Fees & Insurance

95% percent of my practice is conducted on a private pay basis.

This means that most of my patients choose to pay for therapy out of pocket, rather than go through their insurance provider. Though there are many reasons for this, the following three are identified most often:

• Control
• Confidentiality
• Flexibility

Many insurance companies approve only a limited number of therapy sessions, have low schedules of fee reimbursement, or limit patient choice in therapist selection to a limited pool of pre-approved plan therapists. Many people feel constrained by these aspects of managed care and prefer to control the course of their therapy experience, have flexibility in choosing a provider or treatment modality, and know that insurance companies are not privy to sensitive medical and psychological information.

There is also the question of confidentiality. Most insurance companies require mental health providers to disclose personal information, including diagnosis (if applicable) and, in many cases, even direct the course of treatment. Revealing such information may affect future insurance coverage and patient peace of mind.

Private pay clients, on the other hand, can be assured that their medical records are completely confidential unless prior written consent is given.

I offer a free 30-minute telephone consultation give me a sense of a prospective patient, discuss their questions or concerns, and to determine if we are a good therapeutic match. From there we decide whether to schedule an initial appointment.

My rates are competitive, and I discuss them during the initial telephone consultation. I do operate a sliding scale fee structure for students, activists, artists, and lower-income individuals. Evening appointments are in highest demand and, as such, I do not offer sliding scale rates for evening appointments.

Fees are payable at the beginning of each session by cash, check, or money order.

If a patient wishes to use insurance benefits to pay for therapy, I am willing to bill insurance companies monthly as an "out of network provider." Therapy fees are still payable at the beginning of each session. I complete insurance forms monthly, and the insurance companies send reimbursement directly to the insured individual.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions that have not been answered regarding fees and insurance.