Scheduling

I schedule all of my own counseling appointments. I require a minimum of 48 hours in advance to cancel appointments, allowing me time to schedule other clients. I prefer 1 or more weeks notice, so that I can better accommodate scheduling needs since the majority of my clients schedule one to two weeks in advance. A cancellation fee will be charged for appointments not cancelled in advance, with the exception of rare client emergencies or illness. I will make a brief reminder call or send a text message to verify appointments whenever possible, but ultimately it is the client’s responsibility to maintain and keep appointments. I am currently scheduling clients during day time hours on Tuesday-Thursday. I do not have evening or weekend hours available.

I can be reached by phone or email. I generally return communications during business hours Monday through Friday, within 24 hours. 

Fees

My fees are $150 for the initial assessment and $135 for 55 minute counseling sessions. I charge $150 for couples counseling. I believe these rates are very competitive. Many of my colleagues with similar clinical experience charge more, while my peers who have been in practice less time have rates comparable to mine for therapy. Counseling sessions and initial assessments generally take up to 55 minutes.  Payment is expected in full in the beginning of each session. I accept cash, check payments, Venmo and Paypal using this website. My professional Paypal account accepts most credit and debit card payments. 

Insurance and Private Pay 

For clients with the ability to do so, not using insurance company benefits allows clients greater confidentiality and lack of a paper trail with diagnosis, associated with mental health treatment. Clients will have greater flexibility and privacy if they choose to pay out of pocket. Insurance companies generally do not cover the costs of couple’s or relationship counseling diagnoses. Only certain mental health diagnoses are covered by insurance companies and other restrictions frequently apply. 

I am willing to bill insurance companies as an out of network provider, but clients will be responsible for initially paying my private pay rates, until their deductible is met. Most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of services once deductibles are met for out of network services. Once these deductibles are met, clients will then only need to pay a portion of the counseling costs.  It is the client’s responsibility to check on their insurance benefits to see what coverage is provided.

I am currently accepting new clients as an in network mental healthcare provider for Healthlink, traditional Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Health Care. I accept Medicaid only as a secondary insurance to traditional Medicare plans for those on disability. My understanding is that Medicaid only pays for counseling services for adults provided by a psychiatrist or PhD level therapist. Although, I am currently listed as an in network provider for other insurance plans and EAP programs, I am in the process of discontinuing my in network status with those plans.   

I will accept the client co-pay and submit claims for clients on these healthcare plans, once client mental health benefits are verified by clients. Clients need to confirm their specific plan benefits and may need to first pay deductibles before their healthcare benefits are provided. When deductibles need to first be met, clients will be responsible for paying the discounted contractual amount for their specific insurance company at the time of their session. I can usually provide this dollar amount for the insurance companies I work with most frequently. I will then submit this amount to their insurance company to go towards meeting their deductible. For other plans, clients may only need to pay a co-pay, with their insurance plan covering the remainder of the contracted rate cost of counseling.

Please feel free to call me with questions regarding payment for services and insurances. 

Telehealth Counseling Services

With Covid19 impacting individual comfort levels in seeking healthcare services in person, telehealth services have become more widespread and necessary. Many are finding that telehealth services are a more convenient way to access healthcare. I now offer these services and insurance companies are covering their costs, similar to in person visits. Please contact me with specific questions related to this form of therapy. While I prefer in person sessions and remain in my office seeing clients, I now offer telehealth services from the privacy of my professional office, as well. My experience and understanding is that United Healthcare, Cigna, Medicare and most Blue Cross plans now cover telehealth services. 

Reduced Fees

For those clients with very restricted incomes, there are several excellent not for profit counseling service agencies that provide sliding scale fees based on income. These agencies are subsidized by community donations including the United Way, allowing them to greatly reduce counseling costs for those in need. Jewish Family Children Services, Provident Counseling and Catholic Family Services provide sliding scale fees to those in need.

Confidentiality

Counseling sessions are considered confidential with the following exceptions. When there is client risk of harm to self and others, then notification of others will be necessary to provide protection from danger. Cases of child, elder or disabled abuse are mandated by law to be reported to the proper authorities.

Out of respect for my clients’ confidentiality, in the rare occasion when I may run into clients in a public setting I will not acknowledge them. I am not being unfriendly, but trying to respect their privacy and confidentiality. If clients approach me, I will respond in kind and am always friendly, but if others are present I will never reveal how I know them or the fact that I am their therapist. Counseling is a personal endeavor and often clients choose to keep this experience private. That is their prerogative and I respect this client choice.