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Episode #263: SLP, OT and ABA Under One Roof with Nafisa Obi

In today’s episode, I sat down with Nafisa Obi to talk about what it really looks like to bring speech therapy, occupational therapy, and ABA together under one roof. Nafisa shared her journey from starting a small speech therapy practice to co-founding Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, which has grown into a nationwide franchise model focused on early intervention and true interdisciplinary collaboration.

We talked honestly about the realities of private practice ownership, the challenges of adding ABA to an existing SLP practice, and why understanding your “why” matters so much when you’re building services that impact families. Nafisa walked us through how her team recognized a gap in care, leaned into collaboration instead of competition, and built a model that prioritizes children, families, and ethical growth.

This conversation is especially powerful if you’re an SLP, OT, BCBA, or practice owner who feels the pull to do more for your clients but isn’t sure where to start. Nafisa’s story is a reminder that thoughtful, family-centered care and sustainable business practices can exist together, and that collaboration truly changes outcomes.

#autism #speechtherapy

Today’s Guest:

Nafisa Obi is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Co-Founder of Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, a growing network of clinics dedicated to providing collaborative, early intervention services for children with autism. What began in 2017 as a single speech therapy clinic has since evolved into a nationwide franchise model that unites ABA Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy under one roof—ensuring that every child receives coordinated, compassionate, and high-quality care. For Nafisa, this work is deeply personal.

She has dedicated her career to helping children find their voice and potential and now helps others do the same through franchising. Her mission is to make high-quality autism care accessible while empowering aspiring business owners to build something meaningful in their own communities. Each new clinic represents not just a business, but a family-centered space of hope, progress, and belonging.

Today, Nafisa leads with purpose, focusing on clinical excellence, ethical growth, and sustainable business practices that put children and families first. Outside of her professional life, Nafisa enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with her husband and three daughters, who continue to inspire her passion for helping families thrive.

What’s Inside:

  • How Essential Speech and ABA Therapy evolved from a speech-only clinic into a fully collaborative SLP, OT, and ABA model
  • What SLPs need to consider when adding ABA services, from staffing and billing to company culture
  • Why true interdisciplinary collaboration improves outcomes for autistic children and their families
  • How franchising became a way to responsibly expand access to ethical, high-quality autism care

Mentioned In This Episode

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