How long is a therapy appointment?
Most sessions are 50 minutes in length.
Some people prefer a longer session for relationship counseling or EMDR, and I offer those upon request. Those are 75 minutes in length.
Video Counseling/Telehealth is available to anybody who lives in California.
What are the fees for therapy?
The fee for an individual session is $210. Relationship counseling is $250 per session. 75-minute sessions are prorated based on session cost for that service.
Payments may be made by credit card, cash or check, and are due at the beginning of the session. If you have a credit card on file with my electronic health record, payments can be made automatically at the end of each session.
See below for information about billing your PPO insurance for out of network providers.
Do you take insurance?
I do not take insurance. However, some HSAs and FSAs may be used to cover the fees for therapy. Additionally, if you have a PPO, I am able to provide a billing statement, and your insurance may cover a portion of the fee for an “out of network” provider. I am happy to walk you through everything I know about this on a consult call so you feel prepared to ask the right questions to your insurance provider!
The basics: you are responsible for all fees upfront, even if your insurance denies your claim. You will need to verify your plan’s coverage and understand their process of submitting receipts or “superbills” prior to seeking reimbursement. Let me know if you will need this document, as it requires me to prepare the information in advance.
Some people prefer not to use insurance, after they become aware that billing insurance companies requires the diagnosis of a mental illness. If you have questions about this, we can discuss that together so you can make the best decision for yourself.
What happens during a consult call?
When you are ready to start therapy, you may want to interview a few therapists before you pick one. A consult call is a short (10-15 minute) call where you will tell me about what’s going on, and ask me any questions you may have. You’ll get a feel for my style and personality, and we can talk together about whether I’m a good match with what you’re looking for. If not, it’s absolutely no problem—I’ll help you find some other folks to try. I know lots of great therapists for different issues, and have a ton of resources for therapists for every budget. I’ve even created a resource to help you brainstorm what you’re looking for, and take notes on each therapist you talk to. Check it out here, and let me know if it helps you!
I do have a limited amount of sliding scale slots in my practice, however these slots fill up quickly. Please set up a consultation to see if we would be a good fit, and let me know you’re interested in sliding scale. If I have spots available, great! If not, I’ll give you several resources to get started in finding a good match for you and your budget. When I offer sliding scale, I ask that people take a look at what they are able to pay, and are open to that discussion happening over time if your economic situation changes. This allows me to offer sliding scale options to more people. If your financial situation does not change, that’s ok too! Here is a great graphic to get you started thinking about what amount of sliding scale you might request. Find more information about drawing and the artist, Alexis J. Cunningfork, at http://www.wortsandcunning.com/blog/sliding-scale
