Introduction:

Midsommer (Midsommer.org) was founded on a simple yet powerful principle: prioritizing people – both clinicians and clients – in the mental healthcare industry. The initial vision for Midsommer originated with Spencer R. Potesta, whose combined expertise in organizational effectiveness consulting and clinical psychotherapy illuminated a critical need for change. This vision, informed by years of experience witnessing the disconnect between best practices and industry realities, crystallized after Spencer and Taylor Newendorp joined forces at Chicago Counseling Center. Taylor’s extensive knowledge and respected reputation in the field proved invaluable in refining and solidifying the Midsommer model. Their successful collaboration at Chicago Counseling Center serves as the foundation for Midsommer, a model they aim to replicate and expand upon. This white paper outlines the philosophy, structure, goals, and unique methodology of Midsommer, aiming to inspire a shift towards a more humane and effective model of mental healthcare.

The Problem:

Years of experience in private practice and organizational consulting revealed a stark disconnect between the stated goals of mental healthcare providers and the realities on the ground. Bureaucracy, a lack of integrity, and a pervasive “profits-first” mentality often overshadow the needs of both clinicians and clients. Clinicians are frequently underpaid, undervalued, and subjected to unsustainable workloads, leading to burnout and compromised client care. Simultaneously, clients face rising costs, limited access to quality care, and a system often more concerned with maximizing billing than fostering genuine healing.

Pressures from private equity and venture capital, along with disorganized smaller practices, have caused issues—some prioritize profit over people, creating a "corporate veil" that hinders clinician growth and negatively impacts client care. Others, while well-intentioned, struggle to balance financial realities with ethical obligations, often leading to compromises that ultimately harm both clinicians and clients. The influence of profit-driven insurance companies further complicates the landscape, often prioritizing cost-cutting over quality of care. The rise of Venture Capital and Private Equity in the field poses another threat, as these models often prioritize short-term profit over long-term sustainability and client well-being.

Midsommer's Vision:

Midsommer is a direct response to these challenges. We believe that a truly effective mental healthcare system must prioritize the well-being of both clinicians and clients. Our vision is to create a sustainable, replicable model that fosters a culture of care, respect, and integrity. We aim to have small pods, as this allows our clinicians to thrive and ultimately highlights the quality of care our clients receive.

Core Principles:

• People First: Midsommer’s core value is putting people – clinicians and clients – first. We believe that by creating a supportive and empowering environment for clinicians, we can ensure that clients receive the highest quality care.

• Organizational Effectiveness: Drawing on principles of organizational psychology, Midsommer is structured to maximize efficiency and minimize bureaucracy. We believe that smaller, localized teams are ideal for fostering collaboration, specialization, and personalized care.

• Industry Leadership: Midsommer is committed to offering industry-leading compensation, benefits, and profit-sharing opportunities for its clinicians. We believe that investing in our clinicians is essential to attracting and retaining top talent, which ultimately benefits our clients.

• Humanity-Focused Care: In an age of increasing automation, Midsommer champions the importance of human connection in mental healthcare. We believe that empathy, compassion, and genuine human interaction are essential components of effective therapy.

• Accessibility: Midsommer is committed to accepting insurance, not as a profit-maximizing strategy, but to ensure that high-quality mental healthcare is accessible to as many people as possible.

• Long-Term Sustainability: Midsommer is self-funded and will never accept Venture Capital or Private Equity investment. This allows us to prioritize long-term sustainability and avoid the pressures that often lead to compromising ethical principles for short-term profits. We are committed to organic growth, focusing on building a strong foundation for future generations of clinicians and clients.

• Systems-Focused Care: While recognizing the importance of individualization, Midsommer emphasizes a systems-focused approach to mental healthcare. We believe that clinicians thrive in a supportive system where they can collaborate, share knowledge, and grow together.

The Midsommer Method:

At the heart of Midsommer's approach is the "Midsommer Method," a unique organizational structure designed to optimize both clinician well-being and client care. This method centers around the creation of small, geographically or specialization-based "pods" of 10-12 clinicians—we aim to keep these teams small, creating smaller systems limited in their felt bureaucracy, focusing on providing the highest pay, training, and support possible. Our goal isn’t to maximize profits by expanding team sizes; we’re content with a close niche of specialists working together. Once this is achieved, we leave that community untouched, respecting their ability to self-govern without unnecessary pressures, empowering clinicians and clients alike. These pods operate as their own self-governing units, making decisions collaboratively, supporting each other, and focusing on the collective well-being of their clients.

The Midsommer Method addresses the limitations of both purely individualized practice and large, impersonal corporate structures. It provides the small-team feel that fosters close collaboration and quick adaptation to client needs, while simultaneously offering the resources and support of a larger organization.

Key features of the Midsommer Method include:

• Pod Structure: Clinicians are organized into small, geographically or specialty-focused teams (pods) of 10-12 members.

• Collaborative Decision-Making: Pod members work together to make decisions regarding client care, resource allocation, and practice management.

• Shared Knowledge & Growth: Midsommer fosters a culture of shared learning and professional development. Internal knowledge is shared across pods, allowing clinicians to learn from each other's experiences and expertise. This communal growth is a key differentiator, setting Midsommer apart from traditional individualistic models.

• Patient-Centric Approach: The pod structure allows for a more comprehensive and coordinated approach to client care. Clinicians can easily consult with colleagues, share insights, and ensure that clients receive the most appropriate and effective treatment.

• Supportive Ecosystem: Midsommer provides the infrastructure and resources necessary for pods to thrive, including administrative support, technology, and access to continuing education opportunities.

Our Focuses: Building a Sustainable Future

Midsommer's growth is driven by a deep commitment to our core principles and a desire to expand our reach, ensuring that more clinicians and clients can benefit from our unique approach. We are actively open to both new partnerships and organic growth, welcoming individuals and groups of clinicians who resonate with our mission and values. Our strategy is not about rapid expansion at all costs, but rather about carefully cultivating a network of thriving pods that embody the Midsommer philosophy. We prioritize sustainable growth that allows us to maintain our commitment to quality care and clinician well-being.

Our approach involves two key focuses:

• Strategic Partnerships: We seek partnerships with existing firms that share our values and are looking for a more sustainable and ethical model. We don't simply acquire companies; we collaborate with them. By implementing the Midsommer Method within partner firms, we provide the resources, support, and collaborative framework they need to flourish. This includes sharing our expertise in organizational effectiveness, providing access to our network, and fostering a culture of shared learning and growth. We believe that by working together, we can achieve more than we could alone.

• Organic Growth: We also prioritize organic growth by establishing new Midsommer pods in strategic locations. This allows us to carefully select and curate teams of clinicians who are deeply committed to our mission and values. We welcome both individual clinicians seeking a supportive and fulfilling practice environment and established groups of clinicians looking to join a like-minded community. Our organic growth strategy ensures that each new pod is a strong and cohesive unit, capable of delivering exceptional client care. We provide the necessary infrastructure, resources, and mentorship to help these pods thrive.

Our focus is not on maximizing profits or market share, but on building a strong and sustainable ecosystem of Midsommer pods. We believe that by prioritizing people, fostering collaboration, and adhering to our core principles, we can create a lasting positive impact on the mental healthcare landscape. We are always open to conversations with individuals and organizations who share our vision and are interested in joining the Midsommer movement.

A Call to Action:

Midsommer is more than just a company; it's a movement to reclaim the human element in mental healthcare. We invite other practitioners, organizations, and entrepreneurs to join us in this mission. By embracing the principles of people-first care, organizational effectiveness, and the Midsommer Method, we can collectively transform the landscape of mental healthcare and create a world where both clinicians and clients thrive.

Conclusion:

Midsommer is a testament to the power of combining clinical expertise with organizational psychology principles. We believe that by creating a supportive and empowering environment for clinicians, we can ensure that clients receive the highest quality care. Our goal is not just to build a successful company, but to inspire a movement that will reshape the future of mental healthcare. After years of organizational and psychotherapeutic work, we’ve developed a micro and macro lens on the industry. Our hope is that ethical, aspirational psychotherapists repeat our method, as we aim to lead the charge in using best practices of organizational theory while prioritizing quality care over anything else—if replicated, this will support more clients and clinicians in their healing journeys. We invite you to join us in this mission. We believe that by working together, we can counteract the encroaching influence of VC and PE firms, restoring the human-centered approach that is essential to effective mental healthcare. We believe that by prioritizing people, fostering collaboration, and adhering to our core principles, we can create a lasting positive impact on the mental healthcare landscape, ensuring a brighter future for both clinicians and the individuals they serve.

Spencer R. Potesta & Taylor Newendorp

Midsommer’s Founders