Getting Started with Counseling

My Counseling Fees

An Investment in Your Wellbeing

Engaging in counseling requires a financial commitment, a time commitment, and most of all a commitment to learning and creating meaningful change. Entering counseling reflects an investment in your own wellbeing and growth.

Professional Fees

Initial Consultation/Assessment Session is 85 minutes in length, and the cost is $375.
Individual Sessions can be either 50 minutes or 85 minutes in length.
The cost for 50-minute sessions is $225.
The cost for 85-minute sessions is $375. Longer sessions are recommended for trauma processing work, especially EMDR Therapy.
Couples Sessions are 85-minutes in length, and the cost is $375.

Payment is collected at the beginning of each session. I accept cash, check, and credit cards for in-person therapy. For online counseling, I use the Square app for credit card billing.

Group participation fees vary according to the specific group being offered.

Payment Through Insurance

I am not an in-network provider with any insurance healthcare plans; however, most insurance plans have a provision for out-of-network providers. When using out-of-network benefits, you are responsible for paying the fee upfront and then submitting your receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement. Deductible amounts and reimbursement percentages vary by plan, so you may want to contact your insurance carrier to learn details about your specific plan.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Some people also submit receipts to their workplace flexible spending accounts for reimbursement. One advantage of using flexible spending accounts is that these accounts do not require any diagnosis be given.

Things to Keep in Mind When Considering Your Payment Method

Insurance companies only pay (or reimburse) for counseling services when clients meet the criteria for mental health disorder diagnoses that the insurance companies have decided qualify for “medical necessity.”

In your first session, you can explore whether or not you meet these criteria and the pros and cons of submitting claims to insurance for reimbursement even if you do. Please keep in mind that information submitted to insurance companies for payment becomes a part of your public health record — a record accessed in determining life insurance rates and healthcare premiums in the future.

Good Faith Estimate

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing of their ability, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services, to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” of expected charges.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
  • Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
  • To learn more complete information about The No Surprises Act that went into effect January 1, 2022, read this more complete explanation.
  • For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises