Paying for therapy, plainly

An individual therapy session with me is $250 for 50 minutes. The first 15-minute consultation is free. Those are the numbers I can give you plainly. I will not imply that a fee becomes manageable because therapy matters, or that one conversation will settle a budget decision. If cost is the reason you are hesitating, it deserves a direct conversation, not a pitch.

The rates page has the current fee information. If you are asking about couples therapy, I have not published a couples fee; ask me on the free call. I would rather give you a clear answer in that conversation than let a guessed number circulate on a page. What you decide after hearing the actual fee is yours to decide. Saying the fee is not workable does not require an explanation of your finances.

Start with what the booking portal can tell you

In-network options are shown through the secure booking portal. Check your options there rather than assuming a plan name on a general website confirms coverage for your particular policy. Networks, eligibility, and benefits depend on your plan and how the appointment is booked. The booking page is a practical place to start. If what you see is confusing, bring the question to the free consultation before committing to a paid session.

When speaking with your plan, ask whether this clinician and the booking arrangement are in network for your specific policy. Ask what you would owe for a telehealth psychotherapy visit, whether a deductible applies, and whether any authorization is required. Get the answer for your actual member information, not a general description of a product. I cannot verify your benefits by looking at a card or a plan logo, and I will not promise a particular amount due.

If a portal shows one thing and a plan representative says another, pause and clarify with the plan before making a financial decision. Keep the date of the call and the explanation you received for your own records. I can explain my fee and how appointments work; the plan is responsible for describing its benefits. It may be frustrating to make more than one inquiry. It is better than finding out after an appointment that two systems were talking about different arrangements.

If you are considering out-of-network benefits

Ask your plan whether it reimburses out-of-network psychotherapy at all. If it does, ask whether telehealth is included, whether there is a separate deductible, what documentation is needed, and how claims are submitted. Ask how the plan calculates its allowed amount and what share of the full session fee may remain your responsibility. Those answers vary by policy. I cannot turn a general rule into a promise about your reimbursement.

A reimbursement rate, if your plan offers one, may not be a percentage of the fee I charge. It may be calculated from an amount the plan defines. Ask for an example using your own policy rather than relying on a headline percentage. Also ask about filing deadlines and whether there are limits you need to know. If you want to compare paying directly with using benefits, these details matter more than a casual 'we cover therapy.'

Pre-tax health accounts are often usable for eligible therapy expenses, but the account or plan decides what qualifies and what documentation it requires. Check directly with your plan or account administrator before counting on that payment method. I cannot promise eligibility or offer tax advice. If someone else helps manage your account, consider what privacy questions you want to ask before submitting any paperwork.

What a Good Faith Estimate is for

A Good Faith Estimate gives you written information about expected charges when it applies; it is not an agreement that therapy will take a fixed number of sessions or reach a particular result. You can request one. Ask if you are unsure what it covers or how an estimate relates to appointments you might schedule. It is a tool for understanding expected cost, not a reason to avoid asking about a charge that looks wrong.

If you are comparing therapists, ask each practice for the full session fee, session length, cancellation terms, how billing works, and what happens if you decide to stop. Compare the arrangements, not only the number on the page. A free consultation should give you room to ask practical questions as well as clinical ones. You do not have to disclose a personal history just to learn a fee.

A financial decision is still your decision

There is a difference between saying therapy can be important and telling someone they should stretch beyond a workable budget. I will not do the second. If the numbers do not fit, I will say what I can and cannot offer rather than make a promise about insurance or outcomes. If the portal cannot answer your question, contact me and ask it directly. You can also use the free call to discuss format and fit before paying for a session.

If you are in an immediate crisis, price shopping should not stand between you and urgent support: call 911 or 988. For ongoing therapy, taking time to check coverage is a responsible step, not a sign you are less committed. I want you to know what an appointment costs and which parts of the insurance decision belong to your plan. No bullcrap, with love: a clear fee is a form of respect, and so is acknowledging that it may not work for everyone.

Before deciding, you can compare the total fee you could actually pay with the amount you are comfortable committing to on a recurring basis. Ask about any part of the arrangement that is unclear. I would rather have that discussion up front than have you worry in silence about a charge after we begin. If the numbers make this a no, you can say no. A thoughtful financial boundary belongs in the conversation as much as a clinical question does.

If you receive an explanation of benefits later, read it alongside your actual bill rather than treating it as a bill on its own. Contact the plan if the description of coverage does not match what you were told. You can ask me about the charge from my practice, and you can ask the booking portal about its arrangement. Those are different questions and may need different people to answer them. I do not want you left guessing which part of a payment decision is still unresolved before the next appointment.

What does an individual session cost?

An individual session is $250 for 50 minutes. The initial 15-minute consultation is free.

How do I check in-network options?

Use the secure booking portal and confirm benefits for your specific policy with your plan before relying on a coverage estimate.

Can I request a Good Faith Estimate?

Yes. Ask for one to review expected charges when it applies; it does not predict the number of sessions or any outcome.