“I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it”
– Vincent Van Gogh
Our Sessions
From the Sessions:
In the initial session, I take time to get to know you and to explore your history. I want to know what brought you into therapy and what you hope to accomplish during our time together. I focus on learning about you and developing trust. I also take time to lay out expectations, discuss confidentiality, and complete paperwork. We work together to develop goals for therapy and make sure they are practical and realistic. While goals may evolve over the course of therapy, I want to make sure you are seeing progress in areas you have identified.
In the following sessions, we will continue to tailor treatment to your specific needs as I get to know you better. We’ll develop new ideas and possible solutions to try, identify obstacles, and build on the strengths that you have. At the end of each session, you will leave with practical and workable steps to take toward your goal. You become a partner in designing therapy to fit your unique circumstance. All decisions made in therapy will be yours to make. It’s my intention to help you feel seen, heard and understood.
From Me:
The relationship between you and your therapist is vital to the success of therapy. You can expect that I will keep your information private and confidential. I will show up authentically as myself, as both a therapist and a human. I will act as a professional and respect your autonomy to always make your own decisions. While I may at times offer challenging statements, know that it will be done so respectfully.
I will collaborate with you to develop goals, listening carefully to your story and asking clarifying questions. I sometimes give “homework” to be completed outside of session. This helps build momentum for change and gives both of us information on what works and what does not work. Completing homework is always your choice. The goal of any homework is to help you integrate and internalize what we are exploring in session. Ultimately, you should expect that I will work in partnership with you toward successful completion of your goals.
Payment Information:
Fees:
Rate $150 for a 50-minute session.
I am an out-of-network provider with all insurance companies. That means my clients pay me directly and if they wish they can request reimbursement from their insurance company. Payment is due at the time of service. I accept credit, debit, and HSA/FSA cards through a secure credit card processing service called CardPointe linked to Therapy Notes electronic health record.
To find out if you will be reimbursed by your insurance company, call the number on your insurance card and ask:
Do I have out-of-network benefits for mental health services?
What is my deductible and has it been met?
What is your rate of reimbursement?
As a courtesy for clients wishing to do so, I will provide you with a super bill showing that you have paid my fee in full.
Reasons to Choose an Out-of-Network Therapist:
First and most importantly, therapy is an investment in your mental and emotional well-being. Similar to investing in your physical health, nutrition, or appearance, therapy can yield transformative results. It's an empowering step towards personal growth, peace, and happiness. Imagine the benefits: increased joy, deeper connections, and relief from anxiety and depression. Therapy sets the wheels of change in motion.
Secondly, insurance companies often have their own set of rules and limitations when it comes to mental health coverage. They may place caps on the number of therapy sessions, require certain diagnoses, or dictate specific types of treatment. This can create challenges for therapists who are focused on providing the best care for their clients but are constrained by these policies. Unfortunately, insurance companies prioritize cost over the effectiveness of treatment, often ignoring what’s truly beneficial for the client. As a result, the care you receive might not always align with what’s in your best interest, but rather what the insurance company is willing to pay for.
Another factor to consider is the issue of confidentiality. When you use insurance to pay for therapy, your insurance company has access to your diagnosis and treatment plan. This means that your personal information could potentially be shared with others, such as your employer or other healthcare providers.
Finally, working with insurance companies can be a tedious and bureaucratic process. Therapists have to complete extensive paperwork, justify the need for treatment, make multiple phone calls, and wait for reimbursement, all while managing a full caseload. This diverts time that could be better spent working directly with you or focusing on their professional development. Moreover, therapists usually receive low reimbursement rates from insurance companies, typically ranging from 50-60% of their standard fee. For instance, if a therapist charges $120 per session, they may only receive $60-$70 from insurance. To make matters worse, insurers sometimes claw back payments from providers. With these lower payments or payment revocations, therapists must see more clients to make ends meet, which can lead to burnout and potentially affect the quality of care they provide.
How Does The “No Surprises Act” Impact My Care?
Health care providers are required to notify each patient of their “Good Faith Estimate” of care. This will be provided to you in your intake paperwork. Below is more information as to what that means, and how to read more information.
Provision of “Good Faith Estimate”
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers (including psychologists) need to give patients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
You will be provided with a Good Faith Estimate by your healthcare provider before you schedule a 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.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059