Regarding Finances...

My services have a broad price range to meet your needs.
My fees are related to the type of counseling service the client needs and whether the service involves just an individual, a couple or the whole family.

I want to be a resource for anyone seeking counseling. I also realize that finances can be a deciding factor as to whether or not a person will pursue counseling. When appropriate, I offer reduced rates based on income and family size. Please inquire directly with your therapist for further details. I am also happy to provide an out of network SuperBill to your insurance provider for approved reimbursement upon request.

Regarding Insurance...

Why should I choose to pay for therapy myself?

There are both advantages and drawbacks to out-of-pocket private payment and to using insurance and Medicaid.  Obviously, the biggest drawback of out-of-pocket private pay is that it is an immediate out-of-pocket expense.  However, there are several advantages of private pay that may make the expense worthwhile.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Clients who pay out of pocket are guaranteed that the only people who know any of the details of therapy are themselves and their therapist.  Aside from normal limits to confidentiality, therapy is completely confidential, without any third party being privy to information exchanged in session.

Service Without Hindrances, Pressure or Stigma

Most insurance providers require a mental health diagnosis in order for therapy to be covered.  This means that many issues (such as martial problems, life stress, or personal growth) are not covered by insurance anyway.  When clients pay out-of-pocket, there is no requirement of a mental health diagnosis for treatment, which means that anyone can seek treatment.  Private pay also carries the additional benefit of reducing pressure to pathologize normal individuals who simply need help coping with some area of life.  Finally, treatment without the necessity of a mental health diagnosis means that the stigma of some diagnoses can often be avoided.

It is important to understand that once a diagnosis becomes a part of your permanent medical record it can potentially affect the consideration of future policies, such as, Life Insurance, Short and Long Term Disability. 

Freedom in Treatment

Private pay clients have complete control of the duration and style of their treatment.  Modalities that are ethically viable but not covered by insurance are open to private pay clients.  Private pay clients are able to choose the focus of their therapy, the duration of therapy, and the frequency of therapy, and even the length of individual sessions.

Treatment Efficacy

Research shows that clients who have to pay something for their treatment have more positive outcomes than those who receive free treatment.  Not only do you get what you pay for, but the fact that you are paying out of pocket provides extra motivation and incentive to make the most of therapy. 

Potentially Reduced Service Costs

For some clients, their insurance providers require a co-pay and a large deductible to be met when seeking treatment, with the additional feature that standard rates for service apply.  By not taking insurance, I am free to set my own rates and offer a sliding scale to my clients.  This means that privately paying clients can actually pay less than those who pay with insurance, depending on where they fit in the sliding scale, how long treatment lasts, and the details of an individual's insurance plan.

Therapy, especially when you are paying out-of-pocket, is always an additional expense, in more ways than one.  There are travel expenses and the time commitment that it takes to make therapy effective.  However, the rewards can greatly outweigh temporary monetary costs.  How much is too much to pay for peace of mind, the renewal of a relationship, or finally finding freedom in an area of life that has previously seemed unattainable?