Tucson Therapy Fund
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About the Tucson Therapy Fund
This fund is for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) members of the Pima County community to receive access to free counseling. Although there are numerous global wellness funds offering therapy, they are often used rapidly, relegating potential clients to long waitlists.
The model for this fund is based on Ashley McGirt’s #WATherapyFund which has quickly made a significant impact there: https://ashleymcgirt.com/watherapyfund
(I checked in with Ashley before sharing this. Ashley, thank you again for the encouragement to go for it!)
How You Can Help
Given the intensity of our current social and political climate and concurrent racial trauma, we want to help eliminate barriers for BIPOC community members to access free mental health services for individuals, couples, and families.
We want to help fund therapy that would include 5 sessions per client, at 100/session, with the option to apply for renewal if interested and funds are available. Recipients are welcome to choose less sessions if preferred, but this will provide a structure that provides the option of longer-term healing work.
Logistics for Recipients
Recipients are free to choose a provider. The funding team can also help seek appropriate referral sources within the therapist community as needed.
Structural racism has impacted the counseling and psychology realms, and the body of providers is less diverse than is preferable. When filling out the form to request funding, you can share preferences and non-negotiables, e.g. whether you would need to work with a black/BIPOC therapist or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Ways to Support the Tucson Therapy Fund
We are seeking BIPOC therapists who are available to offer sessions through the fund, as well as white therapists who have done anti-racist work and feel culturally competent to serve BIPOC clients (adults, families, and/or youth) without retraumatizing them. Therapists will be paid $100 per session. Note: some white therapists have inquired whether they can provide services through the fund at a lower rate. This is welcome and would be helpful.
These funds will lift barriers to counseling services for those in need of mental health services during this critical time. Current stressors related to the pandemic and blatantly racist, oppressive systems can significantly impact the ability to cope and contribute to depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Let’s alleviate the financial burden and help fund counseling services.
We are not actively recruiting new clinicians. The link below can be used if you have a Therapy Fund recipient that wants to work with you.
Form for licensed culturally competent, LGBTQIA+-allied providers
The form to request therapy will be posted as funds are available.
Resources:
Local therapists who listed themselves as Racial Justice Allied
Local therapists who listed themselves as Queer Allied
Therapy for Black Girls : AZ therapists with availability for virtual work
Therapists working with the Tucson Therapy Fund
Monique Devonne Mellisand Landrum
Vernice Morris
Dena Omar (limited availability)
Michelli Simpson
Chris Heinisch
Jen Zimmerman
Katherine Brazaitis
Melissa Meyer
Jennifer O'Neill
Sarah Argueta
Rachel Pauls
Chad Mosher
Susannah Castro
Amber Gruller
Anyone who wants to contribute is welcome, though I especially ask that white allies and other allies donate to help pay for the therapy of BIPOC people.
On average, with standard rates, 5 sessions per client will cost $500.00 total. Meeting the current goal would provide sessions to 20 BIPOC members of the Pima County community.
If you'd like to donate and sponsor someone please send anything you can. Even a few dollars makes a difference.
This page will be updated to reflect our progress.
To support #TucsonTherapyFund
1. Donate to the GoFundMe
2. Share with friends and BIPOC/culturally competent therapists you know in the community
3. Share this post using #TucsonTherapyFund
Please note:
This is a grassroots fund in which your donations will go directly toward paying for recipients' therapy. The donation is not made to a qualifying charity or 501(c)3 organization. Therefore, it is not deductible for tax purposes.
Donations are considered a gift. No goods or services will be provided to donors in exchange for contributions to this fund.
More Info Available on my Website
This fund is for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) members of the Pima County community to receive access to free counseling. Although there are numerous global wellness funds offering therapy, they are often used rapidly, relegating potential clients to long waitlists.
The model for this fund is based on Ashley McGirt’s #WATherapyFund which has quickly made a significant impact there: https://ashleymcgirt.com/watherapyfund
(I checked in with Ashley before sharing this. Ashley, thank you again for the encouragement to go for it!)
How You Can Help
Given the intensity of our current social and political climate and concurrent racial trauma, we want to help eliminate barriers for BIPOC community members to access free mental health services for individuals, couples, and families.
We want to help fund therapy that would include 5 sessions per client, at 100/session, with the option to apply for renewal if interested and funds are available. Recipients are welcome to choose less sessions if preferred, but this will provide a structure that provides the option of longer-term healing work.
Logistics for Recipients
Recipients are free to choose a provider. The funding team can also help seek appropriate referral sources within the therapist community as needed.
Structural racism has impacted the counseling and psychology realms, and the body of providers is less diverse than is preferable. When filling out the form to request funding, you can share preferences and non-negotiables, e.g. whether you would need to work with a black/BIPOC therapist or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Ways to Support the Tucson Therapy Fund
We are seeking BIPOC therapists who are available to offer sessions through the fund, as well as white therapists who have done anti-racist work and feel culturally competent to serve BIPOC clients (adults, families, and/or youth) without retraumatizing them. Therapists will be paid $100 per session. Note: some white therapists have inquired whether they can provide services through the fund at a lower rate. This is welcome and would be helpful.
These funds will lift barriers to counseling services for those in need of mental health services during this critical time. Current stressors related to the pandemic and blatantly racist, oppressive systems can significantly impact the ability to cope and contribute to depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Let’s alleviate the financial burden and help fund counseling services.
We are not actively recruiting new clinicians. The link below can be used if you have a Therapy Fund recipient that wants to work with you.
Form for licensed culturally competent, LGBTQIA+-allied providers
The form to request therapy will be posted as funds are available.
Resources:
Local therapists who listed themselves as Racial Justice Allied
Local therapists who listed themselves as Queer Allied
Therapy for Black Girls : AZ therapists with availability for virtual work
Therapists working with the Tucson Therapy Fund
Monique Devonne Mellisand Landrum
Vernice Morris
Dena Omar (limited availability)
Michelli Simpson
Chris Heinisch
Jen Zimmerman
Katherine Brazaitis
Melissa Meyer
Jennifer O'Neill
Sarah Argueta
Rachel Pauls
Chad Mosher
Susannah Castro
Amber Gruller
Anyone who wants to contribute is welcome, though I especially ask that white allies and other allies donate to help pay for the therapy of BIPOC people.
On average, with standard rates, 5 sessions per client will cost $500.00 total. Meeting the current goal would provide sessions to 20 BIPOC members of the Pima County community.
If you'd like to donate and sponsor someone please send anything you can. Even a few dollars makes a difference.
This page will be updated to reflect our progress.
To support #TucsonTherapyFund
1. Donate to the GoFundMe
2. Share with friends and BIPOC/culturally competent therapists you know in the community
3. Share this post using #TucsonTherapyFund
Please note:
This is a grassroots fund in which your donations will go directly toward paying for recipients' therapy. The donation is not made to a qualifying charity or 501(c)3 organization. Therefore, it is not deductible for tax purposes.
Donations are considered a gift. No goods or services will be provided to donors in exchange for contributions to this fund.
More Info Available on my Website
Fundraising team (4)
Caila Leah
Organizer
Tucson, AZ
Christine Heinisch
Team member
CG Smith
Team member
Jen Zimmerman
Team member
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