FAQs

One of the greatest advantages of self-pay is that you are not restricted to a certain group of providers. This opens up your options and increases your chances of finding a therapist with whom you feel the most comfortable.

Another advantage of self-pay is that your therapist is not required to disclose any information about you or your treatment to your insurance provider (or to anyone else) unless required by law.

With self-pay, your therapist can get to know you before developing a diagnosis and treatment plan. Your plan will not be limited to a certain set of covered or not covered diagnoses.

You are able to see a therapist for as many sessions as you and your therapist deem necessary for achieving your therapeutic goals.

Paying “out of pocket” can be a motivator to immerse yourself in the process and take control of your mental health.

You can call your insurance company directly and ask them if they cover behavioral mental health services. The phone number is generally on the back of your insurance card, and is often listed as “member services” or “customer service.”

Therapy services might be covered in full or in part (such as a copay or coinsurance). Please be sure to check the coverage for your plan by asking the following questions:

Do I have mental health insurance benefits?

Is mental health coverage subject to deductible?

What is my deductible, and has it been met?

How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?

What is the coverage amount per therapy session?

Is pre-approval required from my primary care physician?

We provide courtesy billing if your insurance is out-of-network in order to save you the hassle of filing yourself. You would pay the self-pay rates at each session, and we then file a claim with your insurance, requesting to reimburse you directly for any eligible amounts based on your insurance plan. We strongly advise you contact your insurance provider before securing services.

Online therapy provides a convenient option for individuals seeking therapy who prefer the privacy of their own settings or cannot feasibly go to an office for sessions. Research has shown that clients can receive the same level of care and satisfaction through telehealth services as they can in person. Even for people who are not generally comfortable with technology, most people find that they get accustomed after 2-3 sessions.

It is common for strong emotions and feelings to come to the surface during sessions so it may not always be comfortable. With this discomfort comes the opportunity for growth and I encourage you to trust the process. Your desire to “put the work in” directly impacts the probability of your success.

I offer a free 15 minute consultation to determine whether we will be a good fit for one another. If we both determine that we will work well together, I will ask for basic personal information to get you registered through our HIPPA complaint platform (Simple Practice). This includes your insurance information (unless you are self-pay) to verify your benefits. Once your insurance benefits are verified, I will reach out to schedule an intake session.

Depending on the state, times when a therapist has to break confidentiality may include:

When the client poses an imminent danger to themselves or others, and breaking confidentiality is necessary to resolve the danger.

When the therapist suspects child, elder, or dependent adult abuse.

When the client has directed the therapist to share information about their case.

When the therapist receives a qualifying court order.

Therapists also have to break confidentiality if their client is the subject of a national security investigation. In this instance, not only is the therapist required by federal law to break confidentiality, they can’t inform the client that they have done so.

At this time, we are not taking court mandated cases