Susan accepts cash or checks and will consider sliding scale on an individualized basis.

Susan's initial assessment is often 1 1/2 hours in length and costs $135.00.

Her full fee is $100 per hour.

Presently, Susan is not on any insurance panels. She is, however, working on becoming a provider on several panels.

Why Pay Out of Pocket for Psychotherapy Services Instead of Using Your Insurance?

There are many reasons why a person might consider paying out of pocket fees rather than use their insurance to pay for psychotherapy services.

1. You can choose your own therapist-
Oftentimes, insurance companies only work with their in-network psychotherapists thus limiting your choice of therapists. Also, there may be a conflict of interest between the therapist and the insurance company regarding services offered. Finally, your therapist may have been recommended by someone you know and trust. Please note that Susan will bill your insurance company for out-of-network fees if you would like so you may be able to receive some reimbursement for your services.

2. You can choose the type and length of treatment best suited to your needs-
Insurance companies typically limit the amount and type of services required for effective treatment. Many companies only allow for brief therapy services which may not be conducive to supporting recovery. Susan believes that each individual and family should be allowed to choose what works best for them in regard to treatment planning.

3. You don't want to be labeled with a mental health diagnosis-
When insurance is used for psychotherapy services, the treatment must be deemed as "medically necessary." This means that your therapist will have to give you a psychiatric diagnosis in order to receive reimbursement for services. Diagnoses have the tendency to "follow" a person throughout life which could possibly exclude an individual from receiving insurance in the future. Although Susan believes that diagnoses can sometimes inform treatment planning modalities, she feels they are most often unnecessary and can cause more harm than good.