When I started this journey of having my own business, I thought I was prepared. After all, my parents had both been self-employed. I grew up on a farm, so I was not a stranger to working hard. Or even having things change with great frequency. Nevertheless, this journey of being a private pay therapist and starting from scratch has been fascinating.
In My Life, I Have Two Passions: Psychology and Horses.
My fascination with horses has always existed as I grew up around horses. I came to learn and lean on their ability to make the world feel better. Through this, I received so much healing and joy from being in their company. For psychology, I became utterly fascinated with human behavior and mental health in elementary school.
I wanted to become a therapist and help people make sense of the world around them and their inner world. So, I went to graduate school but took time off to work and to only focus on things associated with horses, not mental health. However, I returned to mental health because I realized that I didn’t complete my dream.
I Needed to Finish What I Had Started Many Years Earlier.
When I got my license as a professional counselor, I started on a different journey working in the correctional setting. I truly learned so much from working in corrections. However, after about 17 years, I had just burned out and needed to change directions. So, once again, I decided it was time to finish what I had started. I left corrections and began in private practice.
I wanted to be able to do things differently. I wanted to share the experiences I had with horses with others. I wanted people to learn that they could heal themselves and that they are capable of more than they know. This is why in 2021 I made the jump to fully commit my time to my private practice. It has been a fantastic journey. Once I made this decision, I also decided to be a private-pay therapist and there are a few reasons why.
Privacy of the Client
I strive to provide a safe, secure environment for change to happen. To do that, my clients must feel comfortable discussing scary, hurtful, and vulnerable things with me. For this to happen, counseling needs to be like the saying, “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Since the confidentiality and trust of my clients are of the utmost importance to me, I chose to be private pay.
Suppose you are credentialed with an insurance company. In this case, you are essentially working as a contractor for the insurance company. You will have responsibilities, one to the client and one to the insurance company. This divide does not help create a safe place for the client. Thoughts and questions will come up frequently such as “Will the insurance cover this?” and “How much will I have to tell them to get it covered?”
Diagnosing
When treating clients, the insurance company requires that all clients have a diagnosis and are treated for that diagnosis. I am a firm believer that a mental health diagnosis is not helpful. We overly rely on a diagnosis. This keeps us from dealing with some of the other problems that may not be diagnosable but is clearly impacting and affecting the client. Also, a diagnosis may be used against the client at some point in time. Or, there are times when the client is wanting to get a particular diagnosis for several reasons. It also does not allow us to be as creative with helping our clients to heal.
Paperwork and Additional Time Constraints are Also Part of Working For an Insurance Company.
The insurance company requires forms and other documentation for billing and justification. I want to and would rather focus my time on what is essential to the client. I want to provide the client with the best care. Whereas filling out forms for the insurance company is not spending time focused on the client.
At my practice, I provide services developed for clients to achieve their goals best for them. Insurance companies often have requirements or limits for the number of sessions a week or length. This makes determining the best treatment plan for a client more difficult. By being a self-pay therapist in Virginia, I don’t have to bill the insurance directly which allows my client and I to focus on what will be best for them and what we would like to accomplish.
Therapy Should Be and is a Collaboration Between the Client and the Therapist
Therapy shouldn’t require a therapist to collaborate with insurance to decide what is best for the client when they can collaborate with the client directly. This is one of the reasons why I am a private pay therapist. Therapy is a commitment of time and money, and it should be treated with due diligence on everyone’s part. When considering if therapy is worth the money and time, please consider asking what your life would be like if you did not change and actively try to do something different.
Whatever the problem is, waiting for more: time, money, a new job, a new hairstyle, whatever you tell yourself. Your reason for not doing something will not fix the problem. Committing to yourself and believing in your self will. You are worth the time and effort you put into yourself.
Also, consider that therapists have undergone training to provide the environment and support needed to help you achieve your goals. Therapy can feel and seem expensive. However, think of it from this perspective. The therapist is also running a business that needs to stay functional.
There are many licensure requirements, liability insurance, training, and office space to ensure that our practices are functional, safe, and a place where therapy is effective. Now, these expenses increase if we bill insurance. This can be because we will need to either hire someone to do the billing or we have to spend the time doing the billing and we will not have time to focus on clients.
Therapists Want More Time to Commit to Their Clients.
Committing to doing what is truly in the best interest of the client is providing the best service. As a private pay therapist, I will focus on helping you solve the problems in your world. Not trying to focus on what the insurance company wants and hoping it aligns with your needs. I will work with you and will provide a superbill if you would like.
It will be one allowing you to submit charges to your insurance company where you can get some of the money back. However, that will be your decision. Some companies will help you if you want to avoid doing this. Superbill.com and Remibusfy.com are two such companies. Being a private pay therapist lets me focus on my clients’ needs. Therapy is a journey, and you deserve to have someone focused on helping you get where you want to go.
Begin Working With An Equine Therapist in Powhatan, VA
If you found this information helpful or want to learn more about the types of therapy offered, please feel free to contact me! I would be honored to provide therapy support across Virginia from my Powhatan, VA-based practice. You can start your therapy journey with Gray Horse Counseling by following these steps:
- Contact me and schedule a free consultation.
- Check out my FAQs and read more about
- Begin addressing the mental health concerns affecting you most!
Other Therapy Services Offered by Gray Horse Counseling
Equine Therapy is just one of the many mental health services we offer at our Powhatan, VA counseling practice. We are available for in-person help in Powhatan and online in Virginia. Our other services at Gray Horse Counseling include individual therapy, anxiety therapy, group therapy, equine sports, clinical supervision, trauma therapy, and depression therapy. Check out my FAQs, read about me, and contact me today to get the help you deserve!