Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Vassey
Hi Robin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a child, my dream was to be teacher. I was the little girl that would line up her dolls and stuff animals with my chalkboard and class would be in session! This dream remained with me as I entered high school. In my junior year, my high school introduced a new class, “Health Occupations.” Many of my friends were interested in the course, and being teenagers, we loved doing things together, so we all enrolled. The class taught education and hands-on skills for the nursing field, which set me on the path toward working in healthcare.
After graduating, I enrolled in Midlands Technical College’s nursing program and began working at Lexington Medical Center as a unit secretary at 18. Eventually, I transitioned into the role of Nurse Technician (nurse’s aide). I spent 12 years working at the hospital, but as time went on, I realized that nursing wasn’t my true calling. While I loved working with the geriatric population, something else kept pulling at me. After much self-reflection and conversations with my husband, Ryan, I returned to my original calling as a teacher,
That was until one day at work, a close friend and fellow unit secretary, who was also at a crossroads in her life, and I started talking with an SLP on our floor who was conducting bedside swallowing studies. We discussed our futures, and she shared her passion for speech-language pathology, telling us about the different work environments for SLPs, including schools.
It felt like I could pursue the career I had dreamed of as a child, but in a way that allowed me to avoid the stress of managing a full classroom and all the responsibilities that come with being a teacher. Don’t get me wrong, being an SLP in a school setting comes with many responsibilities. However, knowing that there were so many opportunities for me in the speech language pathology field and along with hearing the excitement in the SLP’s voice as she shared her experiences, made my decision to become a speech therapist much easier.
After graduating from Columbia College in 2013, I began my career as an SLP-A (Speech-Language Pathology Assistant), working with children in the in-home (home health) setting. Since then, I have had the opportunity to work for several companies in both in-home and clinic settings. Throughout my time with these companies, I gained invaluable experience and grew into the therapist I am today. After many years of working solely as a therapist, my husband and I began discussing the possibility of establishing my own LLC. I wondered, how could I, as an SLP-A, be in charge of an LLC? After all, as an SLP-A, I’m not allowed to hold a supervisory role in any capacity. I was extremely hesitant in the beginning, primarily because I knew nothing about running a business. Thankfully, my husband Ryan, with his MBA, felt confident that we could do this together. Still, I questioned whether my credentials as an SLP-A would be sufficient.I wondered, who would take my business seriously knowing that an SLP-A was in charge? As SLP-A we are limited in what we can do. My role as an SLP-A is therapy and carrying out a plan of care that is established by a certified SLP. With so many limitations regarding my role as a therapist, I questioned whether people would have the trust and confidence in me to provide the quality care they deserve and effectively lead my business.
With a lot of prayer and the support of so many family and friends, Speech Plus Therapy Services, LLC was established in 2024!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing worth achieving is ever easy. I believe that trials and tribulations are essential for personal growth, and a little hard work never hurt anyone.
For myself, there were several boxes that needed to be checked, not just in business, but in life as well to make the process of starting the business a smooth process. When I first discussed starting the LLC with my husband, we had to think and pray deeply about whether our current situation could handle the pressures that come with launching a business. With two children, Ava and Lucas, who depend on us, we knew that starting a business would require time away from them. We included them in discussions and how our family life may change. Their understanding and support made the decision to dive headfirst into the business much easier.
Once we ensured that our family was prioritized, we began the process of starting the business and tackling everything that comes with it. This included handling all the necessary paperwork to get established, deciding whether to have office space or remain a home health business, finding the right CPA, and determining whether to handle insurance billing ourselves or hire someone with the expertise, etc. There were several times I questioned the decisions we were making and if they were best for the business. My husband and I had to make the decision to tap into our savings to fund start up cost. This was not an easy decision betting on myself with the potential of failing. In the end, I feel fortunate that the process of getting started was relatively smooth, without too many hiccups. Once the business was up, myself and an amazing group of SLPs hit the ground running, serving families in the Lexington, West Columbia and Irmo areas. Like most businesses, we faced some obstacles, but with the support of my husband and an amazing group of women and therapists, we were able to work together to overcome whatever challenges came our way.
Throughout it all, I reminded myself that surrounding myself with supportive people would help me navigate any challenges that came my way.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Speech Plus Therapy Services, LLC was established in 2023 with a vision of creating a practice that emphasizes a collaborative care approach.
At Speech Plus we are passionate about fostering a synergistic environment where children and families feel supported, empowered, and actively involved in the therapeutic process.
We aim to provide personalized, effective care that meets the unique needs of each child, while building strong partnerships with families for lasting success.
Our mission is to be a positive asset to a child’s development and to be an even greater service to the community. We want to be a supportive and productive presence in a collaborative effort between child, family, doctors, early interventionists and fellow providers.
We are proud to offer a variety of therapy services tailored to meet the unique needs of each child:
Our Services Include:
Speech and Language Therapy
Helping children improve communication skills, including articulation, language comprehension, and social communication.
Feeding Therapy
Supporting children with feeding challenges, from picky eating to difficulty with textures and swallowing.
Myofunctional Therapy
Addressing issues with oral muscle function, such as tongue posture, breathing, and alignment to improve speech, chewing, and swallowing.
Oral Motor Therapy
Improving strength, coordination and control of the muscles in the mouth to promote better speech and feeding skils.
Lactation Counseling
Providing support and guidance for breastfeeding parents, helping with latch, milk supply, and any challenges during nursing.
We also offer services with a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who is dedicated to serving and supporting the Spanish-speaking population.
At Speech Plus, our therapists are dedicated to providing the highest quality care, and we deeply value the importance of continuing education to stay at the forefront of therapy practices. With special interests in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Myofunctional Therapy, our team is committed to enhancing our knowledge and skills to better serve each child’s unique needs. By regularly pursuing advanced training, our therapists are equipped to offer innovative, evidence-based strategies that foster communication development and address oral motor function, empowering children to thrive in all aspects of their speech and language development and feeding development.
What I love about my practice and the therapists I work with every day is our shared dedication to each and every person we serve. We are also deeply dedicated to one another. While we each work independently, we make time to collaborate and consult with each other to ensure we’re providing the most effective and efficient therapy possible with our individual clients.
What are your plans for the future?
As our practice recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, my primary focus is on day-to-day operations, ensuring we remain true to our mission and vision in serving both our current and future clients. I’m excited about what the future holds and look forward to continued growth, including the addition of more therapists who align with and uphold our mission. Looking ahead, I envision expanding our practice into a larger facility that can offer a wider range of services, while still providing care in the home health setting. I also dream of creating a dedicated sensory gym to meet the sensory needs of our clients, offering a space that supports their development and well-being.
Contact Info:
- Website: Under Maintenance
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speechplusts/
