Keep doing the work you believe in. Get paid for it.
Rise Together helps independent counselors serve clients who couldn't otherwise afford therapy—without asking you to compromise your practice, your time, or your compensation.
Your clients shouldn't have to disappear because they can't afford therapy.
The way mental health care is changing doesn't have to mean losing what makes therapy human. Rise Together supports independent counselors and the relationships they build with their clients, without turning care into a volume-driven business.
Keep your independence
Rise Together is not a private practice. You remain an independent counselor and continue to manage your practice on your terms.
See clients who might otherwise be out of reach
Financial hardship shouldn't automatically mean ending a therapeutic relationship or turning someone away.
Get paid for your work
Clients contribute what they can, and Rise Together helps cover the remaining cost.
You became a therapist to provide care, not fight with insurance
With Rise Together you wont have to:
Turn away a client solely because of financial hardship
Reduce your fee to make care accessible
Choose between helping a client and getting paid fairly
Navigate insurance companies
Chase insurance reimbursements
Decide whether someone can afford to continue therapy
You provide the care. Rise Together helps make the care financially possible.
How It Works
1 — Join Rise Together
Sign up to be apart of the Rise Together Network
2 — Get Connected with Clients or Enroll a Current Client
Rise Together connects clients seeking affordable care with counselors in our network, or connect with us if you have a client in need,
3 — Provide Care
You work directly with your client just as you normally would. You remain responsible for the therapeutic relationship and your clinical care. You know your client best.
4 — Send the Bill
After providing a session, you submit your bill to Rise Together.
5 — Rise Together Covers the Difference
The client contributes what they can toward the session, and Rise Together covers the remaining portion.
You provide the therapy.
We help remove the financial barrier.
Compensation & Pricing
Your work has value. We believe you should be compensated for it.
Rise Together pays therapists a set rate for each session:
$100 — Fully licensed therapists
$80 — Pre-licensed therapists
Clients contribute $5–$25 per session, based on what they can afford. Rise Together covers the remaining balance.
For a fully licensed therapist, Rise Together can contribute up to $95 per session.
This is not a private practice
We're a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is building a network of therapists to make care accessible for clients and sustainable for clinicians.
We’re not a big corporate platform
We are therapists ourselves and we base our model on clients and counselors.
Not investors.
We’re donation based
All of our funding comes from donations from the community.
We’re not like telehealth-only services
We meet clients in person or virtually, so privacy or unreliable tech never excludes someone from care. You are able to make your own schedule and see/treat your clients as you see fit.
We’re a community
You will not be an employee of Rise Together and we will have no say in how you choose to run your independent practice.
“
I am deeply grateful to be part of Rise Together Chicago’s mission. It expands access to mental health care while honoring client choice and supporting the wellbeing of both clients and clinicians, making compassionate, high–quality therapy accessible in a meaningful and lasting way”
— Rise Together Provider
Your Questions, Answered
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You're paid a set rate regardless of what the client contributes: $100/session for fully licensed therapists, $80/session for pre-licensed. Rise Together covers the gap between what the client pays ($5–$25) and your rate — up to $95 per session for fully licensed therapists.
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You will be paid direct via Zelle or you can be a 1099.
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No. You remain fully independent — you set your own schedule, choose how you see clients (in-person or virtual), and stay responsible for the clinical relationship. Rise Together isn't your employer and has no say in how you practice.
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This depends on current funding. The more we raise, the more client relationships we're able to support. There's no fixed cap on your end.
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You are able to choose which clients you see. You can let us know what you specialize in and we can refer you clients that will be a good fit. You always reserve the right to turn down a client you don’t think will be a good fit or you do not have space for.
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Fully licensed therapists (LPC, LCPC, LCSW, LMFT, LCSW, PHD, Psy.D) qualify at the $100/session rate. Pre-licensed therapists (LPC, LSW) qualify at the $80/session rate, provided they're currently under clinical supervision. Supervised interns are welcome to join.
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You don’t need to be located in Chicago or Illinois
Your work matters. Your clients matter.
You shouldn’t have to choose between providing care and being fairly paid for your work