A Message From Our Founder
Honoring Your Unique Path to Mental Wellness, Rooted in Inclusion, Affirmation, and Privacy
At Carve Your Own Path (CYOP), we believe in the inherent beauty and worthiness of every individual. You are not a diagnosis; you are a human being deserving of respect, space, and the opportunity to heal and grow. In a world that often prioritizes speed and efficiency, we choose to honor the complexity of your mental wellness journey, especially for those who have been historically marginalized.
We understand that healing is not a one-size-fits-all process. Your experiences are unique, your struggles are personal, and your path to well-being requires individualized, holistic, trauma-informed, inclusive, and affirming treatment. That's why we've chosen a private-pay model—a decision rooted in our commitment to providing you with the highest level of ethical and culturally responsive care, free from the constraints of insurance limitations.
Why Private Pay? Why Individualized, Affirming Care? Why Privacy?
When you sit with us, sharing your vulnerabilities and pain, we see your humanity. We are fully present and dedicated to creating a safe and supportive space where you can explore your truth without feeling rushed or confined by session limits. We are committed to providing care that acknowledges and honors your unique identity, including your race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and lived experiences. We believe that true healing requires depth, time, a genuine connection, and uncompromised privacy—elements often compromised by the rigid structures of insurance-driven care, which frequently fail to address the specific needs of marginalized communities.
The Limitations of Insurance-Based Therapy: Real-Life Scenarios
To truly understand the importance of private-pay therapy, consider these real-life scenarios:
Scenario 1: Protecting Identity Exploration:
A young adult, still on their parents' insurance, seeks counseling to explore their gender or sexual identity. The fear of their parents accessing their medical records and discovering this information creates a significant barrier to seeking necessary support. Insurance-based therapy can compromise their privacy and safety.
Scenario 2: Safeguarding Marital Privacy:
A middle-aged woman seeks counseling to address marital problems and consider divorce. Being on her partner's insurance, she faces the risk of her partner discovering her therapy sessions, potentially jeopardizing her safety and autonomy. Private pay offers a safe space for her to explore her options without fear of disclosure.
Scenario 3: Avoiding Stigma and Labeling:
An older adult man seeks counseling to address depressive symptoms related to transitioning out of his lifelong career. He fears the stigma associated with a "depression" diagnosis and the potential impact on his future opportunities. Insurance-based therapy often requires such diagnoses, compromising his privacy and well-being.
Scenario 4: Protecting Reproductive Autonomy:
A young adult seeks counseling to explore reproductive options but is fearful of this information being on record with an insurance company. Given the current socio-political climate and the criminalization of abortion care in some areas, the fear of this information being used against them is valid and extremely frightening. Private pay allows for the protection of this private information.
These scenarios highlight the critical need for private-pay therapy, especially for individuals whose privacy and safety may be compromised by insurance-driven care.
The Benefits of Private-Pay Therapy: Affirming Your Identity, Healing Trauma, and Protecting Privacy
Depth and Comprehensive, Trauma-Informed Care: Private pay allows us to delve deeper into your unique needs, addressing underlying causes and fostering long-term healing, particularly for those who have experienced trauma related to systemic oppression.
Quality of the Therapeutic Relationship and Affirmation: Building trust takes time. Private pay allows for a more organic and authentic therapeutic relationship, which research shows is crucial for lasting change. We are committed to creating a space where your identity is affirmed, and your experiences are validated.
Increased Value and Commitment to Your Healing Journey: Your investment in private-pay therapy reflects your commitment to your well-being, enhancing your motivation and fostering a deeper sense of value in the process. We understand that this investment is also an investment in reclaiming your agency and healing from systemic trauma.
Uncompromised Privacy and Safety: Private pay ensures your privacy and safety, allowing us to focus on your healing without external interference. This is especially important for marginalized individuals who may face increased risks to their privacy and safety.
Our Commitment to Accessibility and Equity
We understand that private pay is not accessible to everyone, particularly within marginalized communities. That's why CYOP reserves a limited number of low-fee spaces via a sliding scale fee, ensuring that individuals with complex needs can access the affirming and trauma-informed care they deserve. We also offer out-of-network SuperBills to help you seek reimbursement from your insurance provider, and partner with Care Credit for any financing needs.
Your Path, Your Pace, Your Identity Affirmed, Your Privacy Protected
At CYOP, we believe that your mental wellness journey is unique and deserves to be honored. We are committed to providing you with individualized, ethical, and culturally responsive care that empowers you to carve your own path to healing and growth while affirming your identity and honoring your lived experiences.