Fees & Out-of-Network Cost Estimate
Understanding Your Investment in Trauma Therapy
Choosing the right therapist matters more than finding the cheapest one. If you've landed here, you're likely weighing whether working with me is financially possible — and I want to help you understand that clearly and honestly.
This page will walk you through what it means to see an out-of-network therapist, how much therapy with me may actually cost you, and how I partner with Thrizer to make the process as simple and affordable as possible.
What Does "Out-of-Network" Mean?
When a therapist is in-network, they have a contracted agreement with your insurance company, which means the insurance company sets the reimbursement rate and the therapist accepts it. In exchange, in-network therapists are listed in your insurance's directory and your co-pays are typically lower.
When a therapist is out-of-network (OON), they operate independently from insurance contracts. That means they set their own rates, maintain control over their caseload and clinical approach, and are not subject to the administrative and ethical constraints that insurance panels often impose.
Here's the part most people don't know: your insurance plan may still cover a significant portion of the cost. Many insurance plans include out-of-network benefits, which means your insurance will reimburse you for a percentage of each session even though I don't accept your insurance directly. You just have to know how to access those benefits.
The two key numbers to understand are:
Your out-of-network deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance begins contributing. Some plans have low deductibles ($500 to $1,000); others are higher ($2,000 to $5,000 or more). Once met, your insurance kicks in.
Your co-insurance is your share of the session cost after your deductible is met. Insurance typically covers a percentage of the session (commonly 60 to 80%), and you pay the remaining portion.
The bottom line: depending on your plan, seeing an out-of-network therapist may cost significantly less than the full session rate once your deductible is met.
How Much Does Therapy Actually Cost?
Session rates:
$165/60 minutes | $200/60 minute intake
$245/90 minutes | $330/2 hours
EMDR Intensive pricing is $200 per hour ranging in length from 3 to 20 hours over one or multiple days. See the Intensives page for details.
What you'll actually pay depends on three things:
Whether your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits
Your out-of-network deductible amount and how much of it you've already met
Your co-insurance percentage after your deductible is met
The best way to find out your exact benefits is to use the free Thrizer calculator available here or below — it takes about two minutes and gives you a real estimate before you ever schedule a session.
Fees & Sliding Scale Calculator
Therapy works best when cost isn't one more thing your system has to brace against. My full fee for a 60-minute session is $165. I also keep a limited number of sliding scale spots so that people with different financial realities can access the same depth of care. There's no paperwork or proof of income involved; I trust you to choose the rate that honestly reflects where you are.
A note on insurance
I'm an out-of-network provider, however many insurance companies reimburse part of the cost of therapy. I use Thrizer, which submits claims for you and, depending on your plan, may lower what you pay upfront. If you're not sure what your plan covers, your insurance company can tell you your out-of-network deductible and reimbursement percentage for outpatient mental health.
Your insurance reimburses you based on the rate you actually pay me, so choosing a lower sliding scale rate also lowers your reimbursement. If you have good out-of-network benefits, paying the full $165 often means you get back more, and your cost may not change much at all.
Finding your rate
Look at the Green Bottle Sliding Scale below and notice which description fits your life right now, not where you hope to be or where you were a few years ago. Then find your rate under that bottle, based on your insurance coverage.
Green Bottle Sliding Scale created by Alexis J. Cunningfolk.
Top of the bottle: $165
Your basic needs are comfortably covered, you have savings or a financial cushion, and you can spend on things beyond necessities without much strain. Whether or not you have out-of-network benefits, your rate is $165. If you do have coverage, your reimbursement lowers your actual cost. Paying the full fee is also what makes reduced spots possible for others.
Middle of the bottle: $130–$155
You're meeting your basic needs and have stable housing and transportation, but money takes careful planning. You may carry some debt or have limited savings, and an unexpected expense would be stressful.
If you have no out-of-network benefits, please choose a rate between $130 and $155. If you have partial benefits (a high deductible you haven't met, or a plan that reimburses only part of the cost), please consider the upper end, $145 to $155. If you have excellent benefits (your deductible is met or low and your plan reimburses most or all of the session), please consider $165. This matters most if reimbursement would make your sessions free or nearly free, since a lower rate would reduce what your insurance pays back to you.
Bottom of the bottle: $120-130
Meeting basic needs is a regular struggle. You may be dealing with significant debt, unstable income or housing, or supporting others on very limited resources.
If you have no out-of-network benefits, please choose a rate between $100 and $125. If you have partial benefits, please consider $115 to $125, or reach out and we can think it through together. If you have excellent benefits, please consider $165. This matters most if reimbursement would make your sessions free or nearly free, since a lower rate would reduce what your insurance pays back to you.
Next steps
Once you have a sense of where you fall, [reach out] with a rate in mind and we'll talk about availability. Because I hold a set number of spots at each level, there may be a wait for reduced rates. If I can't meet your needs right now, I'll help you find other options that can.
Money can bring up a lot, and I'm always open to a real conversation about it. Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions.
Meet Thrizer: Making Your Out-of-Network Benefits Work for You
After every session, I provide a superbill — an itemized receipt with all the billing codes your insurance needs to process a reimbursement. From there, you have a couple of options for how to use it, and I'm happy to support whichever works best for you.
Option 1: Submit directly to your insurance carrier
You're always welcome to submit your superbill directly to your insurance company yourself. Your insurer's member portal or customer service line can walk you through that process.
Option 2: Pay through Thrizer's Payment Platform
If you'd prefer to skip the reimbursement wait and the paperwork entirely, I also accept payment directly through Thrizer. In this case, Thrizer submits your claim automatically at the time of payment. No superbill upload or self-submission needed. Once your deductible is met, their Thrizer Pay option lets you pay only your co-insurance portion upfront (similar to an in-network copay) while Thrizer covers the rest and waits for reimbursement on your behalf.
Both paths lead to the same place: your insurance benefits working for you. Thrizer's Payment Platform just makes the process significantly easier than navigating it alone. You can use Thrizer's benefits calculator to verify your out-of-network benefits and get an estimated out-of-pocket cost before your first session.
Check your out-of-network benefits here using Thrizer
What Does Thrizer Cost?
Thrizer's pricing is transparent and straightforward.
For most clients, the savings from using Thrizer far outweigh the small service fee. Thrizer reports that clients save an average of 70% on sessions once their out-of-network benefits are applied.
If you pay through Thrizer's Payment Platform:
Reimbursement Stage
Working toward your deductible
Post-deductible, reimbursement to your bank (OON Pay)
Post-deductible, just pay your copay now (Thrizer Pay)
What You Pay to Thrizer
Free claims submitted automatically at no charge
1% of my session fee, only upon successful reimbursement
5% of my session fee — Thrizer covers the rest upfront
Check your out-of-network benefits here using Thrizer
Real-World Examples: What Might You Actually Pay?
These are examples to illustrate how benefits might work. Your actual costs depend on your specific insurance plan. Use the Thrizer calculator for your personalized estimate, or contact your insurance carrier for specific details.
Client A: Low Out-of-Network Deductible
Insurance plan: PPO through their employer
Out-of-network deductible: $500
Co-insurance after deductible: Insurance pays 70%, Client pays 30%
Session rate: $165
Before deductible is met: Client pays the full $165 per session, but each session is applied toward their $500 out-of-network deductible. After just 4 sessions (roughly the first month of weekly therapy), this deductible is fully met.
After deductible is met: Client’s insurance covers 70% of the session ($115.50), leaving client responsible for $49.50 per session. Using Thrizer Pay, they pays their portion upfront and Thrizer collects the rest from their insurance directly. They never needs to front the full fee or wait for a check.
Her monthly cost (after deductible): approximately $198/month for weekly therapy
Without Thrizer or insurance: approximately $660/month.
Client B: High Out-of-Network Deductible
Insurance plan: PPO through his employer
Out-of-network deductible: $3,000
Co-insurance after deductible: Insurance pays 60%, Client pays 40%
Session rate: $165
Before deductible is met: Client pays the full $165 per session, and each session counts toward their $3,000 deductible. It will take about 18 sessions (roughly four to five months of weekly therapy) to meet this deductible. During this time, Client uploads their superbills to Thrizer at $2 per session and every claim is properly credited to the deductible — no insurance calls, no chasing paperwork.
After deductible is met: Client’s insurance covers 60% ($99), and Client pays 40% ($66) per session. Using Thrizer Pay, they pays $66 per session while Thrizer handles the rest.
His monthly cost (after deductible is met): approximately $264/month for weekly therapy
Without insurance: approximately $660/month
A note for clients with high deductibles: Even with a high deductible, the long-term savings are significant. And clinically speaking, reaching the depth of trauma healing that makes a lasting difference typically takes consistent, sustained work. The sooner you start, the sooner you start making progress toward both your deductible and your recovery.
Use Thrizer's Free Benefits Calculator
The fastest way to understand your costs is to check your benefits directly. Click below to use Thrizer's free, instant benefits calculator. No commitment required.
Is therapy worth the cost?
I want to be honest with you: working with me is not the least expensive option out there. I work with a small caseload, I have specialized training and practice in IFS-EMDR integration, and I take the clinical depth of this work seriously. That comes with a real cost and a real return.
My schedule has remained consistently full, with an active waitlist. Clients rarely cancel, not because they have to show up, but because the work is real and they feel it moving. If you're wondering whether this is the right investment, I'd encourage you to explore the rest of this site, particularly the About page and Services page to get a fuller picture of my approach, my training, and what it feels like to be in the room with me as your therapist.
Many people have spent years in therapy that helped them understand their pain without helping them move through it. That pattern ends here. Let’s work together.
If you're ready to take the next step, please book a free 15-minute consultation to get started.
Please note: all insurance benefit estimates are approximate. Actual reimbursement amounts depend on your specific plan, your deductible status, and the details of your coverage. Thrizer's benefits calculator provides an estimate, not a guarantee. I encourage you to also confirm your benefits directly with your insurance carrier.