In the season two premiere of Not So Small, host Sam Bauman and co-host Adam Rondeau sit down with Sarah Lindsay and Adam Steinbach, the duo behind As You Are Therapy, a Twin Cities therapy practice that's revolutionizing mental health care through authentic connection and community building. What started as two like-minded therapists wanting to create a more genuine therapeutic experience has evolved into a practice that prioritizes accessibility, destigmatization, and collaborative relationships over traditional competitive models.

Sarah and Adam share their journey from traditional therapy training to creating a space where both therapists and clients can show up authentically. Their breakthrough moment came with ”Therapy on Tap,” a community event at local breweries where people can meet therapists in a casual setting to find the right fit, solving the daunting challenge of finding a therapist that keeps so many people from getting help.

The conversation explores their decision to forgo insurance in favor of sliding scale fees, their philosophy of therapeutic authenticity versus the ”blank slate” model, and how embracing their own needs and humanity has made them more effective healers. Sarah reflects on how encouraging clients to bring their full selves creates permission for authentic self-expression.

Throughout, both therapists emphasize interdependence over competition, sharing how they actively refer to other practitioners and collaborate with colleagues to ensure everyone finds their right therapeutic match. They've built more than just a practice. They've created a model for how mental health care can be community-centered, accessible, and refreshingly human.

As As You Are Therapy looks toward the future, they're expanding their community events and continuing to break down barriers that keep people from accessing mental health support, proving that when businesses operate from values of authenticity and generosity, they create ripple effects that heal entire communities.

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Host & Show Info

• Host Name: Sam Bauman (she/her)
• About the Host: Sam is the President of Mellowlark Labs, a Twin Cities-based small business consulting agency. She has a masters degree in counseling psychology, a field she worked in for several years before applying her skills in business, and is certified in Organization Development.

Podcast Website

Sound Editing By: Adam Rondeau
Podcast Art By: Andy Bauman (website)