What does it take to grow a mental health practice sustainably—without burning out the people who make it work? In this episode, host Rachel Harrison talks with Dan King, Co-Founder of Fireside Strategic, about how to align profitability with purpose in behavioral health. Dan shares lessons from years advising investors and business leaders on building organizations where clinicians thrive, culture drives retention, and long-term success balances both human and financial outcomes.

Listeners will hear practical advice on finding the right investment partners, understanding private equity and venture capital dynamics, and leading with values in a changing behavioral health market. Whether you're a clinician, practice owner, or investor, this conversation offers a blueprint for growth without burnout.

• Full Transcript: Provided

• Guest Name: Dan King

• Title / Role / Credentials: Co-Founder, Fireside Strategic

• Bio / Expertise: Dan King is the Co-Founder of Fireside Strategic, helping companies scale sustainably by focusing on human-centered growth. With experience in organizational psychology, M&A strategy, and executive coaching, Dan aligns profitability with purpose to build organizations that thrive without burnout.

• Website: https://www.firesidestrategic.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmking/

• 0:32 – Introduction to Dan King and Fireside Strategic

• 1:08 – Why aligning business growth with human well-being matters

• 2:12 – Lessons from scaling companies that grew too fast

• 3:40 – The link between culture, retention, and sustainable success

• 5:05 – How private equity and venture capital differ in behavioral health

• 7:14 – Finding the right investment partner for your mission

• 9:48 – Balancing profitability with clinician satisfaction

• 12:22 – The future of integrated behavioral health services

• 14:36 – Measuring both financial and human outcomes

• 16:18 – Practical advice for practice owners considering investors

• 18:07 – Key traits of leaders who build without burnout

• Mental Health's Investment Resurgence: A Market Ripe for Innovation – Galen Growth

• Venture Capital's Priorities Are Evolving as Behavioral Health Market Matures – Behavioral Health Business

• Fireside Strategic – Dan King

• Website: firesidestrategic.com

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danmking

• Website: The Mental Health Evolution

• Instagram: @thementalhealthevolution

• LinkedIn: The Mental Health Evolution

• Facebook: The Mental Health Entrepreneur

Music by Zach Harrison

In this episode, Rachel speaks with Becky DeGrossa, founder of CounselingWise, about the evolving landscape of mental health marketing. Becky shares her insights on how private practice therapists can leverage local marketing and AI to thrive, even in a market crowded with venture-backed platforms. She discusses practical strategies for mapping the client search journey, creating visibility online, and building sustainable practices that attract the right clients.

• Becky's unique blend of tech, psychology, and marketing experience

• Local clinicians' advantage over large therapy platforms

• Combining local marketing with AI as a competitive equalizer

• Key strategies for Search Everywhere Optimization

• Common mistakes therapists make in local search ranking

• Becky's top advice: do the work to create lasting visibility

• Is This the End of the Private Practice Therapist? – Mental Health Match

• The Marketing Formula That's Fueling Small Business Success – Entrepreneur

Website: counselingwise.com | skool.com/private-practice-builders
LinkedIn: Becky DeGrossa

Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast
Instagram: @thementalhealthevolution
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-mental-health-evolution/
Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution

Music by Zach Harrison

In this episode, Rachel talks with Deborah Steinberg, Senior Health Policy Attorney at the Legal Action Center, about the current state of mental health parity in the U.S. Deborah explains what parity means, why it matters, and how gaps in enforcement continue to affect patients and providers.

They also discuss the recent HHS rule reversal and its impact on insurance coverage, including disparities in reimbursement and network adequacy. Listeners will learn about key barriers in mental health and substance use disorder care, as well as practical steps for advocacy and holding plans accountable.

• Introduction to Deborah Steinberg and her policy work

• Overview of mental health parity laws and importance

• Discussion on HHS rule reversal and its impact

• Disparities between mental and physical health coverage

• Enforcement gaps at federal and state levels

• Role of data collection in identifying parity violations

• Network adequacy challenges for providers and patients

• Aligning health plan coverage criteria with standards of care

• Steps consumers can take to report parity violations

• Ways to engage in state-based advocacy and reforms

• Advocacy benefits for patients, providers, and systemic change

• Mental Health Care May Be Harder to Obtain After HHS Rule Reversal – STAT News

• New Tool Brings Mental Health Parity Problems to Light – AMA

• Commissioner King Fines Insurers Over $20 Million for Parity Violations – Georgia OCI

• Mental Health Parity Enforcement Updates – Congressman Tonko

• Website: https://www.lac.org

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-steinberg-b4822536/

• Instagram: @deborahgwen

• Website: The Mental Health Evolution

• Instagram: @thementalhealthevolution

• LinkedIn: The Mental Health Evolution

• Facebook: The Mental Health Entrepreneur

Music by Zach Harrison