diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/CompanyApplicationsPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/CompanyApplicationsPage.tsx
index a0a1ff9..ec78e18 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/CompanyApplicationsPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/CompanyApplicationsPage.tsx
@@ -38,10 +38,18 @@ interface ContactInfo {
 }
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
     credentials: "include",
-    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/CompanyJobsPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/CompanyJobsPage.tsx
index 258d64b..0692aaa 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/CompanyJobsPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/CompanyJobsPage.tsx
@@ -58,10 +58,18 @@ const EMPTY_FORM: JobFormState = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
     credentials: "include",
-    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/CompanyShortlistedCandidatesPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/CompanyShortlistedCandidatesPage.tsx
index c7a494a..b969f93 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/CompanyShortlistedCandidatesPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/CompanyShortlistedCandidatesPage.tsx
@@ -14,10 +14,18 @@ type ApplicationItem = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/CreditsPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/CreditsPage.tsx
index 78de671..96af5dc 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/CreditsPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/CreditsPage.tsx
@@ -34,10 +34,18 @@ type CheckoutState = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
     credentials: "include",
-    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
@@ -770,7 +778,7 @@ export default function CreditsPage(props: Props) {
                 </span>
               </p>
             </div>
-            <button type="button" onClick={() => setActiveTab("buy")} style={BTN_PRIMARY}>
+            <button type="button" onClick={() => setActiveTab("buy")} style={BTN_ORANGE}>
               Buy Credits
             </button>
           </div>
@@ -940,7 +948,7 @@ export default function CreditsPage(props: Props) {
                       type="button"
                       onClick={() => openCheckout(pkg)}
                       style={{
-                        ...BTN_PRIMARY,
+                        ...BTN_ORANGE,
                         width: "100%",
                         "margin-top": "8px",
                       }}
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/CustomerRequirementsPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/CustomerRequirementsPage.tsx
index c4138c2..49723fe 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/CustomerRequirementsPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/CustomerRequirementsPage.tsx
@@ -23,10 +23,18 @@ type RequirementItem = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
     credentials: "include",
-    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/CustomerResponsesPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/CustomerResponsesPage.tsx
index 21513f6..b5259af 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/CustomerResponsesPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/CustomerResponsesPage.tsx
@@ -18,10 +18,18 @@ type LeadRequestItem = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/ExploreServicesPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/ExploreServicesPage.tsx
index b48199e..8adcb72 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/ExploreServicesPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/ExploreServicesPage.tsx
@@ -18,10 +18,18 @@ type ExternalRoleItem = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/HelpCenterDashboardPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/HelpCenterDashboardPage.tsx
index 19cd4e3..9734a8f 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/HelpCenterDashboardPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/HelpCenterDashboardPage.tsx
@@ -17,10 +17,18 @@ type Article = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
     credentials: "include",
-    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/JobSeekerApplicationsPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/JobSeekerApplicationsPage.tsx
index 065d986..9f6ada2 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/JobSeekerApplicationsPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/JobSeekerApplicationsPage.tsx
@@ -13,10 +13,18 @@ type ApplicationItem = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/JobSeekerJobsPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/JobSeekerJobsPage.tsx
index 7bf5f04..26f6588 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/JobSeekerJobsPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/JobSeekerJobsPage.tsx
@@ -33,10 +33,18 @@ type SavedJob = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
     credentials: "include",
-    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/LogoutPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/LogoutPage.tsx
index b08ed5f..c321f3e 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/LogoutPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/LogoutPage.tsx
@@ -4,10 +4,18 @@ import { BTN_GHOST, BTN_ORANGE, CARD } from '~/components/DashboardShell';
 const API = '/api/gateway';
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/MyDashboardPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/MyDashboardPage.tsx
index e64ad20..f3bf826 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/MyDashboardPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/MyDashboardPage.tsx
@@ -17,10 +17,18 @@ type Metric = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/PortfolioPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/PortfolioPage.tsx
index 3d2a3a3..d6f92a4 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/PortfolioPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/PortfolioPage.tsx
@@ -81,10 +81,18 @@ const EMPTY_PROFESSIONAL_FORM: ProfessionalPortfolioState = {
 // ── Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/ProfessionalLeadsPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/ProfessionalLeadsPage.tsx
index a67718c..6e5a6da 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/ProfessionalLeadsPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/ProfessionalLeadsPage.tsx
@@ -23,10 +23,18 @@ type MarketplaceItem = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
     credentials: "include",
-    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/ProfessionalResponsesPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/ProfessionalResponsesPage.tsx
index 11176f6..7b592b5 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/ProfessionalResponsesPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/ProfessionalResponsesPage.tsx
@@ -16,10 +16,18 @@ type LeadRequestItem = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/ProfilePage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/ProfilePage.tsx
index c6cab21..58d84ac 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/ProfilePage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/ProfilePage.tsx
@@ -219,10 +219,18 @@ function getDocFields(roleKey: string) {
 // ── Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
     credentials: "include",
-    headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json", ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/SettingsPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/SettingsPage.tsx
index 02543b7..81a79a3 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/SettingsPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/SettingsPage.tsx
@@ -4,10 +4,18 @@ import { BTN_GHOST, BTN_ORANGE, BTN_PRIMARY, CARD, INPUT, LABEL } from '~/compon
 const API = '/api/gateway';
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/SwitchServicesPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/SwitchServicesPage.tsx
index 7d4f36e..663cdcd 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/SwitchServicesPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/SwitchServicesPage.tsx
@@ -11,10 +11,18 @@ type UserRoleItem = {
 };
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/VerificationStatusPage.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/VerificationStatusPage.tsx
index 462db37..1059be6 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/VerificationStatusPage.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/VerificationStatusPage.tsx
@@ -9,10 +9,18 @@ import { CARD, BTN_ORANGE, BTN_GHOST } from '~/components/DashboardShell';
 const API = '/api/gateway';
 
 async function apiFetch(path: string, opts?: RequestInit) {
+  const token =
+    typeof window !== "undefined"
+      ? window.sessionStorage.getItem("nxtgauge_access_token") || ""
+      : "";
   return fetch(`${API}${path}`, {
     ...opts,
-    credentials: 'include',
-    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', ...(opts?.headers ?? {}) },
+    credentials: "include",
+    headers: {
+      "Content-Type": "application/json",
+      ...(token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.headers ?? {}),
+    },
   });
 }