Rates
- $140 for 60 Minute Session of Individual psychotherapy
Insurance
In Network with: Blue Cross Blue Shield:
- PPO Plans
- State Employees
- Federal Employees
- $165 for 60 Minute Session of family therapy
Here is why I do not bill insurance companies for couples and family therapy:
Insurance and Family/Couples Therapy
While I am an in-network provider with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, I will not bill insurance for couple’s therapy for the following reasons:
Couples therapy is not a provided benefit under most insurance plans because plans require medical necessity for treatment. This means that to use health benefits for treatment, an individual requires a diagnosable mental health disorder while the therapist needs to prove that the disorder is causing significant impairment in your life on a day-to-day basis. While you may have anxiety, a depressive disorder, or other mental health challenge, the focus of treatment in couple’s therapy is the treatment of your relationship dynamic rather than on your mental health condition. The insurance company does not see communication and relationship challenges as medically necessary. In couples therapy the relationship IS the client and therefore not recognized by insurance companies. They only cover the mental health of the individual who is insured.
The above policies hold true for family therapy as well. To bill insurance for a family session, one person in the family must be designated as having a diagnosis, and I would then have the burden of proving that this diagnosis is impacting the family difficulties. Furthermore, I would have to prove that the diagnosis is being treated in the family session, which is not the case generally. To the contrary, a person’s individual diagnosis should be treated with quality individual therapy while good family therapy should center around the health, structure, roles, and function of the entire family as a system.
It is possible that if you call your insurance company and ask if they cover family or couple’s therapy they may say “yes” but it does not guarantee coverage of services, even if you obtain an authorization number. Sometimes the insurance company says “yes” to couples or family counseling by referencing a procedure code that allows you to invite a family member or significant other to be present in your own individual therapy. In those instances, the focus of counseling is not on your relationship or on the family system, but rather the treatment of your diagnosable mental health condition. The code used for this is 90847 and the sessions are limited. The partner or family member is present as a support in the treatment of your mental health condition, not as a person also receiving treatment for themselves or the relationship or family challenges. 90847 can be a covered service, but the content of the session will not resemble couples counseling or family therapy at all. Rather, the focus will be on how can the “guest” family member help you get better?
Labeling one person as the “identified patient” for the purpose of getting insurance to cover services can bring new difficulties to everyone involved, and there is a high risk of pathologizing a partner or family member. Taking this risk, in my view, is unethical. I am dedicated to providing ethical treatment and ensuring that all individuals have the fair and highest quality services possible.
I am OUT of network with other insurance companies.
Payment
I accept cash, check and MasterCard/Visa as forms of payment. You may also use your FSA or HSA card as a payment method. I utilize PocketSuite software to allow a quick payment procedure after our session ends. Your invoice and your receipt are instantly emailed to you.
Cancellation Policy
Appointment scheduling is done easily and quickly through PocketSuite Software. Once you have called or texted me for an appointment, I instantly schedule you and send you a confirmation request. You will receive reminders 2 days before your appointment via text. You can also cancel appointments via text and ask to reschedule. It’s quick and easy!
If you are unable to attend a session, please make sure you cancel at least 24 hours beforehand. If a session is missed or not cancelled at least 24 hours in advance the full session will be charged.
Any Other Questions
Please contact me for any additional questions you may have. I look forward to hearing from you!