How to Use the Loveland Foundation Therapy Fund: What Black Women in the Greater Philadelphia Area Need to Know
- Djuan Short
- 54 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Accessing therapy should not feel like an endurance test. And yet, for many Black women in Philadelphia, the question is not whether therapy matters — it is whether it can be sustained.
The desire for care often runs headfirst into financial barriers, long waitlists, and systems that were never built with Black women in mind.
The Loveland Foundation exists because of that gap.
If you have heard about Loveland therapy vouchers and wondered whether this resource could support your healing journey, this piece walks through what the Loveland Foundation offers, how the Therapy Fund works, and what to consider before applying — so you can make an informed, grounded decision without added pressure.
What is the Loveland Foundation?
The Loveland Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that runs the Loveland Therapy Fund, a program that helps Black women and girls access free or low-cost mental health care.
Important clarity:
Loveland does not employ therapists.
It does not assign or match clients with providers.
It partners with established therapy directories and networks, including:
Therapy for Black Girls
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network
Open Path Collective
Zencare
Psychology Today
The Loveland Foundation's role is funding and access — not clinical oversight or referrals.
Why the Loveland Foundation Matters Right Now
Mental health demand has increased. Therapy costs continue to rise. And Black women are often navigating layered stressors — professional responsibility, caregiving, systemic inequities, emotional labor — with fewer culturally responsive resources.
At the same time, many Black and BIPOC therapists are already overextended, creating longer waits for care even when funding exists.
The Loveland Foundation was created to address this exact intersection: access, affordability, and culturally competent therapy — without asking Black women to justify why they need support in the first place.
A Turning Point: Funding Does Not Automatically Equal Access
Here is the part that often goes unspoken: Funding does not automatically equal access.
The Loveland Foundation makes therapy possible for many Black women. But approval does not guarantee therapist availability. Twelve sessions do not automatically create long-term.
Access is about more than just money; it also involves timing, finding a therapist who is the right fit, being emotionally ready, and planning for what happens after the vouchers end.
Understanding that distinction does not diminish the program's power. It deepens it. It helps you enter the process with clarity rather than unrealistic pressure.
Who the Loveland Therapy Fund Serves
The Therapy Fund is designed for individuals who:
Are at least 18 years old
Live in the United States
Identify as a Black woman or Black nonbinary person.
Apply on their own behalf.
While the primary focus is Black women and girls, some partner networks also serve gender-expansive people of color, which is why inclusive language may appear in program materials.
Eligibility requirements include self-identification as a Black woman or Black nonbinary person, being at least 18 years old, and residing in the United States.
Nonbinary and gender-expansive Black individuals can apply under these criteria without additional steps or considerations.
There are no specific income requirements for the application, making the program accessible to a wide range of individuals seeking support.
What Support the Loveland Foundation Provides
The core offering of the Therapy Fund is therapy vouchers:
Each voucher covers up to $120 per therapy session.
Participants can receive up to 12 vouchers total.
Vouchers are typically distributed in batches of four.
Sessions may be virtual or in-person.
In addition to individual therapy, Loveland occasionally offers community healing spaces, such as support groups and workshops.
This funding is intended to provide temporary support for an introductory series of therapy sessions rather than to cover ongoing, long-term care.
How the Application Process Works
Applications open quarterly.
Step 1: Wait for the Intake Window
When closed, you can join an email list to be notified of the next round.
Step 2: Complete the Online Application
Submitted directly to the Loveland Foundation website.
Step 3: Review and Approval
Due to demand, the review can take 4–6 weeks.
Participants are generally accepted on a first-come, first-served basis within each cohort.
This program is not appropriate for urgent or crisis needs. In such situations, consider reaching out to local crisis hotlines or centers for immediate help. Options include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is available 24/7, and local mental health emergency services that can offer immediate support.
***For those in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Crisis Line at 215-686-4420 is a valuable resource for immediate assistance. Additionally, the Philadelphia Suicide and Crisis Intervention Hotline at 215-686-4420 provides 24/7 support for individuals in crisis.
How Vouchers and Payment Actually Work
Once approved, participants set up a profile in the Loveland Therapy Portal using Stripe ACH. Both client and therapist must create portal accounts.
Participants choose one payment structure:
Self-Pay: You pay your therapist and are reimbursed.
Therapist-Pay: Loveland pays your therapist directly.
Important details:
Vouchers are capped at $120 per session.
You are responsible for any difference above $120
Vouchers expire and cannot be replaced.
What Happens After the Funded Sessions End
The Therapy Fund is a bridge.
After vouchers are used:
You and your therapist decide whether to continue based on:
Options such as setting up a payment plan that fits your budget or exploring potential coverage with your insurance provider.
Loveland encourages participants to select therapists whose fees may be sustainable beyond the voucher period.
The Impact of the Loveland Foundation
Since becoming a national nonprofit, the Foundation has supported:
Approximately 18,500 people
Over 150,000 hours of therapy
A network of 2,600+ therapists
More than $3.2 million was paid directly to clinicians in one recent year.
These numbers reflect both reach and demand.
Finding a Therapist Who Accepts Loveland Vouchers in Philadelphia
Loveland does not provide referrals. To identify providers who accept Loveland therapy vouchers, first use directories such as Therapy for Black Girls or Psychology Today.
Participants are encouraged to:
Filter for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or nearby cities in the metropolitan area.
Contact prospective therapists individually with a brief inquiry regarding their participation in the Loveland voucher program; for example, you might send a message stating, 'Hello, I am interested in scheduling therapy sessions and would like to confirm if you accept Loveland Foundation therapy vouchers. Thank you for your assistance.'
This combined approach streamlines the process of finding an eligible therapist and ensures that your outreach is both targeted and efficient.
Philadelphia clients may work with any licensed therapist in Pennsylvania who participates.
How This Resource Fits With Our Practice
In our practice, we regularly sit with Black women who are not asking whether therapy is worth it. They are asking how to sustain it.
We have partnered with the Loveland Foundation since its early days because we have seen what happens when funding meets readiness.
Some clients use vouchers during financial transitions. Others use them at the beginning of therapy, when paying the full fee upfront feels intimidating, but growth feels necessary.
The vouchers often create a 90-day window of relief. A focused season. A chance to build momentum, strengthen self-trust, and experience what consistent care can feel like — without the immediate pressure of full private pay.
At Dahlia Rose Wellness Center:
We support clients exploring Loveland as a funding option.
We help plan beyond voucher-based care.
We do not control approval decisions or timelines.
We do not guarantee funding or availability.
Our role is clarity — not pressure — so care can continue with intention.
Key Takeaways
Needing financial support for therapy is not a personal failure. It reflects structural barriers — and your willingness to seek care anyway.
The Loveland Foundation makes a beginning possible for many Black women, including those in Philadelphia who often contend with both financial obstacles and a shortage of therapists offering culturally responsive care.
By providing therapy vouchers, the Foundation addresses specific barriers commonly experienced in the city, such as long waitlists and high out-of-pocket costs, thus creating viable opportunities for Black women in Philadelphia to initiate their healing journeys.
What to Do Next
If you are already approved for Loveland therapy vouchers and are looking for a therapist or planning next steps, booking a consultation is the best place to start.
A consultation gives you space to talk through fit, timing, and how to use your vouchers in a way that supports continuity of care.
You can schedule a consultation by clicking here. Visit our website for more details or email us at admin@dahliarosewellness.com for assistance.
You can schedule a consultation when you are ready.
If you are still exploring how to pay for therapy and are not yet using Loveland vouchers, you have options.
You can:
Learn more about eligibility and upcoming cohorts at thelovelandfoundation.org
Review our guide on third-party supports for paying for therapy.
There is no single right path — only the one that fits your capacity right now.
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