Northern Lights Therapy, PLLC

06/12/2026

Po*******hy use is one of the least discussed and most misunderstood coping mechanisms in first responders.

That's exactly why I created this training.

We openly discuss PTSD, su***de, alcohol use, relationship struggles, and trauma exposure. But when it comes to po*******hy use, most agencies don't address it, most clinicians aren't trained to assess it, and most first responders don't feel comfortable talking about it.

That doesn't mean it's not happening.

In professions built around chronic stress, trauma, adrenaline, emotional shutdown, and repeated exposure to the worst days of people's lives, unhealthy coping strategies can develop quietly and often go unnoticed until they begin impacting relationships, mental health, self-worth, and job performance.

On June 22nd, I'll be presenting:

Behind Closed Doors: The Hidden Struggle of P**n Use in First Responders

This 3-hour virtual training takes an honest, evidence-based look at:

▪ Why first responders may be uniquely vulnerable to problematic po*******hy use
▪ The neuroscience behind compulsive use and addiction
▪ How po*******hy impacts relationships, emotional regulation, and overall wellness
▪ Warning signs clinicians and supervisors often miss
▪ How to have direct conversations without shame or judgment
▪ Clinical interventions and treatment considerations

This training is designed for clinicians, first responders, peer support members, supervisors, and anyone working within the first responder community.

The reality is that this issue exists whether we're willing to talk about it or not.

I'd rather start the conversation.

⚠️ This training will likely not be offered again until early 2027.

If you've been considering registering, don't wait for "next time."

📅 June 22, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Arizona Time)
💻 Virtual Training - Link sent prior to training
🎓 3 NBCC Continuing Education Hours
💲 $150

Register today through our website: https://www.northernlightstherapyaz.com/event-details/behind-closed-doors-the-hidden-struggle-of-porn-use-in-first-responders-2

06/11/2026

Last Friday, our Founder, Brianna Reinhold, LPC, LPCC (CA), CFRC, ERPSCC, had the honor of presenting at the 16th Annual Resource Roundup in Casa Grande.

In addition to speaking, Brianna spent time connecting with attendees at the Northern Lights Therapy vendor booth, answering questions and sharing information about mental health resources available throughout our communities.

Brianna was asked to close out a day filled with incredible speakers and important conversations by presenting on Mental Health Awareness. Drawing from the many topics discussed throughout the event, her message focused on a simple but powerful reminder: while it is important to care for our communities, we must also care for the people who serve them.

That includes taking care of ourselves, our loved ones, our coworkers, our employees, our clients, and those working tirelessly behind the scenes every day. Because when our own cup is empty, it becomes increasingly difficult to continue pouring into others.

As always, Brianna is incredibly grateful for every opportunity to share her passion for mental health, resilience, and community wellness. Her hope is that each person who attends walks away with at least one new idea, one fresh perspective, or one seed planted that can continue to grow long after the event ends.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Resource Roundup and to the organizers for inviting Northern Lights Therapy to be part of such a meaningful day. We appreciate the opportunity to learn, connect, and serve alongside so many dedicated community partners.

🖤💚

Ready to begin your mental health journey?

📞 623.243.2774
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.northernlightstherapyaz.com
📍Offices in Casa Grande, Chandler, and Maricopa

06/11/2026

The stack of records requests I shared previously? It hasn't stopped.

More requests. More medical reviews. More time spent defending medically necessary care instead of actually providing it.

At the same time, payments continue to be delayed, claims continue to be scrutinized, and providers are left operating in a constant state of uncertainty. Every hour spent responding to records requests, audits, reviews, and administrative demands is an hour taken away from client care, staff support, community outreach, and running a practice.

What many people don't see is that these processes don't just impact providers. They impact the people sitting in our offices seeking help.

When insurance companies create endless administrative hurdles, delay payments, question treatment recommendations, and demand mountains of documentation long after services have been provided, it places tremendous strain on the very providers they rely on to deliver care.

Mental health practices are not large corporations with unlimited resources. Many are small businesses trying to keep their doors open while serving their communities. Yet providers are increasingly expected to absorb the financial and administrative burden created by insurance companies.

At some point, we have to ask:

Who benefits from this?

Certainly not the client waiting for an appointment.

Certainly not the provider spending evenings and weekends responding to records requests instead of being with their family.

Certainly not the communities already struggling with access to mental health care.

Our clients deserve timely access to treatment without wondering if their care will be questioned months or years later.

Providers deserve to spend their time treating clients, not fighting endless battles with insurance companies simply to be paid for services already rendered.

This is not sustainable.

And if these practices continue, more providers will be forced to make difficult decisions about whether they can continue participating with insurance at all.

Enough is enough.

Mental health care matters. Access matters. Providers matter. And the people seeking help deserve a system that supports care instead of creating barriers to it.

06/10/2026

Please join us in congratulating Katlyn Lawson, LPC, on her promotion to Clinical Director at Northern Lights Therapy.

Katlyn has been an incredible part of the NLT family since 2020. Over the years, she has continuously demonstrated a commitment to growth, excellence, and leadership. She has challenged herself to step outside of her comfort zone, expand her clinical expertise, and take on new opportunities that have helped strengthen not only NLT, but the mental health profession as a whole.

In her new role as Clinical Director, Katlyn will oversee the majority of operations across our Arizona locations, helping ensure that our clients, clinicians, and communities continue to receive the high-quality care and support that Northern Lights Therapy has become known for.

Beyond her work as a clinician and leader, Katlyn is currently completing the requirements for her PhD. Her passion for improving the training and preparation of future mental health professionals is a driving force behind her continued education. She is dedicated to helping bridge the gap between graduate education and the realities clinicians face in the field, ensuring future providers are better equipped for the "real world" of mental health care.

Katlyn has consistently demonstrated the knowledge, professionalism, compassion, and leadership necessary to excel in this position, and we could not be more excited to officially share this news.

Thank you, Katlyn, for your dedication to our clients, our team, and our mission. We are excited to watch you continue to grow, lead, and help shape the future of Northern Lights Therapy.

Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion! 🖤💚

06/10/2026

Your story matters.

Have you or someone you love experienced challenges accessing mental health care because of insurance?

Maybe you've struggled to find an in-network provider. Maybe treatment was delayed, claims were denied, coverage changed unexpectedly, or the cost of care became a barrier. Perhaps your therapist left an insurance network, or insurance decisions impacted the care you were able to receive.

These experiences are happening every day, and they deserve to be heard.

The Mental Health Insurance Reform Task Force is collecting stories from individuals, families, mental health professionals, providers, advocates, and anyone who has been impacted by insurance-related barriers to mental health care.

The goal is simple: understand what people are experiencing, identify common challenges, and help bring greater awareness to the real-world impact insurance has on access to mental health treatment.

Whether your experience was recent or years ago, your voice can help paint a clearer picture of what is happening across our communities and may help inform future conversations, advocacy efforts, and meaningful change.

📱 Scan the QR code or visit the link below to share your story.

💚 Because access to mental health care should never be harder than the challenges people are already facing.

🔗 https://www.buildbetterhealth.org/sharedstories

06/10/2026

NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

Northern Lights Therapy currently has immediate openings with several clinicians and interns.

Our greatest availability is currently in our Casa Grande office, with additional openings available in Chandler.

We provide services for:
• Children
• Teens
• Adults
• Couples
• Families

Our clinicians offer a variety of specialties and treatment approaches, including:
• EMDR
• Brainspotting
• Play Therapy
• Trauma Therapy
• Anxiety and Depression
• First Responder Mental Health
• Relationship and Couples Counseling
• Grief and Loss
• Life Transitions
• And more

We have providers with evening and weekend availability, making it easier to find appointment times that work with your schedule.

Insurance options include:
• Aetna with participating clinicians
• UHC with Dana McGee (virtual appointments only)

We are also currently accepting new clients with our supervised graduate-level interns in both Casa Grande and Chandler. Sessions are only $50 per appointment, providing an affordable option for those seeking support.

Whether you are seeking help for yourself, your child, your relationship, or your family, our team is here to help you find the right fit.

To get started, contact us today and we'll help match you with a provider based on your needs, goals, scheduling preferences, and insurance options.

📞 623.243.2774
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.northernlightstherapyaz.com

You Matter. 🖤💚

06/09/2026

Dr. Elisabeth Potter, MD, if this reaches you, I'd love to connect.

What you're fighting in healthcare is not isolated to one specialty. While you've been speaking out about insurance company interference in medical care, many of us in mental health are fighting a very similar battle.

I own Northern Lights Therapy in Arizona. Earlier this year, I publicly raised concerns about insurance practices impacting access to mental health care, provider autonomy, and patient treatment.

Shortly after speaking out, my practice was subjected to an extensive audit that has turned into an ongoing nightmare.

What I'm experiencing is not unique. Therapists, counselors, psychologists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals across the country are facing increasing audits, clawbacks, administrative burdens, and insurance-driven barriers that ultimately affect the clients and patients we serve.

This isn't just a provider issue. It's a patient care issue.

The more healthcare professionals across disciplines join forces and share what's happening, the harder it becomes for these issues to be ignored.

If anyone knows Dr. Potter, please tag her, share this video, and help us connect.

📧[email protected]

www.NorthernLightsTherapyAZ.com

Because whether it's physical health or mental health, patients deserve access to care and providers deserve the ability to provide it without unnecessary interference.

06/09/2026

This past weekend, the Northern Lights Therapy team stepped away from our offices and into the pines of Flagstaff for a much-needed employee retreat.

As mental health professionals, we spend our days supporting others through some of life's most difficult moments. While we are passionate about the work we do, it's also important that we practice what we encourage our clients to do: slow down, reconnect, and take care of ourselves.

Our team spent time completing The Barefoot Trail, embracing nature, laughter, and a little adventure along the way. We also experienced an incredible private sound bath right at our Airbnb, creating space to pause, reflect, and recharge.

The weekend was exactly what we all needed. It gave us an opportunity to strengthen connections with one another, prioritize our own wellness, and return feeling refreshed and grounded.

Self-care isn't selfish. It isn't something reserved for when we're already burned out. It's an essential part of maintaining our own well-being so we can continue showing up for our clients, families, and communities in meaningful ways.

We're grateful for the time together, the memories made, and the reminder that healing and wellness apply to all of us.

💚 You Matter. And so does taking care of yourself.

06/09/2026

🎙️NEW PODCAST EPISODE🎙️

A few weeks ago, I sat down with the team at Healthcare Uprising to discuss what is happening behind the scenes in mental health care and why providers across the country are sounding the alarm.

In this episode, we dive into:

▪️ The growing challenges mental health providers face when working with insurance companies
▪️ How insurance policies are impacting access to care for clients and families
▪️ The increasing administrative and compliance burdens being placed on clinicians
▪️ Why many providers are questioning whether remaining in-network is sustainable
▪️ The federal legislation I have drafted to bring greater transparency, accountability, and oversight to the insurance industry
▪️ What these changes mean not only for providers, but for every person who relies on their insurance benefits to access mental health treatment

What makes this conversation especially interesting is that it was recorded BEFORE I received the results of my own audit.

At the time, I was discussing concerns I had been hearing from providers across Arizona and the nation. Since then, I have received audit findings seeking nearly $300,000 in recoupments while applying requirements that did not even exist during much of the audit period.

The concerns discussed in this podcast are no longer theoretical. They are actively impacting providers, practices, and most importantly, client access to care.

This is not about one provider.
This is not about one insurance company.
This is about the future of mental health care in America.

If you've ever wondered why providers are leaving insurance panels, why it can be difficult to find care, or why so many clinicians are speaking out right now, I encourage you to take a listen.

🎧 Listen here:
https://youtu.be/QM7FHmxaaBU?si=_8FnGyxExhyAxBTW

If you support accessible mental health care, please:
✅ Listen
✅ Share
✅ Comment
✅ Help spread awareness

The more people understand what is happening, the harder it becomes for these issues to remain hidden.



💚🖤 Please share this post. The conversation cannot stop with providers. It needs to reach the people these decisions ultimately affect: our clients and communities. 💚🖤

In this episode, Brianna Reinhold, a licensed professional counselo...