Therapy
Widening access to therapy at Turtle Shell for clients experiencing financial hardship who could not otherwise access these services.
Access to therapy should not depend on what you can pay
The Growing Shell Scholarship — Therapy widens access to therapy at Turtle Shell for clients experiencing financial hardship. The cost of mental health care is one of the most significant barriers to healing for the people who need it most.
Clients who have been failed by systems — by inadequate insurance, by underfunded community mental health, by therapists who didn’t affirm them — are often also the clients least likely to be able to afford private therapy. This scholarship exists because access to quality therapy should not depend on what someone can pay.
We trust applicants as the experts on their own circumstances. No financial documentation, tax records, or proof of hardship is required.
3 awards available
- 1 full-tuition award100% of session fees covered
- 2 half-tuition awards50% of session fees covered
Awards apply to individual, couples, and family therapy. Recipients receive their award for one year from the date of award and may reapply.
A short email application
Applications are accepted at any time and reviewed within 30 days. Qualified applicants are placed on a rolling waitlist as slots open.
Background Information
Share briefly:
- Type of therapy you’re seeking (individual, couples, family)
- Whether you’re a current or prospective client
- Whether you have insurance
- Whether you’re applying for a full or half award
A Short Statement (300–500 words)
Respond to both prompts:
- What brings you to therapy and what you hope to work on (share only what feels right)
- Your current circumstances and what makes financial access to therapy difficult right now
Submit by Email
Send your application to james.neehundley@turtleshelltherapy.com with the subject line:
Growing Shell Scholarship — Therapy Submission — [Your Name]
Ready to Apply?
Every application receives a personal response within 30 days of submission. If you have questions before applying — about current waitlist times, whether you’re a good fit, or alternative pathways to access therapy — please reach out.
Email Your Application →Timeline & Waitlist
The Growing Shell Scholarship for Therapy operates on a rolling waitlist because slots open as recipients complete their year or end therapy. Applications are accepted at any time and reviewed within 30 days of submission.
Wait times can vary. If you would like an estimate of current waitlist times before applying — or if the waitlist stretches beyond what works for your situation — please reach out. Turtle Shell is happy to help you think through alternatives, including our sliding-scale option ($120 to standard rate) and referrals to other Colorado providers.
We would rather help you find therapy that works for your timeline than have you wait for a slot that may not open in time.
Other Growing Shell Programs
The Growing Shell Initiative includes scholarships across all Turtle Shell services.
"Feel comfortable inside and outside of your shell."