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Reduced Rates

Note: At this time, my reduced rate spots are full. I will keep my Rates and Insurance page updated with availability of reduced-rate spots.

Practicing therapy within a bunch of dehumanizing systems (capitalism, the American healthcare system, etc) is fraught. Our social services systems operate on implicit assumptions about who is deserving of care and support, which creates shame that stifles transparent and nuanced conversations about access to mental healthcare.

In determining a reduced rate structure, I need to consider my own material needs and limitations, those of my clients, and the intersections that make income insufficient as a sole indicator of what’s accessible.

I also need to consider how to distribute rate reductions—so, for example, I have many people receiving rates on the very lowest end of the scale, I won’t be able to offer as many moderately-reduced rates.

Rather than set a sliding scale based on income, I ask you to self-assess and invite you to discuss your needs with me. A helpful tool for self-assessment, the Green Bottle method, is below. The Green Bottle method was created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk. This model doesn’t encompass all elements of personal financial experience, either—for example, it doesn’t take into account debt, generational or relational patterns, or disability. It’s meant to be more of a frame of reference you can use as a starting point to consider your financial experience.

Here are the descriptions of pricing at each tier:

  • Full Bottle: This is the rate that reflects the value of the service, less a discount for self pay ($170 per session). If your personal financial experience most closely matches the full bottle below, this is your rate.

  • Middle bottle: This is a partially reduced rate for those whose personal financial experience most closely matches the middle bottle below.

  • The lowest bottle: This is the lowest reduced rate, which is for you if you struggle to meet basic needs. At this time, all of my lowest-rate spots are full, but I will update my “Rates and Insurance” page if lowest-rate spots become available.

If you have a reduced-rate spot, I will check in with you twice a year to see if you are still in need of the same rate reduction. This will allow me to assess how many reduced-rate spots I can offer.

Three bottles representing Alexis J. Cunningfolk's sliding scale model. The bottles are filled to different levels and have descriptors of financial experience. Image links to screen reader compatible blog.