We spend money on what we value and prioritize. If you're here reading this, money, the things you have bought with it, and the way you have been spending it, have not led you to satisfaction and happiness. It may help, when considering the value of mental and emotional health in your life, to remind yourself that a healthier, happier, more stable you is the best gift you can give yourself and your loved ones. And that the results can last a lifetime.
A healthier, happier, more stable you...
It's the best gift you can offer your loved ones.
My practice is what is known as self-pay or private pay. That means I do not take insurance. (Why? Keep reading.) Because I work toward racial, social and economic equity and aim to be available to everyone, I offer a portion of my services pro-bono, and the great majority of my services at a (very) low fee.
I am also part of the Open Path Collective –an organization of therapists that are trying to change the world one person at a time by creating greater access to quality mental health care, with reduced rates as low as $30-60 a session– and a core member of A Therapist Like Me –a local non-profit that combats all types of inequity by subsidizing a portion of therapy costs for minority-identified clients, as well as helping to connect those clients with competent therapists who are, well, like them.
These low rates are reserved for those in significant financial hardship and I don't currently have any more reduced-fee slots available.
As an alternative, I offer those with budgeting restrictions a time-limited series of sessions, also known as short-term treatment, that is targeted to making observable changes in a short period of time (usually around 8-16 sessions, although this is based on your particular situation).
If you're able to pay my full fee, you support my ability to provide these reduced-fee slots, and you can feel good knowing that you are contributing to another person's ability to access the same quality mental health services that you deem important for yourself. Think of me as the TOMS shoes of therapists.
Service Fees
Current rates are as follows. (*Fees have increased in accordance with the federal Cost of Living Adjustment.)
- 45-minute therapy session – $310
- 60-minute therapy session – $403
- Initial 60-minute assessment – $43
Under special circumstances, I may be able to make myself available to meet on a Friday, evening or weekend. After-hours fees are: Fridays 15%. Holidays, weekends & evenings (starting at 5:00 pm) 25%.
I know my fees are higher than most, and there is a number reasons for that (see above). I have made careful calculations and given a lot of thought to the notion of investment in mental health, and I hope that you will, too.
If we decide to work together, this is what you’ll receive:
- A list of questions that guides you through a thoughtful assessment of how your life has led you to the point at which you find yourself today. Clarifying how you got here will help you figure out exactly where you are, and where you want to head next.
- A 60-minute sit down with me to go over the results of these questions and talk about your concerns and goals.
- Together we'll fill out The Mandala of Santosha©, a tool that I developed that will reveal to you exactly what's keeping you unhappy, and will show us what we need to do to change that.
- An agreed-upon number of therapy sessions. A “therapy hour” of clinical guidance in which a professional psychologist focuses solely on you, on the unpacking and exploration of your life’s themes and patterns. Through collaborative reflection, we'll examine your past and current roles, and your sense of Self (your identity, who you think you are, and who you want to be). You will learn to set and evaluate personal resolutions, and to ultimately choose happiness.
- A medical diagnosis if you want it.
- Supplemental resources as needed.
Additionally, in each session, you can choose as much or as little of the following somatic, meditative, and artistic components:
- Asanas (poses) that target your specific areas of psychic or emotional discomfort or pain
- A yoga sequence designed specifically for you and your needs on that particular day
- Pranayama (breath and breathwork)
- Guided meditation
- Mindfulness exercises
- Writing/journaling prompts, questions and assignments
- Therapeutic art techniques
- Relaxation strategies, play methods, etc…
- Practice exercises, homework assignments or "experiments"
How long will therapy take?
Some people choose short-term therapy– 8-16 sessions, more or less. Others prefer to see their therapist as part of their ongoing support system, and to keep therapy as a regular part of their wellness regimen, similar to periodically getting haircuts or dental cleanings. And still others like a combination of the two, coming in for a few weeks or months during times of heightened stress, or for “booster” or maintenance sessions as needed.
After we’ve done some good work together, it is my hope and expectation that you will feel empowered, capable and resilient, equipped with powerful new tools for effectively coping with the challenges life will throw at you. Because it will.
Is this a good fit?
As promised... Reasons many therapists do not bill health insurance
Concerns for the client:
- Reduced ability to choose your therapist. When you use insurance, you are often restricted to seeing the providers on that particular insurance company’s list. Reimbursement is reduced if you choose someone who is not on the contracted list. Therefore, your choice of providers is significantly restricted.
- Reduced ability to choose your services. Most health care plans today offer little to no coverage and/or reimbursement for mental health services. It is also important to note that some therapeutic services are not eligible for reimbursement. This is often true for marriage/couples therapy and for work on non-diagnosable issues that nonetheless are important to you, such as learning how to cope with life changes, gaining more effective communication techniques for your relationships, increasing personal insight, and developing healthy new skills, to name a few.
- Pre-authorization. Most HMOs and PPOs require “preauthorization” before you can receive services. This means you must call the company and justify why you are seeking therapeutic services in order for you to receive reimbursement. The insurance representative, who may or may not be a mental health professional, will decide whether services will be allowed. If authorization is given, typically it is limited to several therapy sessions at a time. When these sessions are finished, your therapist must then justify the need for continued services. Sometimes therapy is not allowed to continue, even when your goals have not been met.
- Reduced confidentiality. Your insurance company may require additional clinical information that is confidential in order to approve or justify a continuation of services. Confidentiality cannot be assured or guaranteed when an insurance company requests personal information.
Concerns for the therapist:
- Many of the individuals who seek my services are underserved and un- or underinsured.
- Insurance companies notoriously underpay mental health providers, often leading to burnout and resulting in overworked therapists who are struggling to keep themselves together enough to properly serve their clients.
- We have had many (many, many) years of training and experience, especially if we got a master's and a doctorate. We pay a lot of money to go to school, obtain several degrees, and become a proficient clinician, so that we can be a good therapist for you.
- A therapist’s fee does not reflect only the time you’re spending with them (and their years of education and training). The therapist must also cover rent and utilities, materials and supplies, confidential communication platforms, electronic health records, credit card processing fees, licensing costs, malpractice insurance, self-employment taxes, etc. That means we make cents out of every dollar. (And all those bills are still due, even if the client didn't show up to session.)
- There is also a good amount of “behind the scenes” work required, not only to care for each client (e.g., paperwork, progress notes, treatment planning, consultation with other professionals involved in your care, etc.), but also to keep the business running, so that we can continue to be here and be available to provide care for you (e.g., marketing, billing, accounting, etc.).
- Additionally, a good therapist continuously engages in, pays for, and travels to ongoing professional development events, e.g., trainings, certifications, conferences and continuing education, in order to maintain their skills and stay up to date on effective treatments and best practices, so that they may continue to provide the best care for you.
- Plus, we want to be in therapy too! And we want to pay our therapist a good rate.
Are we a good match?
Finally, if you do choose to go with insurance...
If you are going to ask your health insurance provider about reimbursement, I’d recommend asking these questions in order to help determine if and how your plan compensates you for psychotherapy services:
- Does my plan include mental health benefits?
- Do I have a deductible? If so, what is it and have I met it yet?
- Does my plan limit how many sessions per calendar year I can have? If so, what is the limit?
- Do I need written approval from my primary care physician in order for services to be covered?
Please note that if you choose this option, it is up to you to inquire into these matters. I have no participation in that process. Ultimately, you are responsible for pay for your services, which are charged at the beginning of session, with check, exact cash, or credit/debit card.