What to know before starting therapy
Therapy Billing and Insurance
Payment is due at the end of each therapy session. Patients will put a credit card on file when sessions start and I can either bill that card at the end of each session or accept payment (card or check) before you leave.
On average, clients who are a great fit get to where they want to be in 30-40 weekly sessions before they transition to maintenance phase (meeting every other week, once a month, or once a quarter) or termination (graduating from therapy).
Billing for Therapy Sessions
Couples Therapy 50-minute session: $175
Individual 50-minute session: $150
Session Fees
That doesn’t mean you can’t use your insurance benefits to pay for your therapy sessions. I can provide you with a superbill each month, an invoice summary of sessions that you may submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Note that superbills often require a mental health diagnosis.
Contact your insurance provider directly for more information.
I am out-of-network and do NOT bill insurance.
Cancellation Policy
Your time is important, and our sessions are held on my calendar. I do understand that things happen and sometimes schedules need adjusting. I try to be flexible and I am often able to reschedule appointments with enough advanced notice. I will try to accommodate and reschedule as my calendar allows.
If you must cancel a session, please do so at least 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged the full session fee.
Your insurance company may choose to delay or reject your request for reimbursement.
You need to initially pay for sessions out of pocket, and it may take a while for your insurance company to reimburse you, IF they reimburse you.
You NEED to have a mental health diagnosis that goes into the superbill.
CON:
After you pay for sessions out of pocket, you submit a superbill to your insurance company to give you partial reimbursement for the sessions.
You have many more options in the therapists you can work with in terms of fit, personality, personal fit, and scheduling.
PRO:
PPO: CAN USE OUT-OF-NETWORK (OON) THERAPISTS
Your insurance company has a great say as to which therapists, which issues, and which approaches it will and won’t cover.
Limited options of paneled therapists, often who also have a long waitlist.
CON:
Process is straightforward: Contact your insurance company, find out which therapist is in-network, contact and schedule with them, then you're set!
Payment is less expensive.
PRO:
I am out-of-network so this option does not work for my patients.
HMO: ONLY IN-NETWORK THERAPISTS
Option 1 - Use HMO or PPO Plan
Check with your FSA/HSA account to see whether therapy is covered.
It's more difficult to apply for it (e.g., you need to have a high deductible health plan (HDHP), but it's not tied to your place of employment and you can take it wherever you go.
HSA (HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT)
"Use it or lose it" system that's bound to your place of employment but easier to apply for it.
FSA (FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT)
Both FSA/HSA cards work like debit cards, but only for qualified medical expenses. Some fund therapy as an eligible expense. Both FSA/HSA accounts are pre-tax, thereby helping people save money.
