When Christina Herbin founded Harmony Counseling Center, she wasn’t just opening a business—she was answering a calling. With compassion in her heart and determination in her spirit, Christina set out to create a sanctuary where healing could happen regardless of someone’s financial situation. She believed deeply in therapy’s power and wanted cost to never be a barrier to mental health support.
But as time passed, Christina’s noble vision began colliding with harsh reality. Her sliding-scale pricing model for individual sessions, while admirable, made it difficult to cover expenses or grow. Without structured pricing or additional revenue streams, she faced the painful reality of shutting down. Financial instability threatened not only her business but also the accessibility of her services to those who needed them most.
The Turning Point
Everything changed when Christina connected with Small Business Coaching. Through this program, she began working with business coach T. Rose Malone, whose strategic mentorship would transform her struggling practice.
T. Rose recognized that Christina’s compassion was her strength, but her business model needed restructuring to survive. Together, they tackled the painful truth about Christina’s pricing strategy and began building a path toward sustainability without compromising her values.
Building a Sustainable Business Model
With T. Rose’s guidance, Christina reworked her approach to pricing. She learned to recognize the value of her expertise and set rates that could sustain her practice. Together, they developed structured service packages that allowed her to serve clients effectively while ensuring financial stability.
Walking through Christina’s office space, T. Rose identified untapped potential. Christina had an underutilized therapy space that was mostly vacant. By subleasing this space, she created a steady, passive revenue stream that significantly strengthened her business finances.
Expanding Services and Reach
Perhaps the most significant transformation came when T. Rose encouraged Christina to think beyond one-on-one sessions. They refined her positioning and marketing approach, expanding her services to include corporate-level workshops. Christina moved beyond local library-based sessions and began engaging with insurance companies and other organizations, positioning herself as a high-level provider with scalable services.
This strategic pivot allowed Christina to reach more people at once while creating more profitable service offerings. It wasn’t just about increasing revenue, it was about extending her impact while building a sustainable business.
The Transformation
The results of Christina’s work with Small Business Coaching were remarkable. By restructuring her pricing and service offerings, Christina maintained a sustainable business while continuing to provide quality care. Subleasing her space provided reliable passive income that helped stabilize her finances.
But perhaps the biggest change was in her mindset. With T. Rose’s encouragement, Christina stepped into her role as a business owner, not just a therapist. She recognized her value and embraced opportunities to scale her services.
Looking Forward
Today, Harmony Counseling Center is thriving. Christina offers corporate workshops and maintains a steady flow of clients at profitable rates. With a sustainable business model in place, she can focus on what matters most: making a meaningful impact on mental health in her community. Looking ahead, Christina plans to expand her corporate workshop offerings, further establishing herself in the mental health space. Her journey from a struggling practice to a thriving center is a testament to the power of strategic support and recognizing one’s professional worth.
Through Small Business Coaching, Christina transformed Harmony Counseling Center from a struggling business into a thriving, impactful practice—ensuring her mission of accessible mental health support continues for years to come.
Learn more about Small Business assistance at https://annarborusa.org/smallbusiness
