Waterstone Counseling Center

What Waterstone Counseling Center does

Waterstone Counseling Center is a privately-held, full-service mental health counseling practice headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, serving individuals, couples, and families across Northwest Arkansas. Founded in 2012 by Sean McDonald, the practice operates from a single physical office at 1672 South 48th Street with a clinical team of 14 Masters-level counselors plus 2 support staff (Marketing Director/Co-Owner and Administrative Specialist). The licensed clinicians hold credentials including LPC, LMFT, LCSW, and LAC, with multiple CSAT-certified specialists in sexual addiction recovery, EMDR-trained therapists, EFT-trained couples therapists, and play therapy specialists. Co-owned by Sean McDonald and Katherine McDonald, the practice generates revenue through per-session fees ($150-$195 per 45-60 minute session) and multi-day intensive programs ($1,400-$3,500 per program).

The service portfolio spans 18+ core clinical offerings including individual counseling, couples/relationship counseling, family therapy, child and teen counseling, sex therapy, sexual addiction recovery, substance abuse counseling, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, anger management, premarital counseling, and sexual identity issues. The practice differentiates through three primary delivery channels: in-person sessions at the Springdale office, HIPAA-compliant telehealth video sessions (no client software required), and 2-5 day intensive programs for accelerated healing in sexual addiction and partner trauma. Distribution is direct-to-consumer; clients initiate contact via phone, email, or online appointment request, and the practice matches them to counselors. Payment is pay-as-you-go with self-pay (cash, check, credit/debit) and in-network billing for Blue Cross Blue Shield (excluding Federal BCBS, Anthem-Mercy EPO, Medicare, and Medicaid). No AI/ML technology is employed; the technology stack is limited to telehealth video and a client portal (therapyappointment.com). Marketing is content-driven, centered on SEO-optimized service pages, the 'In Between Sessions' branded podcast, and organic social presence targeting the Northwest Arkansas region.

Name

Waterstone Counseling Center

Legal name

Waterstone Counseling Center, LLC

Website

https://waterstonecounseling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Waterstone Counseling Center is a private, full-service mental health practice in Springdale, Arkansas, employing 14 licensed counselors to provide individual, couples, family, child, teen, telehealth, and intensive counseling services to individuals and families in Northwest Arkansas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Springdale

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual/Couple/Family Counseling Sessions: Standard 45-60 minute counseling sessions billed per visit. Session fees range from $150-$195 depending on the counselor. Accepts cash, check, and credit/debit cards. Insurance billing available for Blue Cross Blue Shield in-network plans.
2. Intensive Counseling Programs: Multi-day intensive counseling programs (2-5 consecutive days, 3-4 hours per day) for individuals and couples. Requires a $600 non-refundable deposit at booking, with balance due 45 days before the intensive. Insurance does not cover intensives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Waterstone Counseling Center provides individual, couples, family, child, and teen counseling services delivered by licensed Master's-level counselors in Northwest Arkansas. The practice offers specialized tracks in sexual addiction recovery and partner-betrayal trauma, and differentiates through multi-day intensive counseling programs (2–5 consecutive days) and HIPAA-compliant telehealth virtual sessions. Payment is via per-session fees, BCBS insurance billing, or self-pay.

Product overview

Waterstone Counseling Center is a full-service family counseling practice offering a comprehensive portfolio of mental health services in Northwest Arkansas. The practice operates as a unified service offering with multiple specialized counseling tracks: individual therapy (covering depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, grief, and more), couples and relationship counseling, family therapy, child and teen counseling, and specialized sex therapy programs. The center also provides intensive multi-day counseling programs for accelerated healing in areas including sexual addiction recovery and spouses' trauma support. Additional offerings include Telehealth virtual sessions and the 'In Between Sessions' podcast for mental health education. The practice is led by Clinical Director Sean McDonald and staffed by multiple licensed counselors with diverse specializations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Counseling One-on-one therapeutic counseling for individuals dealing with various mental health and personal challenges including depression, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions, delivered by licensed Master's-level counselors.
• Couples/Relationship Counseling Counseling services focused on improving marital and romantic relationships, addressing conflict resolution, communication issues, and strengthening partnerships.
• Family Therapy Therapeutic services addressing family dynamics, improving communication, and resolving conflicts within family systems including blended families.
• Child Counseling Specialized counseling for children using play therapy and research-based techniques to address depression, trauma, and coping with life challenges.
• Teen Counseling Counseling services for adolescents addressing issues such as depression, anxiety, bullying, anger, eating disorders, addiction, self-harm, and family problems.
• Sex Therapy Professional therapy addressing sexual dysfunction, intimacy issues, erectile dysfunction, sexual desire disorders, and sexual trauma recovery.
• Sexual Addiction Recovery Specialized treatment program for individuals and families dealing with sexual addiction, pornography addiction, and related compulsive behaviors, delivered by CSAT-certified counselors.
• Substance Abuse Counseling Addiction treatment using a 12-step model and integrated treatment for dual diagnosis disorders to help clients heal from substance abuse issues.
• Anxiety Counseling Therapeutic services for anxiety disorders addressing symptoms including panic, worry, physical tension, and obsessive thoughts.
• Depression Counseling Support for individuals experiencing clinical and situational depression, addressing symptoms and helping clients develop coping strategies.
• Grief and Loss Counseling Support services for individuals processing grief from loss of loved ones, jobs, relationships, or significant life changes.
• Anger Management Counseling to help individuals learn healthy responses to anger and manage aggressive behaviors effectively.
• Eating Disorders Treatment Specialized counseling for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorders addressing the psychological components of these conditions.
• Premarital Counseling Preparation program for couples entering marriage, covering communication, conflict resolution, financial goals, and relationship skills.
• Spouses of Sex Addicts Support Counseling and support for partners affected by their spouse's sexual addiction, addressing trauma, boundaries, and healing, delivered by CPTT-certified therapists.
• Sexual Identity Issues Counseling Supportive counseling for individuals navigating sexual identity challenges and conflicts in a safe, non-judgmental environment.
• Female Love/Sex Addiction Treatment Specialized treatment for women experiencing love addiction and sex addiction using the Facing Love Addiction model and attachment-based approaches.
• Telehealth Services Virtual counseling sessions using HIPAA-compliant video technology allowing clients to receive therapy remotely via smartphone, computer, or tablet, with no client-side software download required.
• General Intensive Extended concentrated counseling sessions (4 hours daily for 2–5 consecutive days) customized for individuals or couples seeking accelerated healing and growth. Self-pay only; insurance not accepted.
• Men's Sex Addiction Intensive Specialized intensive program for men dealing with sexual addiction, providing treatment including identification of root causes, trauma treatment, and recovery roadmap. Self-pay only; insurance not accepted.
• Spouses of Sex Addicts Intensive Intensive support program for women affected by their partner's addiction, featuring 4 hours daily for 2–5 consecutive days with trauma-informed care. Requires a $600 non-refundable deposit at booking.

Quantifiable outcome

• Premarital counseling can reduce the chance of divorce by up to 30%

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Two Chairs: Outpatient therapy practice operating clinics in multiple U.S. metros with a mix of in-person and telehealth therapy, in-network insurance billing, and licensed clinician teams. Directly comparable to Waterstone's service mix across individual, couples, and specialty therapy tracks.
• Grow Therapy: Network of outpatient therapy practices serving all 50 states with individual, couples, family, and child therapy plus insurance billing support. Comparable in offering a credentialed clinician workforce, multi-modality counseling, and payer-mix management for individual practices joining its network.
• Cerebral: Online mental health subscription provider offering therapy, counseling, and medication management for anxiety, depression, and related conditions. Direct telehealth therapy competitor to Waterstone for the broad individual therapy segment, with subscription pricing that pressures per-session fee models in regional markets.
• Talkspace: Public telehealth therapy and psychiatry platform offering individual, couples, and teen therapy via subscription and per-session formats. Comparable to Waterstone's telehealth and outpatient therapy delivery, with insurance and employer-sponsored access — competing for the same general mental health demand.
• BetterHelp: Largest online therapy platform offering individual, couples, and teen counseling via telehealth subscription. Direct competitor to Waterstone's telehealth arm on convenience and subscription pricing, though BetterHelp does not offer the intensive, in-person sexual addiction specialization that differentiates Waterstone.
• Thriveworks: Multi-state outpatient counseling and therapy practice offering individual, couples, family, child, teen, and psychiatric services with both in-person and telehealth delivery. Highly comparable business model to Waterstone: per-session pricing, multi-modality counseling teams, in-network insurance billing, and regional office locations serving similar customer segments.

Emerging players

• Charlie Health: Provider of intensive outpatient mental health programs (multi-hour, multi-day formats) for teens, young adults, and adults with serious mental health conditions. Directly comparable to Waterstone's intensive program format — a structured multi-day therapeutic intervention model — although Charlie Health operates virtually and at national scale.
• Betrayal Trauma Recovery: Niche organization specializing in support and recovery resources for spouses/partners affected by sexual betrayal and sex addiction. Closest niche specialty peer to Waterstone's Spouses of Sex Addicts Counseling and Intensive, sharing the same target customer segment and CSAT-aligned treatment philosophy.

Broad incumbents

• Lyra Health: Enterprise mental health benefits platform offering therapy, coaching, and psychiatry to employees of large companies via in-person and telehealth delivery. A broad incumbent serving a similar general mental health demand pool as Waterstone, but routed through employer-sponsored benefits rather than direct consumer intake.
• LifeStance Health: Large publicly-traded outpatient mental health platform with hundreds of clinic locations across the U.S. offering psychiatric, psychological, and counseling services. A broad incumbent competing for the same patient segments (depression, anxiety, couples, family) but at vastly greater scale, with deeper insurance networks and broader specialty coverage than Waterstone.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waterstone-counseling-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Waterstone Counseling Center