Fees & Insurance
Transparent, Grounded Pricing for Online Therapy in Michigan
Money is a tender topic for many people. You deserve clear, honest information about what therapy costs and why — without jargon, pressure, or surprise fees. My goal is to make the financial side of therapy feel straightforward and respectful, so you can focus on the work that matters.
Why I Use a Self-Pay Structure
Hillside Counseling is a self-pay practice, meaning I do not bill insurance directly. This allows us to work together without the limitations insurance companies can impose — such as requiring a diagnosis, restricting the length of treatment, or limiting the types of therapeutic approaches allowed. Self-pay gives you more privacy, more autonomy, and more space for the kind of deep, experiential healing work we’ll be doing together.
What Your Fee Includes (Beyond the Session Itself)
Your investment covers far more than the 60-minute meeting. It includes:
- Thoughtful preparation before each session
- Post-session reflection and planning
- Time spent reviewing your intake materials
- Ongoing tracking of your goals and themes
- Coordination with other providers (when needed)
- Secure telehealth platform and HIPAA-compliant communication
- Professional development and proper training to ensure ethical and up-to-date research based care
This ensures the work remains deep, intentional, and well-held.
If you’d like to learn more about how to contact me, how I approach therapy, or other services I offer; click one of the links below:
Insurance & Reimbursement
Self-Pay Only (No Direct Insurance Billing)
Hillside Counseling does not participate with any insurance plans.
This allows us to prioritize your well-being over insurance requirements, diagnoses, time limits, or session restrictions.
Superbills for Out-of-Network Reimbursement
Many clients use out-of-network benefits to receive partial reimbursement for therapy.
If your plan includes these benefits, I can provide a monthly superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.
Questions to Ask Your Insurance Provider
If you’re unsure whether you have out-of-network benefits, call the number on your insurance card and ask:
- Do I have out-of-network outpatient mental health coverage?
- What is my reimbursement rate for psychotherapy (CPT code 90971 and 90837)?
- Do I have a deductible to meet before reimbursement begins?
- How do I submit a superbill for reimbursement?
This will give you a clear sense of your potential out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, click the link for the National Institute for Mental Health to use as a general informative resource on mental health treatment.
HSA/FSA Payments
How HSA/FSA Can Reduce Your Out-of-Pocket Cost
If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can typically use those funds to pay for therapy sessions. Many clients find this helps lower their immediate expenses while still giving them the benefits of private-pay care.
Why Many Clients Prefer Private-Pay Therapy
More Privacy and Autonomy
Insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis to cover therapy. This often comes with treatment requirements by insurance companies that are unnecessary, irrelevant, and sometimes harmful to you. Self-pay means:
- No diagnosis required for billing purposes; this means we don’t have to put an inaccurate label on you or your health record
- No limits by your insurance company on session frequency, depth, or treatment approach; we can tailor your mental health treatment to best fit you and your needs
- Insurance companies cannot dictate treatment for you; this means you are in full control of your mental health care
At the same time, I still provide the most clinically grounded and up-to-date mental healthcare that is based on the most sophisticated, cutting-edge, and recent neuroscience research. When a diagnosis is relevant and supportive to your treatment, I use it thoughtfully as part of our work together. I value the protection of your privacy and autonomy while receiving care. It also allows the work to unfold at the pace that feels right for you.
More Flexibility for Depth-Oriented Work
Many people come to Hillside Counseling because they want therapy that’s:
- Not rushed
- Deeper, longer lasting
- More experiential
- More connected to nervous system regulation
- More focused on long-term transformation than symptom reduction alone
- Self-pay allows us to work this way without external restrictions.
Financial FAQs
Do you offer sliding scale sessions?
Yes, I offer a sliding scale option for those experiencing financial hardship. However, I have limited availability for reduced fee clients and this is not available to all clients. If financial barriers arise, I am always open to a conversation about this. My desire is to do what I can within my means to make therapy available to everyone.
How often do most clients meet?
Most people meet weekly, especially during the early stages of the work. Some shift to biweekly once they feel more grounded and supported.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Credit/debit cards, HSA, and FSA.
Will insurance reimburse me?
Many plans reimburse 40–80% of the session fee, but it varies. A superbill will be provided upon request.
Ready to Begin?
What You Can Expect During the Call
- A space to share what’s been going on
- A chance to ask questions
- A sense of whether you feel understood and supported
- Clear next steps if you’d like to move forward