References to mental health are all around us. It has become a talking point in media, politics, and popular culture throughout the world, especially in the United States. In digital, print, and social media, the topic of mental health is hard to avoid and, as mental health awareness grows, there is still much to be done to combat the numerous mental health issues facing America and beyond.
Statistics paint a bleak picture. The reported incidence of Americans who struggle with their mental health has increased over 50% in the last decade. Rates of suicide and depression among our youth are at highs never seen before. The shortage of mental health services is growing at a rapid pace and those who are suffering are left without viable treatment options. Since 2011, the percentage of adults with a mental illness who report an unmet need for treatment has increased every single year.
In the midst of this crisis, there is hope. Many mental health clinics across the nation are working diligently to turn the tide. Nora Mental Health is one of the companies creating safe spaces that provide numerous treatment options for those who need help now.
Dr. Cullen Hardy, founder of Nora Mental Health, is dedicating his life to making a major dent in the mental health crisis facing our country. Hardy and his partner opened their first clinic 5 years ago and have rapidly expanded their operations to 5 locations in the states of Indiana and Michigan. With thousands of treatment sessions performed at his clinics every year, Dr. Cullen Hardy is quickly becoming one of the nation’s mental health leaders.
Dr. Cullen Hardy, Founder and CEO of Nora Mental Health, has taken a personal journey into the field of mental health. Over 15 years ago, at the age of 23, he decided to seek treatment for alcoholism. “I hit the point where I knew I needed to make some major changes in my life. With the support and encouragement of my loving family, I entered a residential treatment facility where I spent the better part of 2006 getting help for my alcoholism and it was during this time that I found my calling as a therapist. I wanted to help others as I had been helped,” Hardy says. After getting sober, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree and then went to graduate school where he got his Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University New England in Keene, New Hampshire. “Not a day goes by that I don’t focus on my recovery and the adage ‘one day at a time’ is what I have lived by for the last 15 plus years. I know any shred of complacency can lead me back to the dark days of active addiction and I’m grateful for every single day sober. Being able to create a safe place where patients can get the support, treatment, acceptance, and help that I received has been a blessing…especially with the younger generations who have shown they are wanting more mental health care options.”
Dr. Hardy’s experience in facing his demons and working every day at his recovery helps him meet his clients on their level because he knows what it is like to walk in their shoes. Utilizing these experiences has led Hardy to create a special place at Nora, where all clients are warmly welcomed and accepted as they are. “Seeking treatment can be a scary experience. We like to say ‘come as you are’ and we mean this. No matter where you come from or what your background is, you have a place here at Nora Mental Health,” Hardy states.
Nora Mental Health has turned to franchising to take their proven model nationwide. “We say on our website that we eliminate all headaches of clinic ownership, and we stand by that,” Dr. Hardy states. “We have created a system where marketing, medical billing, electronic medical records, branding, policies and procedures, interior design, a 24/7 live call center, and more are all taken care of for our franchisees and are all included in the low monthly fees. We’re excited to offer franchises throughout the country and continue our mission by offering the highest quality mental health treatment services to clients everywhere. Franchisees also have the benefit of utilizing the specific programs we have that increase positive treatment outcomes across the board.”
Nora Mental Health’s programs are unique in their field. Their College Counseling Program, Employee Assistance Program, Staff/Client Retention Program, and their very own app, the Norapp, are bringing a welcome change to the field of mental health. “We are dedicated to our clients and our staff. Our Staff/Client Retention Program has allowed us to retain both therapists and clients, which greatly reduces overhead. When you walk into a Nora clinic, you know it…you feel it…and the model has proven successful,” Hardy says.
Hardy and his team are in the process of interviewing franchisees, and they are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on our world. As Nora Mental Health begins to spread across the country, they will be making a difference, not just for their clients, but for their franchisees as well. Nora Mental Health is a franchise to watch in the years to come.
To learn more about Nora Mental Health and their franchise model visit: NoraMentalHealth.com/Franchise
