Since launching her mental health practice in 2019, Christy Pennison has taken Be Inspired Counseling and Consulting from a solo act to a team of 19 with three locations in central Louisiana.
Be Inspired’s licensed therapists help clients navigate a wide variety of challenges, such as anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship conflicts, life transitions, substance abuse, parenting challenges and burnout. “Our mission is to inspire hope for change and help individuals of all ages to move forward and live fully,” says Pennison, noting the company’s logo is a dandelion, chosen for its ability to put down roots and thrive almost anywhere.
As 95% of client visits are in-person, expanding Be Inspired’s physical footprint has been key to fiscal growth. In 2023 the company added a branch office in Natchitoches, followed by a third location in Pineville in 2024. Then, last year the Alexandria flagship office moved to a larger space. With the additional elbow room, Be Inspired was able to serve more than 1,400 individuals in 2025 and generate $1.4 million in annual revenue, and Pennison forecasts $1.9 million for 2026.
All three buildings are company-owned and range in size from 3,600 to 4,000 square feet. Interiors are designed to evoke a comfortable, living-room feeling, which helps put clients at ease, says Pennison. In fact, the Natchitoches branch is actually a historic residential house.
Digital marketing has also played a critical role in building the business. “Seeking therapy, especially for the first time, can be very overwhelming,” Pennison says, explaining that people are often reluctant to ask friends or families for referrals and prefer online channels. With that in mind, Be Inspired has a robust website that features photos, bios and videos of its counselors, so potential clients can get a sense of who they might feel comfortable talking to.
Adding value is an integral part of Pennison’s vision for Be Inspired. The company executes this in a variety of ways, from raising awareness for mental health in the community to providing professional and personal development opportunities for its staff, including an annual retreat. “This is important because they care a lot, which means they carry a lot,” she says. In 2025 Be Inspired launched an ongoing education program for other mental health professionals. “It’s a way for us to expand our impact,” Pennison says.
Pennison’s quest for continuous learning applies to herself, and she credits programs hosted by the Edward Lowe Foundation and Louisiana Economic Development (LED) for increasing her business savvy and ability to scale Be Inspired. In addition to peer-learning roundtables and retreats, Pennison has participated in:
- A workshop that helps CEOs and COOs learn how to support each other in their respective roles.
- The American Academy of Entrepreneurs mentoring program, which helped Pennison work through some leadership challenges, such as moving from a technician and manager to a visionary role.
- The System for Integrated Growth (SIG), which connected her with experts on specific business topics, including operations.
As a result of the SIG engagement, Pennison has refined Be Inspired’s onboarding and training processes. She has also created a central information hub for team members that outlines company procedures, such as how to discharge a client appropriately. “Before all of our info was scattered,” Pennison says. “Now it’s living in one place.”
Acquiring new strategic, operational and leadership tools has been invaluable, she adds. “You can be a great therapist, but that doesn’t translate into being a great business owner.”
Pennison also appreciates the foundation’s focus on second stage and peer learning. “Previously, I’ve done a lot of networking within the mental health arena, yet the Edward Lowe-LED programs have enabled me to interact with entrepreneurs from diverse industries,” she says. “I don’t hear from my friends in other states that they have same resources for second-stage companies.”