After more than a decade in the counseling field, Tonya Valentine knew she wanted to create a practice that better served both her therapy participants and herself. She founded Chance to Change, LLC in Lycoming County on March 17, 2026, welcoming her first therapy participant just two months later. While individual, outpatient counseling is the foundation of her business, Tonya envisions expanding her services through a three-tier model that also includes consultations for other mental health professionals and those in school for counseling or counseling-related fields, as well as professional trainings, webinars, and on-demand educational courses. By starting her own practice, she has created a business centered on accessible, compassionate care while building a foundation for future growth.  

Launching a private practice came with plenty of challenges. As a first-time business owner, Tonya had to navigate insurance credentialing, billing systems, liability insurance, and the many responsibilities of running a solo practice. Finding the right office space was equally important, as she wanted a private, accessible environment where therapy participants would feel comfortable seeking support. Her thoughtful planning paid off—49 of the 51 people on her existing caseload at her prior employment chose to continue their care with her after she opened Chance to Change, LLC, allowing the business to grow entirely through this means, rather than traditional marketing.   

To bring her vision to life, Tonya partnered with the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where she worked with business consultant Chelsea Blair beginning in February 2026. Together, they finalized a business plan, explored office locations, discussed pricing strategies, evaluated payment processing and insurance options, and connected Tonya with trusted legal and financial resources, including the Penn State Dickinson Law Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic. Tonya says the guidance she received helped her think through aspects of business ownership she had never considered and provided a trusted resource as she navigated the many decisions involved in launching her practice.   

Chance to Change, LLC is intentionally growing at a pace that allows Tonya to provide high-quality care while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She currently has two individuals on her wait-list and plans to remain a solo practitioner while expanding the educational side of her business. In addition to traditional talk therapy, she offers Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. She also hopes to partner with first responders, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and other community organizations to provide specialized mental health education and trauma-related training. In her private practice, she continues to use this intensive trauma therapy with individual clients. She will also be starting her Trauma Sensitive Yoga certification in September with an anticipated graduation date in March 2027. This will allow her to provide this service in individual sessions, and she hopes to partner with local businesses to offer small group therapy options, too.   

Owning Chance to Change, LLC has given Tonya the flexibility to create the kind of practice she always envisioned while providing therapy participants with a welcoming, private space where they can feel safe and supported. She hopes to continue reducing the stigma surrounding mental health by expanding access to counseling, education, and community partnerships. Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Tonya credits the SBDC with giving her the confidence to move forward with her business plan. “It would have taken me much longer, and I wouldn’t have had nearly as much confidence,” she said. “We don’t learn the business side of things in graduate school, so having someone who could help me understand that and think outside the box was incredibly important.”