Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmen Bessant.
Hi Carmen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started in 2012 as an intern at a community mental health center operated by a church. I stayed with them for 4 1/2 years, and when they closed, I didn’t know what to do. I prayed and was reminded that if God started it, He will complete it. I was sitting on my couch, worried, and a text came through about an opportunity. With very little money, I agreed and started in 2017 the Accepted Family Therapy Center, LLC. I am a licensed minister and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. My purpose sits at the intersection of ministry and therapy—helping people understand that healing is not a departure from faith, but often its fulfillment. When we do the internal work, we don’t just change ourselves—we change how we show up in our families, our businesses, and our communities. My journey into therapy began in ministry. I spent years walking alongside people in some of their most vulnerable moments—listening, praying, encouraging, and helping them make sense of the pain they rarely spoke aloud. Ministry taught me compassion. It taught me presence. But it also taught me something unexpected: love alone is powerful, but without emotional understanding, people often repeat the same patterns while asking God for different results. Pursuing therapy professionally was an act of alignment. It allowed me to integrate faith and psychology in a way that honors both. In my work today, I help individuals, couples, and families slow down long enough to hear what their emotions have been trying to say. I create space where faith is respected, truth is welcomed, and growth is possible.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I launched my practice without formal business training or a roadmap. What I had was vision, resilience, and a willingness to learn in real time—through conversations with other therapists and lived experience. I began with just seven to ten clients who followed me from another center, and for the first two and a half years, growth was slow and income was minimal. Then one word-of-mouth referral shifted the trajectory.
I became fully licensed in the fall of 2019. Just months later, in March 2020, the world shut down. While many practices went fully virtual, I chose to remain open for face-to-face care. It proved to be one of the most strategic decisions I made. People needed connection, safety, and presence—and that clarity helped define my niche.
The business grew through intention, not urgency. I became insurance-paneled, expanded into marriage retreats, and allowed results—not advertising—to build credibility. That slow, steady approach created sustainability, trust, and long-term impact.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Accepted Family Therapy Center is a relationship-focused counseling practice rooted in the belief that healing happens best in spaces where people feel accepted, understood, and challenged to grow. We provide therapy for individuals, couples, and families, with a strong emphasis on relationship dynamics, communication, emotional regulation, and long-term relational health. What sets our work apart is our integration of clinical excellence with real-world application. Our approach is practical, relational, and intentional—we don’t just help clients process emotions, we help them understand patterns, build skills, and make sustainable changes in how they show up in their relationships. While faith is respected and welcomed when clients desire it, our work remains grounded in evidence-based therapeutic models that honor the whole person.
We are particularly known for our work navigating disconnection, transition, and high responsibility—entrepreneurs, leaders, parents, and partners who are successful externally but struggling internally. Our practice specializes in helping people slow down, communicate clearly, and rebuild trust in ways that feel authentic and achievable.
Brand-wise, I am most proud of the reputation we’ve built through consistency and word of mouth. Our growth has not been driven by aggressive marketing, but by results, relationships, and trust. From insurance-paneled services to marriage retreats and specialized relationship intensives, every offering is designed to meet people where they are and move them forward with clarity and support.
What I want readers to know is that Accepted Family Therapy Center is more than a counseling practice—it is a space for transformation. We are committed to helping individuals, couples, and families build lives and relationships that are emotionally healthy, connected, and sustainable. Our brand stands for acceptance, accountability, and growth—and that commitment shows in the work we do every day.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
People are often surprised to learn that the question I ask my clients most—“Who are you?”—is one I had to answer myself. Before titles, credentials, and leadership roles, I had to intentionally set everything aside and learn who I was, accept her, and love her unconditionally. What many don’t know is that I have personally navigated anxiety, depression, and insecurity. Those experiences were not detours; they became part of the foundation of my work. Through both faith and therapy, I learned that healing is possible when we address the internal world with honesty and support. That personal work continues to shape how I lead, how I serve, and how I create spaces where others feel safe enough to do the same.
Pricing:
- Individuals $110
- Premarital: $120
- Dating/Married $130
- Family: $140+ depending on size
- Sliding scale starts at $55.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://acceptedfamily.com
- Instagram: @acceptedfamily
- Facebook: @acceptedFamily
