Green bottle method

The Green Bottle Method is a sliding scale pricing model developed by Alexis J. Cunningfolk, a community healing practitioner and herbalist. Introduced in 2015 through Cunningfolk’s blog post, The Sliding Scale: A Tool of Economic Justice, the method was designed to make services more accessible by allowing clients to select a fee tier that aligns with their financial reality, without the need for income verification.

The model utilizes a visual metaphor of three bottles—full, half-full, and nearly empty—to represent different levels of financial privilege and access. Clients choose the bottle that best reflects their current financial situation, promoting transparency and trust in the therapeutic relationship.

For more information on implementing the Green Bottle Method, you can visit Cunningfolk’s original blog post: The Sliding Scale: A Tool of Economic Justice.

What in the world is the green bottle method?

  • Generous Tier

    $250–$300

    This tier is for clients who can comfortably give a little extra. Paying at this level helps support the practice and keeps therapy accessible for others who may need the lower tiers. It’s a way to contribute to the community of care while investing in your own growth.

  • Standard Tier

    $200–$250

    This is the standard, fair rate for clients who can comfortably pay for therapy. It’s for those who value the work and want a rate that reflects a balance between accessibility and sustaining the practice.

  • Support Tier

    TBD / lower rate

    This tier is for clients who need the most financial flexibility. It’s designed to make therapy accessible to anyone who wants support but may have limited resources. Choosing this tier is completely valid and welcomed—you’re still getting the same quality care, just at a rate that works for you.

****Please note, above is for 53 minute regularly occurring therapy sessions. The first session will cost higher (+$25-$50) as it includes assessment and treatment planning for a 90-120 minute intake appointment.

Accepted forms of payment:

Cash, Check, Credit card (American Express, Discover, Mastercard, or Visa), Flexible Savings Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), and CareCredit.

See below for info on using OON benefits.

Got out of network benefits?

I get it! Insurance benefits = COMPLICATED & MYSTIFYING.

Even though I’m not in-network with insurance, you may still be able to use your out-of-network benefits to get partial reimbursement for therapy. Many PPO insurance plans will cover a percentage of your session cost (sometimes up to 80%!) once you’ve met your deductible.

If you choose to use these benefits, I’ll provide you with a superbill—a detailed receipt with all the information your insurance company needs to process a claim. You simply submit it to your insurer, and if eligible, they’ll reimburse you directly.

During consult and the first session we can discuss this more in length and I can help you, to the best of my ability, in navigating out of network benefits.

Before we meet, it can help to ask your insurance:

  • Do I have out-of-network mental health coverage?

  • What percentage of the session fee is reimbursed?

  • What’s my deductible, and how much has been met?

  • How do I submit a superbill?

A quick call can clarify what your plan covers and how to get reimbursed.

Codes to know when inquiring about OON benefits:

CPT Billing Code 90791 (first intake appointment)

CPT Billing Code 90837 (follow up appointments)