Because of my background, my heart is with working class folks. For all of my adult years, I have worked to make counseling affordable for anyone. After decades of asking for only low fees or insurance-level fees (which are never full fees), I am finding the profession can no longer meet my own financial needs.

However, instead of closing my practice, I am pivoting by discontinuing the use of a sliding scale approach. Current clients will remain at their fee levels; New clients will be offered alternative ways to make counseling both affordable for them and sustainable as a career for me.

At this time, I am in-network with only a few insurance companies — another way to make counseling affordable for more people.

However… Did you know: You are NOT required to use your health insurance for therapy services.

Some reasons for not using health insurance:

  • Greater chances for more confidentiality of your information.
    Health insurance plans have the right to audit your records.
  • Your therapist is required to give you a mental health diagnosis.
    Health insurance will not cover any counseling services without a mental health diagnosis on record.
  • Insurance companies dictate how much therapists are paid — Therapists are not paid their full fee by insurers.
    Not using your health insurance is a way to place people-first.

For more information,
check out Pros & Cons of Using Insurance to Pay for Therapy
and
ProPublica’s investigation piece published Aug 25, 2024, called simply “Why I Left the Network“

If you wish to use your health insurance benefits, let me know –>  I’ll let you know where to submit your insurance information for verification before we schedule your initial session.

  • I am only in-network with a few insurers.
  • Per Insurance Regulations: If, in our first full session, it is determined that you do not have a mental health diagnosis, you will not be able to use your insurance benefits for any subsequent sessions.

For now, I am IN-NETWORK with the following insurance companies:

  • Aetna
  • Ambetter
  • Optum / United Health & relateds
  • Cigna

Do you have a different insurance company and have Out-of-Network Benefits?

I am happy to provide you with “superbills,” the special invoices that enable you to apply for your out-of-network benefits. Here’s how that works:

  1. Client pays therapist their regular fees, out-of-pocket.
  2. Therapist gives Client a Superbill (statement of what you’ve paid).
  3. Client sends Superbill to their Insurer.
  4. Insurer decides whether or not to reimburse Client for all or part of their paid therapy expense.