Wayfinding Sliding Scale Financials
Learn more below about how to way-find your appropriate amount you should be paying for therapy, using the "bucket" method is the fastest.
As part of my activism, I offer a discounted rate for telehealth is based on a conversation/questionnaire using a community health model. These numbers
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I recommend a "Full" or "Redistribution" level of investment for people with medium to high access to resources in the global context. What I mean by this can be answered in the questionnaire below crafted from the Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance (AORTA).
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I do have a limited number of sliding-scale or "Discounted, Basic, or Solidarity" spots. This is a firm commitment to weekly or bi-monthly (every other week) sessions and will change when you have a financial change.
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No-show sessions or last-minute cancels are always $50 to be respectful of our mutual time. If I have to cancel from an unforeseen circumstance, I will find a time that works for us both asap.
How to find your "number".
Sources / Acknowledgement:
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National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) determiners of socioeconomic status (SES)
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Questions sourced from the good work of the Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance (AORTA). @aaortacoop
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"Buckets" model augmented from the good work of therapist Noelle Wolf, MA at MN Art Therapy.
Questionnaire
Please take this short questionnaire to help determine your rate with therapy, you can write your tally on a sheet of paper or in your phone:
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Are you and/or your family homeowners or landowners? (Family includes who you life with, and family of origin if they have helped you financially.)
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Have you attended private education institutions or do you have an advanced degree?
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Are your bills or credit cards on autopay?
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Have you not had difficulty accessing and affording healthcare or health insurance for you or your family members?
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Aside from student loans, do you have zero to no debt and/or do you have disposable income (i.e. income remaining after deduction of taxes and other mandatory payments, available to be spent or saved as one wishes.)
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Do you have a safety net composed of “financially stable” or wealthy family and friends? Could you call someone if you couldn't make rent/mortgage?
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Do you have U.S. Citizenship?
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Does your income only support you, and not other loved ones in need?
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Have you or do you expect to inherit money or property?
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Have you (or could you) have attended college and/or graduate school?
# of No___
# of Yes___
Determine Individual Sliding Scale / Community Share
Individual Sliding Scale Rates based on your answers to the questions.
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If you answered all yes = Redistribution* $165/hour
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If you answered more yes than no = Full Cost* $150/hour
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If you answered half no, half yes = Discounted Cost $125/ hour
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If you answered more no than yes = Cover Basic costs $75/hour
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If you answered all no = Solidarity, supported by your community and Emily at $35/hour
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*I recommend the Full or Redistribution level of investment for people with medium to high access to resources in the global context.
Which 'bucket' are you in?
Definitions:
*Basic needs = food, housing, transportation.
**Expendable income = getting coffee out, able to dine out, see shows,
buy clothes, books, online shop, get delivery, etc., each month.
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I am comfortable and can easily meet my basic needs
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I am comfortable and can easily meet my basic needs
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I am comfortable and can easily meet my basic needs
Redistrobution
$165
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I am comfortable and can easily meet my basic needs*.
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I have little debt outside of student loans.
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I own my home or rent a higher end property.
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I own a car.
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I am employed or do not need to work to have income.
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I have access to savings.
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I have expendable income**.
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I can afford to take holidays/ time off.
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You have high access to resources in the global context
Full Cost
$150
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I can meet my basic needs*.
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I have little debt outside of student loans.
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I own my home or rent a property.
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I own a car.
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I am employed or self-employed.
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I have access to some savings.
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I have some expendable income**.
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I can take an annual holiday without financial burden.
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You have medium access to resources in the global context.
Discounted Cost $125
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I might stress about my basic needs* but I usually can achieve them.
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I have some debt outside of student loans.
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I do not own my home.
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I own a car but struggle to cover insurance.
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I work part-time.
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I don't have access to any savings.
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I have limited expendable income**.
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I have to actively save to take time off.
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You have some access to resources in the global context
Cover Basic Costs $75
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I frequently stress about my basic needs* and don't always achieve them.
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I have debt outside of student loans that prohibits me from meeting basic needs.
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I rent low end property or have unstable housing.
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I don't own a car or I struggle to cover gas.
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I am unemployed or qualify for govt. assistance.
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I don't have any savings.
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I have no or very limited expendable income**.
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I can not afford to take time off.
Solidarity
$35/PB
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I frequently stress about my basic needs* and don't always achieve them.
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I have debt outside of student loans that prohibits me from meeting basic needs.
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I rent low end property or have unstable housing.
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I don't own a car or I struggle to cover gas.
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I am unemployed or qualify for govt. assistance.
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I don't have any savings.
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I have no or very limited expendable income**.
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I can not afford to take time off.
Need more detail?
Determining Your US Federal National % Level
The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is set by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) according to this National chart.
NOTE: This way does not take into account the above questions (i.e. generational, race, sexual orientation, etc).
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See Patient Financial Assistance Sliding Scale Guidelines Chart - 2021 (2022 is not released yet)
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Instructions
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Using the chart below, find your family # in “Size of family unit” in your "household",
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Then, along that line, find your "household income" before taxes (not Adjusted Gross Income, include spouse/partner or parent income) on the larger white part of the chart, (Ignore the “Federal Poverty Level Income" number)
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Then look at what yellow column you are in, to find your % “Financial Assistance”.
Rate
If your Federal “Approved % financial assistance” is at:
100% - 90% = Solidarity, supported by your community and Emily at $35/hour
80% - 70% = Cover Basic costs $75/hour
60% - 50% = Discount $125/hour
40% - 25% = Full Cost* $150/hour
20% - 0% = Redistribution* to community $165/hour
*A full standard rate payment allows another member of your community to benefit from discounted art therapy with me.