Session Fees

Why I Don’t Take Insurance

Therapy works best when it’s private, flexible, and focused entirely on you — not on what an insurance company decides is “medically necessary.”

To bill insurance, I’d be required to give you a mental health diagnosis and share personal details of our work together with a third-party company. That information — including your diagnosis and sometimes session content — becomes part of your permanent medical record. Once it’s in that system, it can be accessed by insurance companies, auditors, and occasionally other agencies down the line. Insurance companies can, at any time, demand a review of your records and look for reasons not to pay for services; or even engage in what’s called a “clawback”, where they retroactively decide they shouldn’t have paid, and demand money back from you and your counselor.

For many people, privacy may not seem like a big deal. But I’ve worked with clients whose privacy needs go beyond the norm — including public figures, those in government or other security-sensitive positions, and individuals whose personal or professional lives could be impacted by what’s in their medical files. For them, and for anyone who values discretion, paying privately offers the most complete confidentiality possible. Your information stays between you and me.

Insurance-based therapy also shapes what therapy can look like. Companies dictate how many sessions are “approved,” what issues qualify for coverage, and when treatment should end. This often means therapy gets cut short, or the focus is narrowed to symptom management rather than real exploration and growth. I believe that kind of restriction undermines the heart of therapy — which is curiosity, connection, and genuine change.

When I choose to work outside the insurance system, it allows me to:

• See clients as whole, capable people rather than diagnostic codes.
• Tailor the work to your unique goals and pace, without outside oversight.
• Maintain a smaller caseload so I can bring my full attention, creativity, and focus to each session.
• Continue investing in ongoing education, training, and personal development that deepen the quality of my care.

Regarding your records, counselors are required to keep some records, including intake paperwork, and progress notes that briefly summarize sessions and treatment goals. The progress notes I use are concise and limited to what’s ethically and legally necessary — no more. These notes are stored securely, and will only ever be released if you request them in writing or in the rare event of a court order.

Choosing private-pay therapy means choosing autonomy, privacy, and the freedom to do meaningful work without bureaucracy in the room. It allows us to focus fully on what matters most — your growth, your healing, and your ability to live with intention and clarity.

If you have out-of-network benefits through your insurance plan, I can provide a “superbill” so you can submit it to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.