Small Practice, Big Impact: Why We're Committed to Staying Independent

Jan 23

The mental health industry has changed dramatically over the past few years. Venture-backed therapy platforms like BetterHelp, Alma, Headway, and Grow Therapy have raised hundreds of millions of dollars and signed up thousands of therapists. They promise convenience, technology, and accessibility.

So why did we choose to remain a small, independent practice? And more importantly, why should that matter to you?

The Tech Platform Promise vs. Reality

Let's be honest about what these platforms offer: slick apps, easy booking systems, simplified insurance billing, and access to large networks of therapists. For some people, especially those starting therapy for the first time, these features can feel reassuring.

But here's what often gets lost in the convenience: therapy isn't like ordering food delivery or booking a ride share. The relationship you build with your therapist is deeply personal, and the systems supporting that relationship shape the quality of your care in ways you might not immediately see.

What "Venture-Backed" Actually Means for Your Therapy

When a therapy company takes venture capital funding, it's making a specific choice: they're promising investors that they'll grow quickly and eventually generate returns that are multiples of the investment. This isn't inherently bad, but it fundamentally changes priorities.

Growth becomes the metric. Success is measured in user acquisition, therapist sign-ups, and market share—not in client outcomes or therapist satisfaction.

Efficiency is prized above all else. Platforms are incentivized to process as many clients as possible with as little overhead as possible. This often means therapists see higher caseloads, have less administrative support, and face pressure to keep sessions moving.

Exit strategy is always in mind. Venture-backed companies eventually need to be sold or go public. When that happens, decisions get made based on what looks good to potential buyers, not what's best for the people actually using the service.

How We're Different: The Intentional Therapy PLLC Approach

We've made a deliberate choice to remain small, locally-owned, and focused on quality over quantity. Here's what that actually looks like in practice:

Our Therapists Are Partners, Not Vendors

At Intentional Therapy PLLC, our clinicians aren't contractors fulfilling session quotas. They're valued professionals and employees with input into how the practice runs. We make decisions together. We support each other. We're building something sustainable that serves both therapists and clients well.

Compare this to platform models where therapists are often isolated, working from home with little colleague interaction, navigating technology systems designed for corporate efficiency rather than clinical excellence. Our therapists know each other, consult with each other, and genuinely function as a team.

We Know Your Name (and Your Story)

When you call our office, you're not navigating an automated phone tree or speaking with a call center employee who has no context about your care. You're talking to people who know our therapists personally, who understand our practice philosophy, and who care about helping you get the support you need.

There's something powerful about showing up to an office where the person at the front desk remembers that you mentioned your daughter's college tour last month, or asks how your job interview went. That continuity of care extends beyond just the therapist's office.

We're Invested in This Community. We're not a national platform with therapists scattered across all 50 states. We're here, in this community, serving our neighbors. When local issues arise, when community tragedies happen, when shared experiences shape our collective mental health—we're living it too.

That local connection creates accountability and authenticity you simply can't get from a platform-based model. We care about our reputation in this community because we're part of this community.

Technology Serves Us, Not the Other Way Around

Yes, we use technology. We have online scheduling, secure messaging, telehealth capabilities when appropriate, and modern practice management systems. But the technology works for the therapeutic relationship—not the other way around.

We're not trying to "disrupt" therapy or turn it into a scalable tech product. We're using tools that support good clinical care while maintaining the human-centered approach that makes therapy actually work.

What We Won't Compromise On

As tempting as rapid growth might be, there are things we've decided are non-negotiable:

We won't grow beyond what allows us to maintain quality. Every therapist we bring on is someone we've carefully vetted, someone whose approach aligns with our values, someone who'll be a true member of our team.
We won't sacrifice therapist wellbeing for profit margins. Our clinicians deserve fair compensation, reasonable caseloads, and working conditions that prevent burnout. Period.
We won't treat therapy like a commodity. You deserve more than an algorithm matching you with whoever's available. You deserve thoughtful consultation, continuity of care, and a practice that views you as a whole person, not a user account.
We won't prioritize investors over clients. Our success is measured by client outcomes, therapist satisfaction, and the health of our practice community—not by hitting growth targets that make us attractive for acquisition.

The Questions You Should Ask Any Therapy Provider

Whether you choose us or someone else, here are the questions worth asking:

Who owns this practice, and what are their incentives?
How does the practice support its therapists?
What happens to my care if the company is sold or changes hands?
Does my therapist have a reasonable time to respond to me between sessions?
Is there continuity of administrative support, or am I talking to different people each time?
What percentage of my payment goes to the therapist vs. the platform?

These questions reveal a lot about how a practice operates and what you can expect from your care.

Small Doesn't Mean Limited

Here's what we want to be clear about: staying small doesn't mean we offer limited services or can't meet diverse needs. Our team includes therapists with varied specializations, different therapeutic modalities, and experience with a wide range of concerns.

What "small" means is that we've chosen depth over breadth. We'd rather have a tight-knit team of excellent therapists who truly collaborate than a massive network of disconnected providers.

The Future We're Building

While venture-backed platforms are chasing unicorn valuations and market dominance, we're building something different: a sustainable practice where therapists thrive and clients receive excellent, personalized care.

We're not trying to be the biggest. We're trying to be the best at what we do—providing thoughtful, effective, human-centered mental health care to the people in our community who need it.

In an industry increasingly dominated by corporate consolidation and tech platform logic, we're making a bet that there's still tremendous value in the traditional model: skilled clinicians, strong relationships, local accountability, and a genuine commitment to the work above all else.

Your Choice Matters. When you choose where to receive mental health care, you're not just choosing a therapist—you're choosing a system, a set of values, and a vision for what therapy should be.

Platforms have their place, and for some people, they're the right fit. But if you're looking for something more personal, more invested, more focused on quality over scale, that's exactly what we've built at Intentional Therapy PLLC.

We're small by choice. We're independent by conviction. And we're here because we believe that the most transformative therapy happens in the context of genuine human connection, supported by systems that prioritize care above all else.

Experience the Difference: Schedule Your Free Consultation

Curious what it feels like to work with a small, independent practice that puts your care first? We'd love to talk with you. Schedule a free 15-20 minute consultation with one of our therapists and experience firsthand what makes our approach different.

Book Your Free Consultation Today

No algorithms, no call centers, no corporate bureaucracy, just real therapists who genuinely care about helping you thrive.

Note: If no answer, please leave a voicemail or send a text! Our CEO is not only working hard at running the practice, she also sees clients! We will get back to you ASAP!