From Competitors to Community: The Partners In Treatment Story

By Aaron Johnson, Director of the Partners In Treatment Conference

 

In 2023, the Partners In Treatment Conference had its very first year, and I’d just joined Anew Treatment Center six weeks before we kicked it off (talk about trial by fire). My boss, Kerry, had a bold vision for the conference: bring together five treatment facilities, some of them “competitors,” and build a unique event through collaboration. He initially hoped to leverage the conference to spotlight Anew as a new player in the field, yet what unfolded was so much more. As I got to know the team, I saw people representing companies that technically competed sharing strong, genuine friendships, and it quickly became clear that we needed to amplify this mindset.

 

“It’s not a marketing shuffle. It’s heart-driven leaders uniting for a shared purpose, and it’s why people keep coming back.”

 

By 2024, we’d nearly doubled in size, fueled by feedback about the conference’s authentic, connective vibe. Attendees weren’t just there to swap business cards; they craved meaningful industry bonds, a hunger that hits hard in a place like Arizona, where Mental Health America ranks us 49th out of 51 for adult mental health care access. That stark reality isn’t just a statistic—it’s the heartbeat behind Anew and countless other Arizona programs stepping up to fill the gap. Our conference has evolved into more than an event; it’s a bridge, proving collaboration can outpace and outshine what any single effort could achieve alone. Our five founding partners didn’t just pool resources. We multiplied our impact. Turning steering committee meetings into a close-knit crew dreaming big together.

Last year, I saw that spirit come alive with attendees, like when I watched East Coast community mental health clinicians join Arizona program leaders in an experiential workshop. They dove into the same self-reflection, swapped stories about their work, and built real connections, not just program plugs. Tom, one of our partners who attends dozens of industry conferences every year, captured it well: “It felt like everyone genuinely cared, wanting to listen and grow together beyond their own agendas.” That’s what sets us apart. It’s not a marketing shuffle. It’s heart-driven leaders uniting for a shared purpose, and it’s why people keep coming back.

We heard that hunger for connection and growth, so this year we’re introducing Premium Workshops—two-hour, interactive sessions. These aren’t your typical lectures; they’re guided experiences where clinicians and leaders talk, work together, and explore their own development, all with a focus on supporting each other as a community. It’s a fresh take on elevating our field, and it’s exactly what attendees told us they craved. Something real and different.

For me, directing this conference is about the relationships—working with a steering committee I adore and feeling a deep sense of purpose in creating an experience that lifts our industry. I love empowering people to collaborate, and there’s nothing better than seeing someone realize they’re not alone in this work. We’ve grown from five partners to a national movement, proving abundance beats scarcity every time, especially in a state like Arizona with gaps to bridge.

On June 11-13, 2025, at the We-Ko-Pa Resort near Fountain Hills, we’ll gather again to advance a culture of collaboration, with every session and networking moment tied to “Partnering Through Community.” Join us, because together, we can close those gaps faster than we ever could apart.

http://www.PITconferenceaz.com