ALL THE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS
Do you take insurance?
I do not accept insurance. Insurance companies require me to diagnose clients, and then often dictate the number of sessions a client can meet with me based on said diagnosis. While I don’t accept insurance, I do work with a company called Mentaya. Mentaya works to submit your claims to your insurance provider to assist with reimbursement for using OON benefits.
Many insurance plans will reimburse clients either partially or fully for therapy sessions, you just need to call your provider to check your out-of-network benefits. To save yourself some time, you can use the benefits checker below to see if your insurance provides OON benefits.
- Do I have out-of-network coverage for psychotherapy? (They might ask you for the medical billing code, which is 90837 for a 50-minute individual therapy session).
- Is a prior authorization needed?
- Is there a deductible? If so, how much of my deductible has already been met?
- What is the calendar year for my deductible?
- Am I limited on how many times I can see my therapist within the year?
- How much will I be reimbursed for?
- What is the process for submitting for reimbursement? What paperwork needs to be completed and where do I send this to?
- For couples counseling, ask if Z Code “Z63.0, Relationship Distress With Spouse or Intimate Partner”, will be reimbursed.
What questions should I ask my insurance provider about out-of-network benefits?
How long will I be in therapy?
I wish I was able to answer this question but the reality is, there’s no straight answer here. Without knowing you or your story, there’s no way to predict how long we’ll work together. Some clients come to therapy with one issue in mind and then stop once they feel that issue has been resolved while others begin therapy hoping it will take a few months and through our work together find there is more they want to explore and understand about themselves, their relationships and their overall view of how they see themselves in the world.
If you are hoping to be in and out of therapy in 4-6 sessions, I am probably not the therapist for you. My work tends to be greatly relational, and I care about my clients and their healing process deeply. We’ll keep communication open, and ultimately you will always be in control of when we dive deeper, slow down, or stop.
I’ve never been to therapy before…what should I expect?
I offer a free 15 minute phone consultation before we schedule your first session. Like most relationships, it takes time to get to know one another. The initial consultation allows you the opportunity to share what's going on with you, what you’re looking for in therapy and determine whether or not I feel like the right fit for you. Should you choose to move forward after your phone consultation, I’ll send you your intake paperwork which is to be completed before your first session.
Our first session is essentially a lot of information gathering. You’ll share what brought you to therapy and we’ll explore, on a larger scale, what things could have led to this moment. Sometimes the first session or two feel a little awkward. I mean, you’re sharing parts and pieces of your life with someone you just met. Some people experience high emotions while others don’t. Regardless of whether or not you have an emotional experience or release in our first session, I want you to know it’s totally normal.
WHAT ARE YOUR FEES?
My full fee is $175 for a 50 minute individual session. That being said, I am always willing to discuss fees with clients who feel they cannot afford the full fee.
Since I do not take insurance, I do reserve a number of reduced fee spaces in my practice. It has been my experience that clients tend to be honest about their financial situation and thus, those who can pay the full fee, do, which allows me to offer my reduced rate to those who might otherwise not be able to participate in therapy.
While I don’t accept insurance, I do accept Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) payments.
How often should I come?
Typically new clients come to therapy once a week for the first 6-8 sessions. This allows for us to develop a relationship that sets a strong foundation for the work we’ll do in session. While most of my clients choose to continue meeting weekly, I do have clients that prefer bi-weekly sessions. I ultimately let you take the lead in deciding what feels right for you.
DO YOU WORK WITH COUPLES?
Not usually, but I do work with couples on occasion. If you’re wanting to pursue couples work, I’d suggest scheduling a free 15 minute consultation so you can share with me what’s leading you to pursue counseling and we can discuss whether or not your goals align with my approach to therapy.
WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO THERAPY?
My approach is deeply relational and collaborative so the two of us can problem solve together while you build on the strength that is already within you. I often incorporate mindfulness and meditation practices in my work while utilizing CBT techniques.
IS YOUR APPROACH RIGHT FOR ME?
As with any relationship, compatibility between a therapist and client is so important. I’m not the right fit for everyone and that’s ok! Maybe you’ve already decided you’d like to work together but if not and you’re still on the fence, take a look using this link and let me help you decide.
