Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Pancoast, MS, CCC-SLP.
Hi Liz, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In this moment, I am living the dream within my pediatric speech therapy practice! If you would have asked me at the beginning of my career if I would ever run a private practice, I would have said “no way!” It’s been a journey, and I’m so happy that I have taken the paths and risks that have landed me here.
At the beginning of my career, I worked in schools. It was a valuable time of learning; I call upon those experiences regularly. After my daughter was born almost 10 years ago, I decided to start my own private practice when I was living in the San Francisco Bay Area. I visited families in their homes; it was a crash course in being a sole proprietor. I knew I wanted to continue private practice when we moved to Portland, and I quickly learned that I would need a space to see clients. Serendipitously, I crossed paths with a seasoned and well-known practice owner who was sharing space with someone else. That second person wished to move on from speech pathology, and offered me their clients and a space with the other SLP. It couldn’t have been more perfect!
Over time, my waiting list grew, and I found it difficult to say that I didn’t have any more space for families in need. It was time to grow my practice. I now have two fabulous employees and continue to practice full-time. We recently received a silver award from Best of Rose City. I’m so proud of our team!
What we do in our profession, some might call rewarding, but I would say that it’s even more than that. It encompasses a beautiful balance of connection with families, care for kiddos who have unique needs, and the pure excitement of supporting communication growth of all types—namely, noticing how proud my clients are of their progress and efforts!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Reflecting on the journey of my practice, Covid stands out as time of uncertainty and intensity. Pivoting quickly from an in-person practice to navigating virtual sessions was very challenging. Even once we were online, it was difficult to see families struggling to find their balance at home. I will say, though, it strengthened my bond with my clients and families. We were all in it together, and for some of us, this human connection and consistency on a weekly basis was really grounding.
As you know, we’re big fans of Speech 4 Kiddos. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Speech 4 Kiddos is a pediatric speech therapy clinic with a warm and inviting atmosphere. We provide evaluations and intervention for children with communication needs in the areas of expressive language, receptive language, social communication, stuttering and articulation and phonology. We provide regular weekly sessions for our families who typically use their insurance benefits for these services. We believe in building strong and supportive relationships with our families; we pride ourselves on empowering our clients and their parents to generalize the skills acquired in therapy into the real world. I think all of our clients would say that they have A LOT of fun in our sessions!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I’ve lived in Portland for 7 years; it’s always been a dream of mine to move here. I enjoy the ease of living – I can bike, walk, or take the bus to everything I need. And the proximity to the coast and mountains is the biggest bonus for our family!
It is heartbreaking to see the people on our streets who are struggling everyday.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.speech4kiddos.com
