Why I don't take insurance

I am private pay only, which means I am not required by insurance companies to give a diagnosis or limit the amount of sessions necessary. Your therapy record is completely private. I take client care very seriously and currently, my professional ethics do not align with insurance companies, who require a formal mental health diagnosis to cover the cost of therapy as "necessary." While I do believe that an accurate mental health diagnosis can be crucial to understanding and coping with a true mental illness, handing out "trash can" diagnoses to be covered by insurance is unethical and can have far reaching negative repercussions. A diagnosis of mental illness remains on your medical record forever. As mental health services become more mainstream, mental health services are being covered at an increased rate. I am hopeful that the insurance system will catch up to our society and provide therapy benefits for all people. Victims and people who reach out for support counseling services have real, legitimate, and normal feelings about and reactions to life events. When victims and those who do not have a mental illness are covered without being pathologized, I will re-negotiate my stance on taking insurance. People should feel free to make their own decisions about their care, explore their emotions and create goals at their own pace, and utilize the methods that resonate for them... without being pathologized. As a private pay client, you are responsible for your own path to wellness and are empowered to make the decisions that are right for you.