Beyond the Big Agencies is the go-to podcast for SLPs, OTs, PTs, and related service providers who want to take control of their school-based service delivery without relying on large staffing agencies. Hosted by Elise Mitchell, SLP and owner of The Therapist Support Network, this podcast dives into real-world strategies for securing contracts, scaling your practice, and navigating the challenges of contracting directly with schools. Whether you're a solo provider or looking to expand, you'll find expert insights, success stories, and practical tips to help you grow a sustainable and rewarding business-because school contracting should be left to the professionals.
Growing Fast, Leading Well: The Haynes Therapy Group Story
In this episode, Morgan Haynes shares her journey from starting a small agency to building a rapidly growing provider organization in the therapy and education space. She discusses the challenges of scaling, building a strong team, and maintaining quality and ethics in a fast-paced environment.
Key Topics:
Morgan Haynes' journey from clinician to business owner
The rapid growth of Haynes Therapy Group in three years
Building a supportive and ethical work environment
Strategies for effective team building and mentorship
Challenges of scaling a provider organization
Importance of strong non-clinical support teams
Balancing virtual and in-person therapy services
Advocating for providers and maintaining quality
Lessons learned about partnerships and walking away
The role of leadership in a fast-growing business
Resources:
Haynes Therapy Group: https://www.instagram.com/haynestherapygroup/ (https://www.instagram.com/haynestherapygroup/)
The Therapist Support Network Resources: https://www.thetherapistsupportnetwork.com/ (https://www.thetherapistsupportnetwork.com/)
SLP, OT, and PT School Contractor Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcontractors (https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolcontractors)
22 Sept 2026
Growing Beyond Yourself: Hiring, School Contracts & Mindset with Dani Gaff
What happens when your private practice is growing—but your physical space isn’t?
In this episode of Beyond the Big Agencies, Elise Mitchell sits down with Dani Gaff to talk about how school contracting became a natural next step in the growth of her private practice.
Dani shares her journey from clinician to business owner, including why she began exploring school contracts, what it looked like to bring other providers into her business, and how contracting created opportunities to expand without simply adding more clinic space.
Elise and Dani also dig into the mindset side of business growth—the fear that can come with taking on something new, learning to advocate for your rates and contract terms, and continually realigning as your business evolves.
They also discuss the importance of strong provider relationships and why creating a business where therapists genuinely want to work has become such an important part of Dani’s vision.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
How Dani moved from private practice into school contracting
Using school contracts to grow beyond the limitations of clinic space
Navigating the school contracting landscape in Indiana
Why Dani wanted to begin hiring other providers
Building strong relationships with therapists and contractors
Developing confidence around pricing, negotiation, and advocacy
The mindset shift from treating provider to business owner
Managing fear and uncertainty as your business grows
Dani’s vision for the next stage of her practice
Resources
The Therapist Support Network Checklist: https://thetsn.myflodesk.com/checklist (https://thetsn.myflodesk.com/checklist)
The Messy SLP on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themessyslp/ (https://www.instagram.com/themessyslp/)
11 Aug 2026
What My Son Remembers About Me Building a Business
In this episode of Beyond the Big Agencies, Elise sits down with her oldest son, Hayden, for a candid conversation about what it was actually like growing up while she built her career and eventually her business.
They talk about the things Hayden remembers from those early years, what working from home meant for their family, how he viewed Elise’s career growth, and whether the mom guilt so many women carry actually matched his experience as her child.
Hayden also shares how watching his mom work, grow, take risks, and continually raise the standard influenced his own views on discipline, success, and progression.
For any mom who has ever wondered, Am I working too much? Are my kids going to resent this? Am I missing something I can’t get back? — this conversation offers a perspective we don’t hear nearly enough: the child’s.
Who has been a guest on Beyond the Big Agencies
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Elise
Ellie Richter
Hallie Sherman
Hylan
Nikki
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
22
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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