Supporting children and families through mental health challenges requires more than clinical expertise. It requires compassion, collaboration, and a workplace culture that sustains the professionals doing the work.
That philosophy is at the heart of Practice San Francisco, a family-focused mental health and wellness company that provides psychological assessments, therapy, and educational programs for children, teens, and parents across California. The woman-led organization combines evidence-based care with a broader mission and purpose: to reach families earlier in their mental health journeys and to support them in the environments where they live, learn, and work.
That commitment to people—both clients and employees—is why Practice San Francisco was recognized as a 2025 Honoree in the Culture Champions category of the CO—100 Awards. For Practice San Francisco, culture is not an internal talking point; it’s the foundation of how the company operates.
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A mission-driven approach to mental healthcare
Practice San Francisco was founded in 2017 to address two persistent gaps in the mental health landscape: limited access to child and adolescent care and a system that often provides help only after families reach a crisis point.
“I founded Practice San Francisco to expand access to traditional therapy and to reimagine how we support families by integrating prevention and early intervention into more scalable, accessible formats,” said Nina Kaiser, Ph.D., a licensed Psychologist and Founder of Practice San Francisco.
The company provides individualized therapy and psychological assessments, as well as small-group skills programs, school-based services, and employer-sponsored workshops designed to support caregivers. This cross-setting approach allows the team to meet families where they are, whether at home, in school communities, or in the workplace.
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A workplace rooted in curiosity and compassion
Just as the Practice San Francisco prioritizes compassion for clients, it applies the same principles internally.
“Our company culture is grounded in four core values: curiosity, compassion, presence, and doing what works,” Kaiser said. “These values guide not just our clinical work, but also how we lead, collaborate, and operate as a team.”
The organization emphasizes reflective practice, open dialogue, and psychological safety, creating an environment where clinicians can learn, grow, and support one another. Instead of treating mistakes as failures, leaders encourage curiosity and problem-solving.
This supportive culture has had a measurable impact. Despite widespread burnout across the behavioral health industry, Practice San Francisco has maintained unusually high staff retention, averaging more than five years, compared with the industry norm of about two years.
Community engagement is also embedded in the organization’s values. Team members regularly volunteer with local initiatives and participate in events such as the San Francisco NAMI Walk, helping raise awareness and funding for mental health programs. Practice San Francisco also supports early-career clinicians and owners of mental health group practices through no-charge community-building events and mentorship.
“These efforts reflect our commitment to both systemic change and direct support,” Kaiser said. “We see community impact as a core part of our mission.”
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I founded Practice San Francisco to expand access to traditional therapy and to reimagine how we support families by integrating prevention and early intervention into more scalable, accessible formats.Nina Kaiser, Ph.D., Founder of Practice San Francisco
A supportive environment so clinicians can support families
Mental health professionals often work in emotionally demanding environments, which makes strong internal support systems essential.
Practice San Francisco invests heavily in professional development, mentorship, and team connection. New clinicians are paired with experienced mentors during their first year, while the company regularly hosts training sessions and invites expert speakers to expand staff knowledge.
“Ongoing learning is a core value for our team,” said Kaiser. “We invest in continuous professional development to ensure the highest quality care.”
The organization also prioritizes work-life balance through flexible scheduling and generous paid time off policies, helping clinicians manage both professional and personal responsibilities.
Leadership reinforces these values by modeling healthy boundaries, encouraging staff to disconnect outside working hours, and creating space for conversations about self-care. This intentional approach to workplace culture helps clinicians remain engaged and energized in a field known for high burnout rates.
A culture that fuels impact
As Practice San Francisco continues to grow, its leadership remains focused on maintaining the supportive culture that has defined the organization since its founding.
“We reinforce culture for existing staff through consistent rituals: weekly meetings with check-ins and icebreakers, shout-outs for values-aligned actions, and text threads for celebrations and resources,” Kaiser explained. “Across all these touchpoints, we are intentional about building a culture that is supportive, connected, and sustainable.”
That philosophy has allowed the company to expand its reach from a small clinical practice to a multidisciplinary organization serving families, schools, and employers across the country.
By combining evidence-based care with a deeply human workplace culture, Practice San Francisco demonstrates how businesses can strengthen both their teams and their communities.
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