Amanda BeckerVerified account

A thread/rant/query on mental healthcare in DMV area: Several years ago, I talked with PCP about finding a therapist. She looked into who took my insurance (like 3) and none were taking new patients. She said it was very common for mental healthcare providers (MHP) here. (1/?)

She also said it was very common for MHP here to not take insurance at all and, furthermore, to want CASH up front. Not credit card, not check, CASH, thereby putting their services out of reach for most people. (2/?)

This made me LIVID. Why would I want to see a MHP who is, by action and deed, clearly only interested in money? And therefore only providing care to wealthy and/or upper middle class people? I know it is a business but they take an oath. (3/?)

Needless to say, I refused to see any MHP who I felt did not have empathy and a desire to help as one of their core missions. So I never saw one. Several years have passed, we are in a pandemic and people are suffering, and it is NO BETTER. (4/?)