Psychotherapy
How much does therapy with you cost?
The cost of therapy varies depending on the provider’s level of education, licensure (Masters vs Doctoral level), additional certifications, and area(s) of expertise.
The initial session (60-70 minutes) is $195, and $170 for follow-up (45-50 minutes) sessions for Dr. Erika Martinez, Dr. Frank Martinez-Mesa, & Dr. Joyce Szentpaly.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Generally, we accept cash, check, debit, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), and Flex Savings Accounts (FSA) at this time.
We do not accept Care Credit. {It’s not us; it’s them.} We contacted Care Credit in March 2020 and here’s what their representative said: “Care Credit does not cover the cost of therapy or psychological testing at this time due to liability considerations.”
Due to legal and ethical requirements, clients are not allowed to carry account balances as doing so can muddy the waters of clinical work. This means that full payment is due at the time of service. For therapy, this means the cost of therapy is due at the end of each session.
Can someone else pay for my therapy?
Sure, but if you’re age 18 or older, we’ll need to get:
- their written authorization to charge their credit card and keep it on file
- A copy of their credit card and driver’s license (front and back)
- their signed acknowledgment of understanding that they will not have written or verbal access to any of the content of your therapy without your written consent
If someone will be paying for the cost of therapy on your behalf, let us know and we’ll send you the paperwork through the client portal.
That’s expensive! Do you offer a sliding scale or reduced fees for counseling?
Not often. Here’s why: our philosophy is that the cost of therapy as an investment in your future, like buying real estate or saving money in a 401K. And just like those forms of investment, counseling can yield a great return on investment, so our therapists charge accordingly. With that said, we realize that not everyone can afford to work with us . We’re happy to refer you to other providers, agencies, and centers that can financially accommodate individuals that need sliding scale or reduced fee services. Here are some of our favorites:
Open Path Collective is a great website where you can find a local therapist that offers therapy at reduced rates.
The Goodman Psychological Services Center (GPSC) is a local teaching clinic accredited by the American Psychological Association that provides low-cost therapy and psychological testing by students training to become therapists and psychologists. All the students are supervised regularly by a licensed professional to ensure a high quality of care. **Fun Fact: All 3 doctors at Envision Wellness trained as practicum students and interns at GPSC. ;-)**
Not sure what a fair cost for therapy is? Check out Healthcare Bluebook and Fair Health Consumer. Type in your zip code and search for ‘psychotherapy 45 minutes’ or CPT code 90834; or ‘psychotherapy 60 minutes’ or CPT code 90837.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes. We ask for a minimum of 24 hours notice if you need to cancel a session. A cancellation fee will be charged to the credit card on file if you fail to attend a scheduled session or give less than 24 hours notice of cancellation.
Why are sessions 45 minutes (and not 60 minutes) long?
45-minute sessions are consider the common “clinical hour” in the mental health field. There are two reasons for this:
#1 The remaining 15 minutes are used by the clinician to write session notes, send client’s homework assignments, and complete other documentation related to each case.
#2 Insurances don’t generally pay for or provide out-of-network reimbursement for 60-minute sessions anymore. They only cover 60-min sessions for severe mental health diagnoses (e.g. Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, etc.).
Ultimately, it’s your choice. Please inform your therapist if you’d like a 60-minute session. He or she will be able to give you an in-depth explanation so that you can make an informed choice.
Do you take insurance?
No, we don’t accept insurance. We’re a boutique-style private practice that seeks to offer high quality, individualized attention to each client and are firmly committed to each person’s privacy and confidentiality. We can’t meet those goals being in-network with insurance companies. {Plus, we went into this field to help people, NOT help insurance companies and their investors make money.}
If you’d like to use your insurance coverage, you may still be able to work with one of our providers if your insurance plan has out-of-network (OON) benefits. Head over to the last 2 FAQs below or call us and we’ll be happy to help answer your questions.
Omg, but I want to work with you! Why don’t you take insurance?!
Lol, that’s a short question with a long answer! (Read about it here.) In short, Dr. Maritnez initially accepted insurance when she started Envision Wellness. But as her practice grew, she spent increasing hours on the phone trying to get payment from the insurance companies, had to justify her treatment decisions to insurance representatives who weren’t clinical professionals, and disclose clients’ confidential information to be reimbursed for her work. It was a mess and it didn’t sit well with her. She realized working for insurance companies restricted her ability to provide the best quality of care to people.
It was a difficult decision, but she ultimately chose people’s well being.
Having worked in managed-care (insurance) driven practices before, Dr. Szentpaly and Dr. Martinez-Mesa also share Dr. Martinez’s belief that treatment decisions and confidentiality should remain between the therapist and client, and have continued to follow a private pay model of service.
OK, but I’ve heard great things about you guys. I still want to work with YOU. Is there another way???
Absolutely! Your insurance plan may have out-of-network (OON) coverage. If it does, you may be able to work with our mental health experts using it. Trust us – it’s super easy! Here’s how it works:
You pay us directly and we provide you with a monthly statement of services (called a superbill). Then, you submit (e-mail, fax, or snail mail) it to your insurance company if you decide to seek reimbursement through your insurance company’s out-of-network coverage. Your insurance company will process the superbill and will:
- apply the amount you’ve paid to chip away at your deductible, or
- reimburse you a percentage if you’ve already met the deductible
Just to be clear, Envision Wellness makes no guarantees that you’ll receive reimbursement (or how much reimbursement) from your insurance company.
What if I don’t know if my insurance plan has out-of-network coverage?
You have 2 options.
#1 You can schedule a free 15-minute Clarity Consult by phone with us, and we’ll do it for you. Make sure you have your insurance card available during your consult call. (Unless, you have UnitedHealthcare. See option #2. Sorry, it’s them, not us. :/ )
#2 You can DIY. Call the customer service phone number on the back of your insurance card so you can ask questions about your coverage and make an informed decision before getting started with counseling. Here are some helpful questions to ask the representative:
- Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
- If they say yes, ask: What is my out-of-network deductible?
- Then ask: Is this deductible combined with my in-network deductible, or is it separate?
- Then ask: How much of this deductible has been met to date?
- Then ask: Are out-of-network services by a licensed clinical psychologist covered?
- If I have out-of-network benefits, do I have to select a mental health provider from a list or can I choose any provider?
- What is my co-insurance for outpatient psychotherapy with an out-of-network psychologist once my deductible has been met? (This is usually a percentage.)
- What is my out-of-pocket maximum? How much of it has been met to date?
- Is pre-approval required under any circumstances before obtaining out-of-network outpatient mental health services to be reimbursed?
- Will I be reimbursed the % on the full amount I paid (aka reasonable and customary fee) or only a portion of the amount (aka allowable amount)?
- For psychotherapy, ask: Do you cover procedural codes 90834 (45-min session) and/or 90837 (60-min session)?
- For psychotherapy, ask: Is online therapy by a licensed psychologist covered?
- What is the process for seeking reimbursement for out-of-network claims? Do I have to fill out a special form? Do I mail, email, fax, or submit my documents through an online portal?
- How long do I have to submit out-of-network claims?
Psychological Testing
How much does a psychological evaluation cost?
Psychological Assessments
$360 Gifted or IQ/Intelligence Testing*
$420 College/Career Assessment (High School & College/Undergrad students)*
$480 Career Assessment (Adults changing careers)*
$560 AD/HD Assessment (Adults Only to confirm diagnosis for medication)
$360 Pre-Surgical or Bariatric Psychological Evaluation*
$1000 Immigration Cognitive Assessment (N-648; for Citizenship Exam Waiver)*
$800 for Cognitive Re-Testing (1 year later)
$1200 Immigration Assessment (T&U Visas, Asylum, Hardship, & VAWA)*
$480 Pre-Adoption – 1 adult without personality test
$680 Pre-Adoption – 2 adults without personality tests
$740 Pre-Adoption – 1 adult with personality test (required depending on country of adoption)
$940 Pre-Adoption – 2 adults with 2 personality tests (required depending on country of adoption)
$2650 Psychoeducational (Learning Disorders; Accommodations on national and professional licensure standardized tests)
$2650 Neuropsychoeducational (Child AD/HD; Accommodations on national and professional licensure standardized tests)
$1000 Psychodiagnostic Assessment
$2000+ Neuropsychological Assessment**
*These evaluations must be paid in cash. A receipt will be provided at the time of payment.
**The cost of neuropsychological evaluations varies based on the reason for the evaluation, the time to administer and number of instruments used, and costs of instrument administration. Click here to set up a free consult during which we’ll be able to give you an estimate based on your needs.
Rush Fees
Immigration (N-648, T & U Visas, Asylum, Hardship, VAWA), Pre-Adoption, Psychoeds, Psychodiagnostic, Neuropsych
+$500 More than 72 hours but less than 14 days
+$800 72 hours or less
Gifted, Career/College, Adult AD/HD
+$500 More than 72 hours but less than 7 days
+$800 72 Hours or less
That’s expensive! Do you offer a sliding scale or reduced fees for testing?
No, we don’t. Here’s why: psychological testing and assessment is time-consuming and requires significant specialized training, so our psychologists charge accordingly. With that said, we realize that not everyone can afford to work with us . We’re happy to refer you to other providers, agencies, and centers that can financially accommodate individuals that need sliding scale or reduced fee services. Here are some of our favorites:
Open Path Collective is a great website where you can find a local psychologist that offers reduced rates.
The Goodman Psychological Services Center (GPSC) is a local teaching clinic accredited by the American Psychological Association that provides low-cost psychological testing by students training to become therapists and psychologists. All the students are supervised regularly by a licensed professional to ensure a high quality of care. **Fun Fact: All 3 doctors at Envision Wellness trained as practicum students and interns at GPSC. ;-)**
Not sure what a fair cost for testing is? Check out Healthcare Bluebook and Fair Health Consumer. Type in your zip code and search for ‘psychological testing’ or CPT code 96130; or ‘neuropsychological testing’ or CPT code 96132.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Generally, we accept cash, check, debit, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), and Flex Savings Accounts (FSA) at this time.
Payment for certain forms of psychological testing must be made in cash.
We do not accept Care Credit. {It’s not us; it’s them.} We contacted Care Credit in March 2020 and here’s what their representative said: “Care Credit does not cover mental health services like psychotherapy or psychological testing at this time due to liability considerations.”
Due to legal and ethical requirements, clients are not allowed to carry account balances as doing so can muddy the waters of clinical work. This means that full payment is due at the time of service. For testing, this means payment is due when test administration concludes (and before the final feedback session).
Can someone else pay for my evaluation?
Sure, but if you’re age 18 or older, we’ll need to get:
- their written authorization to charge their credit card and keep it on file
- A copy of their credit card and driver’s license (front and back)
- their signed acknowledgment of understanding that they will not have written or verbal access to any of the content of your evaluation without your written consent
If someone will be paying on your behalf, let us know and we’ll send you the paperwork through the client portal.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes. We ask for a minimum of 24 hours notice if you need to cancel a session. A cancellation fee will be charged to the credit card on file if you fail to attend a scheduled session or give less than 24 hours notice of cancellation.
Do you take insurance?
No, we don’t accept insurance. We’re a boutique-style private practice that seeks to offer high quality, individualized attention to each client and are firmly committed to each person’s privacy and confidentiality. We can’t meet those goals being in-network with insurance companies. {Plus, we went into this field to help people, NOT help insurance companies and their investors make money.}
Omg, but I want to work with you! Why don’t you take insurance?!
Lol, that’s a short question with a long answer! (Read about it here.) In short, Dr. Maritnez initially accepted insurance when she started Envision Wellness. But as her practice grew, she spent increasing hours on the phone trying to get payment from the insurance companies, had to justify her treatment decisions to insurance representatives who weren’t clinical professionals, and disclose clients’ confidential information to be reimbursed for her work. It was a mess and it didn’t sit well with her. She realized working for insurance companies restricted her ability to provide the best quality of care to people.
It was a difficult decision, but she ultimately chose people’s well being.
Having worked in managed-care (insurance) driven practices before, Dr. Szentpaly and Dr. Martinez-Mesa also share Dr. Martinez’s belief that treatment decisions and confidentiality should remain between the therapist and client, and have continued to follow a private pay model of service.
OK, but I’ve heard great things about you guys. I still want to work with YOU. Is there another way???
Absolutely! Your insurance plan may have out-of-network (OON) coverage. If it does, you may be able to work with our mental health experts using it. Trust us – it’s super easy! Here’s how it works:
You pay us directly and we provide you with a monthly statement of services (called a superbill). Then, you submit (e-mail, fax, or snail mail) it to your insurance company if you decide to seek reimbursement through your insurance company’s out-of-network coverage. Your insurance company will process the superbill and will:
- apply the amount you’ve paid to chip away at your deductible, or
- reimburse you a percentage if you’ve already met the deductible
Just to be clear, Envision Wellness makes no guarantees that you’ll receive reimbursement (or how much reimbursement) from your insurance company.
What if I don’t know if my insurance plan has out-of-network coverage?
You have 2 options.
#1 You can schedule a free 15-minute Clarity Consult by phone with us, and we’ll do it for you. Make sure you have your insurance card available during your consult call. (Unless, you have UnitedHealthcare. See option #2. Sorry, it’s them, not us. :/ )
#2 You can DIY. Call the customer service phone number on the back of your insurance card so you can ask questions about your coverage and make an informed decision before getting started with counseling. Here are some helpful questions to ask the representative:
- Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?
- If they say yes, ask: What is my out-of-network deductible?
- Then ask: Is this deductible combined with my in-network deductible, or is it separate?
- Then ask: How much of this deductible has been met to date?
- Then ask: Is out-of-network (neuro)psychological testing by a licensed clinical psychologist covered?
- If I have out-of-network benefits, do I have to select a mental health provider from a list or can I choose any provider?
- What is my co-insurance for out-of-network care once my deductible has been met? (This is usually a percentage.)
- What is my out-of-pocket maximum? How much of it has been met to date?
- Is any pre-approval required under any circumstances before obtaining out-of-network (neuro)psychological testing to be reimbursed?
- Will I be reimbursed the % on the full amount I paid (aka reasonable and customary fee) or only a portion of the amount (aka allowable amount)?
- For psychological testing, ask: Do you cover procedural codes 96130 and/or 96132 (neuropsychological testing)? (If the rep says yes, ask, “What is the reasonable and customary fee for 96130 (or 96132) in my area?”)
- What is the process for seeking reimbursement for out-of-network claims? Do I have to fill out a special form? Do I mail, email, fax, or submit my documents through an online portal?
- How long do I have to submit out-of-network claims?