Why do you not accept insurance to cover counseling services?

While insurance coverage can help make counseling services more affordable, there are several drawbacks to accepting insurance for counseling. One of the main concerns I have is the oversight of insurance companies and how they will reimburse for only specific types of therapeutic approaches. There are a wide-range of counseling therapeutic techniques that are ethical and client-centered, but may not be valued to the same degree by insurance. This may mean that insurance will prioritize reimbursement for only those techniques/approaches, leading to less individualized care for clients.

Another important reason why I do not accept insurance to cover counseling services is due to the increased risk to confidentiality and client privacy that comes with insurance coverage. There are looming concerns about how insurance companies may be tapped to monitor clients’ citizenship status and other identity characteristics. As someone who highly prizes individual autonomy and privacy, I have made the conscious decision to not willingly subject clients to this type of monitoring and potential violation of their rights.

What if I want to use my insurance for out-of-network coverage?

You can absolutely submit an out-of-network coverage claim (aka, superbill) to your insurance to help defray the cost of counseling services. Out-of-network coverage is not guaranteed, but many insurance companies honor this type of claim. If you would like to pursue this option, please let me know during our initial meeting so I can follow-up with the next steps.

How often do you provide counseling sessions?

The amount and frequency of counseling sessions that I recommend is going to be different for everyone. This is because I want to ensure you are getting the individualized, custom care that you deserve. However, there are some “industry standards” when it comes to the services offered in outpatient clinical settings. Many clients will be recommended to attend counseling weekly or biweekly, typically once a week, but this will be highly dependent on the unique combination of symptoms, support systems in place, and availability to meet.