Question 1

How much does therapy cost?

Accepted Answer

Therapy sessions are $180 per 55-minute hour. I offer sliding-scale discounted rates for individuals with financial need.

Question 2

Are you an in-network or out-of-network provider?

Accepted Answer

I am an out-of-network provider, which means that I do not accept insurance. I provide a monthly Superbill to clients, which they can submit to their insurance company for reimbursement. I encourage all clients to research their insurance benefits to find out about out-of-network benefits.

Question 3

Why don’t you take insurance?

Accepted Answer

I know that therapy is an investment, and I want to acknowledge that not accepting insurance can be a barrier for some people. My decision is not with a goal of gate-keeping therapy or making it less accessible, nor is it with a goal of trying to make as much money as I possibly can. Rather, it is about providing care in a way that aligns with my values and respects both my clients and my work.

Insurance companies often undervalue mental health care, compensating therapists at rates that do not reflect the time, training, and expertise required to offer thoughtful, client-centered support. They also impose limitations on how long and how often a person can receive therapy, sometimes making arbitrary decisions about when therapy should be considered "done." Healing is not a one-size-fits-all process, and I believe that clients—not insurance companies—should have the right to decide when therapy is complete.

Additionally, working with insurance requires extensive administrative time, which takes away from the time I can dedicate to supporting clients. Insurance companies also require therapists to diagnose clients, often in the very first session, which can feel limiting and overly reductive. A diagnosis can sometimes be useful, but it’s not the full story of who you are, and I don’t believe therapy should be restricted to those who meet a specific diagnostic threshold.

Most importantly, insurance companies operate within a medical model that views clients as "sick" and therapists as "experts" who "fix" them. This is not a framework I subscribe to. I see therapy as a collaborative process that honors your lived experience, strengths, and inherent wisdom. Insurance companies also demand access to detailed private information about our work together, which can feel like a violation of the safe and confidential space that we create together.

For these reasons, and for the time being, I choose to work outside of the insurance system. I hate that it has to be this way, and I wish that our healthcare system provided a better framework both for supporting individuals who need help, and for compensating individuals who provide that help. I will continue to advocate for systemic and policy changes that address these limitations. In the mean-time, I remain committed to reducing barriers to accessing good mental healthcare, so I offer reduced-cost slots for clients who cannot pay the full fee.

Question 4

What is a sliding scale, and am I eligible?

Accepted Answer

"Sliding scale" refers to a concept based in economic justice, where access to services and goods should not be based solely on income. It rests on the assumptions that:

My services are valued at a certain amount (based on my years of professional/lived experience, education, and quality of services offered),
Not everybody is able to afford to pay that amount,
Inability to pay does not impact deservingness of services and should not be a barrier to accessing said services.

For more information about "sliding scale fees" and offering equitable access, please check out this blog article by Alexis J. Cunningfolk about The Green Bottle Method, which is what I use to help clients determine if they are able to pay full fee, or if they will need a sliding scale.

Question 5

How do I submit for out-of-network reimbursement to pay for session fees?

Accepted Answer

Working with your insurance can be confusing and overwhelming, so I've put together this (hopefully!) helpful guide that explains what to do to find out about your out-of-network benefits.

Once you know what your coverage is, you can typically submit for reimbursement online via your insurance portal. This process will be slightly different for each insurance plan, but typically you will need to submit a document called a Superbill, which is an itemized receipt for services.

A Superbill contains a "CPT code" which is the billing code for the services provided (I generally use 90791 for a 90-minute intake and 90837 for a 55-minute session), a diagnosis code (which you and I will discuss beforehand), my National Provider ID (or NPI), as well as my Tax ID and contact information.

I provide monthly Superbills to all of my clients at no extra cost to you.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How much does therapy cost?

Are you an in-network or out-of-network provider?

Why don’t you take insurance?

What is a sliding scale, and am I eligible?

How do I submit for out-of-network reimbursement to pay for session fees?

Don't see your question answered here?