Counseling Fees & FAQS

​What are your rates?
For couples counseling, I charge $300 per 60-minute session. For individual counseling, I charge $225 per 45-minute session.

Military/Veteran Discount
I have a limited number for reduced fee slots for military and veteran couples who cannot afford the full cost of therapy, have Tricare, and who are unable to get reimbursed from insurance. Please email me to see if there are current open spots for reduced fee counseling at info@elizabethpolinskycounseling.com. 

​Do you take insurance? Are you connected with Military OneSource or the VA?
I do not take insurance and I am not connected with Military One Source or the VA. I am an out-of-network provider, which means that I do not bill insurance. I am happy to offer you the necessary paperwork (superbill) to file with your insurance provider for possible partial or full reimbursement. 

​Please know that not all insurance plans offer reimbursement and that some may have a deductible or an allowable amount. It is best to call the number on the back of your insurance card and speak to a representative about what your specific benefits are. In addition, insurance companies typically only reimburse if the client has a diagnosable mental health condition. I'm happy to talk this through with you at any time.

Medicare: Elizabeth Polinsky and Elizabeth Polinsky Counseling do not participate in any health insurance plans, HMO plans or panels, and cannot accept Medicare in any form. Clients of Elizabeth Polinsky cannot attempt reimbursement of services through Medicare. Services provided by Elizabeth Polinsky are not covered under Medicare and no Medicare payment will be made or accepted for any reason.

Questions to ask your insurance company: 
There should be a number on the back of your insurance card that you can call to ask questions about out-of-network (OON) reimbursement. In general, most PPO plans (not HMO) have OON benefits. I would be considered an OON provider, and you would be receiving individual counseling or family therapy, out-patient mental health services with a licensed clinical social worker. 

Good questions to ask them include: 

1. Are mental/behavioral health services (Current Procedural Terminology/CPT codes 90834 and 90837 for individual therapy, or 90846 and 90847 for couples therapy) covered by my out-of-network benefits? 
2. What is my out-of-network deductible? 
3. How much of my out-of-network deductible has already been met? 
4. What is my policy period? 
5. How much of the fee is reimbursed for out-of-network providers? 
6. How do I submit for reimbursement? 
7. How long do I have to submit my Suberbill? 
8. How long will it take to be reimbursed for sessions after I have submitted my claims? 
9. Is approval required from my primary care physician? 
10. Will you reimburse for 2 sessions in a week?

Most insurance companies have a way to submit claims through their website or client portal. A lot of my clients like using Reimbursify which is an online service that will do your out-of-network billing for you. They charge $1.99 per reimbursement claim (you receive a check in the mail if your reimbursement is accepted). However, if your claim is rejected by your insurance company, Reimbursify will help you to resolve it, and there is never any additional charge if you need to resubmit an updated claim for the visit.

Can we meet bi-weekly or once a month?
Therapy works best when it is consistent and frequent. Because we are working hard to undo long-standing patterns, it can be difficult to instill new patterns with less frequent sessions. Therefore, I require clients to commit to weekly sessions, at a minimum. This allows me to work as effectively and efficiently as possible. Some clients have found great benefit to more intensive forms of therapy in the form of more frequent sessions which can accelerate the process.

What if I need to reschedule?
I work with clients on a weekly basis in a time that is reserved for you each week. You are financially responsible for this weekly time for the duration of our work together. However if you need to miss a session, I am happy to reschedule you into an open slot during the same week, or doubling up by having two sessions the week before or after your originally designated appointment time. My attendance policy is detailed in your intake paperwork and I'm always happy to answer any questions you may have.

​How long will I need to be in therapy?
I meet with clients weekly and each session lasts for 45-minutes for individual and 60-minutes for couples. It is hard to know how long therapy will take as many things impact how quickly progress can be made. In Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, it is common for this process to take 1-2 years of weekly counseling. However, if you have experienced significant trauma, abuse, or betrayals in the relationship, this could take longer.  I usually recommend that couples start with 3-6 months of weekly sessions as a trial period to make sure you are finding this therapy helpful. 

Can you explain the two office locations?
As a military spouse, we move around. However, we consistently return back to Virginia Beach and my primary office location is in Virginia Beach, Virginia. At this time, I have a second office location in Fallon, Nevada, while we are stationed here. I do fly back to Virginia Beach for Marriage Intensives, but ongoing weekly counseling services are online for the Virginia Beach location until we move back. 

What are marriage counseling sessions like?
Our first session will be spent getting to know one another, discussing what’s led you to therapy, and giving you an opportunity to ask me questions. Then I will meet with each partner individually to learn about each persons family history, relationship history, and your individual concerns about the relationship. After that, all sessions will be with both partners present.

Weekly counseling sessions are a combination of conversation, skill building, and communication practice as we talk about about your relationship concerns. We'll talk lot about feelings to help you communicate your feelings with each other in a way that is understood. Through this process you'll be learning tools to use in your day-to-day life. If needed, I'll offer referrals to other disciplines, such as psychiatry, primary care, individual therapy, etc. Most of all, I will hold space for you both to practice open, honest, and kind communication.

​How do I know if marriage counseling will work for me?
There are times when individual therapy may be more appropriate than marriage counseling. These times include:

• Couples in which one or both partners have an active addiction.
  
• If there is an ongoing affair that hasn't ended yet.
• If being in the same room for a long time is too triggering (potential trauma reaction) or you haven't been able to be in the same space without being civil in a period of time - this format will not be productive.
• If there is active intimate partner violence, this is not an option.

Good Faith Estimate: 
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care 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. Client right include: 

• 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 health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 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.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.

How do we get started?
Click on the button below to book your initial 20-minute free consultation. We'll chat to see if I am a good fit for your needs. Then we can book a thorough getting to know  you session where we explore your unique issues and your hopes for therapy in more depth. I'm really looking forward to hearing from you!

Are you ready to take the next step toward healing your relationship? 

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