Fees &
Payment

I get it. I've been in that position myself. Professional services aren't cheap and everyone's financial situation is different. I offer a few options for those who are committed to doing the work in therapy but are in a limited financial situation:

1. I offer several sliding scale, reduced fee spots 

2. I offer the option to purchase a 5 or 10 pack of therapy sessions at a discounted rate. 

Please ask about these reduced fee options when you inquire about my services.

Other ways to help make professional therapy services more affordable:

2. 1. Check your insurance plan's out of network benefits (read more below). You may be able to submit your session bill and receive partial reimbursement from your insurance carrier, depending on your plan. 

   2. If you have a flexible spending account or a health savings account (HSA) offered through your employer, you may use these to minimize the cost of psychotherapy. These options allow you to spend pre-tax income on medical expenses such as psychotherapy. Usually you can use this money immediately upon signing up for the account, before it is fully funded. Check with your employer to determine if either of these are options for you and the specifics of these plans.

   3. If you itemize your taxes, psychological services may be tax deductible as a medical expense

I am not currently in-network with any insurance providers through my private practice.

However, if you have a PPO insurance plan, you may be eligible for reimbursement through therapy services through your outof network benefits. Some of my clients successfully use this option. 

Here's how it works: 

1. Pay for sessions directly.
   Payment is due at the time of service, and I’ll provide you with a detailed receipt (a “superbill”).
   
   

2. Submit the superbill to your insurance provider.
   This can usually be done through your insurer’s website or app.
   
   

3. Get reimbursed directly by your insurance.
   If you have OON coverage, your insurer will reimburse you a percentage of the session fee (after any deductible).
   
   

Before we begin, I recommend calling your insurance company and asking:

3. • 1. Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health?

     2. Is telehealth covered if the provider is out of network?

     3. Do I need any pre-authorization?

     4. What percentage of the session fee will be reimbursed, and what is my deductible?
        
        

You can also you a third-party platforms to make it easier to submit your out-of-network claim for reimbursement. Some of my clients have used the following:

3. • Reimbursify supports you with submitting your claims for a small fee (about $4). You can check your benefits below for free.

   • Mentaya helps you file claims and handle the insurance paperwork to help you get reimbursed. They charge a 5% fee per claim. You can sign up using this link. 

   • Typical codes for sessions are: 90791 (initial assessment and evaluation appointment; 90837 (53+min of psychotherapy); 90834 (39-52 min of psychotherapy) 

Note: The goal of these options are to save you time and money. It's completely optional, and as your therapist I do not benefit in any way from your participation. 

Short answer: Yes. Most health insurance plans do require a diagnosis for reimbursement of out-of-network (OON) psychotherapy. This is because, from an insurance perspective, treatment needs to be “medically necessary” to qualify for reimbursement. A diagnosis serves as the evidence for medical necessity, whether the provider is in-network or out-of-network.

The specific requirements vary between insurance companies and plans, but here’s how it typically works:

1. Diagnosis Requirement: Most insurers require a mental health diagnosis that aligns with the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) codes. This can include diagnoses like anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, adjustment disorders, or other recognized mental health conditions.

2. Billing Codes: Therapists include a DSM diagnostic code along with a procedural code (e.g., CPT codes for therapy sessions) when they provide you with a superbill for OON reimbursement. This documentation helps insurers process the claim by indicating both the treatment type and the medical need for it.

3. Exceptions: Some employer-sponsored plans or insurance plans that offer more flexible mental health benefits might not strictly require a diagnosis for psychotherapy reimbursement, especially if they cover wellness or preventative mental health services. However, these cases are less common, especially for OON claims.

• Many people find mental health therapy beneficial and useful even if they don't suffer from a diagnosable condition (think: going to a massage therapist for improving muscular recovery from exercise or for a relaxing massage even though you don't have a specific medical need for it, like recovery from an injury). For these situations, psychotherapists can still provide psychotherapy, but the person seeking services will be responsible for paying for these services and will not be able to utilize their insurance benefits (with few exceptions, noted above)

• If you're hoping to use your insurance benefits for therapy you can expect to spend the first one to two sessions with me on diagnostic evaluation to determine what if any conditions are present. If no clinical conditions are present then we will still discuss what kind of therapeutic help you might want and if I can still help you. 

I'm not the best fit for everyone. I want you to get the support you're looking for - even if it's not from me. If you find that what I have to offer isn't for you, here are some other places where folks have had success finding a therapist: 

• • Headway (for finding a provider actively in network with your insurance)

  • Mental Health Match (receive top 5 matches for therapists)

  • Open Path Collective (for sliding scale/lower fee therapy)

  • Psychology Today (the most frequently used directory by therapists)

  • Therapy Den 

  • Choosing Therapy

  • Connections (for those in Larimer county, CO)

  • LIV Health (for those in CO or WY who have Medicare/Medicaid)