17/01/2026
The hardest lessons I learnt in 2025 running and owning an independent Speech Therapy Company
2025 stretched me in ways no degree, training, or supervision ever prepared me for. This is the side of owning an independent therapy company we don’t always talk about 🤍
1️⃣ You can love your work and still feel exhausted by it- Passion doesn’t protect you from burnout. Caring deeply for children and families while running a business can drain you if you don’t protect your own capacity.
2️⃣ You can’t support everyone and that hurts- Long waiting lists, limited funding, families desperate for help… learning that I couldn’t fix broken systems was one of the heaviest lessons. Wanting to help doesn’t always mean being able to.
3️⃣ Boundaries don’t make you uncaring they make you sustainable- Late nights, “just one more report,” answering messages after hours… I learnt the hard way that without boundaries, something eventually breaks (and it’s usually you).
4️⃣ Being an owner of a company can feel incredibly lonely- You’re responsible for decisions that affect families, staff, and children often without anyone to share the emotional weight with. Leadership isn’t glamorous; it’s quiet and heavy at times.
5️⃣ Families trust you with their most precious hopes-
Behind every referral is a parent worrying about their child’s future. That trust is an honour and a responsibility I carry every single day.
I’m proud of what Cariad Speech Therapy has become, but I won’t pretend it’s been easy.
To other therapists building something of their own: you’re not weak for finding it hard.
To families: thank you for trusting me with your children- it truly means everything 💛
✨ Here’s to learning, growing, and doing our best even on the hard days.
