Fees & Insurance

Rates + Why I Do Things Differently

Pricing As Praxis

At Side Quest Psychotherapy, I use a tiered pricing model rooted in equity, sustainability, and trust. Unlike traditional sliding scales, this approach is clear, flexible, and supports a low-volume caseload so I can stay fully present with each individual client.

Financial access is shaped by more than income. Caregiving, disability, systemic barriers, job insecurity, and generational wealth all play a role. This model allows those with more financial ease to help increase access without placing the burden on the therapist.

My rates reflect the true cost of providing high-quality, personalized care. This includes not only session time, but also emotional labor, advanced training, consultation, and the infrastructure needed to run a privacy-protective practice. Therapy is valuable work and deserves to be compensated accordingly.

I accept most major credit cards, as well as HSA and FSA cards, through IvyPay—a secure, HIPAA-compliant payment platform.

Equity-Based Tiered Model

Everyone’s financial reality is different. To reflect this, I offer a three-tiered, self-selected pricing model:

Accessible Rate – for those with limited financial resources
Standard Rate – reflects the true cost of care and practice sustainability
Pay-It-Forward Rate – for those with financial ease who want to help expand access for others

You choose the rate that aligns with your current circumstances. No income verification required.

If you’re unsure which tier fits you, The Green Bottle Method can be a helpful tool for reflection. If you intend to submit superbills for potential out-of-network reimbursement through your insurance plan, you might choose to factor that into your decision when selecting a rate.

Please note that the Accessible Rate is not a discount. It is designed to increase access without devaluing the care provided. Still, I recognize it may feel out of reach for some. If you rely on SSDI, Medicaid, or similar benefits, feel free to reach out. We may be able to create a payment plan or explore other supportive options together.

Accessible

Adult Psychotherapy (55 min): $185
Child & Adolescent Therapy (45 min): $175
Focused Session (30 min): $135
Intensive Session (70–90 min): $290
Parent Consultation/Caregiver Support (50 min): $185
Family/Couples Therapy (50 min): $195
Initial Intake (60–75 min): $225

Standard

Adult Psychotherapy (55 min): $255
Child & Adolescent Therapy (45 min): $245
Focused Session (30 min): $170
Intensive Session (70–90 min): $395
Parent Consultation/Caregiver Support (50 min): $260
Family/Couples Therapy (50 min): $275
Initial Intake (60–75 min): $300

Pay-It-Forward

Adult Psychotherapy (55 min): $295
Child & Adolescent Therapy (45 min): $285
Focused Session (30 min): $205
Intensive Session (70–90 min): $500
Parent Consultation/Caregiver Support (50 min): $325
Family/Couples Therapy (50 min): $345
Initial Intake (60–75 min): $375

Autism & ADHD Evaluation Fees

Fees for Autism and ADHD evaluations are separate from therapy rates and follow a different structure. These services are not eligible for out-of-network insurance reimbursement. Payment plans are available for both the evaluation and any supplemental documentation.

You can find detailed information, including current pricing, on these pages:

You Are Worth the Investment

Whether you’re seeking therapy, a diagnostic evaluation, or support for your child or teen, this is more than a financial decision. It is an investment of time, energy, trust, and hope. You are not just paying for someone to listen. You are choosing care that protects your privacy, honors your autonomy, and adapts to your real-life needs. Care that is responsive rather than rigid.

I know private pay can feel like a leap, especially if you are used to $25 copays. That hesitation is real. Even so, I believe this: your clarity, your healing, your ability to move through the world with greater ease and self-trust are worth investing in. You, or your child, are absolutely worth it.

When you work with me, you are not entering a system. You are entering a relationship built on respect, collaboration, and care that moves at your pace rather than according to an insurance company’s timeline.

Financial Transparency Without the Fine Print

When we work together, your care is guided by what’s clinically appropriate and collaboratively determined—not by what’s most billable or convenient for an insurance company. I hold clear boundaries around what supports real progress. That means I won’t space out sessions or water down the work just because finances are tight. Healing takes consistency—and when sessions are too infrequent, it can reinforce stuck patterns and slow growth.

That said, I know therapy is a financial investment. And I want you to have all the information you need to make empowered choices.

Superbills for Out-of-Network Reimbursement

If your insurance plan includes out-of-network benefits, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement of our sessions. I can provide a superbill, which is a detailed receipt you can submit to your insurer. To generate this, a mental health diagnosis is required, as insurance companies will not consider reimbursement without one. If you’d like to discuss what that entails before starting, I’m happy to walk you through it.

Reimbursement rates vary by plan and are typically between 50–80% of the session fee. Coverage depends on factors like your deductible, mental health benefits, and whether pre-authorization is required. It’s a good idea to check directly with your insurance provider about your specific benefits and whether they cover the following CPT (billing) codes:

90791 – Initial diagnostic evaluation
90837 – Psychotherapy, 60 minutes
90834 – Psychotherapy, 45 minutes
90832 – Psychotherapy, 30 minutes
90846 – Family therapy (without the client present)
90847 – Family therapy (with the client present)

Some clients choose to pay privately to avoid having a diagnosis recorded in their medical file, which is something to consider if confidentiality is a priority for you.

If you’d like a superbill, please let me know upfront and specify whether you’d like to receive it monthly or quarterly. I’m unable to generate them retroactively, so advance notice helps ensure you get what you need.

Good Faith Estimate

As part of the No Surprises Act, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) outlining the expected cost of services. I’ll provide this estimate upon intake and update it if your needs change. It’s not a binding contract—it’s a transparency tool to help you plan ahead.

If continuing therapy at my current rate becomes difficult, please know there’s no shame in that. I’m always happy to offer referrals to trusted providers who might be a better fit for your financial situation. My priority is that you get the support you need in a way that genuinely works for you.

I Used to Take Insurance. I Stopped for A Reason.

Insurance companies get to decide what kind of treatment is “medically necessary,” how long we’re allowed to work together, and what kind of language I have to use to justify your care. That language rarely reflects the truth of your experience—especially if you’re neurodivergent, in a larger body, or navigating trauma. It flattens your story into codes. It’s exhausting. It’s dehumanizing. And it undermines both your care and my clinical judgment.

Lately, there’s been a lot of talk in the insurance world about “values-based care.” But let’s be honest: it’s not about your values—it’s about theirs. In practice, it often means tracking arbitrary metrics that prioritize short-term symptom reduction and limit how long you’re “allowed” to need help.

Yes, I track progress. But I do it in a way that actually makes sense for you. Progress might look like fewer shutdowns, more self-compassion, or finally being able to say no without spiraling. It might look like grieving what you’ve lost, unmasking in safer spaces, or reconnecting with food, rest, or joy. These aren’t things you can reduce to a checkbox—or rush to meet a quota.

For clients with eating disorders, the stakes are especially high. Too often, insurance companies deny care based on arbitrary markers like weight or BMI. That’s not values-based care—that’s weight stigma, plain and simple.

The work we do together is slow, relational, and often nonlinear. That doesn’t mean unstructured or unevidenced—it means deeply attuned, paced with intention, and grounded in what actually supports long-term healing.

I remain rooted in my clinical training, but I refuse to practice in ways that replicate the very systems so many of my clients are working to heal from. Instead, I’ve chosen to align my work with values that center rest as resistance, boundaries as care, presence over productivity, and relationship over regulation.

What Venture-Backed Therapy Doesn’t Want You to Know

Let’s name what’s happening: venture-capital-backed therapy platforms like BetterHelp, Talkspace, and Cerebral have flooded the market. They promise fast matches and lower costs—but those conveniences often come with hidden tradeoffs. These companies have standardized therapy at scale, prioritizing speed, volume, and efficiency over depth, connection, and sustainability. And while that model may work for some, it often leaves most people feeling unseen, unsupported, or stuck on the surface.

My practice is the opposite. Think of it like your favorite neighborhood coffee shop—intentional, relationship-driven, and grounded in care that truly restores. I don’t serve 30+ clients a week. I work deeply with a small number of people, on purpose.

When you choose a therapy app, here’s what you may be trading:

Privacy: Your data may be stored, analyzed, or shared in ways that aren’t always clear. Some platforms even use AI to monitor sessions or generate clinical notes.
Consistency: Matches are often based on availability, not expertise. High turnover is common, which means you may find yourself starting over—again and again.
Depth of Care: Sessions are brief. Protocols are rigid. Therapists are expected to follow scripts and hit productivity targets.
Therapist Sustainability: Many providers are overbooked, underpaid, and burned out—which impacts the quality of care, even if it’s not immediately obvious.

What You Get When You Work With Me

I’ve built my practice to prioritize real care—not volume, not bureaucracy. When you work with me, you get care that’s thoughtful, collaborative, responsive, and grounded in both clinical expertise and lived experience.

You get a specialist, not a generalist. I work with neurodivergent folks, people with eating disorders, ARFID), OCD, BFRBs, and those navigating complex, layered experiences that are often overlooked or misunderstood.
You get lived experience, not just credentials. In addition to advanced clinical training, I bring personal understanding of systems and identities similar to yours. That perspective shapes how I show up: with nuance, humility, and deep respect.
You get care that’s weight-inclusive and body-liberatory. I practice from a Health at Every Size® framework. I don’t promote weight loss, moralize food, or pathologize bodies. I hold space for healing around body image and embodiment in ways that are affirming and rooted in body liberation.
You get a therapist who will advocate for you. Whether it’s addressing weight bias in a medical setting or challenging assumptions about neurodivergence, I’ll speak up when needed so you don’t have to carry that burden alone.
You get collaborative, connected care. With your consent, I coordinate with your care team quickly and securely through encrypted communication—and refer to trusted providers as needed.
You get a therapist with real bandwidth. I keep a low caseload so I can be emotionally present and well-resourced. I price my services in a way that supports this sustainability and honors the labor involved.
You get a therapist committed to accountability. I’m always unpacking my own intersections, privileges, and blind spots. I welcome being called in and approach this work with humility and a commitment to growth.
You get privacy and control. I use encrypted, HIPAA-compliant tools. Your records are never used to train AI or sold to third parties. If I use AI at all, it’s for behind-the-scenes workflow—not your personal data.

It’s Time to Show Up for Yourself

If someone you loved was struggling, you wouldn’t hesitate to get them support. But when it comes to investing in your own well-being—that can feel harder. As a therapist who’s been where you are, I understand the tension. Prioritizing mental health—emotionally, financially, logistically—can stir up resistance. But healing isn’t indulgent. It takes time, energy, and space. And you are not too much for needing that.

Therapy isn’t just a service. It’s a relationship. A place to feel seen, heard, and supported. Whether you’re here for yourself, your child, or your family, therapy offers space to make sense of what’s been hard and move toward what’s possible—on your terms.

I don’t work for venture-backed platforms or insurance companies. I work for you. Staying out-of-network protects your privacy, centers your values, and gives us the freedom to do deep, meaningful work—without chasing codes or reducing your story to a checklist.

This is an investment—but not just in sessions. It’s an investment in clarity, in growth, in capacity. In relationships that feel safer, identities that feel more fully lived, and a life that’s more aligned and grounded.

Bottom line?

You’re not just booking time on a calendar. You’re choosing care that honors your whole self—not just your symptoms. You’re reclaiming your agency. You’re protecting your privacy. And you’re saying yes to healing that’s spacious, sustainable, and real.