Rates
For individual therapy, my rate is $160 for a 50-minute session.
For couples or group therapy, my rate is $280 for an 80-minute session.
INSURANCE
My therapy practice is out-of-network. This means that you pay the full fee at the time of our session, and your insurance company may reimburse you a portion of that fee once your deductible is met. For more details, see the section below under “Out of Network Insurance".”
I am happy to file your out-of-network claims for you on an approximately monthly basis so you don't have to deal with it. This is a free service, available upon request.
Options for affording therapy
Sliding Scale: I offer a limited number of recurring appointments at a variety of rates. Priority is given to current or returning clients who are undergoing financial hardship. At this time, all my sliding scale spots are currently full, but I'm happy to refer you to other therapists who may have this option.
Flexible Spending Accounts: If your employer offers a Flexible Spending Account/Health Savings Account and you contribute to it, you can be reimbursed for your therapy fees as a health expense, or you an use your HSA card as payment at the time of service. This allows you to pay for therapy out of pre-tax dollars and reduce the cost by 20-30%.
Out-of-Network Insurance: Although I do not accept insurance, some plans will reimburse you for your therapy fees. If you would like to file out-of-network claims, I would be happy to submit monthly claims on your behalf. Here are the things to consider:
What is your deductible?
You won’t receive any reimbursement until your deductible is met. However, it can be a good idea to apply these expenses even if you don’t anticipate meeting your deductible, just in case something unexpected happens.
How much will your insurance cover for an out-of-network mental health/specialist visit?
The approved covered amount is usually priced well below standard therapy rates. This means you may pay $160, but only $100 of that will go towards your deductible. Insurance often won’t share their maximum rates in advance, but if you want to ask, you can inquire with insurance about the maximum reimbursable fee for CPT code 90834 (individual therapy, 45-50 minute session.)
Do you have any concerns about having a mental health diagnosis on your permanent health record?
All insurance plans require a diagnosis to cover mental health care, and that diagnosis becomes a part of your permanent health record. After we meet, we can discuss a potential diagnosis and any concerns you have BEFORE you file with insurance.
Does my insurance pay for couples counseling?
Most plans do not cover couples counseling. However, it may be appropriate to have your partner or family attend sessions to support you in your individual therapy, and that may be covered under certain circumstances. I am happy to talk with you about whether this is appropriate for your situation. Please contact me at sheffaariens@gmail.com with any questions or concerns you have.
WHY ARE SESSIONS STRUCTURED AS 50/80 MINUTES?
This may look strange if you're not familiar with traditional therapy timing. This time frame allows me to start each session on the hour (or half hour), and have a few minutes afterwards to write notes about what might be helpful in our future work. It also gives us a few minutes of flexibility to wrap up, so we don't have a "hard stop" right when the clock hits the allotted time.