Pro Bono & Reduced-Fee Therapy in Lawrence, KS

Who Provides Reduced-Fee Sessions

Our pro bono and reduced-fee sessions are provided by Master of Social Work interns completing their clinical practicum with our collective. Currently that includes Chantel White, a Washburn University MSW student and registered yoga teacher with more than 15 years of experience supporting children and families, whose developing approach is person-centered, trauma-informed and grounded in the mind-body connection; and Oliver Xu, an MSW student with graduate training in sport and exercise psychology and a background in community health, who brings warmth and curiosity to work on stress, relationships, life transitions and personal growth.

Both interns see clients in Lawrence and by telehealth, and both work under the licensed clinical supervision of our team. Interns are, by definition, still in training, which is precisely why supervision matters so much. Your intern therapist consults regularly with a licensed supervisor about the work you’re doing together, so you benefit from two sets of eyes: one in the room with you, and one experienced guide behind the scenes.

What Supervised Therapy Looks Like

From your side of the room, supervised therapy looks like therapy. You’ll complete intake paperwork through our client portal, meet for a first session to talk through what brings you in and your goals, and then meet regularly to do the work. Your intern may use approaches like CBT, mindfulness, somatic and body-based practices and strengths-based work, depending on your needs and their training. If a particular approach or specialty is beyond an intern’s scope, your care will be adjusted or a licensed clinician brought in.

Confidentiality works the same way it does with any clinician at our practice. The main difference is that your intern shares details of the work with their licensed supervisor for guidance, and we’re glad to explain how that works when you reach out. Supervisors are bound by the same professional confidentiality your intern is. Nothing about your care is discussed outside that supervisory relationship without your permission.

• Same intake, same confidentiality and same client portal as every client
• Regular clinical supervision by a licensed clinician on our team
• In person at our Lawrence offices or by secure telehealth across Kansas
• Individual therapy, with the kinds of concerns each intern sees depending on their training and caseload
• A clear plan for transitioning your care when an intern’s practicum ends

How Cost Is Decided

Sliding scale rates run from $50 to $160 per session, depending on the therapist and what they have available, and pro bono sessions are available through our interns. When you reach out, our intake team will ask about your situation: whether you have insurance, what you could realistically manage per session and what else is going on. Some clients are seen pro bono, meaning free of charge. Others pay a reduced fee that fits their budget. The decision is made case by case, with the goal of making care possible rather than making the math work on paper.

Availability is the honest limit. Our interns carry a set number of pro bono and reduced-fee clients, and those spots fill. If none are open when you call, we’ll tell you, and we’ll talk through what else might work: joining a waitlist, a lower-cost group, a clinician who takes your insurance or KanCare, or a referral to another Lawrence or Kansas resource. You won’t be left guessing.

Other Paths to Affordable Therapy

Intern sessions aren’t the only way to make therapy affordable at our collective. Many of our licensed clinicians accept Kansas Medicaid (KanCare) and most major insurance plans, including every Blue Cross Blue Shield network, Aetna, Cigna, Ambetter, United, Tricare and Medicare, and we file claims on your behalf. If you have coverage you haven’t used because you assumed it wouldn’t help, it’s worth a phone call to check.

Group therapy is another lower-cost option, and some groups are donation-based or billable to insurance. For self-pay clients, same-day payment earns a discount, and some providers can arrange individualized reduced rates by agreement. Tell us your situation, and we’ll find what fits. Please remember that none of these options is a substitute for emergency care; if you’re in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 right away, any time of day.