Private Practice Focused on Social Groups and “Edventures” with Barbara Earley and April Lowe

Have you ever thought about starting a non-traditional private practice or offering social events for your clients? Then this episode of Private Practice Success Stories is for you! 

I sat down with Barbara Earley and April Lowe who co-own a very innovative private practice in Georgia called Social EdVentures, which includes small group social outings for teenagers and young adults with varied diagnoses and abilities. 

In this interview, they discuss how they started off very informally – with a small group outing at a bowling alley – which quickly expanded to include regular social outings for young adults and adolescents with diverse needs, ranging from typical college students to non-verbal individuals using AAC devices.

In this episode, Barbara and April describe their program’s evolution, the value that the participants get from the outings, and the importance of real-world learning and social skill development. They even discuss a connection to the popular Netflix series, Love on the Spectrum!

As two speech therapists, driven by a passion for fostering social connections and self-reliance in our clients, Social EdVentures was created. We started with a small group of older teens in a traditional setting and began exploring unconventional approaches. As we did this, we discovered our real-world learning approach enhanced success, increased involvement, and resulted in better outcomes.

This inspired us to create Social Edventures, aiming to offer this experience to larger groups affordably. We started with a small group of four in late Summer 2022 and quickly expanded to multiple groups of all ages. As our network grew, we listened to our families and gained a clearer understanding of their needs, striving to empower them toward independence and having fun along the way.

 

In Today’s Episode, We Discuss:

 

• The unique way Barbara and April started their private practice
• How they offer social groups and “EdVentures” that set them apart
• Their real-life connection to Love on the Spectrum
• How unique experiences can be incorporated into your private practice
• The one thing so many kids need from their SLPs and OTs that they struggle to find
• A unique approach to teaching social skills 
• The power of filling a need that you see in the community 
• The fulfillment you get when you offer services that make a difference 
• What happens when you leave yourself open to possibility in your private practice

 

I hope you loved this episode with Barbara and April! I love their encouragement to other SLPs to pursue innovative private practice models. Despite their hurdles, they’ve remained committed to providing meaningful social experiences and support for their clients.

If you would like help to start your private practice, please visit: www.StartYourPrivatePractice.com

Whether you want to start a private practice or grow your existing private practice, I can help you get the freedom, flexibility, fulfillment, and financial abundance that you deserve. Visit my website www.independentclinician.com to learn more.

 

Resources Mentioned: 

Visit their website: https://www.therapyconnectionsofga.com/home

Follow Social EdVentures on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweringabilities/

Follow Social EdVentures on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/social_edventures

 

Where We Can Connect: