What Transformative Growth Counseling does

Transformative Growth Counseling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mental health organization headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, founded in 2016 to expand access to counseling for underserved individuals, couples, families, and youth. The organization delivers a broad clinical portfolio spanning individual, couples, family, child and youth, LGBTQIA+, anxiety, PTSD, attachment-based, personality disorder (DBT), and ABA therapy, alongside specialized assessment services including ADOS-2 autism evaluations and ADHD testing. Its core service differentiators are clinician-led, ground-based equine-assisted therapy programs operated at private farm locations near Naperville and Oswego, plus an Integrated Equine + ABA Program launched in late 2025 for neurodiverse children and adolescents with Autism, ADHD, and AUDHD. Additional offerings include a Coaching Services Pathway, Mental Health First Aid training, dementia programming in skilled-living facilities, ESA/service animal evaluations, and culturally responsive Spanish-language therapy.

The organization operates through a hybrid delivery model with in-person offices in Illinois (Naperville, Chicago, Oglesby, Kankakee) and Florida (Orange Park), plus virtual telehealth services across eight U.S. states (IL, GA, FL, AZ, NY, OH, SC, TX). Its enterprise channel is anchored by the Education Partnerships program, which has placed embedded mental health services inside 99+ K-12 districts in Illinois and 50+ in Oklahoma and New York, formalized in late 2025 into a tiered K-12 Partnership Model. A newly launched College & University Partnership Program extends this embedded-services approach into higher education, supported by grant-aligned funding strategies and institutional compliance assistance.

Revenue mechanics combine insurance reimbursement (Medicaid in Illinois, Medicare in Florida, plus BCBS, Cigna, United Healthcare, Aetna, Ambetter, Tricare, and other commercial plans) with a sliding-scale fee program, equine therapy and testing fees, pony party donations ($500 minimum), and general charitable contributions as a federally recognized 501(c)(3). Patient scheduling and intake run through the third-party JaneApp portal, and the organization is HIPAA-compliant. Since founding, it has delivered approximately $1.25 million in free and discounted therapy, and it operates workforce development through a Master's-Level Internship Program for graduate students in counseling, psychology, and social work.

Name

Transformative Growth Counseling

Legal name

Transformative Growth Counseling

Website

https://transformativegrowth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Transformative Growth Counseling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that delivers individual, couples, family, and equine-assisted therapy across eight U.S. states, with embedded K-12 and college partnership programs serving underserved and neurodiverse populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Counseling Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health for Children & Adolescents (Youth Services) (HLAFACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neurodevelopmental & Behavioral Therapy Platforms (ADHD/Autism/Behavioral Coaching) (HLALAEAJ), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ)

Keywords

• Mental health counseling
• Equine-assisted therapy
• ABA therapy services
• School-based mental health
• Psychological testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Naperville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance-Based Therapy Services: The organization accepts a wide range of insurance plans including Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance for therapy sessions, serving clients across multiple states with both virtual and in-person options.
2. Sliding Scale Fee Program: Reduced-fee therapy for clients without insurance or facing financial hardship, adjusting fees based on household size, income, and participation in assistance programs.
3. Pony Party Events and Donations: $500 minimum donation events featuring therapy pony Oreo, with proceeds supporting development of Stella Ridge therapeutic farm. Additional $350 for one pony visit or $450 for both ponies.
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the organization relies on donations to fund free and discounted therapy services, having provided approximately $1.25 million in free and discounted therapy since founding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Transformative Growth Counseling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers accessible mental health counseling and therapeutic services to individuals, couples, families, and children across multiple U.S. states through both virtual and in-person modalities. Its differentiated offerings include clinician-led equine-assisted therapy (including an integrated Equine + ABA program for neurodiverse youth), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, comprehensive psychological and autism testing, embedded K-12 and college/university partnership programs, Spanish-language therapy, and a sliding scale access program accepting insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare.

Product overview

Transformative Growth Counseling is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mental health organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of counseling and therapeutic services. The core offerings include individual, couples, and family counseling along with specialized programs for children, youth, and LGBTQIA+ populations. The organization distinguishes itself through unique equine-assisted therapy programs (Equine-Assisted Therapy, Equine Therapy for Neurodiverse Youth, Integrated Equine + ABA Program) conducted at private farm locations, as well as clinical testing services for ADHD and autism. Additional specialized services include ABA therapy, trauma treatment, career coaching, dementia programming, and Kink/Poly relationship counseling. The organization serves clients across multiple states (Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas) through both virtual and in-person sessions, with a sliding scale access program ensuring affordability. Education partnerships (K-12 and College/University programs) extend services into school settings. Pony visit events and parties serve as fundraising mechanisms supporting the nonprofit mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Education Partnerships: School-based mental health services program integrating mental health professionals into educational settings
• K-12 Partnership Model
• MHforSchools
• MHonCampus
• Sliding Scale Access
• Stella Ridge
• Integrated Equine + ABA Program
• Coaching Services Pathway

Products and services

• Individual Counseling One-on-one therapy sessions for personal mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions, delivered in-person and virtually to individual clients.
• Couples Counseling Therapy for couples experiencing relationship challenges, communication difficulties, or seeking to strengthen their partnership, including kink, poly, and non-monogamous relationship counseling.
• Family Counseling Therapeutic services addressing family dynamics, communication patterns, and relational conflicts among family members.
• Child & Youth Therapy Mental health services designed for children and adolescents addressing behavioral, emotional, and developmental concerns.
• LGBTQIA+ Counseling Affirming therapy services for LGBTQIA+ individuals addressing identity, relationships, and community-specific mental health needs.
• Anxiety Treatment Treatment services for anxiety disorders including panic disorder, OCD, and general anxiety symptoms.
• PTSD Treatment Trauma-focused therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions using evidence-based approaches.
• Attachment-Based Therapy Therapeutic approach focusing on attachment patterns and their impact on emotional regulation and relationships.
• Personality Disorder Treatment Specialized therapy for personality disorders including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) approaches.
• ABA Therapy Applied Behavior Analysis therapy services for neurodiverse individuals including those with autism and ADHD.
• Equine-Assisted Therapy Clinician-led, ground-based therapeutic services involving structured interactions with horses for emotional regulation, communication, and personal growth. Available at private farm near Naperville and Oswego.
• Equine Therapy for Neurodiverse Youth Specialized equine-assisted therapy program combining evidence-based ABA therapy with clinician-guided equine interventions for neurodiverse children and adolescents with Autism, ADHD, and AUDHD.
• Clinical Testing Comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological assessment services including ADHD and autism testing using evidence-based evaluation tools.
• Autism Testing Neurodiversity-affirming ASD evaluations using ADOS-2 and multi-method approaches for children, teens, and adults ages 5+.
• Dementia Mental Health Programming Specialized mental health services for individuals with dementia and their caregivers in nursing homes and skilled living facilities in the Chicagoland area.
• Coaching Services Forward-focused, short-term coaching services for goal achievement and personal growth in career advancement and leadership development, with referrals to therapy when appropriate.
• Mental Health First Aid Training Training program teaching participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges.
• K-12 Partnership Model Formal partnership framework providing SEL-aligned programming and embedded mental health services for school districts with tiered support options (Foundational, Expanded, Comprehensive), with sessions available at $40 or less.
• College & University Partnership Program Campus-based mental health partnership program delivering on-site clinical services while supporting institutional compliance and grant-aligned funding strategies for higher education institutions.
• Sliding Scale Access Program Reduced-fee therapy program adjusting session fees based on household size, income, insurance status, employment, and participation in assistance programs. No referral required.
• Spanish-Language Individual Therapy Culturally responsive mental health care services provided in Spanish for Spanish-speaking clients addressing depression, anxiety, and stress.
• Pony Parties Fundraising Events Fundraising events featuring therapy ponies Oreo and Coco at $350 per pony or $450 for both, with proceeds supporting free and reduced-cost mental health care.
• Emotional Support Animal & Service Animal Evaluations Evaluations and documentation services for Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals to help clients receive appropriate accommodations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved student engagement in participating schools since 2017
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Colleges and UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026College & University Partnership Program expanding campus mental health access at low or no cost. Integrates embedded clinical services with regulatory compliance and grant support. Emphasizes serving diverse and underserved student populations including first-generation and low-income students.
• K-12 School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Formal K-12 Partnership Model delivering SEL-aligned programming and embedded mental health services to school districts across the United States. Tiered service model includes mental health referral systems, telehealth appointments, in-person services, crisis response, and staff training. Currently partnered with 99+ districts in Illinois plus 50+ in Oklahoma and New York.
• Illinois Valley Community CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016On-campus counseling center location at IVCC providing mental health services to college students and surrounding community.
• Kankakee Community CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016On-campus mental health service location inside Kankakee Community College serving students and local community members.
• Highland Community CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Campus counseling partnership providing mental health services to Highland Community College students and staff.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Mantra Health: Telehealth mental health provider specifically serving college and university student populations. Directly comparable to TGC's MHonCampus College & University Partnership Program.
• Hazel Health: School-based telehealth mental health provider serving K-12 students, including Medicaid-covered and underserved populations. Directly competes with TGC's embedded school district model across multiple states.
• Two Chairs: Multi-state therapy practice offering in-person and virtual individual, couples, and family therapy. Comparable to TGC's core individual/couples/family counseling services across multiple geographic markets.
• Brightline: Pediatric and adolescent mental health provider offering therapy, psychiatry, and coaching services. Comparable to TGC in targeting youth populations with multi-modal mental health services including coaching pathways.
• Charlie Health: Virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) provider focused on adolescents and young adults with mental health and substance use conditions. Comparable to TGC in serving youth mental health populations through a virtual-first model.
• Effective School Solutions: Delivers in-district mental health programs for K-12 students, partnering with school districts to embed clinicians and provide therapeutic programming — directly mirroring TGC's school-embedded delivery approach.
• Catapult Learning (LearnWell): Provides K-12 mental health, behavioral, and social-emotional services embedded in school districts. Directly comparable to TGC's Education Partnerships program and tiered K-12 Partnership Model.

Broad incumbents

• Lyra Health: Enterprise mental health benefits provider offering therapy, coaching, and psychiatry to employer-sponsored populations. Broader incumbent in the same mental health delivery space though focused on employer/benefits channel rather than schools/nonprofit.
• Talkspace: National telehealth therapy platform offering individual, couples, and teen therapy with insurance coverage. Overlaps with TGC's virtual therapy and insurance-reimbursement model but at much larger scale and broader audience.
• BetterHelp: Largest direct-to-consumer telehealth therapy platform. Competes with TGC's D2C virtual therapy offering at significantly lower price points and broader marketing reach, though less focused on underserved/Medicaid populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TransformativeGrowth
• Instagraminstagram.com/transformativegrowth

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Transformative Growth Counseling