I’m so glad that you are considering Rootwise Mental Wellness!

I created Rootwise because I once believed I’d need therapy for life to stay mentally well. But then I learned how much our brains influence mental health, and that with certain skills and practice, I could not only manage depression and anxiety but also build a life that feels meaningful and fulfilling.

My goal is to share the best mental health knowledge and tools to see if they can be helpful to you as well. Feel free to explore and reach out if you have any questions—or keep scrolling to learn more. I’d love to support you in discovering what works best for you!

Kindly,

Leah Challberg, LICSW Rootwise owner & therapist (she/her/hers)

The Rootwise Method

Mental wellness begins with learning about your brain and building a foundation of mental health skills that can help you relate more effectively to yourselves, others, and the world. Through supported, repeated, and lightly gamified learning and practice, the foundation can then help you engage in the lifelong art of practicing wisdom, creating a life you are proud of, and finding meaning through life’s ups and downs.

Rootwise Services

I am licensed to provide therapy services to clients physically located in Minnesota or Oregon.

If you are not physically located in Minnesota or Oregon, unfortunately we are not able to work together at this point in time.

  • If after looking at the Fit Check (more info below) you feel we have initial alignment, use the contact form below to let me know.

    After I receive the contact form, I will reach out to you to have you answer a few initial questions and schedule a 15-minute phone call.

    Price: Free

  • If it seems like we’ll be a good fit after the Fit Check & Discovery Call (more info below), we will schedule an online, face-to-face intake session. During this time, we will talk about your needs and how I can help you. All clients are required to participate in this first session.

    Price: $200, charged after the session

  • Rootwise Essentials is a self-guided, online learning experience that forms the next step of therapy after our first session. Designed to give you flexible, cost-conscious access to foundational mental health knowledge and skills, these programs help you make meaningful progress on your mental wellness at your own pace.

    Price: $52, charged weekly

    What’s Included?

    Rootwise Essentials is a series of structured Programs through the Healthie platform, and feature videos, transcripts, and engaging exercises. These Programs are lightly gamified to keep the learning process motivating and, hopefully, a little fun! Each Program is designed to build your understanding and provide actionable tools for your mental well-being.

    If you work on these modules for 3 hours a week, you could complete it in 12-19 weeks depending on your pace (some may complete it much faster than that, and others may take longer):

    • Program #1: Brain Basics (estimated 4-6 hours to complete)

    • Program #2: Neurochemical Balance (estimated 8-12 hours to complete)

    • Mini-Program: Feeling Stuck (estimated 1.5-3 hours to complete)

    • Program #3: Thinking Brain Training (estimated 8-12 hours to complete)

    • Program #4: Interpersonal Relationships (estimated 4-6 hours to complete)

    • Program #5: Creating a New Autopilot (estimated 6-10 hours to complete)

    • Program #6: Practicing Wisdom (estimated 2-6 hours to complete)

    Why try Rootwise Essentials?

    • Affordable and flexible: You can access to curated therapy content for $52/week (just $208/month—less than the cost of most therapy sessions).

    • Self-paced learning: Explore mental health concepts at your own speed in a way that fits your lifestyle.

    • Foundational knowledge: Build the skills and understanding needed to improve your mental health and get the most out of therapy sessions.

    • Engaging and motivating: Enjoy an interactive, lightly gamified approach that makes learning more enjoyable.

    How It Works
    I recommend starting with Program #1: Brain Basics before diving into regular therapy sessions. This foundational content sets the stage for deeper therapeutic work, giving you essential tools for understanding and improving your mental health.

    To make the most of this process, it’s important to feel ready and willing to engage in self-guided learning. If you thrive with more direct support or weekly therapy sessions, we can discuss whether this approach is the right fit for you before you commit.

    Try It Risk-Free
    Curious to see if Rootwise Essentials is for you? Check out one of our learning modules for free here.

  • As you do your self-guided learning, if you need extra help from me, fill out a Reflect & Connect form to tell me what you need, and I’ll help you by replying to your message or meeting with you for a 15 minute Face-to-Face (online) check-in.

    We offer this for help between sessions AND for people who might prefer to get therapist guidance and feedback this way rather than face-to-face sessions.

    Price: $52 per message, charged after the therapist responds

  • As you make progress through Rootwise Essentials, we can have regular, face-to-face therapy sessions either online (telehealth) or by going for a walk (“Walk & Talk”) to process what you’re learning, how you’re feeling, your progress, and next steps.

    For Walk and Talk Therapy, to ensure the best experience possible, the therapist will decide on the locations. If you have a preferred outdoor location, you can let the therapist know but they will ultimately decide on the meeting location.

    Price: $200 per session (for both online or Walk & Talk), charged after the session

How do I pay for Rootwise Services?

  • For general information about why I don’t take in-network health insurance, please check out this article.

    If you have health insurance, you may be able to get some of your therapy session costs reimbursed through your out-of-network benefit (this does not apply to Rootwise Essentials). I use Thrizer to help make this process as easy as possible.

    • Learn more in general here.

    • Learn more about how reimbursement works here.

    • If you are interested in seeing if this is an option for you, follow these steps.

    To fully understand your insurance benefits, contact your insurance provider prior to your appointment to learn your payment responsibility and coverage.

    Here is what you can expect: Most major credit, debit, HSA/FSA cards are accepted.

    Therapy sessions and “Reflect & Connect” (as needed check-ins): You will be charged immediately after the session. If you cancel your appointment within 24 hours or you do not show up for your appointment after 15 minutes, you will be charged the full service fee.

    “Rootwise Essentials” (self-guided online learning): You will be charged weekly.

  • I want to help people learn mental health skills in an immediate, lightly gamified, and cost-conscious way so you can access some of the core benefits of therapy—information and skills—at an affordable price through self-guided learning.

    This approach means that when it’s time to invest in individual sessions with a licensed professional, we can focus on your specific life complexities, making the most of that time. It also allows me to provide the kind and level of mental health services that help me show up as my best self for you.

Interested in getting started?

First step: Fit Check

Am I a good fit for you? Are you a good fit for Rootwise? Finding the right fit is an art that involves alignment of: our availability, your budget, what you need, what I am qualified and comfortable providing, and if we like one another’s vibe/energy.

The place to start in figuring this out is reading more about how I approach therapy and deciding if you feel aligned with the approach. To do this Fit Check, take a few minutes to go through the dropdowns to the right to read more about my approach and decide if it is resonant with you.

  • I am licensed to provide therapy services to clients physically located in Minnesota or Oregon.

    If you are not physically located in Minnesota or Oregon, unfortunately we are not able to work together.

  • I work as a full-time therapist with a company called Lyra Health (check if your company offers this and we could work together at no cost to you). This means that Rootwise offers limited availability for face-to-face (online or Walk & Talk) sessions.

    Self-Guided Online Learning can be done at your pace and schedule. And because I want you to be feeling better sooner than later, if it appears you're not making progress in the Self-Guided Online Learning, I will reach out to you to learn more about what is happening and what might be helpful.

    I also do not provide 24-hour crisis or emergency mental health services. I will provide you with resources that can help you if you have urgent mental health needs.

  • Costs:

    First Face-to-Face Online Session (required for every client): $200

    Self-Guided Online Learning: $60/month for access to the modules.

    Pay-As-Needed Check-ins: $50 per 15-minute check-in for some extra support from me. You can choose if you would like the check-in to be face-to-face, or via an audio or written message from me.

    Ongoing Face-to-Face Therapy Sessions (online or Walk & Talk): $200

    How to Pay:

    To pay for services, you can either pay with your credit or debit card, or you can see if your insurance will help pay for some of your costs through your out-of-network benefit. At Rootwise I use a platform called Thrizer to help make that process of out-of-network reimbursement as simple as possible.

  • Lasting change from therapy requires effort beyond individual sessions, and at Rootwise, this starts with engaging in self-guided work.

    Rootwise Essentials, our foundational program, is where your journey begins. Through the Healthie platform, you’ll watch videos, read or listen to modules that explain essential mental health concepts. You’ll also complete exercises to start applying these skills. This self-guided approach allows you to learn at your own pace and at a lower cost than traditional therapy sessions.

    I will then collaborate with you to tailor the outside-of-session work to fit your life’s complexities. While I am an important guide, your commitment to working through these materials and applying them will significantly impact the progress you make.

    Rootwise is a great fit for those ready to take an active role in their growth and are comfortable using basic computer or phone technology.

    Before our Discovery Call, you’ll answer a few questions to help us understand if this process aligns with your needs.

  • I have training and experience helping people with anxiety, depression, panic, stress, burnout, PTSD, developmental trauma, low self-esteem, and relationship difficulties.

    If what you are struggling with isn't on that list or if your symptoms are consistently in the severe range, you may be better served by another therapist who has training and experience with your challenges.

    However, if you're not sure, and you are aligned with everything else, I encourage you to set-up a Discovery Call (below) to talk through it together.

  • Identity: I am a neurotypical, able-bodied, middle-class, cisgender, straight, elder millennial, white woman with advanced degrees, born in the United States. I actively engage in understanding how my identity shapes my perspective and interactions with clients. While I strive for awareness, I recognize that my biases will still emerge, and when they do, I’m committed to repairing and addressing your needs.

    Formative experiences: Significant experiences that shape my life and work include:

    • My own experiences with anxiety, depression, and therapy.

    • My dad's diagnosis, progression, and death from early-onset Lewy body dementia at age 62.

    • My transition from charismatic-evangelicalism to present-day-Bible-valuing-progressivism.

    • My experiences as a non-profit manager, church leader, and deciding to leave ministry and move into full-time therapy work.

    Play: Playfulness is an essential part of my life and therapy practice. I believe that incorporating lightness can foster growth and healing when used thoughtfully. However, I’m mindful that both humor and play can sometimes be ways to avoid tough topics. My aim is to use them responsibly, ensuring they enhance rather than distract from the work we’re doing together.

    Direct and gentle communication style: In therapy, I tend to be direct and use my "self" as a therapeutic tool. Using myself in therapy means I don’t just sit and listen—I bring my thoughts, feelings, and reactions to you into our conversations in a way that’s helpful for you. It’s not like talking to a friend, though. I’m trained in how to share what I’m noticing or feeling in ways that help you understand yourself better or see things from a new angle. You can also help by sharing how you feel in our conversations—together, we can figure out what’s working and what might need to change.

    By sharing this, I hope to give you a clearer sense of what working together might feel like so you can decide if my style of therapy aligns with your needs.

After you review the Fit Check, if you feel we might be a good match, please request a Discovery Call using the button below.

I am out of the office from December 20, 2024 and will respond to you when I return on January 6, 2025.

Second Step: Discovery Call

No Surprises Act

  • What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)? 

    When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

    “Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.

    “Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

    Protections against balance billing

    Laws are in place to protect you from being billed more for out-of-network services than your in-network cost sharing amount (copay, coinsurance, or deductible). For example, in Minnesota, Minn. Stat. 62K.11 protects patients against balance billing in some circumstances. (see https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/62K.11). (See also Minnesota Statutes 62Q.556 – Unauthorized Provider Services.)

    Emergency care from an out-of-network provider or facility

    The most you can be billed for emergency services is your plan’s in-network cost sharing amount. This includes services you may get after you are in stable condition, unless you sign a written consent allowing us to balance bill you for those services.

    In-network hospitals, surgery centers, and facilities

    You can only be billed your plan’s in-network cost sharing amount if you:

    Saw an out-of-network physician.

    Received out-of-network services for anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, or emergency care.

    Did not know that the provider you saw was out of your network or an in-network provider was not available.

    Did not anticipate needing the services you received.

    An in-network provider has taken a specimen from you for testing and sent it to an out-of-network testing facility without your written consent.

    For services listed above, your out-of-network provider must have your written consent to balance bill you. Signing the consent gives up your protection not to be balanced billed. The provider cannot ask you to give up this protection.

    Other protections

    When balance billing is not allowed, you are only responsible for paying your share of the costs (such as copayments, coinsurance, or the deductible that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network.)

    Your health plan generally must:

    Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).

    Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.

    Base your cost sharing for emergency services on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility. This amount must be shown in your Explanation of Benefits.

    Count any amount you pay for emergency services on what it would pay an out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

    You are not required to get care out-of-network; you can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

    You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

    For more information

    If you believe you have been wrongly billed, you may contact 1-800-985-3059.

    Visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers for more information about your rights under federal law.
    Visit www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/health/default.asp for more information about your rights under Minnesota law.

    Uninsured and Self-Pay Patients

    Your right to a Good Faith Estimate

    Your rights under the law

    You have the right to a written estimate of your medical bill (called a Good Faith Estimate) when:

    Your appointment is scheduled 3 or more days in advance and

    You will not be using insurance to pay for the visit or, you do not have insurance.

    You may also request an estimate if one is not automatically provided.

    The Good Faith Estimate will include the expected charges of the item or service, such as: the cost of the non-emergent clinic visit, plus any tests, procedures, and supplies.

    As a service to you, we provide a fee schedule for all of our patients to view so they know the Good Faith Estimate for all services. 

    Make sure to save a copy or photo of your Good Faith Estimate. If you receive a bill from us that is at least $400 more than your estimate, you can dispute it. This must be done within 120 calendar days of receiving the bill.

    If you have questions

    We can answer questions about your Good Faith Estimate and explain the possible costs of your care.

    Rootwise Mental Wellness Phone - ‪612-460-5155‬

    For more information about your rights and the No Surprise Bill Act, visit:
    www.cms.gov/nosurprises