WHY I DON’T WORK WITH INSURANCE
Many people are surprised to learn that I don’t accept insurance. It’s a deliberate choice, made with your privacy, your autonomy, and the quality of our work in mind.
No diagnosis required
To pay for counseling, insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis, even when what you’re facing is a life transition, a relationship struggle, or a hard season that doesn’t fit a medical label. That diagnosis becomes part of your permanent health record.
When you pay for counseling directly, we don’t need a diagnosis to begin. We can focus on understanding you as a whole person rather than fitting you into a category.
Your information stays more private
When insurance pays for counseling, the insurer can request information about your treatment, including session notes, during reviews or audits. Working outside insurance means your information isn’t shared with a third party for billing or review, and your counseling stays between us, within the legal and ethical limits of confidentiality I’ll explain in our first session.
This matters to many people, including professionals whose careers involve licensing, security clearances, or public trust, and parents who don’t want a diagnosis following their child.
Our work is shaped by your goals
Insurance companies often decide how many sessions you can have, what counts as “medically necessary,” and when treatment should end. Without those limits, we decide together how often to meet, what to focus on, and when you’re ready to finish. I approach counseling from a strength-based, whole-person perspective, and working outside insurance lets me practice that way fully.
What this means for you
Transparent pricing. My fees are listed on my counseling service page, with no surprise bills or claim denials.
Good Faith Estimate. As a self-pay client, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of your expected costs before we begin. I’ll provide one during intake, or anytime you ask.
Superbills, if you choose. If you’d like to seek out-of-network reimbursement, I can provide a superbill on request. Because insurers require a diagnosis, it will include one, so we’ll talk it through first, and you can decide what’s right for you.
More affordable options. If cost is a barrier, ask about my reduced-fee rates, where supervised counselors-in-training offer sessions at $50, or my “pay what you can” option.
Have questions?
Choosing how to pay for counseling is a personal decision, and I’m glad to talk it through with you. Schedule a free consultation, and we can figure out together whether working with me is the right fit.