Level Up Week

Kelley Sonnenberg started in 2017 as Practice Solutions’ first billing specialist, working hands on with providers to manage their billing before moving into her current role as Billing Director, where she manages teams of billers and supervises all billing work. Her experience as a biller gave her the knowledge, skills and passion to help expand the company, resulting in helping hundreds of mental health providers. Kelley’s passion for travel led her to live her dream as a digital nomad for a year abroad while working for Practice Solutions. She traveled to 22 countries in 2019, gaining an array of cultural experiences, and a unique perspective on global healthcare. She hopes to empower providers to gain the confidence and knowledge to take on insurance billing.

Sarah Almendariz Rivera is a San Antonio, Texas native, born and raised. She graduated with a Masters of Arts in Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2009 and spent the next 8 years working in non-profits and larger community mental health agencies. She launched into a solo private practice in 2017 and did tons of things wrong! After getting a little wind under her sails, she transitioned into a self-pay group private practice, La Luz Counseling, in 2020 to help keep up with the mental health need during Covid. When she’s not in the therapist chair or running her practice, she helps other mental health professionals take their career to the next level. She remembers many mistakes and failures during practice ownership and wants others to find success much more quickly and efficiently than she did. Which is how The Counselors Mentor was born in 2021. The site is geared with support, information, and material for mental health professionals needing step by step guidance to launch and grow their private practice OR just starting out with clinical work and getting supervision. She believes in spreading three values: to reach, teach, and inspire.

Hannah Rose is the owner, founder, and clinical director of Rose Wellness - a fully virtual group private practice offering mental health counseling and business consulting in Baltimore, Maryland. After receiving her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University in 2015, Hannah almost burned out over the next few years working in addiction treatment. She decided to make the leap into private practice as a sole practitioner in 2019, and transitioned to a group practice after having an over-full caseload in 2021. Within a year, Rose Wellness contracted more than 10 therapists! Hannah has stepped away from counseling and now focuses her energy on scaling Rose Wellness, offering professional private practice consultation, and loves public speaking events. Hannah is passionate about emotional health, specifically the relationship that we do (or don't) have with ourselves. You can find Hannah on YouTube, Psychology Today blogs, and LinkedIn! www.rosewellnesscounseling.com

Meet Mikah, a dynamic force in the world of entrepreneurship, a heart-centered mindset strategist, and a powerhouse transformational speaker. With a remarkable track record as a triple business owner, she's also a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS). Drawing from her extensive background, Mikah delves into the deep-rooted obstacles that can hinder entrepreneurs from realizing their true potential. While Mikah's diverse clientele spans over two decades and various backgrounds, her current focus centers on empowering therapists and business owners poised for transformative growth. Prepare to be inspired, empowered, and equipped with invaluable insights as Mikah escorts you through the labyrinth of entrepreneurial triumph.

Steve Turney is the Owner and Executive Director of the Mental Health Marketing Conference. After a silent retreat at a monastery, Steve found his way to a licensed professional counselor and experienced the power of talk therapy as a mental health solution that impacted his life in positive ways. And that set Steve down a creative path and mission to build things of value for people in need. His annual conference is one deliverable and expression of that mission. The 7th annual conference is Sept. 25-27 in Franklin, Tennessee. Steve's been working on the conference since 2018. His professional background also includes strategic growth, marketing leadership and business development for healthcare marketing agencies and providers.

Andrew Burdette is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Additions Specialist living in the mountains of Western North Carolina. In 2019, he founded Mindful Counseling PLLC which has grown from a small solo practice into an expanding telehealth based group practice. Along the way, Andrew has navigated the challenges of building a sustainable insurance-based practice, reaching state-wide to connect with potential clients, and trialed and tested a range of technology products and solutions aimed at mental health providers in private practice. Coming from a former career as a techie in the entertainment industry, Andrew enjoys the systems building and integration aspects of small business building. Guiding individuals into establishing or revising their solo practice setup, working with insurance companies and billers, and assisting with converting from a solo to a group practice are areas he enjoys working with the most.

Ashton Whitmoyer-Ober is an author, public speaker, Community Psychologist, and certified Enneagram educator. With a desire to see relationships strengthened, she created Enneagram Ashton in early 2019. She is the author of Enneagram for Relationships, The Two of Us: A Three Year Couples Journal, and The Enneagram Made Simple. Find her on Instagram @enneagramashton.

Joe Sanok is a licensed professional counselor in Michigan, who has appeared in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and over 300 podcast interviews. Over three thousand private practices have been launched using his methods, expanding access to mental health care, while reducing owner stress and burnout. Joe Sanok is the author of Thursday is the New Friday: How to Work Fewer Hours, Make More Money, and Spend Time Doing What You Want (HarperCollins) which examines the four-day workweek and optimizing schedules for reduced stress and better outcomes. Joe's Practice of the Practice Podcast has over 900 episodes and is in the top .5% of all podcasts. He examines clinical, marketing, business, and other life issues from a therapeutic perspective.

Meet LaToya, she has a group practice in Fort Worth, TX. She’s a dedicated consultant committed to helping therapists navigate their professional journeys with confidence and clarity. Whether you're wrestling with the idea of starting a private practice and seeking guidance on the next steps, or looking to rebrand and rediscover your worth and purpose, LaToya is here to support and uplift you. Her expertise extends to helping therapists find their niche and create a practice tailored to their unique strengths and passions. For those brimming with big visions and innovative ideas, LaToya is the perfect ally, providing practical guidance and time management strategies to bring those ideas to life. With LaToya's unwavering guidance, therapists can embrace their full potential and build thriving practices that align with their values and aspirations. Packages start at $795/month.

Melissa Schneider, LCSW is a therapist, writer, and speaker specializing in couples therapy and support for entrepreneurs. In 2019, she founded Resolution Counseling Center in Jersey City and now has a staff of 50+ therapists. In 2023, she launched her second practice Cultivate Therapy, a specialist-focused practice that connects her strongest therapists with the clients they most love to serve. Melissa earned her masters in Social Work from Columbia University in 2006 and lives in Jersey City with her husband and twin first graders.

Valarie is a trauma therapist who built a million-dollar teaching practice in three years! She created the Intern Development Model, which provides strategies for developing student interns into competent, confident clinicians who become hungry, grateful hires who stay! As the founder of Educate & Elevate, she helps practice owners transform their practices into thriving teaching practices that raise value, revenue, and impact without chaos, confusion, or overwhelm!