IMHCA Members: $50
Non-Members: $65
3 CEUs Awarded
Presented By: Christine Barker, LCPC and Carmel Brown, LCPC
Description
Growing a private practice requires more than clinical excellence—it requires clear systems, strategic decision-making, financial literacy, and a values-aligned vision for sustainability. This course is designed for therapists and wellness practitioners who have established a foundation in private practice and are ready to intentionally grow, stabilize, and scale in a way that protects both income and wellbeing.
Participants will learn how to assess readiness for growth, strengthen infrastructure, optimize operations, diversify revenue streams, and design a scalable practice model that aligns with their professional values and long-term goals. Emphasis is placed on ethical growth, burnout prevention, and building practices that are financially viable, clinically sound, and personally sustainable.
Through a combination of practical frameworks, real-world examples, and guided reflection, attendees will leave with a clear roadmap for their next phase of growth — whether that means increasing caseload efficiency, expanding into group or multi-clinician practice, launching adjunct services, or creating additional income streams.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
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Assess their current practice stage and identify appropriate scaling pathways
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Identify operational and financial indicators of readiness for growth
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Build core systems that support sustainable scaling
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Compare scaling models (solo optimization, group practice, hybrid, diversified income)
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Develop a values-aligned growth plan and 12-month roadmap
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Recognize common pitfalls and ethical considerations in expansion
Christine Barker, LCPC - Christine has been in private practice for 15+ years, 10 years as a solo independent contractor and going on 6 years as a group practice owner. She cofounded Inner Courage Counseling, where she led, managed and grew a practice to its peak of 25 clinicians and 6 administrative staff for 5.5 years. Currently, Christine owns a small private practice in Naperville, IL, CB Counseling Services, where she manages a team of 2 part time clinicians and a masters level intern. Christine’s clinical focus includes treating clients who suffer from trauma, relationship issues, grief and loss. She is trained in EMDR, certified in CPT and divorce mediation. In addition to her clinical focus, Christine is an adjunct professor at Lewis University, provides supervision services to pre and provisionally licensed counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists. She also provides individual and group consultation assisting independently licensed practitioners start and maintain their own solo and group practices.
Carmel Brown, LCPC - Licensed therapist with more than 25 years of professional experience. My work history includes the State of Missouri’s Board of Probation and Parole, the not-for-profit sector as a program director, the state of Illinois at Alton Forensic center, and currently self-employed in private practice as a wellness professional and licensed therapist. I provide mental health services for individuals, families, and corporations and consulting for mental health professionals in private practice. I am a workplace wellness expert and have worked with national and international corporations and their employees during their times of tragedy, crisis, or distress. I offer corporate mental health and wellness services through a variety of EAP services such as, critical incident debriefing and stress management services, training, webinars, and workshops. I’m a Region Representative and a Chapter President for the Illinois Counseling Association and was awarded the Bea Wehrly Human Rights Award in 2022 by the ICA.
Zoom
(phone: (815)-787-0515)
| 6/15/2026 |    |