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Mallory Grimste, LCSW

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United States
Branford, CT
Mallory Grimste, LCSW

☀️ Helping you feel your feelings without crashing out
🛋️ Therapy (CT & NY) + 💛 Self-Help (Everywhere) You just want them to feel better.

Do you know a teen paralyzed by anxiety and overwhelming emotions? The mood swings and irritability can be unbearable sometimes! Go to mallorygrimste.com/counseling today to see if counseling can help you.

02/25/2026

If you’ve ever hung up with your insurance company and thought, “I’m… not actually sure what they just said?” you’re in good company 😅

Mental health coverage is supposed to be comparable to other care…
but in practice, it often comes with extra rules, carve-outs, and confusion.

This carousel walks through:
✨ Why insurance feels so complicated for therapy
✨ The three main ways therapy may be covered
✨ What in-network vs out-of-network really means
✨ When single case agreements come into play
✨ The questions that actually help when you call

It’s so important to understand your options so you can work with the therapist you vibe with best.

02/18/2026

A single case agreement is a more involved insurance option, but it can be helpful in certain situations.

This may apply when families:
• Can’t find an in-network provider
• Find that in-network options don’t meet their teen’s needs
• Need specialized care that isn’t otherwise available
In these cases, insurance may agree to temporarily treat an out-of-network provider as in-network.

This process often requires a clinical assessment, a diagnosis, and a letter of medical necessity.

It isn’t guaranteed, but for some families, it can make therapy possible when other options haven’t worked.

02/13/2026

☎️ Four questions to ask your insurance company about therapy:

1️⃣ Do I have out-of-network benefits for mental or behavioral health services?
(Some plans use “behavioral health” instead of “mental health.”)

2️⃣ What is my reimbursement policy and deductible?
This helps you understand what you may need to pay out of pocket before insurance contributes.

3️⃣ Which diagnoses and billing codes are covered?
If you already have a provider in mind, you can also ask which billing codes they use.

4️⃣ Is telehealth covered the same way as in-office therapy?

Some plans handle virtual sessions differently, so it’s helpful to ask directly.

Insurance coverage can be very specific.

Asking the right questions can make the conversation feel a lot clearer.
(Save this for later. You don’t need to figure everything out today.)

02/11/2026

Out-of-network therapy doesn’t mean a different level or type of care.

Therapists who work out-of-network are licensed and qualified professionals.

The difference is simply that your insurance company doesn’t have a payment contract with them.

That usually means you pay the therapist directly and then check whether your plan offers reimbursement.

For some families, this option offers more availability or a better fit when in-network providers are full or don’t see teens.

02/09/2026

How many therapists did you have to contact before finding “The One”?

02/04/2026

When a therapist is in-network, they have a contract with your insurance company and agree to accept the rate your plan pays.

That usually means:
• Insurance pays the therapist directly
• You follow your plan’s rules for copays, deductibles, or coinsurance

This is often the most familiar option for families, but many parents are surprised by how hard it can be to actually access care.

Not accepting new clients, providers who don’t see teens, limited after school appointments, and mental health carve-outs can all make in-network therapy more complicated than it seems.

01/28/2026

🚙 You’re driving home and your teen isn’t giving you the AirPod treatment.

They’re laughing, showing you funny videos on their phone, and for a moment, things feel lighter than they did a few months ago.

Getting there didn’t happen by accident.

For many families, that shift starts with realizing their teen needs more support…
and then immediately wondering how therapy is even supposed to work financially.

So you do what most parents do.
You pull out your insurance card.
You search the provider list.

And that’s when you start realizing the in-network options are full, don’t see teens, or only have openings during school hours. 🫠

That’s often the moment parents feel stuck.

What many families don’t realize is that insurance can sometimes help in more than just the in-network way.

I wrote a post that walks through the three main ways insurance may help cover therapy, including options beyond just in-network care, and explains how they actually work in real life (link in first comment).

12/30/2025

📚 what books should I add to my TBR list?

12/28/2025

"A body in motion stays in motion" honestly one of the only things I remember from high school physics (sorry teach! 😅)

And when we suddenly go from motion to rest,
from structure to no structure,
it can feel really unsettling.

That’s often when boredom shows up...

There’s a common myth that boredom means laziness.
But boredom usually isn’t about motivation at all.

Boredom ≠ laziness.
It’s often your nervous system adjusting to less structure and stimulation.

With a little time, and some gentle ways to support yourself, that uncomfortable, restless feeling usually eases.
💡 Ideas come back.
🎨 Creativity comes back.
🕺 You feel more like yourself again.

And if you want a jumpstart, I put together a FREE list of 50 things to do when you’re bored at home (and why they can help your mood and well-being).

👉 Read it here: https://www.mallorygrimste.com/counseling-blog/boredathome

12/21/2025

Sometimes boredom is really your nervous system asking for connection, comfort, or calm.
✨ Comfort yourself through the senses with these Self-Soothing Activities

1. Read Something
2. Look at Old Photos
3. Coloring
4. Puzzles
5. Scrolling Social Media
6. Follow Therapists like on Instagram
7. Clean
8. Declutter and Organize
9. Wear Your Favorite Perfume
10. Smell a Loved One’s Cologne
11. Essential Oils
12. Light a Scented Candle
13. Sage
14. Cook or Bake
15. Take a Shower

11/24/2025

Did you know I personally record a welcome video message for each and every person who purchases a digital program from my self-help offerings?

Just caught up on recording and sending out *all* the videos from my Birthday Sale last week!

I am SO full of gratitude for everyone who has supported themselves by using these materials I’ve poured my care into for you 💕

Thank you,
💛 Mallory

11/21/2025

Your Calm Code is my self-help program that guides you in creating:
👍 Your own personalized calming strategies that actually work for your body and brain
👍 A repeatable Coping Ahead Plan you can turn to when you’re freaking out, shutting down, or expecting the worst
👍 A way to handle intense emotions without over-apologizing or getting stuck in them

It’s DBT-informed and built from real clinical practice, simplified and made personal for you.
*DBT is a research-backed approach originally created to help people who feel their emotions very intensely.

Your Calm Code takes the most helpful parts of DBT and helps you customize them to your nervous system, your personality, your life.

Your Calm Code is about making your emotional world feel knowable and navigable, not chaotic.

So when a big feeling hits, you’re not scared of it. You’ll know what you can do to take care of your feelings without losing yourself.

You can become someone who can:
💛 Feel hurt and not let it take over your whole night
💛 Cry while staying connected to yourself
💛 Have boundaries without blowing up your friendships

“You helped me more than my therapist has. You actually gave me coping skills that work.” — Makayla

You and your emotions are not “too much.”
You just deserve support that doesn't leave you overwhelmed, ashamed, or alone with your feelings.

I’d love to show you how in Your Calm Code.
🧁Mallory

Address

250 W Main Street
Branford, CT
06405

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 8pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 4pm

Website

https://www.mallorygrimste.com/

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Helping Teen Girls #FeelBetterTogether

Do you know a teen paralyzed by anxiety and overwhelming emotions? The mood swings and irritability can be unbearable sometimes! You just want them to feel better. Call 203-228-8971 to schedule your free 15 minute Parent Phone Screening today to see if counseling can help.