Counseling Fees & FAQS
We have 3 Master Level Therapists under Supervision joining our practice within the next two weeks, along with a Masters Level Student Intern by the end of March 2024.
What are your rates?
We have partnered with Mentaya to help clients use their out-of-network benefits to save money on therapy. Use this tool below to see if you qualify for reimbursement for our services.
- $75 per hour with Masters Level Student Interns
- $125 per hour with Masters Level Therapists under Supervision (Residents in Counseling, Residents in Marriage and Family Therapy, and Supervisee's in Social Work), and Doctoral Level Student Interns
- $175 per hour with Masters Level Independently Licensed Therapists (LPC, LMFT, or LCSW) and Doctoral Level Therapists under Supervision
- $200 per hour with Masters Level Speciality Certified Therapists (LPC, LMFT, or LCSW)
- $225 per hour for Doctoral Level Independently Licensed Therapists (LPC, LMFT, or LCSW)
- $250 per hour for Doctoral Level Specialty Certified Therapists (LPC, LMFT, or LCSW)
- $300 per hour for Dr. Elizabeth Polinsky, LCSW, LMFT, Clinic Owner and Director
We have partnered with Mentaya to help clients use their out-of-network benefits to save money on therapy. Use this tool below to see if you qualify for reimbursement for our services.
Do you take insurance? Are you connected with Military OneSource or the VA?
We do not take insurance and are not connected with Military One Source or the VA. All providers are out-of-network providers, which means that they do not bill insurance. We are 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. Your provider can talk this through with you at any time.
Medicare: Elizabeth Polinsky Counseling does not participate in any health insurance plans, HMO plans or panels, and cannot accept Medicare in any form. Clients of Elizabeth Polinsky Counseling cannot attempt reimbursement of services through Medicare. Services provided by Elizabeth Polinsky Counseling 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. Our providers would be considered OON providers, and you would be receiving individual counseling or family therapy, out-patient mental health services with either a licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and famiy therapist, licensed professional counselor, or pre-licensed therapist under supervision.
Good questions to ask them include:
Most insurance companies have a way to submit claims through their website or client portal. A lot of our 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.
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. Our providers would be considered OON providers, and you would be receiving individual counseling or family therapy, out-patient mental health services with either a licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and famiy therapist, licensed professional counselor, or pre-licensed therapist under supervision.
Good questions to ask them include:
- Are mental/behavioral health services (Current Procedural Terminology/CPT codes 90834 and 90837 for individual therapy, or 90846 and 90847 for family and couples therapy) covered by my out-of-network benefits?
- What is my out-of-network deductible?
- How much of my out-of-network deductible has already been met?
- What is my policy period?
- How much of the fee is reimbursed for out-of-network providers?
- Are services provided by pre-licensed therapists covered under my plan?
- How do I submit for reimbursement and how long do I have to submit my Suberbill?
- How long will it take to be reimbursed for sessions after I have submitted my claims?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
- 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 our 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?
This will be collaboratively decided between you and your therapist. However, research suggests that 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, it is often recommended that clients commit to weekly sessions. This allows your therapist 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.
This will be collaboratively decided between you and your therapist. However, research suggests that 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, it is often recommended that clients commit to weekly sessions. This allows your therapist 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?
Our clinic has a 48-hour cancellation policy in order to allow us to pay our therapists for their time. If you miss your appointment or cancel in under 48-hours, you will be charged the full amount of the session.
The exception is Dr. Elizabeth Polinsky who only works with clients who are willing to be videotaped for training purposes. She works with clients on a weekly basis and has a reschedule only policy. We are happy to provide more information about this should you wish to work with her.
Our clinic has a 48-hour cancellation policy in order to allow us to pay our therapists for their time. If you miss your appointment or cancel in under 48-hours, you will be charged the full amount of the session.
The exception is Dr. Elizabeth Polinsky who only works with clients who are willing to be videotaped for training purposes. She works with clients on a weekly basis and has a reschedule only policy. We are happy to provide more information about this should you wish to work with her.
How long will I need to be in therapy?
Therapy sessions typically last for 50-minutes although some couples find 80-minute sessions to be helpful. 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. We 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.
Therapy sessions typically last for 50-minutes although some couples find 80-minute sessions to be helpful. 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. We 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.
What are marriage counseling sessions like?
Your first session will be spent getting to know one another, discussing what’s led you to therapy, and giving you an opportunity to ask questions. Your therapist will then 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 typically be with both partners present.
Weekly counseling sessions are a combination of conversation, skill building, and communication practice while talking 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, your therapist will offer referrals to other disciplines, such as psychiatry, primary care, individual therapy, etc. Most of all, your therapist will hold space for you both to practice open, honest, and kind communication.
Your first session will be spent getting to know one another, discussing what’s led you to therapy, and giving you an opportunity to ask questions. Your therapist will then 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 typically be with both partners present.
Weekly counseling sessions are a combination of conversation, skill building, and communication practice while talking 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, your therapist will offer referrals to other disciplines, such as psychiatry, primary care, individual therapy, etc. Most of all, your therapist 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:
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” 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.
How do we get started?
Click on the button below to book your initial 20-minute free consultation. You'll chat to see if the therapist is a good fit for your needs. Then you can book a thorough getting to know you session where your therapist will explore your unique issues and your hopes for therapy in more depth.
Click on the button below to book your initial 20-minute free consultation. You'll chat to see if the therapist is a good fit for your needs. Then you can book a thorough getting to know you session where your therapist will explore your unique issues and your hopes for therapy in more depth.