Life Connections Counseling

What Life Connections Counseling does

Life Connections Counseling Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian counseling center founded in 1993 by James R. Reed, PhD and headquartered at 4903 Van Dyke Road in Lutz, Florida. It delivers individual, couples, family, and group counseling services to the Tampa Bay community through five Florida-licensed clinicians (Katherine McKinney PhD as Director, Ross Cannon LMHC, Sheryl Henry LMHC, Jeff Kozyra LMHC, and Laura Lamirand LMHC) supported by a Client Intake Coordinator. The organization integrates mental health treatment with Christian spiritual formation under a weekly team-consultation model that emphasizes accountability and ethical care.

The core product set includes 1:1 and relational counseling, the RESTORE 10-week childhood trauma recovery group ($300/cohort), the Self-Directed Search career instrument in partnership with PAR, Inc. ($7.95), free Kiersey/ISMA assessments, phone and online counseling via a Client Portal, and community workshops delivered at partner churches. Underlying technology is conventional practice-management tooling, primarily a TherapyPortal-based Client Portal for scheduling and telehealth sessions, with no proprietary AI/ML systems.

The business model combines fee-for-service counseling (rates set per counselor, accepting cash, checks, and credit cards) with charitable donations and grants that fund the Barnabas Program ($40/session co-pay for financially approved clients, capped at 20 sessions/household). GTM relies on direct phone intake, 17+ church partnerships that provide referrals and co-funding, and an Employee Assistance Program arrangement with Converge Churches. Cumulative impact metrics include 345+ Barnabas-served Florida households since 2013 and over $3 million in donated services since opening, with roughly $275,000 in contributed services annually.

Name

Life Connections Counseling

Legal name

Life Connections Counseling Center, Inc.

Website

https://lifeconnectionsonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Life Connections Counseling Center is a 501(c)(3) Christian counseling center in Lutz, Florida, founded in 1993. It delivers faith-integrated individual, couples, family, and group therapy to the Tampa Bay community through five licensed clinicians, supplemented by the Barnabas Program scholarship and church partnership referral channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Counseling Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians, Mental Health Specialists (621112), Other Individual and Family Services (62419)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers (HLAFACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI)

Keywords

• Christian counseling services
• Marriage and family therapy
• Trauma recovery groups
• Career assessment services
• Telehealth counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Huber Heights, Ohio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-Service Counseling: Individual, couples, and family counseling sessions billed at rates set by each counselor based on training and experience. Accepts cash, checks, and major credit cards.
2. Church Partnership Fees: Shared fee agreements between churches and clients for reduced-cost counseling (6 sessions at a time). Churches contribute monthly via missions toward scholarship portion of Barnabas Program.
3. Barnabas Program Donations: 501(c)3 charitable donations from individuals and organizations fund scholarship/co-pay program for clients who cannot afford counseling. In 2025 received nearly $24,000 in donations.
4. Career Assessment Services: Partnership with PAR, Inc. provides Self-Directed Search online career/personality instrument at discounted rate of $7.95.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Life Connections Counseling Center delivers fee-for-service Christian counseling to individuals, couples, and families in the Tampa Bay region, delivered by Florida-licensed clinicians (PhD and LMHC). The portfolio includes standard psychotherapy, the RESTORE 10-week childhood-trauma recovery group for adult women, the Barnabas Program scholarship/co-pay initiative, church partnership reduced-fee counseling agreements, free personal and career assessments, the Self-Directed Search instrument (via PAR, Inc. partnership), and phone/online counseling sessions accessed through a Client Portal.

Product overview

Life Connections Counseling operates as a full-service Christian counseling center offering a unified portfolio of mental health services. Core offerings include individual, couples, and family counseling delivered by Florida-licensed clinicians, supplemented by specialized group programs such as the RESTORE Childhood Trauma Recovery Group. The organization provides access through a Client Portal for online scheduling and communication, plus phone and telehealth counseling options. Additional services include the Barnabas Program (a scholarship/co-pay assistance initiative), free personal and career assessments including the Self-Directed Search in partnership with PAR Inc., and church partnership programs offering reduced-fee counseling agreements. The organization also provides free community mental health workshops and educational presentations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual, Couples, and Family Counseling Licensed mental health counseling services for individuals, couples, and families provided by Florida-licensed clinical staff, integrating emotional and relational health with spiritual maturity from a Christian perspective.
• RESTORE: A Childhood Trauma Recovery Group A 10-week group therapy program for adult women ages 18 and older who are survivors of childhood trauma, held Monday evenings 6:30–7:30pm at Life Connections Counseling Center in Lutz, FL, costing $300 for the full program.
• Barnabas Program (Scholarship/Co-Pay Assistance) Scholarship and co-pay assistance program providing counseling to individuals who cannot afford services; clients pay a $40 co-pay per session for up to 20 sessions per household, funded by donations and church missions contributions.
• Church Partnership Program Reduced-fee counseling agreements between Life Connections and local churches for 6-session counseling blocks, with shared fees split between church and client.
• Self-Directed Search (SDS) Career Assessment Online career and personality assessment instrument offered in partnership with PAR, Inc. for a discounted rate of $7.95, providing career and personality insights for individuals.
• Phone and Online Counseling Telephone and internet-based counseling services delivered via the Client Portal for established clients who prefer remote session formats over in-person visits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 345 Florida households served through Barnabas scholarship program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North Pointe ChurchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partner providing monthly missions contributions toward Barnabas Program scholarship portion. Located in Lutz, FL.
• Oakwood ChurchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partner hosting Life Connections Prayer Room as part of missions outreach. Monthly contributions to Barnabas Program.
• Candlewood ChurchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partner providing monthly missions contributions toward Barnabas Program scholarship portion.
• First Baptist of LutzminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• Church of the SuncoastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• Crosspoint ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• Converge Churches (Minister's Assistance Program)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployee Assistance Program providing counseling services to ministers through MAP program. Active member receiving counseling referrals.
• Fellowship Baptist ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• Grace Family ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• Gulfview Grace ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• Keystone Bible ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• Mission Hill ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• Northwest Community ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• St. Timothy Catholic ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• theChapelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• The Difference ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• Word of LifeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch partnership providing fee-sharing agreement for member counseling services.
• Christian Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay (C3TB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerActive membership providing business networking and community visibility for Life Connections.
• New Life Solutions (A Woman's Place)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's health and support organization with multiple programs (More 2 Life, A Woman's Place, Passages of Hope, Shepherd's Village). Community partner providing referrals and resources for women's mental health services.
• Hope Children's HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support services for children and families in need.
• Charles Nechtem Associates, Inc. (EAP)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployee Assistance Program provider offering workplace counseling services that may include Life Connections as a provider.
• Gulf Beach WeddingsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner organization with shared mission of supporting families and relationships.
• Blessings Ranch Ministries, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry partner with shared focus on emotional and spiritual health. Co-published newsletters including 'Unforced Rhythm of Grace' and 'When Heart Logic Meets Hard Reality'.
• Compass MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry partner focused on missionary health support.
• PAR, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationNational leader in test publication headquartered in Lutz, FL. Partnership provides Self-Directed Search (SDS) online career/personality instrument at discounted rate of $7.95. Received multiple PAR community grants (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Talkspace: Online therapy platform providing licensed counseling via messaging and live sessions. Comparable to Life Connections' phone/online counseling offering through their Client Portal, with broader scale and insurance acceptance.
• Focus on the Family: Large national faith-based organization offering counseling referrals and family-focused resources. Comparable in mission and faith-based orientation, though much larger scale and broader scope than Life Connections' Tampa Bay counseling practice.
• BetterHelp: Largest online therapy platform with licensed counselors serving clients nationwide. Comparable as a counseling delivery channel Life Connections competes with for clients seeking individual therapy, though secular positioning differs from faith-integrated model.

Direct peers

• Thriveworks: Multi-state counseling and therapy provider offering both in-person and online sessions. Comparable business model delivering individual, couples, and family counseling with licensed clinicians, though secular positioning differs from Life Connections' faith integration.
• Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services: One of the largest faith-based behavioral health providers in the U.S., headquartered in Michigan. Directly comparable to Life Connections as a Christian-integrated outpatient mental health organization offering counseling, addiction recovery, and family services with similar faith-based positioning.
• Open Path Psychotherapy Collective: Non-profit network connecting clients with affordable mental health care. Comparable to Life Connections in its mission-driven, accessibility-focused approach, including reduced-fee counseling similar to the Barnabas Program model.
• Cornerstone of Hope: Faith-based grief and bereavement support center. Comparable to Life Connections in faith-integrated counseling approach, with stronger specialization in grief support which Life Connections offers as part of its broader counseling portfolio.
• Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF): National organization providing biblical counseling training and resources. Comparable to Life Connections through its faith-integrated approach to mental health and emotional problems, with similar theological foundation and counselor training emphasis.

Emerging players

• Brightside Health: Telehealth mental health provider combining therapy and medication management. Comparable to Life Connections' clinical mental health offering, with overlap in anxiety and depression treatment but broader tech-enabled delivery model.

Others

• American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC): Industry association serving Christian counselors and counseling centers nationally. Relevant to Life Connections as the primary professional community for faith-integrated counselors, providing training, certification, and referral pathways.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Life-Connections-Counseling-Center-Lutz-FL-55640381271
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/life-connections-counseling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Life Connections Counseling