That’s a reasonable question to ask! Insurance companies have the upper-hand in their relationship with therapists and other health care providers… and they know it. Much of the dissatisfaction people experience with therapy has its roots in this unfortunate power dynamic. Here are a few benefits that come with choosing a private pay therapist:

1. We can try techniques other than cognitive behavioral therapy. Certain populations don’t respond well to it. Instead we can choose the right modality for your needs.

2. We can skip the pathologizing. I don’t have to give you a label. We can just focus on doing more of what feels aligned and less of what doesn’t.

3. True privacy. Nothing we say or do becomes part of your permanent medical record. I’ll keep good records for you but I have no obligation to submit them to any company or governing body.

There are other benefits for my side of the equation that I’m happy to discuss if you are curious.