From Solo Practice to 19 Therapists: Barbara Egan on the PPE Podcast
Growing an award-winning mental health clinic from a solo operation into a thriving team of 19 therapists sounds like the result of a rigid, carefully calculated master plan. For Barbara Egan, the reality was much more organic.
Barbara recently sat down with Daniel on the Private Practice Elevation (PPE) Podcast to share the real story behind the growth of Alive Counselling in Kelowna, BC. As a Licensed Professional Counselor (MHSP) in Tennessee, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in British Columbia, and a former NCAA Division 1 hockey player and coach at The Ohio State University, Barbara brings a unique blend of clinical expertise and high-performance experience to her practice.
In this episode, Barbara walks through her entire journey, from navigating a career-ending hockey injury at Ohio State to juggling nap times and client calls as a sole proprietor during the COVID-19 pandemic. She reveals how building a business often comes down to everyday moments, trial and error, and authentic community connection rather than a traditional business blueprint.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
- The Power of Connection: How Barbara’s very first hire originated from a cold call by a therapist who resonated with a Brené Brown quote on her website.
- Pandemic Pivot: Why the unique challenges of COVID-19 ultimately served as the catalyst for expanding into a group practice.
- Community Roots: How casual, everyday conversations at the hockey rink, school pickups, and the local park naturally evolved into a steady stream of referrals.
- Authentic Healing: Why people connect deeply through shared pain rather than highlight reels, and the importance of waiting to share your own story until it has truly healed.
- The Business of Therapy: A look at the critical business skills that graduate school skips, including bookkeeping, managing contracts, billing, hiring, and navigating changing tax rules.
- Smart Systems: Why her first non-clinical hire was a bookkeeper, and how utilizing Jane App effectively handled scheduling and billing in the early days.
- Organic Growth: How stepping into the role of an Approved Clinical Supervisor and mentoring graduate students naturally developed into a reliable hiring pipeline.
Whether you are a solo practitioner contemplating your first associate hire or simply interested in how to scale a business without losing your core values, this conversation offers grounded, practical insights.