Why We No Longer Accept Insurance for Therapy (And What That Means for You)

One of the most common questions we get is:

"Do you accept insurance?"

And when the answer is no, the next question usually follows:

"Why not?"

It's a fair question. Therapy is an investment, and insurance can feel like the more accessible option.

But the decision to move away from insurance wasn't taken lightly. It was a decision rooted in the kind of care we want to provide.

The Reality of Insurance-Based Therapy

Insurance can absolutely make therapy more accessible, and for many people, it's an important resource.

But what most people don't see is what happens behind the scenes. In order for insurance to cover therapy, a few things are typically required:

•       A mental health diagnosis must be given

•       Sessions often need to follow certain structures or limitations

•       Treatment may need to focus on symptom reduction rather than deeper exploration (which is the very thing needed for long-term relief)

•       Progress is monitored in ways that prioritize measurable outcomes over nuanced healing (think: having to fill out an anxiety or depression assessment at every session)

That doesn't mean good therapy can't happen within insurance. But it does mean there are constraints.

And over time, we found those constraints didn't align with how we prefer to work — or what our clients actually needed.

The Clients We Work With Need Something Different

• Most of the people who find their way to our practice aren't coming in for short-term support. They've often already tried that.

  They've done talk therapy. They've learned coping skills. They understand themselves… at least on a surface level.

  And yet, something still feels stuck. They might be:

  •       Constantly overthinking or second-guessing themselves

  •       Stuck in patterns of people-pleasing or over-functioning

  •       Feeling burnt out in relationships where they give more than they receive

  •       Carrying anxiety that doesn't fully go away, no matter how much they "work on it"

  What they're looking for isn't just relief. They're looking for change. And that kind of work takes a different approach.

  Why Private Pay Therapy Allows for Deeper Work

  When therapy isn't dictated by insurance, it creates space for something more flexible and individualized. That can look like:

  🧠  Going Beyond Surface-Level Coping

  Instead of focusing only on managing symptoms, we can explore where those patterns come from — and how to shift them at the root.

  🌱  Using Modalities Like EMDR Without Restriction

  EMDR therapy doesn't always fit neatly into insurance frameworks, but it can be incredibly effective for trauma and long-standing patterns.

  ⏳  Moving at Your Pace

  Some sessions might go deeper. Some might feel slower. There's room for what you actually need, instead of what a system expects.

  🔒  Increased Privacy

  A diagnosis isn't always required. Your therapy stays between you and your therapist, without needing to justify your experience to a third party.

  "But Is It Worth It?"

  This is usually the underlying question. And it makes sense.

  Because choosing private pay therapy means intentionally investing in your mental health.

  But when clients make that shift, something often changes. They show up differently. There's a level of commitment — not from pressure, but from choice.

  And that can create a different kind of momentum in the work.

  Not because you're forcing yourself to get better. But because you're choosing to prioritize something that hasn't always been prioritized before:

  You.

What If Cost Is a Concern?

This is real & important to acknowledge.

Some clients are able to use out-of-network benefits, which can reimburse a portion of the session fee. If that’s something you’re curious about, we’re always happy to help you understand how that works.

For others, it may mean adjusting frequency or exploring what feels sustainable.

There’s no one “right” way to approach therapy.

But there is value in finding something that aligns, not just logistically, but clinically.

This Shift Was About Alignment

Stepping away from insurance allowed us to create a practice that reflects how I actually believe therapy works.

Not rushed.
Not surface-level.
Not one-size-fits-all.

But intentional.
Relational.
Rooted in real, lasting change.

If you’ve been feeling stuck in patterns that don’t seem to shift or like you’ve outgrown the kind of therapy you’ve tried before, this approach might feel different.

In a good way.

If You’re Considering Therapy

You don’t have to have it all figured out before reaching out.

You don’t need the “right” words or a clear explanation.

You just need a starting point.

✨ We offer trauma-informed therapy and EMDR in Sacramento and virtually across California for adults navigating anxiety, burnout, people-pleasing, and relational patterns.

If you’re curious about working together, you can book a free 15-minute consultation. We’ll talk through what’s been coming up for you and see if it feels like a good fit.