Solihten Institute

What Solihten Institute does

Solihten Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association that operates the only national interfaith network of accredited counseling centers practicing spiritually integrated therapy. Founded in 1972 as the Samaritan Institute in Elkhart, Indiana, and rebranded to Solihten Institute (soh-LITE-en, meaning wholeness plus light) in 2019, the organization is headquartered in Denver, Colorado with a lean central staff of 1-10 employees. The Institute accredits and supports nearly 40 member counseling centers operating 200+ offices across 22 states; collectively these centers deliver more than 500,000 clinical hours and serve roughly 50,000 children, adults, seniors, and veterans annually.

The Institute's core offerings include a 4-year national accreditation program (site-visit based, with eight centers renewed in 2025), the VideoTherapy HIPAA-compliant teletherapy platform with integrated training, an annual conference serving as a restorative professional retreat, nine distinct professional peer groups (Executive Directors, Clinical Directors, Training Directors, Development Personnel, Vālent Users, School-based Services, Equity and Inclusion, Board Presidents, and Clergy/Congregation Care), a 40-year Member Resource Library, an annual statistical benchmarking report, HR and consultation services, and an expanding portfolio of NBCC-approved continuing education courses. Technology is operational rather than proprietary: the network standardizes on the Vālent EHR system and a vetted HIPAA-compliant video vendor for teletherapy.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining membership dues from centers (introductory tier $1,200-$4,200 first year, full membership pricing undisclosed) and individual providers, NBCC-approved CE course fees (e.g., SCT-MH at $90 for 6 credits, 2025-2026 CE Series with bundled discount), conference registration (one free attendee per member center), and tax-deductible donations and planned gifts through the Samaritan Legacy Circle. The organization is governed by a National Board of Directors, currently led by Chair Norm J. Jones, PhD, with executive leadership held by President and CEO Dan Stephens (appointed June 2024) and Director of Development Caitlin Donley, CFRE (joined January 2025). The most recent organizational milestones include three new board appointments in April 2026 and the opening of registration for the 2026 Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC.

Name

Solihten Institute

Legal name

Solihten Institute

Website

https://solihten.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Solihten Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the only national interfaith network of accredited counseling centers, supporting nearly 40 member centers across 22 states that deliver over 500,000 clinical hours of spiritually integrated therapy to roughly 50,000 individuals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees (Center & Individual Provider): Solihten Institute generates revenue through membership fees from affiliated counseling centers and individual clinicians. Center membership provides access to national accreditation, consultation, peer groups, the annual conference, HR support, statistical reporting, the member resource library, and teletherapy tools. Individual provider membership offers clinical training, peer connections, consultation, and access to video-based teletherapy.
2. Donations & Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (EIN: 31-0951606), Solihten Institute accepts tax-deductible donations, bequests, planned gifts through the Samaritan Legacy Circle, and gifts of real property, stocks, securities, and other tangible assets.
3. Continuing Education (CE) Course Fees: Solihten Institute offers NBCC-approved continuing education courses (ACEP No. 7157), including a CE Course Series (2025-2026) and Spiritual Competency Training in Mental Health ($90 for 6 CE credits). Individual sessions and whole-series rates are available, with discounts for group practices and member centers.
4. Conference Registration Fees: The Annual Conference is a key revenue stream and community event. Free conference registration is provided to one attendee per member center, with reduced-rate lodging available on-site.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Solihten Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership association that accredits, supports, and connects approximately 40 nonprofit counseling centers across 22 U.S. states practicing spiritually integrated therapy. It provides member centers with national accreditation, HIPAA-compliant teletherapy (VideoTherapy), consultation services, professional peer groups, an annual conference, an HR support program, an annual statistical benchmarking report, and a Member Resource Library containing 40+ years of counseling expertise. It also sells continuing education (CE) courses to mental health providers and accepts tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

Solihten Institute is a national interfaith counseling network of approximately 40 member centers and over 200 offices in 22 states, providing spiritually integrated therapy services. The organization operates as a membership-based professional association offering a unified ecosystem of products and services centered on the core value of integrating mind, body, spirit, and community in mental health care. The portfolio includes: the National Accreditation Program for member centers (4-year validity); VideoTherapy teletherapy services with HIPAA-compliant video platform; Consultation Services providing strategic and operational guidance; the Annual Conference as a restorative retreat; Professional Peer Groups for various leadership roles; an Annual Statistical Report for benchmarking; and the Member Resource Library containing 40+ years of counseling expertise including management, clinical, HR, and marketing materials. Additional offerings include Director Orientation, HR Support, Spiritual Competency Training (SCT-MH) with CE credits, Elijah Institute courses, Mental Health Moments video series, and newsletters. The Institute supports two membership tiers: Center membership with full accreditation and comprehensive resources, and Individual Provider membership for solo practitioners. Together, member centers serve nearly 50,000 individuals annually and deliver over 500,000 clinical hours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Accreditation Program Rigorous national accreditation program for nonprofit counseling centers featuring a 4-step process (Preparation, Site Visit, Reporting, Decision-Making) covering clinical practices, HR, case management, records, spiritually integrated therapy, quality improvement, supervision, and board oversight. Accreditation is valid for up to four years and recognized by managed care companies, denominations, and professional peers.
• VideoTherapy (Teletherapy Program) Video-based, HIPAA-compliant teletherapy program enabling spiritually integrated counseling across distances. Includes licensing for a vetted HIPAA-compliant video platform, customizable intake and informed consent documentation, and a 15-hour minimum of practitioner training covering teletherapy introduction, best practices, HIPAA compliance, crisis planning, and state-specific guidelines. Available to member centers and individual providers.
• Consultation Services Forty years of integrated counseling insight providing nuanced, actionable guidance for nonprofit counseling centers. Services scale from centers delivering 2,000 counseling hours to those delivering 14,000+ hours, covering strategic planning, organizational development, leadership skills, clinical training, board development, and financial literacy. Includes customized fundraising support, branding and business tools, and leadership consultation groups.
• Annual Conference Annual restorative retreat for member centers featuring plenary presentations, worship gatherings, spiritually integrated therapy forums, Q&A sessions, and workshops. Includes free conference registration for one attendee per member center and reduced-rate lodging. The 2025 theme was 'Resilient Leaders, Thriving Centers' and 2024 was 'Courage and Heart in Leadership'.
• Director Orientation Personalized walk-through of available resources for new Executive Directors, including introductions to Institute staff, Member Resource Library navigation, and overview of effective board models, compensation plans, and implementation guidance for outcome-informed care.
• Professional Peer Groups Mission-aligned network of nine working groups for Executive Directors, Board Presidents, Clinical Directors, Training Directors, Development Personnel, Vālent Users, School-based Services, Equity and Inclusion, and Clergy and Congregation Care Regional Meetings. Moderated by Institute staff with monthly meetings.
• HR Support Daily people management support including consulting resources, leadership tools, communication templates, orientation materials, and job posting visibility across the network for member centers. Includes sample employee handbook and personnel resources.
• Annual Statistical Report Annual compilation of member center clinical, financial, intake, and staffing statistics including comparative billed hours, compensation averages, non-counseling hours, assisted fee revenue, and salary survey data for benchmarking and operational decision-making.
• Member Resource Library Digital repository of 40+ years of counseling expertise accessible to accredited centers and individual providers. Includes management materials, clinical services support, personnel resources with sample employee handbook, marketing templates (radio spots, billboards, brochures, Facebook ads), new center resources, fundraising guidelines, ethics programming, and clergy/congregation care resources.
• Spiritual Competency Training in Mental Health (SCT-MH) Multi-disciplinary online program training mental health providers in spiritual and religious competencies. Six to eight hours of self-paced content addressing stereotypes about religion/spirituality, assessment approaches, and responding to RS problems. Provides 6 CE credits for $90. Sponsored by Maryland Psychological Association.
• Elijah Institute CE Courses Online, self-paced 30-minute courses drawing from centuries of Christian thought and contemporary psychology for whole-person care. NBCC-approved CE hours (ACEP No. 7719). Includes a free introductory course on Catholic Christian Integrated Psychotherapy. First 100 enrollments receive 20% discount.
• 2025-2026 CE Course Series Six-session CE course series (October 2025 - May 2026) on spiritually integrated psychotherapy covering Sacred Moral Injury, Working with Muslim Clients, Working with LGBTQ+ People, The Spiritual Core of Healing the Whole Person, Buddhism & Mindfulness in Psychotherapy, and A Spiritual Approach to the Treatment of Anxiety. Speakers include Dr. Lisa Miller, Dr. David Rosmarin, Dr. Len Sperry, Dr. Anisah Bagasra, Dr. Tyler Lefevor, Dr. Debra Kawahara, and Dr. Liang Tien. NBCC-approved (ACEP No. 7157) with group practice and member discounts available.
• Center Affiliate Membership Introductory membership option for centers not ready for full membership, including New Executive Director Orientation, Leadership Consultation Group, peer learning communities, Board President Roundtable, Annual Conference access, and Solihten liaison with monthly meetings. First-year fees range from $1,200 (minimum affiliation fee) to $4,200 (maximum Solihten subsidy).
• Individual Provider Membership Monthly membership for individual clinicians, nurses, and physicians practicing spiritually integrated therapy. Includes facilitated peer support group, VideoTherapy access, Annual Conference registration, and Member Resource Library access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ clinical hours provided by member centers annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Valant (EHR)coreTechnology or IntegrationValant is the most widely used Electronic Health Record (EHR) system across the Solihten Institute network. A dedicated Valant Users' Group convenes eight times per year to discuss specifics of the program. Valant sponsors the Solihten CE Course Series 2025-2026 (logo appears on course materials).
• Telehealth Health Certification InstitutesupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvides training for the VideoTherapy teletherapy program, addressing many state and licensing mandates including state-specific guidelines and restrictions around teletherapy as part of Solihten's 15-hour minimum practitioner training.
• Elijah InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolihten Institute partners with Elijah Institute to offer continuing education courses drawing from centuries of Christian thought and contemporary psychology. Courses are self-paced, 30-minute modules for busy professionals. NBCC-approved (ACEP No. 7719). First 100 enrollments receive 20% discount with code.
• The U.S. Will RegistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolihten Institute collaborates with The U.S. Will Registry to provide a free online will creation tool for members and supporters. This partnership supports planned giving and legacy gift planning as part of the Samaritan Legacy Circle program.
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Charlotte UptownminorOthersOfficial conference hotel for the 2026 Annual Conference (September 10-12, Charlotte, NC). Discounted lodging rate of $149 per night plus tax, booked through a dedicated conference reservation link.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Counseling Association (ACA): National professional membership association for counselors, offering accreditation, continuing education, and member resources — directly comparable to Solihten's role as a professional association supporting individual counselors and counseling centers.
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT): Professional membership association for marriage and family therapists providing accredited membership, CE programs, and peer communities — closely parallels Solihten's professional-association model serving faith-integrated practitioners.
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Credentialing body that approves continuing education providers (including Solihten, ACEP No. 7157) and certifies counselors; comparable as a standards-setting peer for counseling accreditation.

Broad incumbents

• American Psychological Association (APA): Largest professional association for psychologists in the U.S. providing accreditation, CE, and advocacy; broader in scope than Solihten but a comparable incumbent in mental-health professional services.
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW): Major professional membership association offering CE, credentialing, and member services to social workers — adjacent profession with overlapping professional-association infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Mental Health America (MHA): Community-based nonprofit focused on mental health advocacy, education, and screening — comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit addressing mental health access, though focused more on advocacy than provider accreditation.
• Elijah Institute: Faith-based continuing education provider that partners with Solihten to deliver NBCC-approved CE courses integrating Christian thought with contemporary psychology — direct CE/content partner and partial peer in the faith-integrated learning space.

Others

• Telehealth Certification Institute: Provides teletherapy training that underpins Solihten's VideoTherapy 15-hour practitioner requirement; an enabling/ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Valant: EHR platform most widely used across the Solihten member-center network and sponsor of the 2025–2026 CE Course Series — an infrastructure/enabling partner, not a peer.
• The U.S. Will Registry: Free online will-creation partner that supports Solihten's Samaritan Legacy Circle planned-giving program — adjacent ecosystem partner supporting fundraising, not a comparable service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solihten Institute