Wichita therapy practice grows without trying, and here’s why that’s not a bad thing

If a therapy practice has so much business that it grows without even trying, that may sound like a bad thing.

Level: Wellness Mind owner and therapist Shane McCurdy said it’s actually a positive that people are turning to professionals for help.

“There’s much less of a stigma,” he said. “It’s definitely gotten better.”

Without especially trying to grow his practice, McCurdy has taken the business from a one-person, part-time practice in 2020 to one that is expanding yet again next month for a total of 28 therapists, including him, across two offices.

“It just keeps growing, so it’s been fun,” McCurdy said.

The fun comes from helping people, many of whom eventually no longer need therapy, he said.

Last June, McCurdy moved to a suite on the top floor of the Riverview building at 345 N. Riverview St. with sweeping views of the Arkansas River, which are kind of therapy in themselves.

“The views are ridiculously cool,” McCurdy said. He said clients come in, and “They’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh. This is amazing.’ ”

By last fall, the practice outgrew the space and expanded to a suite next door for a total of 10 offices.

Now, it’s adding a suite across the hall for a total of 15 offices plus a new waiting area.

“I’ve added quite a few people,” McCurdy said.

That includes another five therapists in Topeka where he opened a second office this June. McCurdy said more therapists likely will be joining both offices.

He attributes the organic growth in part to therapists he’s met or employed in previous jobs.

“Every person I’ve added here has been through word of mouth or people just reaching out to me.”

McCurdy said he worked for another practice in the past.

“I kind of know what that’s like on my end.”

He said he wants to make his practice worthwhile for therapists by paying well and creating good working conditions.

“We try to make it a stress-free environment for clients and a very supportive environment for the staff.”

The Level therapists are a mix of part- and full-time staff, some of whom treat children and some of whom treat adults or all ages.

“The practice in general has just taken off,” McCurdy said. “I’ve been super busy myself.”

He said the goal of helping people no longer need therapy frees up time for new clients.

Part of the reason McCurdy started the practice is he had been working strictly with adults at the Veterans Administration and wanted to return to helping children, many of whom he said have anxiety or isolation issues that have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

“A lot of themes I hear from kids is about anxiety for the future.”

McCurdy said more offices across or outside of Wichita are a possibility, but he said Level already is a statewide practice.

“We do provide a lot of video therapy to people in rural areas as well.”

Though there’s less of a stigma about seeking therapy these days, McCurdy said, “I still think we have a ways to go.”

For those who do come, he said, “We definitely want therapy to be as stress-free as possible.”