Today we’d like to introduce you to Nilka Gordon
Nilka, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Where do I begin… I am an island girl; I was born in St. Kitts and then I moved to New York at the age of 18 to pursue a degree in broadcasting. I got my first job offer of $8/hour which I respectfully declined, and then I immediately went back to school to pursue a second degree in speech pathology. I then completed my master’s degree in communication disorders at Mercy College (now Mercy University).
Immediately after grad school, I got a job offer in Georgia. That’s when my career as a speech language pathologist began. I’ve worked in elementary schools and middle schools and other private practices in and around the Atlanta area. While working in private practice, I really started thinking that I can really do this for myself.
Individual Expressions Therapy started as a home health business in 2016. I used to travel to my clients’ homes and provide speech therapy. And I did this part time. I would work my full-time job at another clinic and then I would see a few clients on some afternoons once I got off from work. Things were going great; I continued working full-time while building my business part-time. I then became pregnant in 2017 and had to take some time off when I gave birth in 2018.
While I knew I was going to be taking a few months off after giving birth, I wanted to find another clinic or therapist that would provide services to my clients. However, I was not successful with that, but every one of my then current clients were willing to wait while I took the time off. And I was so grateful to them for that.
My husband then encouraged me to get a brick and mortar. But I held off on doing so because I didn’t feel as though I was ready for the added expense. But fast forward through COVID, in 2021 I bit the bullet and here I am today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Business in itself, has been great. But with everything that needs nurturing, it has been a rollercoaster. With the motivation from my husband and God’s guidance I have been able to learn and earn through this journey. Many a times, finding things out on my own, and working late nights.
In a nutshell, I provide speech therapy services to families who are Medicaid recipients. So, I pretty much wear all the hats when it comes to the entire process; from providing said therapy to learning about the billing process.
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?
Individual Expressions Therapy (IET) is a pediatric speech therapy clinic. Now, there is myself, and one other therapist, Jamequa Stallworth. We are both licensed speech-language pathologists and we provide speech therapy to children up to 18 years of age. Services are provided on a one-to-one basis to children with deficits and/or delays in the areas of articulation, oral motor, receptive and expressive language, fluency and pragmatic skills.
We set ourselves apart by providing therapy to the underserved. The relief I hear in their voices, when a parent or guardian call seeking therapy and they find out that we accept their insurance. Or when I see a video recorded at home of a child saying their first word, phrases, or articulating with clarity. That alone lets me know that I am where I am supposed to be.
Families are a part of our approach throughout this process. We are able to have open and honest conversations that can make all the difference with seeing a child make progress. That’s what I would want readers to know. We care. I am proud to call this my own, but the clients and their families are the heart and soul of this business. I am blessed to come into contact with the families that we serve. I am grateful to each family for trusting us with their speech therapy needs. We have built a community here in Douglasville and I pray that we stick around for a long time, with the hopes of expanding and adding other disciplines to the practice in the future, whether it be occupational therapy or physical therapy.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Do it! Do it scared, excited, or nervous. Get a plan, write it out and execute.
Speech pathology is a recession-proof field, and I pray it remains that way. This was not my first choice in choosing careers. But this was God’s first choice for my life and even then, I still kept up a bit of a fight because I was nervous, and I procrastinated.
Find someone who is doing what you aspire to be like and be willing to be mentored. You can’t do it all by yourself. Trust me.
And this is for all entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, no matter the field. They say the richest place on earth is not the most affluent area with mansions and lots of money… It’s the graveyard because of all the dreams, goals and ideas that never came to fruition.
Your gift is not for you. While you are waiting, and second-guessing your potential, someone out there is waiting on you to make your dream happen. Just let God use you.
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