Fees, Insurance, & Practice Policies
Choosing to invest in therapy is a meaningful step toward your personal and relational well-being. To maintain the highest level of specialized clinical care, absolute confidentiality, and complete treatment flexibility, Mindful Awakening, PLLC operates as an Out-of-Network (OON) provider.
A Note on Accessibility, Insurance, & My Practice History
For nearly three decades—since graduating with my MSW in 1996—I operated strictly as an in-network provider with commercial insurance plans and the State Health Plan. Accessibility is a core value of my solo private practice, and I remained deeply committed to that system for over a generation.
However, to maintain the absolute highest standard of clinical excellence, preserve strict client confidentiality, and provide the deep, multi-year specialized training required for advanced EMDR and Somatic Experiencing protocols, my practice transitioned to an Out-of-Network (OON) provider model. This change ensures that your treatment length, frequency, and clinical style are decided entirely by you and your therapist, never by an insurance company claims adjuster.
To make this premium level of care as seamless as possible, I handle all out-of-network insurance paperwork for you. You get the benefits of advanced, specialized trauma and relational care without any administrative hassle.
Fees & Clinical Investment
Transparent pricing builds immediate trust. Payment is due at the time of your appointment.
- Individual Therapy: $185 per 50-55 minute session.
- Sex, Couples, & Relationship Therapy: $195 per 50-55 minute session.
- Scheduled Phone or Telehealth Sessions: Billed at the standard hourly session rate.
- Ancillary Professional Services: For administrative tasks requiring less than one hour, costs are broken down in 15-minute increments based on the hourly rate. This includes report writing, preparation of records, treatment summaries, or telephone conversations lasting longer than 5 minutes.
Payment Methods & Portal Automation
I accept payment in the form of debit cards, credit cards, and Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards.
- Card on File & Authorization: All clients are required to securely place a debit or credit card on file within the SimplePractice client portal. The portal completely encrypts your card data. By placing your card on file, you authorize Mindful Awakening, PLLC to automatically process payments for all services rendered, as well as any late cancellation or missed session fees.
- Automatic Processing: This encrypted card will be used automatically to collect your standard session fee, as well as any balance due for appointments missed or late-cancelled with less than 48 hours' notice.
- Returned Payment Fee: If a payment is returned by my bank or yours (e.g., due to insufficient funds), you are responsible for a $25 fee for each returned payment.
- Payment Timeline: Unless we have made a different, mutually agreed-upon arrangement, your balance for missed or late-canceled appointments is due within one week of the invoice date.
New Client Intake & Forms Requirement
To ensure we can utilize our first session effectively, we manage all initial documentation electronically through a secure, encrypted portal.
- Portal Access: Once you have scheduled an initial appointment with me, you will be emailed a direct link to access the secure SimplePractice Client Portal.
- The 48-Hour Intake Deadline: I ask that you take the time to thoroughly review and complete all of your required new client intake forms at least 48 hours prior to your initial appointment time so that I have time to review them before we meet.
48-Hour Cancellation Policy
Your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you. If you need to cancel or reschedule your session, I require a minimum of 48 hours' notice.
- Late Cancellations: Appointments cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours' notice will be charged the full session fee ($185 for individual or $195 for couples).
- The 48-Hour Window: To avoid being charged, your notice must be received at least 48 hours prior to your exact scheduled appointment time. For example, an appointment scheduled for Tuesday at 2:00 PM must be cancelled or rescheduled by no later than Sunday at 2:00 PM.
- Why I Enforce This: This strict window allows clients on my waitlist enough time to make administrative and personal arrangements to be seen in open slots.
- Insurance Note: Insurance companies do not reimburse for missed or late-cancelled sessions.
Legal Proceedings & Court Appearances Policy
Because of the safety, trust, and deeply sensitive nature involved in a client-therapist relationship, I prefer to not be involved in any legal proceedings on your behalf. My doing so can have a fundamentally harmful effect on the therapeutic relationship.
- Policy on Court Inquiries: If you are actively seeking services to fulfill a court order, or if you anticipate involvement in legal proceedings that would require your therapist's involvement, please let me know immediately so I can refer you to another provider.
- Legal Retainer Fees: If you do become involved in legal proceedings that require my participation, you will be expected to pay for all of my professional time, including preparation and transportation costs, even if I am subpoenaed or called to testify by another party.
- Legal Hourly Rate: Because of the extreme difficulty and administrative burden of legal involvement, I charge a specialized rate of $350 per hour for preparation and attendance at any legal proceeding.
Seamless, Automated Reimbursement
Many insurance plans offer excellent out-of-network behavioral health coverage that will reimburse you for a significant portion of individual therapy costs. While most out-of-network providers require you to submit your own paperwork, I manage the electronic submission process on your behalf for eligible services.
How My Process Works:
- Pay at Session: You pay your standard session fee ($185 for individual or $195 for couples) at the time of your appointment.
- Secure Electronic Submission: For eligible individual sessions, I submit a secure, HIPAA-compliant electronic claim directly to your insurance company through SimplePractice, my practice management platform.
- Direct Reimbursement: Your insurance provider processes the claim and sends a reimbursement check directly to your home address or bank account.
⚠️ Important Notice Regarding Couples & Relationship Therapy
Please be aware that couples and relationship therapy is an out-of-pocket expense, as most commercial insurance plans and the State Health Plan typically do not cover it.
- The Medical Necessity Standard: For insurance to reimburse for services, there must be a single identified client with a legitimate mental health diagnosis on which the entire focus of treatment centers, and the care must meet strict criteria for "medical necessity."
- The "Z-Code" Reality: In couples or relationship counseling, both individuals are the clients. Relationship counseling is classified diagnostically as a "Z-code" (a code for tracking relational circumstances), which insurance companies do not recognize as a medical necessity.
- Ethical Billing Standards: Because of these industry rules, I cannot "creatively bill" insurance or alter codes for couples work to force coverage. Doing so constitutes insurance fraud. Couples therapy should be viewed as a direct investment in the health and future of your partnership.
Questions to Ask Your Insurance Provider (For Individual Therapy Only):
Call the member services number on the back of your insurance card to verify your individual out-of-network coverage with these exact questions:
- "Do I have out-of-network behavioral health benefits for individual outpatient office visits (CPT code 90837)?"
- "What is my out-of-network deductible, and has it been met yet?"
- "What percentage of the individual session fee is covered after my deductible is met (co-insurance)?"
Why Choose an Out-of-Network Provider?
- Total Clinical Privacy: Insurance companies require a formal mental health diagnosis and retain the right to audit your clinical records. Out-of-network therapy keeps your personal session details strictly confidential. Please note: If you wish to have out-of-network claims submitted automatically on your behalf, a clinical diagnosis will be required for the paperwork.
- No Forced Diagnoses: If you choose not to utilize insurance billing, you do not need to meet strict medical criteria for a mental health disorder just to receive professional support for life transitions, grief, or relationship growth.
- Customized Treatment Plans: Your treatment is dictated entirely by your unique clinical needs and goals, never by the restricted timelines or administrative constraints of an insurance adjuster.
Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate (No Surprises Act)
Under the law, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services, before you schedule an appointment. You can request this estimate from your healthcare provider, or any other provider you choose, at any time during our work together.
