How Darby Integrative Counseling is Using Thrizer to Grow Their EMDR, Couples, and LGBTQIA+ Therapy Practice

Transitioning Ten Therapists to Cash Pay in One Move

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Andrew P. Darby, LCSW, LCSW-C, founder of Darby Integrative Counseling, knew it was time for his practice to move from in-network to out-of-network. But the prospect left him feeling anxious.

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“The struggle was REAL,” Andrew said. He recognized that switching to cash pay meant his practice could become inaccessible to some clients and see a drop in revenue.

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And it wasn’t just his own client list he had to worry about. Besides Andrew himself, Darby Integrative Counseling had 10 clinicians on staff. They relied on the practice to keep their caseloads full and new clients coming in the door. A wrong move meant each of them would face an individual loss of income.

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Andrew needed to guarantee a smooth transition to cash pay for their clients, including extra support for clients with out-of-network benefits. The trick would be finding a solution that worked—without heaping on extra administrative burden or increasing operating expenses.

A Drama-Free Transition with Help Along the Way

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Andrew started looking at his options. He knew that preparing superbills for clients with out-of-network benefits would be one of the biggest pieces of extra admin work once his practice transitioned to cash pay. 

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It would also introduce a point of friction for clients. Rather than having their insurance billed directly, they would now shoulder the burden of submitting their own claims. And they would have to wait to be reimbursed for therapists’ fees they had paid out of pocket.

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While some solutions on the market helped to automate the creation of superbills for his practice, none offered extra support for clients. Except Thrizer.

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“We looked at other companies,” Andrew said, “but the benefits of Thrizer made it the obvious best choice.”

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He added, “Thrizer helped give me a way to smooth the transition for my clients, my staff, and myself.” 

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Andrew adds that, with Thrizer supporting his practice, he and his staff have retained clients who otherwise might have left. He names Thrizer Pay as one of the most advantageous features because it reduces financial pressures on clients.

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It also reduces financial pressure on his practice. “Thrizer helped lower our costs for credit card fees without a higher price tag for us, unlike other solutions we looked at,” he said.

Scaling Up While Keeping Admin at a Minimum 

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Since signing up for Thrizer, “Our private pay clients have increased, and we have scaled 20% larger in just a year's time,” Andrew said. “And our clients consistently attend their sessions more frequently, which translates to better clinical outcomes for them and their families.”

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He said that 99% of Darby Integrative Counseling’s clients now use Thrizer. 

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“Our clients love Thrizer,” he said. “I have heard reports of how pleased they are with response times to questions, availability of Thrizer staff to help them understand their benefits, and the reduction in healthcare costs due to this information, education, and support.”

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The switch to out-of-network billing with Thrizer has also improved day-to-day operations for his practice.

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“Thrizer has improved our operations and processes exponentially,” Andrew said. “We have cut down on at least 10 hours weekly of admin time that we can use on helping our clients and our staff.”

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“We are reallocating time to client care initiatives, hiring new providers, opening new therapy groups, helping clients access specialized care via our advertising and marketing campaigns. The list is almost endless.”

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Andrew has worked in the mental health field since 2008. He’s passionate about therapy and the tangible, positive role it has to play in clients’ lives. While running a growing group practice can sometimes be stressful, he said the effort pays off.

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“When I see my clients, my team, and our community thrive, it reminds me of why I do what I do. I am grateful for the impact we are able to make in the world."