Today we’d like to introduce you to Ren Knott And Leah Schwarz.
Hi Ren Knott, 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?
Hope Roots Collective is a wellness collective in Olathe, KS, founded by Leah Schwarz, LSCSW, RPT, PMH-C, and Ren Knott, LCMFT. We created it to help private practice therapists and wellness professionals build businesses that are sustainable and life-giving. When providers are supported, they stay in the field longer and the whole community benefits.
Leah and Ren first met over a decade ago as clinical interns at a domestic violence agency. From those early years, we saw how much stronger we were when we worked in community—sharing resources, learning from one another, and encouraging each other. That thread carried through as we became licensed clinicians and eventually launched our own practices side by side in January 2020.
In October 2024, we purchased and renovated a 1929 farmhouse on nearly two acres in the heart of Johnson County. Today, it’s home to 16 therapists and a registered dietician, with eight offices, a group room, and outdoor therapy spaces. We designed it to feel welcoming, connected to nature, and homey. In the coming years, we hope to add things like a sensory garden and even a therapy cow. For us, it’s about reminding people that therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Healing takes many forms and we want to offer spaces where everyone can find what resonates for them.
Alongside office rentals, we offer membership for providers who don’t need a physical space but want connection, consultation, and support. We host consultation groups, social gatherings, professional retreats, and will be adding CEU workshops. We are here to keep learning, growing, and rooting each other on–on every step of the journey.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The concept of a wellness collective is not unique, but our vision of planting one in nature AND keeping the location accessible created significant challenges. We spent almost two years setting up the business and getting the right place. We struggled with how much we could compromise on limited outdoor space, the remoteness of location, and the cost of getting started. In the end, we found a beautiful farmhouse surrounded by businesses and somehow holding onto almost 2 acres with heritage trees that have stood the test of time.
The process of rezoning and financing was full of high hurdles. The deal nearly fell through several times as zoning requirements led to higher renovation costs and several lenders bowed out. We were denied multiple times before finally connecting with Community America Credit Union. Sam Jones understood our vision, trusted our work, and knew how to leverage our resources to get us to our triple-extended close date. It made all the difference to work with someone who knows the SBA loan process in and out. Our realtor, Heather Baer of Baer Homes KC, was there for us—patient, encouraging, and instrumental in negotiating the extra time we needed to reach the finish line. She was so sweet and supportive of us through the highs and lows of the process.
The rezoning and renovation process was also more expensive and complicated than expected, but we were fortunate to connect with professionals who guided us through it. We were incredibly fortunate to have help from family, friends, and even colleagues through cleaning up the grounds, peeling wallpaper, painting, and bringing in furniture. We pushed hard and opened our doors in March 2025. No part of this process was easy but it has all been worth it.
We’ve been impressed with Hope Roots Collective, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We’ve each worked in the mental health field for over a decade. Leah is bilingual (English/Spanish) and specializes in trauma, perinatal mental health, and psychosocial evaluations for immigration cases. Ren specializes in trauma, compassion fatigue, and supporting helpers who often find themselves overwhelmed or burned out.
Hope Roots is built on the idea that entrepreneurial helpers don’t have to do the work alone. Private practice can be freeing, but it can also be isolating. We wanted to create a place where providers can thrive and continue growing. We know supporting helpers creates more access to high-quality care.
What sets us apart is how we approach community: we don’t see other providers as competition, but as collaborators and companions. That mindset shapes everything we do, from offering flexible rentals to supporting other local mental health businesses, and to celebrating good work across our community.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
What’s carried us is simple: perseverance, community, and hope. We’ve learned to keep showing up even when doors closed, when lenders said no, and when the renovation process felt endless. We leaned on each other and on the wisdom, encouragement, and hands-on help of our community—professionals, friends, family, and renters who painted, planted, and cheered us on. And through it all, we’ve held tight to hope: hope that creating this space matters, that building in community changes the story of burnout, and that nature-infused, connected care can ripple out to strengthen not only providers, but the people and communities they serve.
Pricing:
- Each provider in our building runs their own practice and sets their own fees, whether insurance-based, private pay, or sliding scale. Some also make therapy more accessible by offering groups, retreats, and working with interns.
- For providers looking to join Hope Roots, office rentals start at $200/month and scale depending on space needs. Rentals include consultation groups, business coaching, quarterly events, and in-house referrals.
- For those not needing space, our TheraSprout membership is $65/month and includes monthly consultation, mentorship, and community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hoperootscollective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoperootscollective/
Image Credits
Photos by Ellie Fehlig, [email protected]
