Our approach
Context-informed mental health treatment
Context-informed therapy
Positive mental health is not simply the absence of symptoms that get in the way of functioning, but the presence of authenticity and feeling safe and comfortable in our own skin.
It can be helpful to think about depression and anxiety and other symptoms not as a brain disorder but as a signal that something in our lives needs more attention. When we view symptoms as clues for change, it increases motivation and hope.
Often, the priority is learning how to recognize and regulate our thoughts, feelings, and body sensations. Other times, it is the environment – a safer housing situation, an improved relationship, better time management, more affordable childcare, a more affirming workplace – that needs attention.
We acknowledge bio-genetic influences on anxiety and depression and ability to function, but suggest that it may be unproductive to think of mental health problems as analogous to physical illnesses.
“Positive mental health is not [necessarily] about feeling good or calm or relaxed. It’s about having feelings that fit the circumstances you’re in and then managing those feelings well, even if those feelings are negative or unpleasant.”
The idea that mental health symptoms arise from a broken brain legitimizes suffering and reduces self-blame. But it also reinforces essentialist thinking (“I just need to accept that I am damaged goods,”) and decreases a sense of agency and power.
When we change our circumstances or our habitual responses to life’s stressors, we create new neural pathways in our brain. Our capacity to manage our reactions expands. Our feelings match the situations we face, and we are able to manage those feelings and get back to our “safe space” and restore our center of emotional balance.
Affordable therapy options
Insurance
Room To Talk accepts several insurance plans. Use your health insurance and depending on your plan, cover only your co-pay.
Out-of-pocket
If you wish to pay privately and not use insurance, that’s okay with us.
Sliding-fee scale
If your budget is limited or you don’t have insurance we recommend requesting counseling through Soundings, a program of The Women’s Center.
We will work with you
If you wish to see a Room To Talk therapist, you may use your health insurance to help pay for your therapy sessions, or pay privately for the full cost of a session.
Our staff will help you verify your coverage in any way we can. After we have verified your insurance, we will explain how much each session will cost so you’re never caught off guard.
You will be fully responsible for any deductibles, co-pays, late cancellations and/or anything not covered in a timely manner by your insurance. (The amount you must pay yourself ahead of time is your deductible, typically $500 to $5,000 a year, depending on your plan.) What your insurance doesn’t cover for each visit is your co-pay — usually $20 to $50 per session.
If you have any questions or concerns about insurance or paying for your sessions, please reach out.
Currently, we accept these insurances:
Medicare
Blue Care Network of Michigan
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Complete
University of Michigan Health Plan (formerly PHP)
Washtenaw Health Plan
We accept some Medicaid HMO plans if offered by the companies listed above. We do not accept what is often called “straight Medicaid.” If the only card that you have is a green mihealth card, then you likely have straight Medicaid. In that case, we recommend that you try the sliding-fee option at The Women’s Center for lower-cost services.
Room To Talk is a wholly-owned program of The Women’s Center. All Room To Talk therapists are fully-licensed and have been doing therapy for quite some time.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.