Charis Courses
Passion Project: Online Education
"What can we offer people who aren't ready to book a session with a therapist, but still provide value and earn trust?"
This was the question that started Charis Courses along with my wife who co-owns Charis Counseling Center and her clinical director/business partner. They've built a well respected and sizable practice in Orlando. But we had a vision to offer more than 1:1 counseling sessions, for both the counselors on staff as well as people in search of growth and healing.
Pre-production and planning of content with therapists
Created the brand to complement the counseling center logo
Developed partnership with local production studio for filming content
Set the pricing strategy using three tier approach, making all courses affordable at price points from $15 - $150 based on need.
Took therapists' content and modified for chapters and teleprompter
Built the course structure and marketing website using Kajabi
Adobe Creative Suite
The Premise
Work with counselors to produce human-centered and engaging video courses that people can purchase and go through at their own pace, from home, without entering a patient-client relationship. They get affordable professional and caring counseling wisdom, while the therapists get an earning opportunity outside of 1:1 session work with more visibility.
What Has Worked
The format of the courses has proven useful and been well-received. They range from 45 minutes to almost 2 hours of content and are carved into chapters no longer than 12 minutes for easy viewing and progress tracking.
They also include downloadable resources, discussion prompts, and reading recommendations from the course leaders.
Challenges
One of my bigger realizations through this was that course creators who have been successful selling a product like this come into it with a significant following on some platform or channel already. An entire course strategy is also built around one person's expertise or domain. Our approach relied on using the counseling center name and audience instead, which has proven more difficult to get traction.
Five Courses Launched
Each course is between 45 - 90 minutes in length and includes conversation prompts, downloads, and resources.
Resolving Conflict in Marriage
With decades of experience counseling couples, Jim walks through valuable insights that will help move couples toward more healthy resolution of conflict in their marriage.
Mental Health for Moms
Beth guides mothers through the core skills of noticing, validating, and co-regulating emotions with practical tools so they can show up for their children with greater emotional confidence.
Understanding The Logic of Emotions
Tim is a former engineer who communicates the fundamentals of emotional signals in a practical framework that help us notice, name, and navigate them when they arise.
Understanding ADHD Beyond Hyperactivity
With 20 years of counseling experience and as the mom of an ADHD child, Julia brings brain-based science to the table to help understand what's happening beyond the behavior.
Still Called To Teach
Michelle spent 23 years teaching English in Florida public schools and has been a licensed mental health counselor for 21. This course helps educators understand what's being asked of them, how to care for themselves, and strategies to maintain energy in a profession that grows more demanding each semester.
How We Priced It
All of the courses adhere to this three tier pricing model. Our goal is to make them both accessible and sustainable by allowing the user to self-select which is most appropriate for them.
Visit Charis Courses
Head over to the site at www.charis.courses and check it out. All courses above are available on demand, or to share as a gift with someone you know who may benefit from it.