217 - From Sole Proprietor to 19 Therapists: How Barbara Egan Built Alive Counselling

<p>Growing a solo counselling practice into a 19-person team sounds like it takes a master plan. Barbara Egan didn't have one.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><h4><b>Key Takeaways:</b></h4><ul><li>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.</li><li>Most of her growth started with regular conversations at the rink and at school pickup, where people kept asking her for a trusted referral.</li><li>People connect through pain, not highlight reels. Share the scar after it's healed, not while it's still raw.</li><li>The business side isn't in the grad school curriculum. Barbara learned bookkeeping, contracts, billing, and hiring as she went.</li><li>Her biggest lesson: delegate. A growing practice runs on a team, not the owner doing everything.</li><li>What's next: a move to the US, a Tennessee license, and a new coaching business with her husband.</li></ul><h2>Links mentioned in this episode:</h2><ul><li>Alive Coaching Group:<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://alivecoachinggroup.com" target="_blank"> </a><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://alivecoachinggroup.com" target="_blank">alivecoachinggroup.com</a></li><li>Alive Counselling:<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://alivecounselling.com" target="_blank"> </a><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://alivecounselling.com" target="_blank">alivecounselling.com</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://privatepracticeelevation.kit.com/217?_gl=1*1m3ybuj*_gcl_au*MTI0ODY4NDU1Ny4xNzg1OTUxMDY1LjExNDYxMTc0NTIuMTc4Njk4MDMzNC4xNzg2OTgwNzU1LjEyMjkzMTA2NzMuMTc4Njk4MDMzNC4xNzg2OTgwNzU1" target="_blank">Barbara's free resource, Top 10 Tips for Mental Preparation (for athletes and their parents)</a></li><li>Ready to reach more of your ideal clients? Book a free call:<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://privatepracticeelevation.