Alice Stricklin Counseling & Consulting LLC

Alice Stricklin Counseling and Consulting LLC is a thriving private practice rooted in compassion, connection, and community care. Founded in 2016 by Alice Stricklin, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Lebanon, Tennessee, the practice has grown steadily to include are four fully licensed contract counselors, six post masters contract counselors, five masters level interns and two administrative team members, all working together to provide individual, family, and couples therapy in an environment that prioritizes accessibility and healing. 

As the practice expanded, Alice turned to the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Volunteer State Community College for guidance on improving profitability while continuing to offer affordable services to the community. With support from the TSBDC, Alice began closely evaluating fee structures, refining contractor agreements, and tracking key business metrics such as counselor utilization, client retention, and session trends to better understand the operational health of the practice. 

At the same time, the business continued to evolve. Alice introduced new offerings, including therapist self-care retreats, expanded services such as CEU clinical trainings and EMDR intensives, began accepting insurance, and started developing digital products like an e-book and distance learning courses to diversify revenue and extend the reach of the practice. 

With TSBDC’s support, Alice is strengthening financial stability while preparing for seasonal shifts and staffing transitions. More importantly, she is building a sustainable, values-based business that supports both her clients and her growing team. Reflecting on the experience, Alice shared, “Charles helped me examine what we were doing well and ask critical questions about what we could do better. His guidance allowed me to feel more organized, business minded, while also holding to the values that started my business in the first place. I now have room to be creative, while feeling confident in the foundation that has been laid. I am grateful to TSBDC, who has been a tremendous support as I grow and diversify my business.”