🌿 5 Reasons You May Not Want to Use Your Insurance for Therapy
By: Dr. Jenn M.G.
When people start looking for a therapist, one of the first questions is:
“Do you take my insurance?” 🤔
It’s a reasonable question—but using insurance for therapy isn’t always the best option. In fact, many people are choosing to pay privately for their mental health care. Here are 5 important reasons why that might be the right move for you 👇
💼 1. Your Diagnosis Becomes Part of Your Medical Record
To use insurance, a therapist must assign you a mental health diagnosis 🧠—even if you're just dealing with stress or a tough life season. That diagnosis becomes part of your permanent medical file 🗂️, which could affect life insurance applications or certain careers later on.
🧾 2. Insurance Companies Dictate the Terms
Insurance providers decide what’s “medically necessary.” That means they can limit the number of sessions ⏳, require evidence of progress 📈, or even stop covering your care when they decide it’s enough.
Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all—your care plan shouldn’t be either.
🔐 3. Your Privacy Is Compromised
Using insurance often means less privacy. Third-party payers may request your diagnosis and even session notes 📋 to approve care. If you're working through personal, sensitive topics, this lack of confidentiality can feel invasive. 😕
🔍 4. The Best Therapist for You May Be Out-of-Network
Many experienced therapists—especially those who specialize in trauma, couples therapy, or performance psychology—🏅don’t accept insurance. Sticking only to in-network providers may mean missing out on a therapist who’s an ideal fit for your needs.
🛋️ 5. You Get More Flexibility and Freedom
Private-pay therapy means no diagnosis requirements, no session limits, and no bureaucratic red tape. You and your therapist decide what works best—for you, your goals, and your timeline. 💬💖
It’s therapy with total freedom.
🧠 Final Thoughts
While insurance can lower the cost upfront, it often comes with hidden trade-offs—less privacy, more restrictions, and less control over your healing. For many, investing in private therapy offers a more personalized and empowering experience.
If you're exploring your options, I’m happy to talk through what private-pay therapy might look like for you. Your growth and well-being are worth the investment. 🌱
Why Individual Therapy Can Be Life-Changing (And How to Know If It’s Time to Start)
By: Dr. Jennifer Merthe-Grayson, Licensed Clinical Psychologist serving Ohio
Are you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected—from others or even from yourself? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own either. Individual therapy offers a safe, supportive, and confidential space to understand yourself more deeply, untangle complex emotions, and create meaningful change.
As a licensed clinical psychologist, I specialize in helping adults navigate life’s most personal challenges—from anxiety, depression, and burnout to relationship struggles, identity development, and past trauma. Therapy isn’t just for “when things fall apart”—it’s also for when you’re ready to grow, gain clarity, and invest in your own mental wellness.
What is Individual Therapy?
Individual therapy is a one-on-one collaboration between you and a trained psychologist. Together, we explore what’s getting in the way of your peace or progress—whether that’s self-doubt, unresolved grief, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or something else entirely. The process is grounded in empathy, curiosity, and science-backed strategies tailored to your unique goals.
Common Reasons People Seek Individual Therapy:
You’re feeling anxious, stressed, or emotionally drained
You’re navigating a life transition—divorce, parenting, career changes
You struggle with confidence, identity, or self-worth
You’re carrying unresolved pain from past experiences
You want to break harmful patterns in relationships or behavior
You simply want to better understand yourself and grow
What Makes Therapy with Me Different
As a psychologist, I combine evidence-based interventions with a warm, human-centered approach. That means we’ll go deeper than surface-level coping strategies—we’ll get to the why behind your patterns and help you build new pathways forward. My therapeutic style is collaborative, empowering, and nonjudgmental. I bring my full attention, clinical training, and genuine care to every session.
I draw from modalities like:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Humanistic and strength-based approaches
Trauma-informed care
Positive Psychology
No two clients are the same, and your therapy shouldn’t be either.
When Is the Right Time to Start?
There’s no “perfect” time to begin therapy—only a brave one. If you’ve been carrying the weight of things alone for too long, or you’re ready to understand yourself on a deeper level, now may be the right moment.
Therapy is not about fixing what’s broken. It’s about reclaiming your wholeness.
Ready to Begin?
I offer individual therapy sessions via secure telehealth. Whether you're seeking relief, clarity, or personal growth, I’m here to support you.
Why Letting Go Can Help Your Child Grow: A Psychologist’s Take on Raising Self-Driven Kids
By: Dr. Merthe-Grayson
As a psychologist—and a parent—I often sit with families who are trying to do it all right. They want their kids to thrive, stay safe, and be successful. But in the process of protecting and guiding, many parents unintentionally take on roles that crowd out one of the most important ingredients for long-term well-being: autonomy.
That’s where The Self-Driven Child comes in—a book I often recommend to parents seeking a fresh, science-backed perspective. Written by clinical neuropsychologist Dr. William Stixrud and test prep expert Ned Johnson, this book flips the script on conventional parenting by emphasizing the critical role of agency—the sense that “I am in charge of my own life.”
The Science: Stress, Control, and the Developing Brain
One of the most compelling insights from the book is how stress affects kids. Children (and adults!) experience more harmful, toxic stress when they feel powerless—when they’re constantly being directed without being heard. Stixrud and Johnson argue that when we try to control every outcome—homework, sports, friendships—we may actually undermine our children’s ability to regulate themselves, make decisions, and recover from setbacks.
As a psychologist, I see this often: kids whose anxiety skyrockets not just from academic pressure, but from feeling like they have no say in their own lives.
The Shift: From Boss to Consultant
The authors propose a powerful mindset shift: move from being a "boss" parent to being a consultant. This doesn’t mean becoming permissive or hands-off. It means showing up with support, structure, and respect—but letting your child be in the driver’s seat. You still get to set limits, offer guidance, and hold boundaries, but the tone changes. You become someone who says, “Here’s what I know. I’m here if you need help,” rather than “Do this because I said so.”
In therapy, I help parents practice this shift by exploring their own anxiety about letting go—because often, it’s not our child’s readiness that holds us back, but our fear of what might happen if we loosen our grip.
Practical Examples: What It Looks Like
Homework Battles: Instead of micromanaging assignments, you might say, “I trust you to figure out when you’ll do this tonight. I’m happy to help if you need it.”
Friendship Conflicts: Rather than calling the other parent, try, “That sounds tough. Want to talk through how you might handle it?”
Extracurriculars: Resist the urge to over-schedule. Ask, “What would you enjoy doing after school?” Let your child explore passions—not just resumes.
The Long Game: Resilience, Motivation, and Mental Health
What’s powerful about this approach is that it builds internal motivation. Kids who feel in control of their lives are more likely to persevere, bounce back from failure, and feel confident in their ability to handle the world. They may still stumble—but they learn that they can get up again.
This isn’t easy work. It asks us to examine our own triggers, fears, and desires for our kids’ success. But as a psychologist, I’ve seen the transformation that can happen when families shift from control to connection—from pressure to partnership.
Final Thought
You are still the parent. You still provide love, structure, and safety. But the gift of stepping back just enough to let your child step up? That’s a lifelong gift of confidence—and it starts with trust.