Inspiring Conversations with La Jannelle Smith of Listen Before You Speak Speech Therapy Services, PC

Today we’d like to introduce you to La Jannelle Smith

Hi La Jannelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
So how I got started… As a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings (e.g., school-based, private practice clinic, and a non-public agency) all of which I have gained a lot of knowledge from. However, I wanted something I could give back to the community I was born and raised in. I wanted to be the example that our children need to see in a small town where there are not many SLP’s of color. Diversity and inclusion is a big deal for me as working in the schools especially has opened my eyes to how various colleagues view our students which can at times be very unsettling. Many of my colleagues do not know this but I was once a special education student and had to work my way out of special education, into resource, and eventually back into the general educational curriculum setting. My parents played a big part in making sure I was successful in school despite my disability. When I was in undergrad and graduate school I had professors say to me, “Maybe this is not the field for you.” I also had a professor who helped me during those difficult times. The motivation for me is showing that just because you may have a learning disability or any disability for that matter perseverance can get you to places you have never imagined. Plus, I love to prove people wrong when they place limits on me! Connecting with my former clients’ parents and hearing their reviews and feedback of the services I provided to their child has let me know that I am making a difference. I absolutely LOVE what I do and am glad I did not let anyone persuade me from pursuing my dream career. God has blessed me to be able to help others communicate with their loved ones more effectively and that is PRICELESS!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has not been as smooth as I would have liked it to be but I am grateful for the pace at which it is going. Some struggles have been waiting for things that are out of my control when it comes to vendoring with an early intervention program and life situations. However, I think the biggest struggle was just getting started on this new journey of entrepreneurship as it can be challenging to navigate and figure out on your own. However, having a community of like-minded women Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) who have been entrepreneurs for years has helped a lot. The SLP community I am a part of is called, ‘The SLP Business Suite Community’ (shout out to Ebony Green the creator of the community) which has been a blessing as we hold each other accountable for reaching our goals and learning from each other each week. The community also has resources, hosts live webinars about various topics related to scaling your business, marketing, networking, and other business related topics.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My private practice was founded in June 2021. At Listen Before You Speak Speech Therapy Services, PC, we offer personalized assessments and screenings, speech and/or language therapy services, feeding therapy services, other specialized services, and parent consultation and support services to clients ranging from 0 to 18 years old. Our experienced team specializes in addressing a variety of speech and language difficulties, as well as supporting clients with other disabilities. We are committed to helping our clients develop effective feeding skills and communication skills to reach their full potential.

I am most proud of being able to offer services to children in the community I was born and raised in. It makes me feel like I am here to fulfill my purpose to give back to my community. My philosophy for my business is, “Meeting the child where they are presently is the key to guiding them to the next step on their communication and/or feeding journey.” I stand by that because I know what it feels like to struggle and have to take steps to climb to the next level of where God wants you to be despite all the people who doubt you or don’t believe in you. The most important thing I tell my students and clients is, “You have to believe in yourself, no matter what!”

Check out my website at https://listenb4youspeak.com/ for more information. You can also find me on Linktree where you can find all of my business links at https://linktr.ee/ListenB4YouSpeakSpeech?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=11dcb5e4-ac31-4dba-af30-6b8fb669af91

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Playing outside with my brother and friends (e.g., roller skating/roller blading, jump roping, playing hide and seek, etc.) until the street lights came on. Those days are long gone now unfortunately as many children do not have that opportunity to experience just being a child and playing freely. It would be nice if we could have those days back.

Contact Info:

• Other: https://linktr.ee/ListenB4YouSpeakSpeech