Why is the counseling fee important?
At SWFL Counseling, LLC, we believe that financial consideration is a necessary and encouraged part of the counseling process. Our fees reflect the value of our counseling services. We expect our clients to pay at (or before) the time of the session, unless prior arrangements have been made with your counselor. Acceptable forms of payment include cash, check, or credit card (we accept HSA cards!). If you require any paperwork to be filled out or submitted to a third party, you may be expected to pay for the professional time required to complete these tasks.
How much does it cost?
- Bethaney Hoffacker, LMHC-QS – $150
- Rachele Epp, LMHC – $150
- Lindsay Gomez, LMHC – $125 and up
- Rebecca Garland, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern – $120
- Chelsea Pigeon, LMHC – $100
- Lyndsey Elsass, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern – $100
- Isabel Aguila, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern – $85
- William Moulton, Provisionally Licensed Counselor – $25-65
- Amanda Roller, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern – $75
- Nathalie Ramirez, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern – $65
- Emotional Support Animal Assessment & Consultation – $200
Do I have to pay in advance for my first appointment?
When scheduling your first appointment, you may be asked for a credit card or make a 50% deposit to secure your time. Your willingness to do so indicates your commitment to counseling and sets the tone for the work we will be doing together in the future. We will NOT charge you until your scheduled session.
What if I want to use insurance?
SWFL Counseling, LLC is not a participating provider for any insurance plan, and we are not able to file claims to your insurance on your behalf. Please check with your insurance company prior to your first appointment in order to verify your out-of-network benefits and procedures for seeking reimbursement. Regardless of whether or not you choose to use insurance, the full fee will still be expected at time of service. Feel free to discuss any questions or concerns regarding insurance with your counselor at any time.
If you are interested in utilizing your insurance benefits, here are some things you need to know first:
- In order for your insurance company to reimburse you for counseling, the treatment must be determined “medically necessary.” What that means for you is that you must be officially diagnosed with a mental disorder. Mental disorders can range between mild and severe, but will remain on your health record indefinitely. In order for your insurance to continue issuing reimbursements to you, your counseling sessions must be “justified.” Basically, that means you will be considered “sick,” and counseling will need to stop once you are “well.” At SWFL Counseling, we believe that counseling is not just for sick people; in fact, many people seeking counseling are not sick at all, but are just experiencing a challenging circumstance, or are just not feeling quite right. We will NOT diagnose you with a mental disorder you DO NOT HAVE in order to be eligible for reimbursement from your insurance company.
- Marriage/couples counseling is often not covered by insurance, as the struggles within the relationship are rarely the direct result of a mental disorder (see “medically necessary” above).
- When a claim is submitted to an insurance company for reimbursement, we can no longer guarantee your Protected Health Information is secure. Many different people are involved in reviewing your mental health records, including your diagnosis, treatment plans, and sometimes even detailed session notes.
- Finally, when insurance companies are involved in your treatment, they can have a negative impact on the counselor’s responsibility to provide effective treatment. They can dictate how many sessions you may have, and can choose not to pay for more sessions than they think you should have.
What if I have to cancel my appointment?
There are some very appropriate, unavoidable reasons to cancel or reschedule an appointment with less than 24 hours notice, including (but not limited to) sickness, traffic circumstances, financial issues, and last-minute schedule changes. If you do need to cancel your scheduled appointment with less than 24 hours notice without a reasonable explanation, please be prepared to provide full compensation for the appointment. In order to facilitate this, please provide your credit card information for us to keep on file. It will be stored securely, and you will be notified via phone prior to any charges for no-show appointments.
How can I schedule an appointment?
There are a few different options for scheduling, based on your preferences.
- Contact your desired counselor directly. Click here to Meet our Counselors and choose the best fit.
- If you’re really ready to go, click here to Login to our Client Portal and choose your own appointment!
Don’t worry if you aren’t sure what to do. We are here for you to answer any questions. Just send us a message below, or give us a call!
No Surprises Act: Good Faith Estimate (effective 1/1/2022)
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers are required to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
- 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 health care 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.