Chenal Family Therapy

Ken Clark moved to Little Rock because it had a high ratio of divorces per marriage therapist. His goal was “to work for myself.”

Fourteen years later, Chenal Family Therapy employs more than 275 people, most of them therapists and medical professionals qualified to prescribe medications.

“I’ll bet five years out, we’ll have 500 employees.”

Clark says CFT’s therapists are among the state’s best-paid and have the autonomy to create the kind of practice that fits them best. “We call it semiprivate practice.”

He dispensed with noncompete agreements years ago and instead helps any therapist to leave with their client list intact. This “red carpet exit” philosophy typically results in a new woman-owned business, he said.

Clark also consults with other practice owners across the country who want to copy his business plan.

CFT has 20 brick-and-mortar offices and places therapists in 75 K-12 schools in northwest and north-central Arkansas. Next up: partnering with other organizations whose clients need therapy.