Common questions about therapy:
You find your self struggling to be yourself. Your every day life is suddenly affected. You may experience difficulties sleeping, concentrating, being productive at home and at work. Despite trying everyday to get out of this mode, you find that you are "stuck" in this mode. You try your hardest to find the answers to what is affecting you and you are unable to understand what is taking place. This is the time where therapy can help.
Most sessions last 50 minutes. Couples counseling is different than individual and adolescent counseling. More time is needed to most effectively address the needs of the relationship. Couples sessions can be provided in both 1 hour and 1.5 hour sessions depending on the intensity of treatment desired.
Our fees are in the mid-range for private practice psychotherapy in the Broward area.
Our current range is between $125-$175 per session. Rates will vary based on the experience level and specific certification training of each therapist.
Senior clinicians (15 years+ with specialty training)
Initial Consultation: $175
Couples session/ Family Counseling: $155-$225
Individual session: $155
Clinicians (5-10 years of experience)
Initial Consultation: $155
Individual session: $140- $155
Master Level Clinicians (Interns) (1-3 years of experience)
Initial Consultation: $130
Individual session: $100
Family session: $110
It is our policy to disclose all fees during our first contact, before you make your first appointment.
- Please note that payment is due at the time that services are rendered, unless other arrangements have been made in advance.
- Accepted forms of payment are checks, cash, Visa and Master Card.
When you meet with your clinician for the first time, an intake interview will take place. This is the beginning of the information gathering process. Some of the typical questions that are asked are about your physical health, what brings you to counseling and symptoms that you are experiencing.
We will begin to formulate some goals for counseling and steps to take to get there. This also gives us an opportunity for us to get a sense of what it's like to work together.
If, at the end of the first session, we decide for any reason that your needs would be better served by someone else, we will do our best to provide you with more appropriate referrals.
Only psychiatrists and other medical doctor's are licensed to prescribe medication. Our center has close working relationships with local psychiatrist who are knowledgeable, ethical and caring.
Medication is not always recommended for clients. However, if at any point during treatment the symptoms or conditions worsen, medication may be a viable solution for symptoms that become unmanageable such as non-situational depression and/or anxiety. However, please keep in mind that the final choice is always yours.
Our therapists will work closely with your psychiatrist and/or medical doctor to make sure that you are receiving the best care for your needs.
We are in network with Cigna & Aetna. Your specific plan will dictate the mental health benefits that you may have. In certain circumstances we are able to work with other insurance provided you have a PPO plan that allows for out of network benefits, and the yearly out of network benefit has been met.
We can provide you with a Superbill or account statement that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Please note that this is not a guarantee for reimbursement as it will all depend on your medical plan. Our client care coordinators will be able to provide you with specific information on how to navigate this.
Some of our clinicians may be in network with specific insurance plans such as Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and UMR (Palm Beach Fire Fighters only). Please contact our friendly client care coordinator for more information.
What are the benefits of paying out of pocket?
Paying out of pocket for therapy rather than using insurance benefits can be advantageous for several reasons:
Confidentiality:
Access to your records is usually limited to you and your counselor. However, some managed care companies require periodic chart reviews by their Quality Assurance Department. Additionally, all managed care companies require all therapists to provide a medical diagnosis for your condition as well to submit treatment plans when requesting additional sessions on your behalf. Ask your therapist for more information or to see the reporting forms if you are using a managed care plan and have concerns about your privacy.
Flexibility:
There are no restrictions placed on how you choose your counselor and what services you design in partnership with your provider. The plan of care and the payment of services are discussed and set by mutual agreement.
Autonomy:
The length of care, frequency of sessions and other aspects of work you do together are entirely up to you and your counselor
Cancellation Policy
It is our policy to charge for appointments that are not kept. We ask clients to notify the office via voice mail within 24 hours of a scheduled appointment in case of an emergency. Please remember that the time is set aside exclusively for you.
No Surprises Act
Effective January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act, which Congress passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, is designed to protect patients from surprise bills for emergency services at out-of-network facilities or for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, holding them liable only for in-network cost-sharing amounts. The No Surprises Act also enables uninsured patients to receive a good faith estimate of the cost of care.
Billing Disclosures-
YOUR RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS
(OMB Control Number: 0938-1401)
When you get emergency care or get treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from surprise billing or balance billing.
What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?
When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a copayment, coinsurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.
“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.
“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care - like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.
You are protected from balance billing for:
Emergency services
If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.
Certain services at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center
When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.
If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you unless you give written consent and give up your protections.
You’re never required to give up your protection from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.
When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:
- You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
- Your health plan generally must:
- Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
- Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
- Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
- Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.
If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact:
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises for more information about your rights under federal law.
The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO.
Good Faith Estimate
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
- You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment and hospital fees.
- Make sure your healthcare provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
- If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
- Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
Get More information
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Online therapy also known as Telehealth is a way to have your counseling session from the privacy of your home or work from your desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device (IOS or Android)
Online therapy is as effective and helpful as live sessions. For many, being able to have counseling from the safety and warmth of your home is quite appealing. Research now indicates that virtual talk therapy as a result of COVID-19 has become an important way to receive therapy services.
