Counseling Fees

Counseling is an investment in your health and well-being; life satisfaction; relationships; and your future. It could be the vehicle through which you find peace, healing, relationship restoration, understanding and validation. Joshua Tree is a private-pay counseling practice which means we do not accept insurance. We know many couples and individuals prefer using health insurance benefits. Therefore, we offer superbills for you to submit yourself. You can request reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits.

How Much Does Counseling Cost?

Private Pay $60-150

Fees vary based on a counselor's education, experience, and credentials. Please visit the team bio page to review the specific fee for each counselor.

PRIAVTE PAY. This option means you are responsible for the entire fee for each counseling or coaching session. It is based on an hourly rate determined by the practice. There are several benefits to this option (see below). A super-bill is available upon request for clients receiving psychotherapy (not pastoral counseling or coaching). We provide Good Faith Estimates when you receive psychotherapy services. We collect fees by credit card or by prepaid check. However, third parties may pay your fees with advance approval. This includes churches or family members. Please arrange third-party payments in advance with our practice manager.

SUPERBILLS. Joshua Tree Counseling does NOT accept health insurance. However, if you have mental health benefits as part of your health insurance you can submit a super-bill which you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement for all or part of the fee as an out-of-network benefit*. Superbills are only provided by licensed counselors, not pastoral counselors or coaches.

Benefits of Private Pay

Utilizing the private-pay option for counseling puts you in control of your counseling in a few different ways:

Choice – you are able to choose your therapist rather than selecting off a list from your insurance.
Privacy – your information is not being sent to an insurance company to authorize treatment/monitor progress which means no one knows you are receiving counseling unless you disclose this information.
Freedom – health insurance requires a diagnosis to authorize treatment; this is not the case when you private-pay which means you and your therapist have the option to not label your struggle with a diagnosis unless this is a benefit to you.

Superbills

A superbill is an itemized statement of fees and services. You may submit it to your insurance company for reimbursement. This applies to out-of-network benefits. Essentially, you pay us at the time of service. Then you request reimbursement directly from your insurance company. Therefore, you handle the insurance process yourself. This also removes Joshua Tree as the middleman. This is how it works:

Pay your counseling fees, due at each session.
Joshua Tree will provide you with a signed, monthly statement of your paid fees, service codes, and primary diagnosis.
You will submit the superbill to your insurance requesting reimbursement for services with an out-of-network provider. If approved, they will reimburse you directly or the fee may count towards your deductible.

Please note: We cannot guarantee that your health insurance company will accept your request to pay based on a superbill since they each have different criteria that must be met. Regardless, fees are due at the time of your appointment.

Good Faith Estimates

If you do not use insurance for counseling with a licensed clinician, you may request a Good Faith Estimate. The No Surprises Act provides this right. A Good Faith Estimate outlines expected charges for psychotherapy services.

A Good Faith Estimate shows costs for items and services you may reasonably need. However, this estimate is not a contract. It does not require you to receive services from listed providers. It also excludes services not identified in the estimate. Your total cost of services will depend upon the number of psychotherapy sessions you attend, your individual circumstances, and the type and amount of services that are provided to you.

The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created. The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. There may be additional items or services your therapist may recommend as part of your care that must be scheduled or requested separately and are not reflected in this Good Faith Estimate.

Dispute/Appeal Process

You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill. You have the right to initiate a dispute resolution process if the actual amount charged to you substantially exceeds the estimated charges stated in your Good Faith Estimate (which means $400 or more beyond the estimated charges). Additionally, you may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. In relation, you can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available. Last but not least, you may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill. There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute resolution process, click here or call 1- 800-985-3059. The initiation of the patient-provider dispute resolution process will not adversely affect the quality of the services furnished to you.

Disclaimer

The Good Faith Estimate is not intended to serve as a recommendation for treatment or a prediction that you may need to attend a specified number of psychotherapy visits. Joshua Tree provides you with an initial Good Faith Estimate when you schedule your intake appointment (or as soon as you provide your demographic information). A subsequent estimate will be provided by the second session after the needs and frequency of services required have been discussed with you. The number of visits that are appropriate in your case, and the estimated cost for those services depends on your needs and what you agree to in consultation with your therapist. You are entitled to disagree with any recommendations made to you concerning your treatment and you may discontinue treatment at any time. You are encouraged to speak with your provider at any time about any questions you may have regarding your treatment plan, or the information provided to you in the Good Faith Estimate.