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Image of an airplane introducing our "fear of flying" blog.

Fear of Flying (Part 1): What This Series is and Why it Matters

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Therapy June 16, 2025June 27, 2025No Comments

This blog post, “Fear of Flying Part One: What this Series is and Why it Matters”, is timely, I suppose. I planned on writing this series on flight anxiety right before the tragic Air India crash in June 2025. The months leading up to that were riddled with other rare occurrences such as the Army Black Hawk helicopter collision with an American Airlines flight near D.C. As is often the case, when something like that …

Pros and Cons of Using Insurance for Therapy

by Joel SchmidtInsurance, Therapy May 9, 2025November 26, 2025No Comments

Many people understandably want to use health insurance for therapy if they have the benefits. Private pay rates for therapists can be high—and in many cases, use of health insurance benefits is the only thing that affords people the opportunity. The difference between $150 (and up) per session out-of-pocket vs. what might be as low as a $10 copay (in some cases less) might be seen as a total no-brainer. That said, when using health …

A person is looking out the window anxiously.

When Following Your Intuition is Bad Advice

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Healthy Thinking, Mindfulness, Worry April 9, 2025April 9, 2025No Comments

When Following Your Intuition is Bad Advice: I recently saw a post on Instagram that said something like this: “Follow your gut. Trust your intuition. If something feels wrong, it is wrong.” Well-intended advice, I’m sure. I suppose there’s something to it—and there are definitely times when we might indeed “go with our gut.” More than a handful of times since starting a business, I’ve begun some sort of professional business relationship with someone where …

A therapist counseling client in session.

Beyond the Session: What Goes Into a Therapist’s Cost Per Session

by Summer SchmidtTherapist, Therapy April 2, 2025No Comments

At an initial glance, therapy rates can seem high. With market averages that range from about $125–$175 per hour in the Tampa Bay area, it can seem like a little too much without understanding what all goes into it. For transparency’s sake, I’ll break down what kinds of factors go into a therapist’s cost per session. Knowing what you’re paying for and why you might have to pay that much may also provide some peace …

AI Image introducing a blog, "Can ChatGPT Replace a Therapist?"

Can ChatGPT Replace a Therapist? Promising Potential and Possible Pitfalls.

by Joel SchmidtTherapist, Therapy February 20, 2025February 20, 2025No Comments

There’s been a lot of talk lately about AI in mental health—therapists in online communities are widely split on their opinions, ranging from embracing AI’s potential to warning about its inaccuracies, concerns around data privacy, and fears of chatbots taking over our jobs. Like any new technology, I believe we should be cautious but also curious and open-minded. Just so you know where I’m coming from, I’m the first to jump on board with new …