Payment Policies

The nitty gritty…

We are committed to being honest and upfront when it comes to therapy costs.

We are not in-network with any insurance companies. Learn more about why we have made the choice to be a private pay practice here.

However, we can provide a “superbill” (specialized medical receipt) to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement based on your benefits. There is no guarantee of coverage. It is your responsibility to submit this information to your insurance company and speak with them about your available benefits. Click here to see helpful questions to use to get more information about these benefits when you call your insurance company.

Most FSA and HSA cards can be used to pay for therapy costs. Again, it is your responsibility to verify this with your card carrier based on the parameters of your account. We can also offer receipts that you can submit to your FSA or HSA account for reimbursement if you do not have a card associated with your account.

Payment for all sessions is due at time of service. Credit/debit card information must be provided at the time you book your first session to secure your appointment slot and to be kept on file to cover any cancellation fees. Your information is stored in our secure, confidential online platform, where we never actually see the full credit card number.

Please note that scheduled sessions must be cancelled at least 24 hours in advance. Otherwise, you will be charged the full session fee. 

We do offer limited sliding scale sessions based on income and need. These slots are currently full. If you are in need of low-cost therapy services, Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a great resource.

Know Your Rights: Click here to learn more about your rights and protections against surprise medical bills under the federal No Surprises Act. While Therapy with Joy is completely upfront and transparent about our costs and does not send surprise bills, we are required to inform you of these important rights and protections.

Reach out to us today!

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Benefits of Self Pay Counseling

  • No diagnosis or stigma required

    All insurance companies require a medical diagnosis in order for your therapy services to be covered. Many people who seek therapy do not have a diagnosable clinical disorder, but they are looking for support and guidance for a life problem or may have very mild symptoms that do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis. While clinical diagnosis is important when appropriate, self-pay allows you to seek services whether or not you meet diagnostic criteria, without feeling labeled. 

  • Privacy

    While all insurance companies must follow HIPAA guidelines, submitting to insurance still means that there are more eyes on your healthcare information. Health insurance companies require counseling notes to "justify" service. Self-pay ensures increased confidentiality since only the counselor and the client are privy to any counseling-related information and no third-party is involved.                                                                                                                                  

  • Buy-in

    Research shows that clients who pay something for their treatment have more positive outcomes than those who do not. Clients are more motivated to engage in their treatment and make the most of their counseling services when they make an investment. In this way, you may even get better faster and reduce your costs overall. As we all know, you get what you pay for!

  • Quality Service

    By accepting self-pay clients, we are able to offer counseling in a way that works best for both you and our therapists. This allows for the highest quality of service, as we are able to be fully devoted to your therapeutic needs. Also, many insurance companies limit the number of sessions, length and frequency of sessions, whether or not you are able to do online sessions, etc. Self-pay allows complete freedom for the therapist and client to determine what is best and most effective for treatment. 

Questions for Out-of-Network (OON) Insurance Benefits

If you are hoping to use out-of-network benefits with your insurance company, feel free to use the questions below as a guide when you call to better understand the benefits available to you. Please note that if you do choose to submit OON benefits, the “No diagnosis or stigma required” self-pay benefits listed above do not apply. Most insurance plans require a diagnosis in order to cover sessions and your therapy files and notes will be accessible and open to audits by your insurance carrier.

  • Do I have mental health benefits?

  • What is my deductible and has it been met?

  • How many mental health sessions per calendar year does my insurance plan cover? (These sessions would be considered outpatient or office sessions.)

  • How much does my plan cover for an out-of-network (OON) mental health provider? What is the deductible for OON benefits?

  • How do I obtain reimbursement for therapy with an out-of-network provider?

  • What CPT codes are covered for therapy sessions? What is the coverage amount per therapy session?

  • Does my plan cover telemental health (video &/or telephone) services?

  • Is approval required from my primary care physician?