Local business owners Susan Borchert and Betsy Harrison have been awarded the New Hampshire Small Business Persons of the Year Award by the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA). Borchert and Harrison own and operate Counseling Associates, based in New London, with additional office locations in Claremont, Hanover, and Plymouth.
“While this SBA award names Betsy and me as leaders, we absolutely view this as a team award and well-deserved recognition of the tremendous contribution our entire staff makes to our clients and the communities we serve,” Co-Owner Susan Borchert said. “We are excited to see what the future holds for Counseling Associates as we continue to challenge ourselves to innovate and grow our ability to meet the needs of our clients and communities.”
Counseling Associates (CA) began providing strengths-based behavioral health counseling services to adults, children, families, and groups in 2004, and this year celebrates their 20th anniversary in business. CA is known in the community for evidenced-based, high
quality therapy treatment of a full range of therapeutic needs, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, LGBTQIA+ support, and medication management needs.
With over 70 employees, CA is proud of their growth and socially responsible commitment to providing affordable access to care for individuals from all backgrounds and communities. As one of the most comprehensive and highly sought after clinical training programs for mental health professionals in the state, CA is proud to be able to offer best practice services to a growing number of New Hampshire communities.
“This small business recognition has personal meaning for me, having grown up in a small business family and worked in a family business in my early professional years,” co-owner Betsy Harrison said. “Small businesses are the heart of our communities.
“Susan and I opened the practice originally to serve unmet needs in the Kearsarge community, and our growth has allowed us to continue to expand our ability to serve New Hampshire communities in the vital area of mental health. Our clinicians are
committed to excellence, and we are excited to see our clinical services for individuals, groups, and families expand in variety and depth.”
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Sheehan said in a tweet, “I’m proud that New Hampshire’s Counseling Associates, co-founded by Susan and Betsy, was named one of the winners, further demonstrating how small business owners can achieve their
goals with help from the Small Business Administration and how years of strategic investments are empowering women to lead a historic small business boom.
“On top of expanding to five locations, Susan and Betsy make time to share their talents through volunteer work, helping Granite Staters of all backgrounds overcome mental health challenges. Their story serves as a good example of why we must continue to fight for funding that unleashes the potential of America’s entrepreneurs.”
“I am so grateful for the vision you both had 20 years ago and that I was able to become part of Counseling Associates as your vision for CA expanded,” employee Dottie Moffitt said. “You created not only a supportive environment for clients that have come to
Counseling Associates over the last 20 years but also for the staff. This is so well deserved!”
The SBA presents this award annually along with others in every state to a variety of different businesses. Borchert and Harrison will be honored in Washington, D.C., in April, at the National U.S. Small Business Association event honoring all winners nationwide.
They will also be honored at the 2024 National Small Business Week New Hampshire Awards Ceremony on April 30 at Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, New Hampshire, at 9 AM.
The SBA celebrates 2024 National Small Business Week April 28 through May 4. To learn more about Counseling Associates, visit their website at www.ca-mh.com.