Ever since I entered private practice, I’ve found myself helping not only clients in the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas, but also friends, families, and community members navigate the mental health resources available throughout the Twin Cities.
Unfortunately, connecting individuals and families with the right mental health provider often takes significant effort from everyone involved. Practitioners must balance caring for current clients while also managing scheduling, billing, insurance, documentation (my least favorite part), credentialing, contracts, and the ongoing challenge of marketing their services to potential clients who would be a good fit.
As a helper, I have always been willing to facilitate these connections. But the reality is that it takes a tremendous amount of time. If I—as a seasoned professional who has built relationships with a wide variety of practitioners throughout the past decade in both California and Minnesota—sometimes struggle to identify providers who are accepting new clients, I can only imagine how difficult this process must be for individuals and families who are already in crisis and in need of support.
Of course, emergency departments and urgent mental health services are available for those experiencing an immediate crisis. However, once someone is discharged, it often becomes their responsibility to locate, contact, and establish care with ongoing providers. Unfortunately, we know that when someone is struggling with their mental health, they are often less likely to have the motivation, energy, or organizational capacity needed to navigate this process.
Many people begin by searching online for terms like "therapists who treat anxiety in St. Paul" or "trauma therapists in Minneapolis." They can spend hours reviewing profiles from literally thousands of practitioners. I often advise friends and family members to identify three to five providers who seem like a good fit and reach out to each one regarding availability and an initial consultation.
Increasingly, however, I hear the same responses:
"No one responded."
"I connected with someone, but it wasn't the right fit."
The most discouraging part is that many people lose momentum after these experiences. They either become overwhelmed or simply do not have the capacity to continue searching.
Imagine, for example, that you are experiencing clinical depression. You might be dealing with symptoms such as:
- Feeling sad, down, empty, or irritable most days
- Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy (not going to the gym, withdrawing from friends)
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Having trouble sleeping or sleeping much more than usual
- Feeling restless, slowed down, or "stuck"
- Constant fatigue or lack of energy
- Feeling worthless, hopeless, or overwhelmed by guilt
- Difficulty focusing, remembering things, or making decisions
- Thoughts about death, dying, or suicide
Now imagine that the primary recommendation from your doctor, friends, and family is simply to "find a therapist."
The very symptoms of depression can become barriers that prevent individuals from accessing the help they need.
On the practitioner side, many of us who own private or group practices are equally overwhelmed. Beyond providing clinical care, we spend countless hours managing administrative responsibilities—scheduling, billing, charting, maintaining confidentiality, managing office space, responding to inquiries, and much more.
Most of us entered this profession because of our desire to help people. We are trained to build meaningful relationships, think critically, and help individuals challenge patterns that no longer serve them. Most of us did not enter the field with backgrounds in marketing, advertising, or business development.
I see this problem.
I feel this problem.
And I want to help solve this problem.
That is why I created Healing Tides Collective.