Advocacy

In this episode of The Growth Lab, Luba Patlakh sits down with speech-language pathologist, educator, and clinic owner Jessie Ginsburg—known online as the Sensory SLP—for a candid conversation about the evolving world of speech therapy and what it really takes to support children and families well. Together they explore Jessie’s journey from starting her own clinic to building widely used sensory-focused training programs for therapists, including the course she created to help SLPs better support autistic children in virtual therapy. They discuss the power of mentorship and specialization in clinical settings, the importance of finding the right therapist–family fit, and the realities of balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, and leadership in a growing field. The conversation offers both practical insight for clinicians and reassurance for parents navigating developmental concerns.

Check out Jessie:

Jessie's Website: https://www.sensoryslp.com

Jessie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensory.slp/

(00:02:07) Innovative Approach to Children's Speech Therapy

(00:09:53) Virtual Sensory Course for Autism Therapy

(00:15:05) Specialized Pediatric Speech Therapy Clinic's Approach

(00:16:40) Specialized Muscle Function Correction Therapy Training

(00:21:13) Therapeutic Success Through Strong Therapist-Client Bonds

(00:27:07) Navigating Work-Life Boundaries for Well-being

(00:44:04) Empowering Team Growth Through Delegation

(00:51:34) Autism Support Through Sensory Speech Training