Play Therapy Costs Explained: Why We’re Out-of-Network and How Our Sliding Scale Helps
People often ask us why we don’t work directly with insurance companies, and how we made the tough choice to stop accepting Medicaid.
As a small, local therapy practice, we’re always finding ways to work within imperfect systems while staying true to our core values — honoring our clinicians, practicing culturally responsive and anti-oppressive care, and always learning how to better serve kids and families.
Insurance and Medicaid don’t reimburse therapists much, and the paperwork is heavy. Sometimes payments even get taken back. Over time, this makes it really hard to support our team and make sure kids get the quality care they deserve. These systems also require a diagnosis on file, and they only pay for what’s considered “medically necessary,” which doesn’t always fit the kind of personalized, relationship-focused care we believe in. Additionally, not every child who needs therapy meets full diagnostic criteria. Overall, we value the freedom to provide services to those who need it without being bound to the need for diagnosis or proving they need care.
Now, as we enter year five in business, we’re incorporating client and community feedback and rooting in our values to rethink how therapy gets funded. We’re launching a new pricing model — one that’s built on mutual support and community, and welcomes others in, even if they aren’t receiving therapy here.
Our Commitment to Accessibility in Play Therapy
At Bud to Bloom Play Therapy, we believe therapy is essential care, not a luxury. When children, teens, and caregivers have access to high-quality mental health support, families are stronger, schools are healthier, and communities are more resilient.
But access to therapy in St. Louis is not equal.
Because of long-standing systems of racial and economic oppression, Black and low-income families are more likely to face barriers to mental health care, all while experiencing higher levels of stress and trauma. These same families and children are also disproportionately more impacted by recent challenges in the area, including the 2025 tornado.
Our work is rooted in the belief that care should be shared, sustained, and supported by the whole community. We know that communities receiving appropriate care see better school outcomes, improved family stability, and fewer emergency interventions. Investing in mental health care benefits all of us.
That’s why we created Bloom Together Pricing.
Why Mental Health Care Matters — For Everyone
Therapy helps children and families:
Manage stress, anxiety, grief, and big life transitions
Build emotional regulation and coping skills
Strengthen relationships and communication
Address trauma early, before it becomes crisis
When high quality, culturally responsive therapy is accessible, families are more supported — and the ripple effects reach far beyond the therapy room. Imagine less gun violence, more high school graduates, more relationships able to withstand conflict and challenge. Investing in the mental well-being of our youth benefits all of us, in the short- and long-term.
The Reality: Who Has Access to Therapy in St. Louis?
Many Black and brown and working-class families in St. Louis face real obstacles to getting mental health support, including:
High out-of-pocket therapy costs
Insurance plans that don’t adequately cover mental health care
Long waitlists for affordable providers
Fewer culturally responsive and affirming therapists
Limited childcare, transportation, or time off work
These barriers are not personal failures; they are the result of systems that have historically underfunded and underserved Black and poor communities. And these barriers shouldn’t have to be addressed alone. That’s why we’re launching a shared care model.
Bloom Together Pricing: A Shared Care Model
Our Bloom Together Pricing model is built on a simple truth: families are in different financial seasons.
Supported Season: Some families are in seasons where they need reduced fees to access care. We have limited spots available for this season, and families will pay $75 per session.
Sustaining Season: Others may be in a stable place and able to pay our standard rate ($150).
Generative Season: And some may have additional capacity to give forward, helping expand access for others in our community ($200).
Instead of a single flat fee, we invite clients to choose the rate that fits their current reality. Higher-tier contributions can support access to therapy for families who otherwise might not be able to afford therapy with us.
Additionally, community members who have no need in our services but who are passionate about redistributing their wealth and investing into youth mental well-being can contribute to our Blooming Fund.
This isn’t charity — it’s redistribution. It’s mutual aid.
Why Giving Forward Benefits Everyone
We understand that a model like this only works when there’s enough abundance to share and redistribute. We have full faith that there is enough for everyone. If you are someone with more financial abundance, we invite you to give forward with us. When you give forward, from a place of abundance, you’re not just helping someone else; you’re investing in a healthier community that you, too, are a part of.
Giving forward:
Expands access to therapy before families reach crisis
Helps sustain community-centered mental health services
Reduces strain on emergency and school systems
Creates a culture of shared responsibility and care
Many people who give forward report that it feels grounding and values-aligned. Using their financial stability in service of their values is a reminder that each of us has something to contribute.
An Invitation to Give Forward
If you have financial flexibility, generational support, or a steady income, we invite you to redistribute with us. You can give forward as a current or former client, as a community member who believes in accessible mental health care, or through a one-time gift (we’re not a non-profit, so this isn’t tax-deductible.) You can also give forward by visiting our store. 100% of proceeds from merch goes directly to our accessibility fund.
Your contribution helps ensure that more children and families in St. Louis can access therapy when they need it, not just when they can afford it.
Together, we can grow a care ecosystem rooted in dignity, access, and shared abundance.
