Private Pay

Many insurance companies will reimburse a portion of out-of-network provider fees, sometimes as equally as an in-network provider. If you would like to use your insurance, call your insurance provider and ask what your “out-of-network benefits” are for mental health care. Additionally, your out-of-pocket cost may be eligible to go towards your annual deductible.

There are many benefits to using a private pay option for counseling:

You can choose a specific therapist vs insurance dictating who you can work with, which may grant you access to a specialization or therapy method that may not exist with local in-network providers or methods insurance doesn’t cover (like art therapy).

You can choose the focus, duration, frequency of therapy, and length of sessions

You often get access to therapists with more experience or specializations who aren’t willing to work with as many (or any) insurance companies

There is more privacy - if you use insurance, the insurance company has access to your treatment plan, session notes, and other information, and can disclose information about you to third parties. Additionally, if you do not submit a superbill there is no record of you having received therapy

If you use insurance, services must be “medically necessary” and you must receive a psychiatric diagnosis by the first session.