Yes!

I set aside a significant portion of my caseload (around 40-45%) for sliding scale clients that is on a needs basis. Sliding scale opportunities are reserved for clients who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford services at the full rate. Lowest rates are made available to clients who can commit to weekly sessions.

WHO IS THE SLIDING SCALE FOR?

The sliding scale applies to you if you are someone who frequently worries about meeting your basic needs. My sliding scale is an honor system and I do not ask for proof of income.

If you have expendable income and live comfortably, I encourage you to pay the full fee. Doing so directly contributes to my ability to continue offering low-fee services to those who can’t afford the standard rate.

If you are unsure if using the sliding scale is an ethically sound decision for you, consider this:

1. Would paying the full fee cause considerable stress by negatively impacting your ability to pay for the non-negotiables in life, such as housing/rent, groceries, bills, childcare, and and transportation? If paying the full rate causes serious hardship, then rest assured you would be a great candidate for sliding scale.

   OR

2. Would paying the full fee be a matter of setting a budget to prioritize your emotional health and wellbeing? This could mean making a reasonable sacrifice by temporarily cutting back in other spending areas (vacations, entertainment, dining out, luxury items, etc).

I am very appreciative of clients who are able to pay the full rate and do so, because they allow me to continue working with those who are desperately in need of a break.

My sliding scale is inspired by The Sliding Scale: A Tool of Economic Justice by Alexis J. Cunningfolk of Worts & Cunning Apothecary.

I do not accept insurance at this time, but will gladly provide superbill statements for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please know that you'll need to be in touch with your insurance company to understand how reimbursement is applied for out of network benefits.

I recommend using therapist directories and tweaking the criteria to reflect your needs. Some great places to begin your search are Psychology Today, Therapy Den, Neurodivergent Therapist Directory, and Inclusive Therapists.

Yep! Just keep in mind you will still need another form of payment on file in the event of any late cancellation or no show fees, as these aren’t able to be billed through HSA/FSA accounts.

I can provide referrals to those who need a reduced self-pay fee when my sliding scale slots are full, or it is determined I am not the right therapist for you. I am happy to provide this service to the community to promote transparency, access, and to help reduce frustration around finding affordable care.

Please reach out if you need help finding or navigating therapy directories - it is well established that the most important aspect of effective therapy is finding a therapist that actually benefits you.

Recommendations:

Open Path Collective offers self-pay rates on a scale of $30-$70/session.

You can also adjust the search criteria on directories like Psychology Today to reflect your financial needs.

Something else to keep in mind is that it is common for therapy practices to offer a sliding scale option to work with an intern/trainee counselor for a reduced rate. I recommend searching for therapy practices with a trainee program to see what is available in your area.