Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Lee.
Hi Karina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Karina Lee – a Speech-Language Pathologist, Feeding Therapist, and the founder of Speech Eat Learn, my private practice based in South Florida. I specialize in and am most passionate about working with autistic children, teens, and adults, helping them find meaningful ways to communicate, connect, and navigate the world. Whether it’s through spoken language, assistive technology, or alternative communication methods, my goal is always the same: to meet each person where they are and support them in a way that feels empowering and personal.
Like many first-generation Americans, my path wasn’t perfectly clear from the start. After graduating from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, I knew I wanted more life experience and a deeper connection to culture and language. So I moved to Madrid, Spain, where I taught English to children and immersed myself in travel and language learning. It was there that I fell in love with the power of one-on-one connection and realized how impactful individualized support can be for a child’s development.
When I returned to Florida, I earned my Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and worked across a wide range of settings: schools, clinics, private practices, and through teletherapy. Over time, I saw a pattern that didn’t sit right with me: therapists were stretched too thin, and kids weren’t getting the focused, customized care they deserved. I wanted something different – for myself, and for the families I worked with.
That’s why I launched Speech Eat Learn. My practice was built with intention: to prioritize individualized care, creativity, and collaboration. I take a family-centered approach to therapy, especially when working with neurodivergent children. Sometimes it’s not just about teaching a child how to communicate—it’s about teaching families how to better understand and communicate with their child.
While I’m trained to treat a range of speech and language needs, my passion lies in supporting the autistic community. I work with children who are speaking, non-speaking, or who communicate through high-tech speech generating communication devices, reading (hyperlexia), or scripts (gestalt language processing). I also support teens and young adults in developing real-life social skills, like navigating friendships, going on job interviews, or feeling confident ordering at a restaurant. I’m also a trained feeding therapist and work with children who have oral motor and/or sensory-based feeding challenges, making mealtime feel safer, easier, and more enjoyable for the whole family.
Every child I meet brings something new to the table, and every session reminds me why I love what I do. I’m always learning, always adapting, and I’m proud to lead a practice that puts heart, flexibility, and creativity at the core of everything we do.
As someone raised between Miami and Jamaica, one of my long-term goals is to bring these same services and values to the families in Jamaica who currently have limited access to therapy. With only a handful of speech therapists on the island and very few resources for autistic children, I hope to one day open a center that provides not just therapy, but support, education, and empowerment for families who need it most.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all – but I’ve learned and grown so much through the process. In the beginning, I chose not to take insurance because the time and energy it required for billing and approvals would’ve taken away from what mattered most: preparing personalized, thoughtful sessions for my clients. As time went on, I realized it wasn’t just about logistics – insurance companies also tried to dictate every aspect of care, from how long sessions should be to where they could take place. That just doesn’t work for my approach. I believe therapy should be flexible and real-world – whether that means sessions happen at a restaurant, at the grocery store, or even just with a parent or caregiver to coach them directly.
That said, running a private-pay healthcare business without a background in marketing or finance has been a major learning curve. I had to teach myself how to grow a business while staying grounded in my purpose. Becoming a good leader has also been a challenge, but one I’ve truly embraced. I now supervise amazing speech-language pathology assistants (SLPAs), and one of the most rewarding parts of my work is mentoring them. They’re passionate, open-minded, and excited about non-traditional speech therapy, and I’m excited to keep supporting their growth as clinicians.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was leaving my full-time salaried job at a private clinic to pursue my own private practice full-time. Walking away from a steady paycheck was definitely nerve-wracking but after years of experience as both an SLPA and an SLP, I knew I was ready for something more. I wanted the freedom to do therapy differently, to grow beyond the limits of a traditional clinic, and to build something that reflected my values and vision. It was a leap, but easily the most worthwhile risk I’ve ever taken.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.speecheatlearn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speecheatlearn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speecheatlearn
