The Cost of Getting Help...Rates & Insurance

The Cost of Getting Help...Rates & Insurance

Regular Hours

Monday
Tuesday9-12 and 2-7
Wednesday 9-12 and 2-7
Thursday 9-12 and 2-7
Friday 9-1
Saturday 9-1

Rates

Therapy is provided on a fee-for-service basis. Sessions are reasonably priced at $110 per one-hour session.  Extended sessions are available.  I encourage couples coming for marital issues to arrange 90-minute sessions ($165). Patients coming to me from a distance usually prefer two-hour appointments, less frequently. Phone sessions can be arranged for established medical patients or pregnant patients who are hospitalized or confined to bedrest at home. Video sessions will soon be available for anyone residing in Arizona.

Understanding the Insurance Issue

Paying for behavioral health care is sometimes a stress in and of itself, especially if finances are part of your worries.  It can be frustrating when a provider you have been referred to doesn't take your insurance.

When a therapist signs on to a benefit panel, his or her schedule often fills to over-flowing from all the insurance referrals.  Instead of being able to get new patients in within a week or two, the wait often becomes 4-6 weeks, or longer, for an initial appointment. That  length of time is interminable when you're suffering. Established patients, too, are often kept waiting when they have a crisis.  I am uncomfortable practicing that way.

Insurance companies can dictate, or at the very least influence, what should be strictly clinical decisions.  This can include how many sessions a person "needs," how frequently they can be seen, what information needs to be obtained and documented, even what diagnosis someone is given.  The best example of this is grief. Bereavement, if coded as such, is not covered by many insurance companies.  In order for the session to qualify for reimbursement the therapist must "diagnose" the individual with a "disorder" that satisfies the criteria for compensation.

I am most comfortable providing exactly the kind and amount of care that you and I think you need . Beginning with your first visit, my goal is to work collaboratively with you to determine what tools you need to get back to the business of living your life.  Unlike treatment with medication alone, the benefits of good therapy extend way beyond your last appointment. The cost of therapy is a long-term investment in your well-being.


Although I am not contracted with any insurance carriers , your insurance may pay for your treatment.  If you have insurance that you would like to use for counseling please check your coverage carefully (before scheduling) by asking the following questions:

    • Do I have mental health (or behavioral health) benefits?
    • Do I have a separate deductible for mental health and has it been met?
    • How many sessions per calendar year does my plan cover?
    • Is approval required from my primary care physician?
    • Can I see whomever I wish?
    • Are there contracted providers who are experienced in the particular area for which I'm seeking help? (This is especially important with postpartum issues, perinatal loss, and infertility.)
    • How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network provider?
    • What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
    • What documentation will my insurance carrier require from my therapist?

One final note:  Please keep in mind that there are many hidden costs to not getting treatment , or receiving treatment from someone who is not experienced in the issues that are bringing you to therapy.  Untreated mood disorders and out-of-control stress are "costly" in both tangible and intangible ways.  Depression, anxiety (and the sleeplessness that often accompany them) frequently lead to missed work and lost income. Doctor visits & prescription co-pays (for symptoms that are largely stress-mediated) add up quickly.  And how do you calculate the cost of a strained marriage or compromised relationships with children because one's state of mind is interfering with those precious connections?   Even a single therapy session can provide direction and resources that can be invaluable to feeling like yourself again.

Payment
Cash, check, Visa and Mastercard are accepted for payment.  There is a $35 processing fee for checks returned for insufficient funds.

Cancellation Policy
No-shows or appointments cancelled less than 24 hours ahead of time are subject to a cancellation fee.

Contact
Questions? Please TEXT me at (480) 777-9446 for further information.

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