Growing a solo counselling practice into a 19-person team sounds like it takes a master plan. Barbara Egan didn't have one.

She built Alive Counselling in Kelowna, BC through a cold call, conversations at the hockey rink, and a lot of trial and error. In this episode she walks Daniel through the whole thing: from a career-ending hockey injury at Ohio State, to sole proprietor juggling nap times and clients during COVID, to an award-winning clinic with 19 therapists.

If you're a solo practice owner wondering whether to hire your first associate, or how to grow without losing what makes your practice yours, this one's for you.

Key Takeaways:

  • Barbara's first hire came from a cold call. A therapist found her website, connected with a quote on it, and asked to move across the country to work for her.
  • Most of her growth started with regular conversations at the rink and at school pickup, where people kept asking her for a trusted referral.
  • People connect through pain, not highlight reels. Share the scar after it's healed, not while it's still raw.
  • The business side isn't in the grad school curriculum. Barbara learned bookkeeping, contracts, billing, and hiring as she went.
  • Her biggest lesson: delegate. A growing practice runs on a team, not the owner doing everything.
  • What's next: a move to the US, a Tennessee license, and a new coaching business with her husband.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Our Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by Zanda. Zanda is practice management software built for health and wellness practices, with scheduling, client records, billing, and telehealth in one place. Learn more atzandahealth.com/us.

This episode is also brought to you by Alma. Alma gives providers the tools to build thriving in-network private practices: insurance support, teletherapy software, client referrals, automated billing and scheduling, and a community of clinicians. Learn more athelloalma.com/elevation.


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