IMPORTANT INFORMATION

PLEASE READ!

Part of my job as a therapist is to protect my client’s confidentiality and privacy. The requirements dictated by the insurance companies, jeopardizes this potential. If therapy is paid for through insurance, the insurance company requires the therapist to provide a diagnosis from the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health Disorders). Not all DSM diagnosis qualifies for insurance coverage. They usually only pay for therapy if you qualify for a mental disorder diagnosis, such as Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder or an Anxiety Disorder. Couples counseling, communication skills or pre-marital counseling is normally not covered.

We are required to provide a DSM Code to the insurance companies, which stay in the client’s medical records for an unspecified time. This can have an effect on obtaining insurance or life insurance in the future, as well as become available to employers.

Some insurance may require the therapist to share information from the sessions on a regular basis in order to maintain coverage and in determining the number of sessions allowed.  In addition, insurance companies may request copies of the therapist’s notes, which may reveal detailed information discussed during the sessions. This also becomes a part of the client’s permanent medical record, therefore compromises confidentiality. In a court proceeding, medical records could get subpoenaed, including your mental health records.

I believe in protecting your privacy and that your therapy belongs to YOU, not your insurance company.

Therefore, at this time I only accept cash, checks made payable to “A Quiet Journey Counseling, LLC”, or PayPal which is formatted to receive credit card transactions should you not have a PayPal account.

Although I do not participate in managed care or preferred provider plans, many health insurance plans cover some portion of the expense for mental health practitioners who are out of network. Moreover, various employers offer the benefit of a Flexible Spending Account, deducting your health care costs before taxes, which can represent significant savings. I recommend checking the details of your insurance plan for their individual psychotherapy coverage for out-of-network providers. It will be important for you to find out what percentage of the provider’s fees they reimburse, whether there is a deductible, whether there is a session limit, and whether pre-authorization is required.  Additionally, when contacting your insurance company please be sure to specify that you are seeking the services of an L.G.P.C. or Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor as many insurance companies will not reimburse for this credential.  Staying fully informed of your plan’s details will help prevent surprises and frustration later on.

Although I do not accept payment directly from insurance companies, I am happy to provide you with documentation that you can submit to your insurance provider for the purposes of reimbursement, should that be something you request.

I am committed to providing services within the financial needs of all my clients. Therefore, it is important to CALL (301) 370-6613 or e-mail to discuss the fees for the services, which you seek.