Invest in Your Mental Health
You’re Worth It
Investing in yourself can be hard…
If you struggle to put your needs first or feel uncomfortable investing time, energy, and money into yourself, maybe it’s time to consider why. If you find that you have hang-ups around money, have never really invested in your wellness, don’t have a self-care or medical budget, or generally feel uncomfortable talking about money, you’re not alone. Since I primarily work with marginalized identities and recovering people-pleasers, processing fear, guilt and shame around money is part of the therapy experience.
Here’s something to consider - what if your existence and self-worth were not attached to a dollar amount? Instead of thinking “do I deserve this” or “am I worth it,” what if you approached your wellness with neutrality? You may find that in processing your money attachments, it makes investing in yourself easier.
Do you value your wellness enough to prioritize your needs? Now is the time to make a change. You’ve been living too long with anxiety and fear. You’ve struggled enough in relationships and you’re tired of not feeling good enough.
How much would you spend to have thriving relationships, less anxiety, firmer boundaries, and a clearer sense of self?
Therapy costs a lot
You might be on this page because you saw my fee ($200) and thought “Wow, that’s a lot!” As someone who pays for therapy out of pocket myself, I totally get it. When you work with me, you’re not only getting the graduate education and various trainings, but you’re also getting a human who deeply cares for clients. Being a therapist goes beyond making a living - I’m a helper and empathic person at my core and honestly don’t think I could do anything else in this world. If I don’t provide you my best work, then not only are you at a disservice but I’m not living in alignment with my values. One of those values is to have enough time and mental capacity outside of sessions to research tools, engage in new trainings, and prep for future sessions. For this reason, I ask that as much time and energy I’m investing in your care, you also invest well for yourself. Therapy is a weird business, where we build a relationship while simultaneously exchanging a service for money. How this looks and feels will depend on who you choose to support you.
At the end of the day if adjusting some spending habits or creating a budget is what stands between you and the best support, then maybe it’s worth making those changes.
Why I don’t take insurance
I choose to work with my clients, not for insurance companies. Insurance carriers want to know their money is going toward services they deem “valuable.” So if I contract with insurances, they have the right to audit my treatment notes and dictate whether your need for care is valid or not. Depending on your plan, you may also be subject to a limited number of sessions or unable to meet as consistently as you need. Corporate entities should not have the right to determine your care or how you heal.
Insurance companies have been known to pay for services and later request the money be sent back (also known as a “claw back”) for various reasons. This creates unnecessary pressure for you and me as we take time to problem-solve who is responsible for the payment and how this will occur. This takes time away from your treatment and can have a negative impact on the therapeutic relationship.
By not accepting insurance, we are able to meet as frequently as necessary, engage in traditional and non-traditional treatment, and have more flexibility in your wellness plan. I don’t play the insurance game which allows us to engage in treatment options that are the best fit for you, rather than having to diagnose or justify your need for therapy.
I recognize that not taking insurance may prevent access to care. While fighting the broken medical system and being accessible feels like a double-edged sword, choosing not to participate in the system is my act of rebellion.
Being a cash-based therapist allows me to work with a smaller caseload, which provides more time and energy to give back to the community and continue showing up for clients without burning out.
So What Does This Mean For You?
Take an honest look at your financial needs. You have options.
If you’re ready to prioritize your needs, then let’s connect over a phone consultation. You can book that here.
Many PPO insurance plans will have out-of-network benefits, where your insurance may reimburse for a percentage of my fee. Contact your insurance carrier directly to see if you qualify. If you do, you’ll pay out of pocket for sessions and I provide you with a monthly super bill to submit for reimbursement.
If you’re not ready to commit or simply need a lower rate, there are many community clinics that can offer this, just make sure they have the ability to see you on a consistent basis. If you’re comfortable working with an intern, universities and group practices often offer sliding scale fees for pre-licensed clinicians.