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:

  1. Whether your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits

  2. Your out-of-network deductible amount and how much of it you've already met

  3. 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.

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 few 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: Use Thrizer's Superbill Upload feature Simply upload your superbill to your Thrizer portal and they handle the insurance navigation for you — tracking your claims, managing any follow-up, and depositing your reimbursement directly to your bank account. No phone calls, no confusing portals on your end.

Option 3: Pay through Thrizer's Payment Platform If you'd prefer to skip the reimbursement wait entirely, I also accept payment directly through Thrizer. In this case, Thrizer submits your claim automatically at the time of payment. 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.

All three paths lead to the same place: your insurance benefits working for you. Thrizer just makes Options 2 and 3 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)

What You Pay to Thrizer

$2 per session

$2 per session plus 1% of the superbill amount, only upon successful reimbursement

If you use Thrizer's Superbill Upload feature:

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.

Check My Out-of-Network Benefits on Thrizer

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.