Insurance companies require a diagnosis in your health record in order to cover mental health counseling. This can often be a detriment for those seeking certain security clearances for government or military employment. It can also impact applying for life insurance or disability insurance. Insurance companies dictate your length of treatment and I prefer not to give them that kind of control over your counseling progress.
One of the benefits of paying out-of-pocket for counseling is assurance of absolute confidentiality. Once a claim is submitted to your insurance company, a mental health diagnosis is required, even if you do not have a mental health disorder. This diagnosis can follow you and affect future applications for life insurance, security clearances, and employment, etc.
I do not participate in any insurance plans. However, I understand that finances are a major concern for many people. Many clients who choose this option are receiving approximately 50%-80% reimbursement rate, making the out of pocket costs similar to a co-payment. You can always contact your insurance first to find out what your mental health out-of-network benefits are so you know exactly how much you will be paying per session.
Wondering how much your counseling will cost? Investing in your mental health will have long-term benefits. You will be learning skills you will be able to implement long after your counseling ends. We will discuss fees during on our free 15-minute telephone consultation. Initial assessments are $175 for 60 minutes. Ongoing sessions are $150 for 50 minutes.
I can, upon your request, provide a bill that you can submit to your insurance company to access your out-of-network mental health benefits to receive a partial reimbursement.