Rates and Reduced Fees
My standard rate is $180 per 45-minute therapy session. I do offer a sliding scale fee when the standard fee would be prohibitive. Please contact me to discuss any fee concerns.
Insurance and Other Fee Assistance
Services may be covered in full or in part by your health insurance. I am a provider with several insurance companies (Cigna, Aetna, and various employee assistance plans). If I am not a provider on your network, but you have a PPO that will cover some portion of the session, I will provide statements that you can use to claim benefits.
Some employers have employee assistance plans (EAP's) that offer several sessions at no cost to employees and their family members. (Generally, they offer a certain number of therapy sessions per person, per issue, per year.) I am on several EAP panels, and some clients have successfully requested that they see me through their EAP even if I am not on the panel. In addition, I am a provider with California's Lawyer Assistance Program, which offers licensed attorneys two free sessions and two reduced-fee sessions.
Insurance
Please check your coverage carefully. Be sure to ask questions about any information you are given that is not clear. Ask questions such as the following:
- Do I have mental health insurance benefits?
- What is the coverage amount per therapy session for in-network and for out-of-network providers?
- Is Alena Hutchinson, MFT an in-network provider under my plan?
- What is my deductible and has it been met?
- What is my co-payment?
- How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
- Is approval required from my primary care physician?
- Do I need an authorization before sessions are covered?
Payment
Currently, payment is by cash or check at the beginning of each session.
Cancellation Policy
If you do not keep your scheduled therapy appointment, and you have not notified me at least 24 hours in advance, you will be charged the full cost of the session.
I believe that regular attendance is important to effective therapy. Therefore, when you are engaged in therapy on a regular schedule (weekly, every other week, monthly, etc.), if you need to cancel your regular appointment and aren't able to reschedule during the same time period, there is a small fee ($20). I will work with you, however, to try to reschedule your appointment, and I also waive that fee once each quarter to allow for travel, etc.
If you believe you cannot commit to a regular session, please call me to discuss other options.
Schedule Online
Request a therapy appointment online here .
Contact
Questions? Please contact me for further information.
