Payment Options: Payment is due at time of service. Health savings accounts (HSA), flex spending accounts (FSA), all major credit cards, Paypal, checks, or cash are accepted.
Regarding insurance: I provide services as an out-of-network insurance provider. This means that you are responsible for payment at the time of service and may request reimbursement from your insurance company. Depending on your insurance plan, they may reimburse the full amount, a partial amount, or nothing at all. If you would like to seek reimbursement from your insurance company I recommend contacting your insurance provider in advance to inquire about your out-of-network benefits.
Session rates:
130 - individual counseling
150 - marriage, relationship, Family counseling
Advantages of working with a private pay or out-of-network therapist: Finding the right therapist can be an arduous process. Sometimes one might assume that working with a therapist in-network with your insurance company is easier or less expensive but this is often not the case. Below are some important reasons why you should consider not limiting your options to only providers who are in-network with your insurance company.
1) You find a therapist who seems like they would be a great fit for you
A number of studies have indicated that one of the most important factors in determining whether therapy will be effective is the personal relationship between a therapist and their client. Choosing a therapist who makes you uncomfortable or does not specialize in the problems that you are having simply because they are in-network would likely be a waste of time and money.
2) The therapist has specific specialties, skill sets, expertise, or experience
Out-of-network or private pay therapists often have specific skills or areas of specialty that you may not find when you limit yourself to only the providers in-network with your insurance company.
3) If your insurance plan has a high deductible
Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage applies. For example, if your insurance plan has a $4000 deductible and you haven't had any other medical expenses then you are responsible for paying that $4000 out of pocket before your insurance will begin payment. Even after that, most plans still require you to pay a $20-$30 co-payment for each session.
4) If you have good out-of-network benefits, a health savings plan, or a flex spending plan
Some insurance plans reimburse as much as 80% of out-of-network fees for each session. This could mean that an out-of-network provider might be comparable or even less expensive than seeing a provider in-network with your insurance company. Also, the money you put into a health savings or flex spending plan can be used for for payment when seeing a private pay or out-of-network therapist.
5) There is no mandatory diagnosis
Many insurance companies or managed care systems require providers to diagnose a specific mental health condition before they will pay for your care. In some cases, they will only provide payment for specific diagnoses. Moreover, relationship issues are often not covered by insurance plans. This can lead to ethical problems for therapists where they may be influenced to provide a client with a medical diagnosis that is unsupported or unjustified in order to help their clients get the care that they need.
6) Highly personalized service or a higher quality of service
Private pay and out-of-network therapists are not constrained by only providing services that insurance companies will pay for. This means that are free to explore out-of-the-box solutions to your specific problems.
7) Privacy from your insurance company, parents, or family
In order for your insurance company to pay for services, therapists are required to provide the company information about your sessions, which includes a diagnostic code. If you do not want your insurance company to have access to your private medical/mental health records then you may want to consider private pay or out-of-network options
Similarly, if you are on your parent's insurance plan or a partner's insurance plan and you are uncomfortable with them knowing that you are seeing a therapist then you may want to consider paying out of pocket.
8) You do not want to wait to start therapy
It can sometimes be very difficult to find providers in-network who do not have a waiting list or who are accepting new clients. Sometimes it can take months before getting seen. Private pay therapists tend to have more availability and greater flexibility.
Regarding insurance: I provide services as an out-of-network insurance provider. This means that you are responsible for payment at the time of service and may request reimbursement from your insurance company. Depending on your insurance plan, they may reimburse the full amount, a partial amount, or nothing at all. If you would like to seek reimbursement from your insurance company I recommend contacting your insurance provider in advance to inquire about your out-of-network benefits.
Session rates:
130 - individual counseling
150 - marriage, relationship, Family counseling
Advantages of working with a private pay or out-of-network therapist: Finding the right therapist can be an arduous process. Sometimes one might assume that working with a therapist in-network with your insurance company is easier or less expensive but this is often not the case. Below are some important reasons why you should consider not limiting your options to only providers who are in-network with your insurance company.
1) You find a therapist who seems like they would be a great fit for you
A number of studies have indicated that one of the most important factors in determining whether therapy will be effective is the personal relationship between a therapist and their client. Choosing a therapist who makes you uncomfortable or does not specialize in the problems that you are having simply because they are in-network would likely be a waste of time and money.
2) The therapist has specific specialties, skill sets, expertise, or experience
Out-of-network or private pay therapists often have specific skills or areas of specialty that you may not find when you limit yourself to only the providers in-network with your insurance company.
3) If your insurance plan has a high deductible
Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage applies. For example, if your insurance plan has a $4000 deductible and you haven't had any other medical expenses then you are responsible for paying that $4000 out of pocket before your insurance will begin payment. Even after that, most plans still require you to pay a $20-$30 co-payment for each session.
4) If you have good out-of-network benefits, a health savings plan, or a flex spending plan
Some insurance plans reimburse as much as 80% of out-of-network fees for each session. This could mean that an out-of-network provider might be comparable or even less expensive than seeing a provider in-network with your insurance company. Also, the money you put into a health savings or flex spending plan can be used for for payment when seeing a private pay or out-of-network therapist.
5) There is no mandatory diagnosis
Many insurance companies or managed care systems require providers to diagnose a specific mental health condition before they will pay for your care. In some cases, they will only provide payment for specific diagnoses. Moreover, relationship issues are often not covered by insurance plans. This can lead to ethical problems for therapists where they may be influenced to provide a client with a medical diagnosis that is unsupported or unjustified in order to help their clients get the care that they need.
6) Highly personalized service or a higher quality of service
Private pay and out-of-network therapists are not constrained by only providing services that insurance companies will pay for. This means that are free to explore out-of-the-box solutions to your specific problems.
7) Privacy from your insurance company, parents, or family
In order for your insurance company to pay for services, therapists are required to provide the company information about your sessions, which includes a diagnostic code. If you do not want your insurance company to have access to your private medical/mental health records then you may want to consider private pay or out-of-network options
Similarly, if you are on your parent's insurance plan or a partner's insurance plan and you are uncomfortable with them knowing that you are seeing a therapist then you may want to consider paying out of pocket.
8) You do not want to wait to start therapy
It can sometimes be very difficult to find providers in-network who do not have a waiting list or who are accepting new clients. Sometimes it can take months before getting seen. Private pay therapists tend to have more availability and greater flexibility.