FAQS

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give clients who don’t have insurance, or who are not using insurance, an estimate of the expected charges for medical services. You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. You will receive a copy of your Good Faith Estimate upon request.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit http://www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

Why should I choose to pay for therapy myself?

There are both advantages and drawbacks to out-of-pocket private payment and to using insurance and Medicaid. Obviously, the biggest drawback of out-of-pocket private pay is that it is an immediate out-of-pocket expense. However, there are several advantages to paying privately that may make the expense worthwhile.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Clients who pay out of pocket are guaranteed that the only people who know the details of therapy are themselves and their therapist. Aside from normal limits to confidentiality, therapy is completely confidential, without any third party being privy to information exchanged in session.

Service Without Hindrances, Pressure or Stigma

Most insurance providers require a mental health diagnosis in order for therapy to be covered. When clients pay out-of-pocket, there is no requirement of a mental health diagnosis for treatment, which means that anyone can seek treatment. Private pay also carries the additional benefit of reducing pressure to diagnose individuals who simply need help coping with some area of life, but who do not have a specific mental health diagnosis. Finally, treatment without the necessity of a mental health diagnosis means that the stigma of some diagnoses can often be avoided. It is important to understand that once a diagnosis becomes a part of your permanent medical record it can potentially affect the consideration of future policies, such as, Life Insurance, Short and Long Term Disability or educational and other future life opportunities for young adults.

Freedom in Treatment

Private pay clients have complete control of the duration and style of their treatment. Modalities that are ethically viable, but not covered by insurance are open to private pay clients. Private pay clients are able to choose the focus of their therapy, the duration of therapy, and the frequency of therapy, and even the length of individual sessions.

Treatment Efficacy

Research shows that clients who have to pay something for their treatment have more positive outcomes than those who receive free treatment. Not only do you get what you pay for, but the fact that you are paying out of pocket provides extra motivation and incentive to make the most of therapy.

What is the change you are seeking worth to you?

If you have further questions, do not hesitate to Contact Me!

This has been an interesting time in our community as well as our nation and our world. Raise Counseling is continuing to take the utmost precaution as we continue into our social norms. I continue to offer telehealth if illness does arise.

Please stay in your vehicle or wait outside until the time of your appointment. This way we can avoid multiple clients in the waiting room at one time. You are welcome to make your way in at your appt time or arrange for your therapist to message you when he/she is ready for the appt.

If you use the restroom facility at our office, please wash your hands thoroughly and open the door with a paper towel.

Please do not come to an in person session if you are feeling unwell.

Please sit or stand at a distance with others you come in contact with while at our office.

If you have to cough or sneeze, please do so by covering your mouth with your upper arm or elbow.

I am continuing to take these appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of our clinicians and clientele:

I am sanitizing my office with cleaning supplies multiple times per week. If you need the comprehensive list of supplies used due to allergens/other health reasons, I am happy to forward that list to you.

I am committing to you as our clientele that as clinicians, I will only attend in person sessions with you if we (and those in our household) are feeling physically well and symptom free.

I am encouraging clients who are feeling unwell to participate in telehealth sessions or postpone sessions to a later date. I still offer the option of telehealth (phone or HIPPA compliant video sessions) as alternative to in office therapy sessions. If you are interested in this alternative to in office care, reach out to your respective clinician.

It has been truly amazing to see so many individuals and families with such dedication to their emotional and relational health during this challenging time. We will grow stronger through this together.

The first time we meet, the session will be 75 minutes so that we can be sure to have time to get to know one another and answer any questions you may have. Subsequent sessions are 50 minutes long, unless we schedule otherwise.

What frequency do you recommend?

To begin, I recommend that we meet either weekly or every other week. This allows us to get to know each other well and to build trust. From there, we will decide what works best, based on your therapy goals as well as your availability.

Do you take insurance?

I am private pay only, but will provide Superbills upon request should you desire to seek reimbursement through your insurance for out of network providers.

How long will I need therapy?

Your personal therapy goals will drive this. I have some clients reach their goals within 6-12 weeks, while others are longer term. It totally depends, and there is no right or wrong length of time.

We will have identified “indicators of success” that we will touch base on every once in a while to assess the progress you’ve made towards those indicators. Note that many of my clients may begin to feel the progress. You may be able to feel yourself living a more liberated and interconnected life. Finally, we take joy in celebrating achievements – I have a fondness for commemorating milestones, so we'll consistently highlight these moments when you reach them.

You can, but don't have to! My job is to ensure that you are reaching your goals; however, I always check in regarding anything that might be on your mind to discuss that day.