Why I Finally Left Insurance‑Based Therapy (And What It Means for You)

I spent months supporting clients through burnout — while quietly burning out myself.

I helped people notice when their values and their lives didn’t match — even as I ignored the widening gap in mine.

I taught boundaries and self‑advocacy — while accepting reimbursement rates that kept shrinking and requirements that didn't serve my clients.

The irony? I felt it in every session. And eventually, I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

The Math That Didn’t Add Up

Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash‍ ‍

Here’s what working within the insurance model looked like for me:
To make the numbers work, I’d have to see more clients.

More clients = less time to prepare.

Less depth. Less space for the kind of meaningful work I wanted to do.

In other words: to stay viable, I’d have to lower the quality of care — the very thing that made me good at this work in the first place.

I was being asked: Choose sustainability or integrity. And that’s not a choice. It’s a trap.

The Diagnosis Dilemma

Then there was the diagnosis requirement.
Insurance asks for a “disorder” in order to pay for therapy.
Which meant when you came to therapy because you were stuck, or navigating transition, or overwhelmed from achieving too much — I had to pathologize your experience to get paid.

Many of you aren’t dealing with a disorder. You’re dealing with being human in a system that asks too much.

You’re executives setting boundaries for the first time.
You’re mothers untangling guilt and people‑pleasing patterns.
You’re high‑achievers realizing success cost something essential.

💭 Pause here. If you just thought "wait, that's exactly how I feel - like there's nothing actually wrong with me, I'm just... stuck" - you're the kind of person I work with. Let's talk.

These are valid. And they deserve support. They don’t always need a diagnosis. Forcing one felt dishonest.

The Breaking Point: Practicing What I Preach

The moment I knew I had to change? I looked around and saw myself:
Over‑functioning.
Shrinking.
Serving a system instead of my values.

It hit me—a pattern I help you see.
How could I ask you to step into alignment if I wasn’t living it?
How could I teach you self‑advocacy while silently accepting less than I was worth?
I couldn’t—not and still be honest with you.

Does this sound familiar? If you're recognizing yourself in this pattern - over-functioning, shrinking to fit a system that doesn't value you, wondering when it's okay to finally put yourself first - let's talk. This is exactly the kind of work we do together.

Schedule a free 20-minute consultation to explore whether therapy could help you step into alignment too.

What Leaving Insurance Made Possible

Stepping away wasn’t easy. It meant risk. It meant cost. It meant saying things like, “This is what therapy can look like when the structure fits you.”
Here's what choosing private-pay therapy with me actually means:

• Spaciousness: Fewer clients, deeper presence.

• No forced diagnoses: We work on what matters, not what the billing code demands.

• Flexibility: We move in the rhythm that fits you, not the clock.

• Alignment: I’m present, grounded, not resentful or overrun.

• Sustainability: I can keep doing this work without sacrificing my own well‑being.

If you've been putting off therapy because you're worried about insurance hassles, limited sessions, or feeling like "just another file" - this is the alternative.

Book your free consultation and let's talk about what working together could look like. I provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement, and we can discuss whether that's an option for you.

What This Means for You

I know private‑pay therapy can feel like a barrier. It’s real.

Here's the thing:
When your therapist is stretched thin, constrained by billing codes, or just trying to keep up with volume — you feel it.
You might not name it, but your nervous system knows.

What you’ll get with me:
✓ A therapist with the capacity to be present.
✓ Sessions built for your actual needs.
✓ Flexibility. Depth. Integrity.
And yes — I provide superbills if your insurance plan supports out‑of‑network reimbursement.

The Bigger Picture: Integrity Over Convenience

Leaving insurance wasn’t about earning more.
It was about showing up true.
Modeling the boundaries and self‑respect I ask of you.

If you've spent years doing all the work, holding too much, saying yes when you meant no — this was my version of that choice. And it was the right one.

If This Resonates With You

If you've spent years doing all the work, holding too much, saying yes when you meant no — I get it. And I'm here to help you make a different choice.

I work with:

• High-achieving women who are exhausted from being "strong"

• Executives who need to set boundaries without guilt

• People-pleasers ready to rebuild trust in themselves

• Individuals navigating broken trust and wondering if repair is possible

Ready to explore whether we're a good fit?

Schedule a free consultation here. we'll talk about what's bringing you to therapy and whether my approach feels right for you. No pressure, no sales pitch.

Questions about private-pay therapy or superbills? We can talk through all of that in the consultation too.

Not Ready for Therapy Yet?

I get it - therapy is a big step. Here are other ways to start:
🧠 Watch my YouTube series:— ACT Metaphors that Transform — short, practical tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help you notice patterns and reconnect with your values.
💌 Join my newsletter:—weekly reflections on boundaries, burnout, and living aligned.
Sign up for my Substack here.

Common Questions:

Do you take insurance?
No, I operate as a private-pay practice. I provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement if your plan offers that benefit.

Why is private-pay better?
It's not necessarily "better" — it's different. It means we're not constrained by insurance requirements, session limits, or diagnosis mandates. We work in the way that actually serves you.

How much does it cost?
Read about my rates here.