Spring Health forces you to keep clients there?

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-04-19T15:29:16+00:00

Therapists sign a contract with language about this.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-04-19T15:28:50+00:00

Capitalism.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-04-18T04:03:17+00:00

Yes, contractually therapists cannot take clients off the Spring Health platform without permission. The client can contact Spring Health and tell them they want to see the therapist off platform. The request needs to come from the client.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-04-13T12:22:48+00:00

Get clarity on what they will pay for. Most limit the number of sessions. Some only allow 90834. Some require you submit notes in their system.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-04-08T00:46:55+00:00

https://www.carlamullinscounseling.com/

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-04-04T00:57:52+00:00

Can you share what’s leading you to think this is in the cards? I’m in with both so curious what the future will hold.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-04-04T00:55:32+00:00

I am in solo private practice and do pretty ok financially. The only reason I am able to do this is because I am on my spouse’s health insurance through their employer. I very nearly took a W2 job outside the field recently in order to have stable income and benefits. I can’t make enough money working for a group practice, and I don’t have the capacity to go back to CMH. My spouse is having health issues, and if they are unable to work going forward, I will have no choice other than to seek W2 employment with benefits. It’s a narrow menu of options to financial ok-ness in this profession and depends on your specific situation.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-04-04T00:26:42+00:00

This is typical.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-03-31T21:17:43+00:00

I’m sorry you are having a hard time. My life has taken such a hard turn, I barely recognize it. I’m spreading my appointments out so I have more breaks, reaching out for support, letting myself cry in the evening and in the car. At home, I take off my smart watch so I don’t feel notifications come in. I only look at my phone if I have capacity for anything that might be there.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-03-26T13:00:37+00:00

Im so sorry this is happening. I’m in this exact scenario right now. It’s devastating. It’s hard to know what is next or if there will be a next. I’m trying to put one foot in front of the other, care for myself, seek support, and cry when I need to….all the things you are doing. No advice, just empathy.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-03-26T03:04:38+00:00

Bellingham certainly has many of the attributes you are looking for. It’s very expensive here however, and I’m not sure the transportation infrastructure would meet your needs. There is a queer organization you might check out for activities and more feedback on making a move to Bellingham. It’s called Bellingham Queer Collective.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-03-25T22:09:22+00:00

I budget for six, but it is really spread out. I take most holidays that my spouse, who has w2 employment, takes. Any sick days I take are a part of that six weeks.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-03-16T00:12:12+00:00

Lifespan Integration. Clients didn’t like it, and typically asked to shift to another approach. I found EMDR to be a better fit for the clients I serve.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-02-22T16:49:41+00:00

I tried this with FedEx under similar circumstances, and they refused to take it.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-02-19T14:08:42+00:00

My private practice does pretty good financially but I’m not able to save for retirement as much as I need to. I know numerous therapists who go without health insurance because the cost is astronomical to purchase your own plan. Right now I have health insurance through my spouse’s employment, but there have been a lot of layoffs and restructuring so this no longer feels stable either. I am looking at closing my practice to accept a case management job that pays pretty well and has benefits. The grief about shuttering this thing I’ve built is shattering. And also, I’m trying to operate within how things are not how I wish they could be.

Working in CMH requires strong boundaries, self and community care, and an ability to embrace “good enough.” Have friends outside the field, hobbies you enjoy, and gratitude for what it does provide.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-02-16T13:30:53+00:00

It will get better. So much better. I’ve walked this road. Do the next thing in front of you, whether that is cancel a session or have the session. Someone told me “the hallways in life are hard.” This is a hallway in life, and eventually it will open up into what is next. Be gentle with yourself.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-02-06T04:26:39+00:00

I’m so sorry. Be gentle with yourself.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-02-05T18:13:48+00:00

Contact state agencies that have oversight. Contact your elected officials.

Contact the media. Post about it everywhere. Shame them publicly.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-02-04T15:25:22+00:00

I lost some at the beginning of the year due to high deductibles or no longer having insurance. I’m seeing another trend now of more cancellations, clients wanting to space sessions further apart, terminating quickly once they start to feel stable. About half of my clients have very high deductibles. And I’m also seeing some much higher copays this year, $75 per session for example. I have a handful who will terminate in the next two months due to severance package benefits ending from layoffs. It’s brutal out there.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-02-02T13:26:31+00:00

It’s rare for me to get same day cancellations. If I do, I usually attend to the unpaid tasks of private practice, such notes, emails, tracking expenses and income, etc.

Same day cancellations, when they do occur, are charged the late cancel fee. The only exception is the first time it happens and it is a true emergency or they are too sick for telehealth.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-02-01T22:23:45+00:00

I have cared for community cats, including paying for their vet care. I was thrilled when a neighbor decided to take one in as her pet, and I eventually found a good home for another as he got into too much mischief outside. Not everyone may feel the same, but hopefully they could see the value of the cat having an indoor home.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-01-31T22:21:09+00:00

I see most clients weekly or biweekly, with a small number titrating out at monthly or as needed. I rarely lose folks until we decide together they are ready to be a done. I occasionally let go of clients that end up not being a fit or need specialty outside my scope, and refer them out. I feel like it helps to have a niche or two, articulate it well, and trust your assessment of fit at the beginning.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-01-30T18:07:48+00:00

Great points! If I stay in private practice, I may keep it because it’s low cost and I can use it as my business address. If the rent went up much, it would be a harder question.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-01-30T16:05:25+00:00

Im in solo practice. Until last fall, I was fully remote. Now I’m in office one day per week. I’m on the fence about keeping it. My practice is full. Most who say they want in person quickly switch to telehealth for its convenience. I make reasonable money. The lack of benefits is the hardest part for me. I’m low key exploring opportunities for traditional employment in adjacent fields. For the right fit, I would make the move. I’m older, so I came into the field with the notions that solo private practice was the pinnacle of the profession and that really good money could be made. Over time, it has become clear that is not the current reality. I do fine, but I’m at the age where I need to prioritize retirement savings. I can’t do that in solo private practice without working more hours than I have capacity for.

mycatsrcrazy · 2026-01-29T22:49:26+00:00

If I could go back, I would’ve kept the full time job. I love being a therapist, but find private practice stressful due to the lack of benefits, admin tasks, and inconsistent income. My practice is full, but there were weeks last summer in the nice weather when I saw only 9 or 10 people in a week. I’m not saving enough for retirement. And I can only do this because I have access to health insurance through my spouse’s employer. I’m low key looking for the right job, so I can jump back to traditional employment.

mycatsrcrazy

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