Hallie and Bria Gibson chat about running a private practice and YouTube channel.

In this episode of SLP Coffee Talk, Hallie sits down with Bria — SLP, private practice owner, and the creative mind behind Speech Up TV. Bria shares how she stumbled into the profession, rediscovered her passion while working with high schoolers, and eventually made the leap to a fully virtual practice after becoming a new mom. She walks us through the behind the scenes of Speech Up TV, from green screens to editing marathons to creating custom videos for her clients — and why YouTube has become such a powerful tool for language learning. If you’re curious about private practice, virtual therapy, or carving out your own path as an SLP, this episode is packed with honesty, inspiration, and plenty of “you can totally do this” moments.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Bullet Points to Discuss:

• How switching from elementary to high school brought back her love for speech
• Why Facebook mom groups were the key to growing her private practice
• The role representation played in connecting with families
• What the transition from mobile therapy to virtual sessions actually looked like
• How Speech Up TV started—and how her husband became the behind-the-scenes tech wizard
• Ways SLPs can use her YouTube videos during sessions or for home practice
• Ideas for avoiding burnout by exploring different settings or roles

Here’s what we learned:

• Burnout doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong field—sometimes it’s the wrong setting.
• You don’t need a clinic to start a private practice; start with your community.
• Virtual therapy can work surprisingly well when you already have strong rapport.
• YouTube can extend your reach far beyond your caseload (hello, Australia!).
• Custom, language-focused videos can support both kids and caregivers.
• There are so many ways to be an SLP—therapy, advocacy, content creation, coaching, and more.

Learn more about Bria Gibson:

Website: www.myspeechup.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechuptv

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@speechuptv

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speechuptv

Learn more about Hallie Sherman and SLP Elevate:

📝 Website: https://speechtimefun.com/

🎲✨ Check out the Secondary Secret Podcast here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/secret-podcast-signup

📘✨ Grab your copy of The Secondary SLP Roadmap here! https://www.speechtimefunpd.com/stf-book

Subscribe today and get access to my secret podcast filled with my juicy secrets for planning with ease for secondary speech students. 6 quick episodes that you can quickly listen to and feel refreshed and inspired! https://speechtimefun.com/secondarysecrets