Why I don't accept insurance
I get asked this a lot — and it's a fair question. Insurance can make therapy more accessible, and I respect that. But after years of working within the insurance system, I made the intentional choice to step outside of it. Here's why.
The system is broken — and I won't be part of it
Health insurance companies in the United States are among the most profitable corporations in the world, generating tens of billions of dollars in annual profit. Meanwhile, roughly one in five mental health claims is denied, and nearly half of all prior authorization requests for behavioral health services are initially rejected. Patients are routinely forced to fight for coverage they're already paying premiums for — appeals, paperwork, hours on the phone — while insurance executives collect record compensation packages. The system is designed to maximize shareholder returns, not to support people who are struggling. I believe this is deeply unethical, and I choose not to participate in it. My clients deserve a therapist whose clinical decisions are guided by what they need — not by what an insurance company is willing to authorize.
Your treatment stays between us
When you use insurance for therapy, your insurance company requires a mental health diagnosis on file. That diagnosis becomes part of your permanent medical record and can be accessed by other providers, life insurance companies, and in some cases, employers. With self-pay, nothing goes on record unless you choose to share it. Your healing stays private.
No one else decides what you need
Insurance companies dictate the number of sessions you're approved for, the type of treatment you can receive, and how long therapy should last — based on a diagnosis code, not on you as a person. Self-pay means I can tailor your treatment to what's actually happening in your life, use the modalities that fit best (including equine-partnered and nature-based work that insurance rarely covers), and take the time we need without someone else deciding when you should be "done."
Freedom to do deeper, more creative work
Insurance typically covers traditional talk therapy — 45 to 50 minutes in an office. The kind of work I do doesn't fit neatly into that box. Nature-based sessions, equine-partnered work, 90-minute deep dives, somatic and Gestalt approaches — these are the tools that create real, lasting change. Stepping outside the insurance model gives us the freedom to use whatever works best for you.
You're investing in yourself — not a system
Self-pay clients tend to show up differently. When you're investing your own resources, there's a level of commitment and intentionality that accelerates the work. You're not here because a copay made it easy — you're here because you're ready.
I can still help you get reimbursed
I provide superbills — detailed receipts you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Many clients get a portion of their sessions covered this way. I'm happy to walk you through the process and help you check your out-of-network benefits before we start.
What to ask your insurance company
If you'd like to check your out-of-network benefits, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask:
- Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
- What is my out-of-network deductible, and has it been met?
- What percentage of the session fee do you reimburse for an out-of-network licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)?
- Is there a limit on the number of sessions per year?
- Do I need a referral or prior authorization?
I've partnered with Mentaya to make reimbursement easier
I know navigating insurance reimbursement can feel like a job in itself — so I've partnered with Mentaya, a platform designed to take the hassle out of the process. Mentaya can instantly check your out-of-network benefits, and then automatically submit claims on your behalf after each session — so you don't have to deal with paperwork, phone calls, or confusing forms. Many of my clients use Mentaya and find it makes getting reimbursed simple and stress-free.
I know cost matters. If you have questions about pricing, payment plans, or whether this work is the right fit, I'm happy to talk it through — no pressure, no commitment.