Meet Destiny Johnson | Bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist (English/Spanish)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Destiny Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Destiny, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My primary motivation for starting my own business was to provide services that are truly culturally responsive and centered around the unique values and beliefs of each family. I wanted to create a space where understanding family dynamics and honoring those differences were at the forefront of the care we provide. Additionally, I strongly believe that parent coaching is integral to a child’s progress. Parents are a child’s first and most important teachers, so I wanted to ensure that my services focused on empowering families to take an active role in their child’s development. This holistic and family-centered approach is what drives everything we do at my clinic

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m deeply passionate about providing appropriate assessment and treatment practices for our multicultural families. This passion extends beyond clinical work—I’ve been involved in advocacy at the state level, pushing for policy changes to improve equity in our field. I’ve also had the privilege of presenting at both state and national conferences, sharing with fellow clinicians how to implement equitable and inclusive assessment practices for multicultural students.

One of the biggest challenges I faced in building my business was that I didn’t personally know anyone with their own business. This meant a lot of trial and error in the early stages. However, I quickly realized that the power of resourcefulness and networking would help me move forward. I’m grateful for the amazing colleagues I’ve met along the way who have supported my growth.

What truly sets my business apart is the strong passion and integrity I bring to ensuring that we recognize cultural diversity and how it shapes the way we deliver services. It’s crucial that we acknowledge the individual experiences of each family and how these factors play into creating culturally responsive services.

Another key focus for me is educating professionals about the current limitations in research, particularly the underrepresentation of several minority groups. This lack of representation impacts our clinical practice, which is why I’m a strong advocate for increasing diversity in research and encouraging critical thinking when it comes to providing proper care to multicultural clients.

Ultimately, I want people to know that my work is driven by a deep commitment to advocacy, education, and providing high-quality, culturally appropriate services that empower families and clinicians alike.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day 1: El Mercadito in Boyle Heights
We’ll start at El Mercadito, a vibrant marketplace in Boyle Heights. It’s rich with Mexican culture, music, and amazing food. We can stroll through the vendors, enjoy fresh tamales, and listen to live Mariachi music. This place brings back memories, and I still have a photo from when I was a little girl singing Mariachi!

Day 2: La Placita Olvera in Downtown LA
Next, we’ll head to La Placita Olvera, another spot full of history and charm. We’ll visit the Avila Adobe, the oldest house in LA, and explore the shops and vendors. The atmosphere is perfect for soaking in the culture, and we can grab some traditional Mexican food from one of the nearby stands.

Day 3: Casa Garcia in Pico Rivera
We can’t miss Casa Garcia in Pico Rivera! Hands down, they have the best Super Nachos made with carne asada and chile verde. This is one of my go-to spots when I’m craving authentic Mexican flavors. It’s a must-visit for comfort food.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a special shoutout to my husband, who has been my #1 supporter throughout this journey. His skills in organizational management and logistics have played a key role in helping me manage and grow my business. His unwavering support has been invaluable.

I also want to give credit to Nesh Frazier, better known as the entrepreneurial SLP. I’ve taken both her courses on the foundations of private practice and how to bill insurances, and they have been instrumental in shaping the success of my practice. Nesh has been a tremendous mentor, and I regularly consult with her. She has been integral in my growth, and I’m proud to be an affiliate of her work.

Website: https://www.multimodalcommunication.org/

Instagram: destinyjohnsonslp

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destinybrookjohnson/

Image Credits
Kenisha Gill from K. Gill Photo