Services + Fees

There is no set answer to this question! Some folks choose to pursue therapy for a targeted issue and discontinue care once they feel that they have made adequate headway with that issue. Other folks choose longer term therapy and benefit from continued support as they navigate ongoing life challenges. We will work together to determine whichever course of treatment makes most sene for you!

In most circumstances, therapy is a confidential process between the therapist and client protected by HIPAA. Exceptions to this include:

1. There is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder or dependent adult, in which case I am required to file a report with the respective government protective agency.
2. A client makes threats of serious bodily harm to another person(s), in which case I have a “duty to protect” by notifying the police and informing the intended victim.
3. A client intends to harm or kill themselves, in which case I would be required to ensure the client’s safety via hospitalization, if all other efforts to ensure safety with the client have not been successful.
4. If there is a court order from a judge, I may be required to disclose information discussed in therapy.

Insurance companies require that humans be reduced to a diagnosis and a list of symptoms in order for them to reimburse for care. While this may provide a useful framework for some folks to make sense of their situation, this information is often shared with multiple people within the insurance company. It is possible that a mental health diagnosis in your permanent medical record could show up on a future background check and/or could affect your ability to obtain life insurance. To ensure confidentiality and to avoid these scenarios, many people prefer to pay out of pocket rather than use their insurance for therapy.

Furthermore, there are many situations in which therapy can be incredibly beneficial but would not be considered “medically necessary” from an insurance perspective, such as navigating relationship challenges, general life transitions, and generally wanting to further one’s own self-exploration. To ensure my clients receive the best care possible tailored to their unique situations, I chose not to be bound by the constraints that insurance companies pose on mental health providers and their clients.

With that said, I am able to provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. If you choose to pursue out-of-network reimbursement for your sessions, I encourage you to speak to your insurance provider about their out-of-network benefits before commencing therapy. Here are some questions that I recommend you ask:

• What are my mental health insurance benefits?
• How can I go about seeing an out-of-network therapist?
• Has my deductible been met?
• How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
• What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
• Does my insurance require pre-approval from my primary care physician?

I offer a limited number of sliding scale sessions for low income clients based on a first come, first serve basis. Please reach out if you think this option may be for you.

I can also provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Please see my Fees page for more information.

Reach out to schedule a free, 15 minute phone consultation to help determine if I am the right therapist for you. Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions!