We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Aleman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
Starting my own speech therapy private practice in Hoboken wasn’t something I always planned—but once the idea planted itself, it grew quickly. I launched in January 2025, after nearly five years in the field, and what really pushed me to make the leap was burnout. I found myself craving more balance—balance in time, energy, travel, and income. I didn’t want to just survive the workweek; I wanted to build a career that gave me what I call full-spectrum wealth: time wealth, social wealth, mental and physical wellness, and of course, financial freedom. A lot of that thinking came from reading The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom—it gave me language for the kind of life I wanted to design.
I also saw a need: families in Hoboken were looking for genuine, holistic support in speech and feeding therapy—someone who could meet them where they were, literally and emotionally. That’s why I offer services in homes, daycares, and medical offices, along with in-person and virtual feeding classes for infants and toddlers. I wanted my practice to feel convenient, personal, and grounded in care. I’m private pay so that insurance doesn’t dictate how deeply I can support my clients. I give my full energy to every child and family I work with.
The early steps were mostly about building confidence and planting seeds. I talked to mentors who had done it before, reached out to my family, and started quietly imagining it all working out. I began showing up—on social media, in local shops, at coffee meetups. I made it a point to connect with anyone interested in hearing about my vision. And one of the sweetest things that helped me launch was a gift: my amazing boyfriend Austin built my business website as a birthday present. That moment made it feel real.
The biggest challenge was juggling everything: still working full-time Monday through Thursday while building a business most mornings, evenings, and weekends. There were definitely days when believing in myself was the hardest task on the list. But I reminded myself—if I don’t believe in me, how can I expect anyone else to?
Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I didn’t have a business background, and I made plenty of mistakes. But every misstep was part of getting to where I am now. I had to learn to trust others, ask for help, and prioritize what matters. Because of my dedication to work, I’ve had to be more selective about the events I can attend with friends and family, I work seven-day weeks, and I lean heavily on my support system. I’m so grateful for their patience and love through the chaos of starting something from scratch.
If you’re a young professional dreaming of your own practice, here’s my advice: believe in yourself. If something feels off in your current career—if you crave more balance, freedom, or impact—make the change. Truly, no one is stopping you. Write down your goals for this year, five years, and ten years. Ask yourself what kind of wealth you want to build—not just money, but life. Step out of your comfort zone, meet people, and listen. Growth starts with one bold choice.
Jessica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Even as a child, I’ve always been drawn to babies and helping others grow. I used to dream about becoming a kindergarten teacher because I loved being playful, creative, and supportive. As I got older, that passion evolved. I spent my teenage years babysitting, and between undergrad and graduate school, I was a lead teacher in a daycare. During graduate school, I also worked as a nanny, which gave me valuable hands-on experience with young children alongside my academic training. Through those experiences, I realized I wanted something more personal—something where I could support children and their families in a deeper way. That’s when I found speech-language pathology, and I’ve never looked back.
Now, I run a private speech therapy practice based in Hoboken, New Jersey. I work primarily with babies, toddlers, and young children—supporting them and their families through everything from starting solids and feeding safety to speech sound disorders, picky eating, autism, AAC, oral motor therapy, and more. My most popular services are in-home therapy and my signature feeding workshops, where I teach families how to start solids safely and build a positive relationship with food from the very beginning.
What sets my practice apart is the level of care, flexibility, and personal attention I give to every family. I’m proud to offer holistic, family-centered care that looks at the whole child—not just one diagnosis or behavior. I believe in working closely with other professionals and always keeping families at the center of the process. My clients often tell me they’re surprised (in the best way) by how present, thorough, and invested I am. I offer unlimited text and phone support for every family I work with, and I make sure they fully understand the why behind my approach. I genuinely care, and I think that’s what makes a difference.
I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve built this practice from the ground up. In just six months, I’ve been able to make a meaningful impact in the lives of families in my community—and I’ve done it while navigating all the challenges that come with launching something completely on your own. It hasn’t always been easy, but the joy I feel doing this work and seeing children thrive keeps me going every single day.
At the end of the day, I want families to know they’re not alone. Support exists—and it should feel easy. Therapy shouldn’t be a battle with insurance, scheduling, or systems. It should feel empowering, collaborative, and hopeful. That’s the experience I aim to give every family I work with.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is the idea that everyone around you will be supportive—and that’s okay.
When I first started my private practice, I assumed that everyone in my orbit would cheer me on, celebrate my wins, and want the best for me. But I quickly learned that’s not always the case. Sometimes, when you begin to chase something big—especially something aligned with your purpose—you’ll come across people who feel threatened, uncomfortable, or even dismissive of your success. That caught me off guard at first, and it hurt. I used to take things really personally.
But over time, I realized I couldn’t let other people’s discomfort shrink me. I had to unlearn the need for external validation and remind myself why I started. Not everyone is meant to walk with you on every part of the journey—and that’s okay. I’ve learned to keep my eyes forward, trust my path, and continue showing up with intention and heart. The right people will find you, support you, and grow with you. The rest? Let them go.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Other than training and clinical knowledge, I think the most helpful thing for succeeding in this field is genuine connection—with your clients, their families, and your community.
You can have all the certifications in the world, but if you don’t know how to meet people where they are, to really see and support them, it’s hard to make lasting progress. Families want to feel safe, understood, and empowered. That requires empathy, communication, and showing up consistently with your full presence—not just a treatment plan.
Also, resilience and confidence are huge. As a private practice owner, especially in the early stages, you have to believe in yourself even when things are quiet, or uncertain, or hard. You’ll wear a lot of hats—therapist, business owner, marketer, admin—and being adaptable and emotionally grounded makes all the difference.
And finally, community. This work can be isolating if you don’t build a network around you. I’ve found so much inspiration, support, and growth just by connecting with others in the field, learning from their journeys, and being open to collaboration. You can’t do it all alone, and the good news is—you don’t have to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jessicasspeechandfeeding.com
- Instagram: @JessicasSpeechandFeeding
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573690135136
- Other: LinkTree
https://linktr.ee/JessicaSLP?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLTjPRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp9YCaREi–znKJwHuSVtxqCdZOSLzV7N8cD4oj7qTXHbtDdD8_IESTXkS-jx_aem_4isEz9CAKqkllA18-AZmUA