Therapy Fees & Payment Options

Figuring out how much you’ll pay for sessions is an important part of the process! Below is some information on your choices. I’m happy to help you figure out the ins and outs of my fees, your payment options, your insurance coverage, etc., because I understand it can be confusing and frustrating. Please don't let it become a stressor; set up a free phone consult and we can sort it out together.

The Basics

I am an out-of-network provider, which means I do not participate directly with insurance plans. However, if your insurance includes out-of-network mental health benefits (and many policies do,) you may be able to use those benefits to cover part of the cost of therapy sessions.

It's important to find out what your coverage is so that you’ll know ahead of time what you’ll pay for each session. You can plug in your insurance information in the widget below to find out more. If you need help understanding the information, I’d be happy to help. Schedule a phone call and we’ll sort it out together.

I also offer a reduced self-pay rate for people whose insurance does not provide useful coverage or who have a high deductible that the will likely not reach.

You may also be able to use your HSA or FSA to cover the cost of sessions as well.

Fees

Full 60-minute session: $150
Shortened 45-minute session: $130
Intake/first session: $175
Reduced self-pay rate: $80/session (45-minute session)

Option 1: Use Your Out-of-Network Benefits

I use Thrizer to make out-of-network billing as simple as possible. Thrizer can check your estimated benefits, submit eligible claims automatically, track your claims, and provide support with the insurance billing process. You generally do not need to fill out claim forms or submit superbills yourself. ("Superbills" are special receipts for insurance companies.)

You can use the benefits checker below to find out:

whether you have out-of-network mental health coverage
whether you have a deductible and how much of it you’ve met
your estimated cost per session

Thrizer Benefit Checker

If you decide to use your out-of-network benefits, there are 3 possible ways to do this:

Pay the Full Fee and Receive Reimbursement Later

You pay the full session fee at the time of your appointment, and Thrizer can automaticall submit the insurance claim for you.

If your insurance reimburses you through Thrizer, Thrizer sends that reimbursement to you. Their current fee for this service is just $1 or $2.

This may be a good choice if you are comfortable paying the full fee upfront and waiting for reimbursement, but you want a little help with submitting and tracking claims.

Pay Only Your Estimated Portion Upfront

If you are eligible for Thrizer Pay, you pay your estimated out-of-pocket portion rather than the full fee.

Thrizer pays the therapist the remaining amount and handles the insurance claim. The current Thrizer Pay fee is 5% of the fee, or $6-8 per session. The Thrizer Pay fee is for the convenience of paying only your estimated out-of-pocket cost up front, rather than paying the full session fee and waiting for reimbursement.

Because insurance benefits are estimates, your final cost may occasionally be higher or lower after your insurance company processes the claim. If that happens, Thrizer handles the adjustment directly with you.

A note about insurance reimbursement: Out-of-network insurance usually bases reimbursement on its own “allowed amount” for a therapy session, which may be lower than my fee. Your actual out-of-pocket cost therefore includes both your share of the insurance company’s allowed amount and any difference between that allowed amount and my full fee.

Prefer to submit claims yourself?

I can provide you with a superbill (special receipt) to submit directly to your insurance company if you are comfortable doing that on your own. There is no fee for this option because you're dealing directly with your insurance company. Thrizer is simply available if you’d prefer help with claim submission and tracking.

Option 2: Reduced Self-Pay Fee

If using insurance would still leave you with substantial out-of-pocket costs, you may choose my reduced self-pay rate: $80/session (for a 45-minute session).

This option may be appropriate if you:

do not have health insurance
do not have out-of-network mental health coverage
have a high deductible that you are unlikely to reach
would otherwise have substantial out-of-pocket costs using your insurance

With this option, you pay $80 per session and insurance is not used.

Reduced-fee sessions are self-pay only, so insurance claims and superbills (special receipts) are not submitted for reimbursement.

I offer this rate to make therapy more accessible for people whose insurance provides little financial assistance with out-of-network care.

HSA & FSA Payments

You may also use HSA or FSA payments for therapy services--full fee, reduced fee, or co-insurance.

Benefits of Focused, Time-Limited Therapy

The therapy I offer is designed to be focused and time-limited, (usually 12 sessions or fewer) so the cost is a more defined, short-term expense rather than an open-ended commitment to weekly therapy.

The reduced fee does not change the care you receive. My work is grounded in evidence-based approaches, and I bring 19 years of experience as a licensed therapist.

Unsure Which Option Makes Sense for You?

If it all seems too confusing and you'd like help, I can walk you through all this. Set up a free phone consult today.

If you'd like, you can start with the Thrizer benefits checker above to see what your out-of-network coverage may look like. Once we know your estimated benefits, it is usually much easier to compare the options and decide what makes the most financial sense for you. I can help you figure out all the payment details and can talk it all through with you on our first call.

I am not set up for MaineCare or Medicare billing at this time, and therefore do not work with clients who have Medicare or MaineCare.

Dawn Ascanio