
Frequently Asked Questions
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The fee is $85 - $250/session, allowing you to choose the rate you pay for services within that range. Those able to pay the full rate ($125+) help me sustain my work while being able to offer free and low-cost care to folks who would not otherwise be able to afford it. I offer this community sliding scale with the intention to keep my services accessible. Think: take what you need, give what you can.
When asking for a reduced fee or sliding scale rate, please consider:
I am a black, disabled, chronically ill, single mother and sole provider of my family. Like all other working class folks, I have to buy groceries and pay rent. I have learned that I show up best for other people when I am not so worried about making ends meet.
The rate you pay is not actually the amount I will receive. Providers typically “take home” about 40-50% of their rate after business costs, self-employment tax, license fees and training, legal and accounting requirements, seen and unseen unpaid labor, and the reality of freelance work (no PTO/sick time, no health insurance or retirement sponsored by an employer, fluctuating income, etc.)
My education (and the $120k student loan debt that came with it), training, career experience, and presence in a field where less than 5% of mental health providers are black. The expectation and cultural norm in our society that Black and Brown care providers work for free or very little, and are disproportionately underrepresented in the field, yet overrepresented in accessible care is intentional.
Please be mindful that if you select the lowest end of the scale when you can truthfully afford the higher prices, you are limiting access to those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. I ask that if you can afford fair value for services, that you do so as this allows me to sustain my services and devote a greater amount of time, energy, and free and low-cost resources to women in need of care, particularly victims of domestic violence, single mothers, and women impacted by displacement, disaster, and global crisis.
I donate a portion of profits to mutual aid and organizations that I care deeply about, such as: Youth Alive! (in loving memory of 10 young men lost to gun violence and countless others to the prison system, Loveland Foundation, La Casa de las Madres, and Asian Women’s Shelter.
There are a few healing practitioners and thought leaders in the healing arts and activist communities that have helped me develop my own philosophy around care work and money, and overcome years of shame in the helping profession around needing to charge and make money for the work I do that truly comes from my heart. I wanted to share them here in case they also speak to your heart as we consider how women (particularly women of color), gender expansive folks, disabled folks, and those who are historically oppressed relate to and are related to when it comes to money.
"Disabled femmes of color are asked to do an incredible amount of work for free. There's a specific rage that disabled BIPOC femmes face when we ask to get paid....I think it comes from racism, sexism, and ableism. Insisting on being paid [fairly] flies in the face of structures that say, "It's a big deal we even let you exist, now you demand respect and money?" - Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, Author of The Future is Disabled
"The colonialist capitalist patriarchy indoctrinates healers to show up in martyrdom and servitude. I disagree with the rhetoric that you should be offering your healing practice in a way that serves the people but doesn't honor your needs. This only transfers suffering and leads to unwellness." - Dra. Rosales Meza, Xicana Seer, Medicine Woman, Counseling Psychology PhD
"I know exactly what support I need to fulfill my work while maintaining my commitment to care for myself. Because I have no interest in being a martyr. If you want to continue to see people like me doing this work, I ask you to resource me. May we all be resourced on this path to getting free." - Lama Rod Owens, Black Buddhist Minister, Activist, Author, Southern Queen
My sliding scale is also inspired by Alexis Cunningfolk's Economic Justice Sliding Scale.
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Most insurance plans don’t cover mental health the way they should—from high deductibles and co-pays, denied claims, confusing rules and lack of transparency, requiring a diagnosis to receive care, to insurance companies getting to request your private records and decide how much care is right for you. The benefits of working with me outside of insurance include:
No Labeling – To use insurance, I have to give a diagnosis to a client, even if they might barely meet the diagnostic criteria. And if they don’t meet the criteria, insurance won’t cover therapy. Not accepting insurance gives me the freedom to treat my clients without forced labeling or diagnosing. I’m all about de-stigmatizing mental health, but unfortunately, many industries are not. If you want to get life insurance, work in certain sectors of government, or even certain private sectors, a diagnosis on your healthcare record may impede your ability to get coverage or employment. You should seek the care and help you need without worrying about it impacting your future.
Confidentiality and Privacy – To use insurance, your name and diagnosis is seen by multiple different people in the insurance billing department. While our session notes and details remain private unless there is an audit, I feel firm that this many people don’t need your healthcare information.
No Confusion - Healthcare and insurance are highly confusing. It’s almost impossible to get a straightforward answer of how much a specific service will cost. When you seek therapeutic services with me, you have a simple, straightforward answer about the cost of services and when they will be billed to you.
Self-Determination – Insurance companies often determine what they think the “appropriate” or “therapeutic” treatment is. Let’s say you have a diagnosis of mild depression. Your insurance provider may believe you need only a few sessions for that diagnosis. Once we hit that ceiling, they’ll no longer pay. This means we have to rigidly adhere to someone else’s guidelines and try and rush you through to meet your goals. By not going through insurance, you get the quality care and attention you deserve, while healing at a pace that feels right for you.
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I accept Credit, Debit, HSA/FSA (Health Savings Account/Flexible Savings Account), and Zelle.
I also accept Loveland Foundation Vouchers, TWLOHA Treatment & Recovery Scholarship, Mental Health Liberation Fund, and Black Girl Smile.
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Most folks meet with me (and see the most significant impact/benefits) for weekly or bi-weekly sessions.
You have the agency to choose how often we meet and how we spend our time together. Some folks come in with a specific goal in mind–like accountability coaching for leaving their job, starting a business, moving, or another life transition–and meet that goal after a few sessions. Some folks use the space for longer term support or to unpack some deeper challenges like body image issues, sexuality or gender identity, or race-related stress. Clients typically meet with me between 4-16 sessions, though some folks use the space for ongoing support. We are always able to discuss and adjust to the right frequency for you.
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I trust that people who feel called to work with me or resonate with my message will be an aligned relationship. With that being said, I understand that this work can be a big investment, both financially and energetically, and it is important that you are in right relationship with whoever you choose to do this work with. We may be a good fit if you are:
Interested in care that is decolonized, political, liberatory, and different from mainstream therapy
Looking to explore the impact of and disrupting systems like white supremacy, exploitative capitalism, and colonization
Wanting to work through topics like burnout, self-doubt, racial and cultural issues, career stress, etc.
Committed to challenging racism, sexism, ageism, classism, homophobia, sizeism, and all the other "isms" that harm humanity
No one size fits all. Each counseling/coaching relationship is different and meets you where you are. Together we will create the space to meet your unique needs.
My approach is less structured, more flow. Less telling you what to do, more inviting you to reconnect with and listen to your own wisdom. Less rigid clinical approach, more radical and creative. Come with an open mind.
I encourage you to visit the About page to learn about my background, approach, values, and lived experience, and read the Testimonials from past and current clients to help you determine if I am the right fit for you.
You are never stuck in a relationship. If you or we determine that you would benefit from an alternative provider or approach to care, or if the issues you are needing support with cannot be met with coaching, I will provide you with referrals and resources to support you on your journey towards healing and liberation.
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I conduct sessions by centering curiosity and connection, while aiming to make the most therapeutic impact in any single session.
Our work together is a collaborative process. You have the agency to choose how we spend our time together—we facilitate a safe and brave space for the unfolding of your journey. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits all healing approach, and my style and approach is fluid and tailored to meet your unique needs.
Whether you need the space to vent, cry, problem solve, learn and unlearn, be weird, have support, be validated and affirmed, have an accountability partner or someone to lovingly call you out on your shit, practice using your voice, or unpack "taboo" topics, I will hold space for all of it.
My approach is less structured, more flow. Less telling you what to do, more inviting you to listen to your own wisdom. Less rigid clinical approach, more radical and creative. Come with an open mind.
My job is to explore with you and ask good questions. I see people as separate from problems; YOU are not the problem. I’m more interested in the full and complex picture of your experience in the world than in labeling or diagnosing. I make a practice of studying and learning from the radical and revolutionary thinkers, seers, knowledge keepers, and cultural disruptors of our time and bring that wisdom lovingly back to you. I’m adept at making (expanding) space for difference, and I deeply enjoy supporting clients who want to move in unconventional directions.
My clients know me as notorious for random check-in emails, memes that will make your day, books and podcast recommendations, handwritten by me for you journal and self-reflection prompts, and all other kinds of goodies when I'm thinking of you in between sessions.
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While both coaches and therapists aim to help improve the lives of those they serve, the major difference is the focus of the work.
Therapy focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions and concerns. If you feel that your needs are centered around a potential mental health condition; if you are on psychiatric medication or considering it, choosing therapy may be the right choice. This doesn’t necessarily mean a coach can’t help with some of your concerns (I see several coaching clients who also see a therapist or have issues with anxiety, for example).
Life coaching is focused on achieving wellness, career, or life goals to help you get unstuck and take action steps towards your goals and desires. Coaching helps individuals overcome life stressors and transitions. Issues that are discussed in therapy are also, often, discussed in coaching. At times, coaching and its benefits can feel similar to therapy, however coaching is not conducted in a clinical setting and does not involve clinical diagnoses or medical treatment for diagnosed mental health concerns. Whether dealing with mental health condition or not, we all collect messages, beliefs, fears, insecurities, and blocks along the way. Coaching helps uncover and remove these blocks.
As a therapist and coach, I use skills from both to inform the way I support my clients. Consider what feels right for you, and if you still aren't sure, please talk with me. Whichever one you decide, I will provide a non-judgmental and compassionate space for you to identify your goals and unlock tools to achieve them. However, as a coach, if you are dealing with more acute mental health concerns, I may refer you to a therapist if needed. We will discuss your specific needs during our initial session and develop a plan of care just for you.
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As a small private practice, Revolutionary Women’s Wellness does not have the resources to provide acute care or crisis intervention.
We will not be the right fit for you if:
You are experiencing active and acute psychosis, active suicidal ideation, active addiction, you are experiencing acute PTSD or major trauma or mental health symptoms that are costing you safety or making your safety unmanageable.
You are medically unstable due to drugs, alcohol, or an eating disorder, or situations costing you safety or making your safety unmanageable. We will need to wait to begin our work together until you are medically stable.
You have pending legal issues and/or seeking evaluation or testimony for: court cases (e.g., custody, divorce, probation, lawsuits, etc.), assessment (e.g., fitness for duty, employment, study abroad, support animals, etc.), or any other situation in which a third party needs professional documentation or assessment.
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I approach care from a social justice, civically-minded, abolitionist, and liberatory perspective.
For me, Liberatory Care is about helping us move beyond just addressing our struggles as individuals (though we do of course start with ourselves and our experiences) into the larger picture of how all of our struggles are connected and what we can do about it. Every time a woman comes to me to work on shame and self-doubt, or the cultural and societal expectations that have kept her from fully showing up in the world, she is also doing that work on behalf of other women in her lineage, the women to come, and the girls and women here now who struggle with the same.
"Liberatory Coaching is about centering justice, healing, and liberation. Regular coaching (and therapy) that supports people to be their best selves is not enough, because it values the individual as the end goal. We must be able to name how white supremacy and settler colonialism and other forms of oppression impact a person’s ability to believe in their wholeness, possibility, and resourcefulness. Liberatory coaching puts healing as a continual and evolving process, and invites us into connection with all of our relations, cousins, siblings, and neighbors. Our work is to uproot oppression, to remember the ways of the past that worked for our ancestors, to love ourselves right now, and to light the way for future generations." - Sarah Jawaid and Damon Azali-Rojas, Founders of Coaching for Healing, Justice, and Liberation
It's holding space to create something bigger than just living for ourselves. It's breaking free from exploitative capitalism, ableism, and hyper-individuality, and seeking to challenge and dismantle all systems of oppression because of the healing work we have done. It's about getting ourselves free and then using our gifts to help liberate others, too. Shout out to revolutionary foremother Marcy Church Terrell who reminds us that we must "Lift as we climb."
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While I love to help, I do not provide crisis services. Please visit the crisis services listed below. Please note that some crisis line workers are mandated to report plans of suicide to the police. If this is a concern, we encourage you to first ask about their reporting policies before sharing.
Blackline: peer support and counseling prioritizing BIPOC, with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens. “We do not trace or send any type of intervention under any circumstances without consent.” Call or Text (800) 604-5841
Trans Lifeline: trans peer support for trans community that’s been divested from police since day one. Run by and for trans people. US (877) 565-8860; Canada (877) 330-6366
Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line: Warmline answered by a trained peer supporters. “We do not trace or send any type of intervention under any circumstances without consent.” (888) 407-4515
Domestic Violence Hotline: hotline run 24/7 for survivors, victims, and those impacted by domestic violence. Call (800) 799-7233, Text “START” to 88788 or chat
Lines for Life: to talk to a suicide or substance use specialist. Lines for Life also offers support for: military & family, senior loneliness, teen-to-teen crisis help, and racial equity support. (800) 273-8255
Trevor Hotline for LGBTQ+ Youth: (866) 488-7386 or Text “START” to 678678
NAMI Helpline: to talk to a trained crisis counselor 24/7 or Text “NAMI” TO 741741
If you or someone you know is in immediate, threatening danger and decide to call 911, please be aware that police are not equipped to offer mental health support and may pose danger to People of Color, neurodivergent people, and disabled people/people with disabilities. Please ALSO reach out to community leaders, neighbors, friends, and family to be present if you are calling the police as or for a person with marginalized identities.
To learn more about liberatory approaches to crisis care and mental health:
Mad In America: Suicide Hotline Transparency Project
Suicide Hotlines and the Impact of Non-Consensual Interventions