The practical details
Fees, and how out-of-network works.
Therapy is a real investment, and you deserve straight answers about the money before you ever get on a call. Here it all is.
The numbers
Sessions are 50 minutes and $200. The first 15-minute consultation call is free. I don’t accept insurance directly — I’m what insurers call an out-of-network provider — but if your plan includes out-of-network benefits, it may reimburse a meaningful share of the fee after the fact.
How reimbursement actually works
Each month I send you a superbill: an itemized receipt with everything your insurer needs. You submit it to them — most have an online portal, and it takes a few minutes — and if your plan has out-of-network benefits, they send the reimbursement directly to you. You pay me at the time of session either way; the reimbursement part is between you and your insurer.
How much comes back varies a lot. Some plans cover more than half the fee once you meet a deductible; some cover nothing. The only way to know your number is to ask your insurer directly.
Five questions to ask your insurance company
- Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health?
- What is my out-of-network deductible, and how much of it have I met this year?
- Once the deductible is met, what percentage of the fee do you reimburse?
- Is telehealth reimbursed the same as in-person sessions?
- How do I submit a superbill, and how long does reimbursement take?
Fifteen minutes on the phone with them will tell you almost exactly what therapy will cost you per month.
Common questions
Why don't you take insurance?
Mostly because of what paneling does to the work. Insurance contracts can cap session length, require a diagnosis up front, and weigh in on how long treatment should last. Staying out-of-network means the two of us decide what you need. It also keeps my caseload small enough that you get a therapist with real bandwidth — and many clients end up paying well under the sticker price once reimbursement comes back.
What will therapy actually cost me per month?
Weekly sessions are $800 a month before reimbursement. If your plan reimburses half after the deductible, that lands around $400 — but plans vary enormously, which is why the five questions above are worth a phone call. I'd rather you know your real number before we start than be surprised in month two.
Do you have a sliding scale?
If cost is the one thing standing between you and starting, bring it up on the free call. It's a conversation I'm always willing to have.
Is there anything that protects me from surprise costs?
Yes. As a private-pay client you're entitled to a Good Faith Estimate — a written estimate of expected costs — under the federal No Surprises Act. You'll receive one before we begin, and my fee doesn't change from session to session, so there's nothing hiding in the fine print.