Breaking Free: Why I Choose Not to Work with Insurance—and How It Benefits You

In the world of mental health care, insurance is often seen as a necessary system to make therapy accessible. However, many therapists and clients alike are beginning to recognize the deeper issues within this model. Dr. Tavari Brown, a mental health professional, speaks candidly about how insurance companies create an oppressive system that devalues clinicians, limits client care, and contributes to burnout. If you’ve ever wondered why some therapists opt out of insurance panels and charge sustainable fees, this post will shed light on the reasons behind that choice.

How Insurance Companies Undermine Mental Health Care

While insurance is supposed to make therapy more affordable, it often creates significant barriers for both clients and providers. Here’s why:

1. Low Reimbursement Rates & Devaluation of Clinicians
   Insurance companies dictate low reimbursement rates, making it difficult for therapists to sustain a practice without overloading their schedules. This system disproportionately impacts clinicians, particularly those from marginalized communities, by forcing them to choose between financial stability and ethical, high-quality care.

2. Burnout & High Caseloads
   Therapists working within the insurance model often take on excessive caseloads just to make ends meet. This leads to emotional exhaustion and, ultimately, diminished care quality. When therapists are stretched too thin, clients suffer the consequences.

3. Loss of Clinical Autonomy
   Insurance companies control what is considered “medically necessary,” requiring specific diagnoses and limiting session numbers. This forces therapists to pathologize clients, even when their struggles don’t fit into a neat diagnostic box. It also means that care decisions are dictated by profit-driven corporations rather than clinical judgment and client needs.

4. Limited Access to Quality Care
   While insurance theoretically makes therapy accessible, in reality, many clients struggle to find in-network providers due to long waitlists and restrictions on covered services. Those who need mental health support the most are often left without viable options.

Why Charging Sustainable Fees is an Ethical Choice

Many therapists, including myself, have chosen to leave the insurance system and set sustainable, premium fees. This decision isn’t about exclusivity—it’s about offering ethical, high-quality care while resisting an oppressive system. Here’s why this approach benefits both clients and therapists:

✔️ Ensuring Quality Over Quantity – Without the burden of high caseloads, therapists can be fully present, engaged, and attuned to their clients’ needs. This leads to deeper, more meaningful therapeutic work.
✔️ Long-Term Sustainability – Charging sustainable fees allows therapists to avoid burnout and continue offering care for years to come, rather than being forced out of the field due to exhaustion.
✔️ Therapeutic Freedom – Without insurance dictating care, therapists can focus on what actually helps clients—whether that’s long-term depth work, relational healing, or flexible session structures.
✔️ A Stand Against Oppression – Opting out of the insurance system is an act of advocacy. It challenges a model prioritizing corporate profits over human well-being and supports a future where mental health care is valued appropriately.

Investing in Your Healing Journey

Deciding to invest in therapy without insurance may feel daunting, but it’s an investment in deep, transformative healing. When you work with a therapist who charges a premium fee, you’re not just paying for a service—you’re ensuring that your care is prioritized, your therapist is fully present, and your healing journey is free from corporate interference.

If you’re ready to explore therapy in a way that centers your needs and empowers both you and your therapist, I invite you to reach out for a consultation. Together, we can create a therapeutic space that fosters true growth, healing, and authenticity.

Because your well-being is worth it!

***The Money Sessions. (2025). From Insurance Panels to $250 Sessions: Tavari's In-Process Journey [Audio podcast episode]. Hosted by Tiffany McLain, featuring Dr. Brown. Retrieved from Podcast Link