Care & Agreements

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When people reach out to work with us, we want to be transparent about how we hold money, care, and boundaries.

While we do not hold formal certifications, we do have a long and proven track record of this work. We are skilled, experienced, and responsible for the care we provide, and we charge accordingly. Our rates reflect the depth, availability, and responsibility the work requires, and we trust our pricing.

Autonomy, Responsibility, and Non-Control

We do not operate within institutional, clinical, or coercive paradigms of care. Working with us assumes that the person seeking support is taking responsibility for their own choices, actions, and decisions.

Our role is not to manage, monitor, control, or rescue. We practice non-control. We offer presence, insight, pattern recognition, and support, but we do not replace personal agency or decision-making. Even in moments of crisis, the individual remains responsible for their choices and for engaging with the level of care they need.

Because of this, clear agreements around scope, duration, and compensation are essential. Structure is not imposed as control, but as containment. It allows support to exist without coercion, dependency, or blurred responsibility.

If someone is unable or unwilling to take responsibility for their decisions, or is seeking ongoing external regulation without consent to structure, we may not be the right fit.

This model is not right for everyone. We trust each person to assess whether this approach aligns with their needs, values, and capacity for responsibility.

Emergency Care

How We Hold Crisis, Care, and Compensation

Our work is relational, embodied, and often occurs at moments of real vulnerability. We work with dissociation, addiction, trauma, and nervous system collapse, and we take that responsibility seriously. This page exists to name how we ethically hold emergency care, boundaries, and finances so that support remains safe, effective, and sustainable for everyone involved.

A core principle

Care without containment is not care. Structure, boundaries, and compensation are part of harm reduction and ethical support.

What We Mean by “Emergency Care”

Emergency care refers to moments when someone is:

Actively dissociated or unable to orient
In active addiction or withdrawal
In acute emotional or nervous system distress
Reaching out for immediate support to feel safe or grounded

Emergency care is not the same as ongoing treatment, coaching, or integration work.

We are not a replacement for emergency services, inpatient care, or medical supervision. We do not assume responsibility for outcomes, decisions, or actions taken during or after support.

Emergency outreach does not guarantee immediate or ongoing availability. Response times vary, and support is offered based on capacity and existing agreements.

Tier 1: Immediate Safety and Orientation

We may offer brief, time-limited support to help someone orient, ground, and assess next steps.

This may include:

Basic grounding or orienting support
Assessing immediate safety
Helping identify next resources or steps

Limits:

Typically 30 minutes
One-time or very occasional
Not ongoing support

This level of care may be offered without charge at our discretion. It is not therapy, treatment, or continuing care.

Tier 2: Emergency Support Beyond Orientation

If support extends beyond immediate orientation, it becomes emergency care and must be held within a clear, compensated container.

This includes:

Continued emotional regulation or guidance
Staying available beyond brief grounding
Messaging or check-ins related to crisis
Holding decision-making, tracking, or stabilization

At this point, support is paid, even if sliding scale is applied.

We may offer:

A one-time emergency session
A short-term emergency agreement
Sliding scale options, discussed openly

Emergency care does not happen indefinitely, informally, or without agreement.

Tier 3: Ongoing Addiction or Dissociation Support

Addiction and dissociation inherently blur boundaries, time, and reciprocity. Because of this, we do not offer open-ended or unpaid support in these contexts.

Ongoing care requires:

Clear structure
Defined availability
Defined compensation or exchange
Defined duration

Money and structure are part of what makes this work ethical and effective.

Financial Policy

When Someone Cannot Pay

In cases of financial hardship, we may consider the following options:

Time-limited pro bono care, with a clear end date and scope
Sliding scale emergency sessions, discussed openly
Third-party support, such as a family member or sponsor

We do not provide unlimited or ongoing unpaid care, even in crisis.

Barter and Alternative Exchange

We occasionally agree to barter when:

The exchange is of fair value
It is something we genuinely need
There is a clear, agreed-upon timeline

Barter is never assumed and must be discussed in advance.

Relational Care and Boundaries

Our work is relational and can include warmth, check-ins, and genuine care. At times, this can feel like friendship. While we deeply care about, and love, the people we work with, this is a professional relationship, not a friendship.

Mutuality takes time, consent, and shared context. It does not automatically exist within a client relationship.

To protect the integrity of the work and prevent burnout or harm, guidance, availability, and emotional labor must remain within clear agreements.

Much of our work happens with people who are intelligent, self-aware, and often feel like equals in conversation. That resonance is real and valued. At the same time, it is important to honor the depth and breadth of experience, pattern recognition, and responsibility that we bring to the table. That expertise is part of what you are engaging, and it needs to be held with respect and structure in order to remain sustainable.

For the work to remain ethical, supportive, and viable over time, compensation and boundaries need to be clear. Please do not assume a discount, free care, or barter, but feel free to ask openly about what might be possible. Clear agreements allow us to continue showing up with care, presence, and integrity. We will always respond honestly.

A Personal Note

I (Abbie) have a strong tendency to overgive. When asked a question, I often offer thoughtful, thorough responses because that is how I am built and how I care.

Over time, I’ve learned that without clear containers, this can lead to unintentional extraction of time, insight, and labor, especially in relationships that feel peer-like or familiar.

This policy helps ensure that care remains ethical, sustainable, and grounded for everyone involved.

In Closing

We care deeply about safety, integrity, and real support. Naming structure and compensation is not a lack of compassion. It is part of what makes meaningful care possible.

If you are in crisis, we will help you orient to appropriate next steps. If you wish to continue working together, we will do so within a clear, respectful, and mutually agreed-upon container.

We will always respond honestly.