Frequently Asked Questions

Fees for Masters Level Therapists

Fees for Licensed Psychologists

As licensed mental health professionals, we are insurance eligible for insurance carriers in Washington State. We are not paneled with any insurance company. Our clients attend therapy on an out-of-network basis or pay for sessions out of pocket. If you would like to use your out-of-network benefits, please contact your insurance company and ask what the out-of-network reimbursement would be for outpatient in-person or online psychotherapy. The specific amount of this reimbursement depends on your plan. 

A number of flaws exist in the insurance system which has caused many therapists, including us, to choose to not accept insurance in-network. Some of the reasons are:

You have less control of the focus and frequency of your sessions.

With in-network care, insurance companies can control how long you can see your therapist. Insurance companies can review your file and determine when therapy is no longer medically necessary. If you are not in a crisis or have a specific diagnosis that your insurance will cover, your insurance may deny therapy sessions to maintain the gains you have made, work through stressors in your life, prevent future mental health concerns, or promote a rich and fulfilling life.

You have fewer choices of who to see as your therapist.

Therapists who are in-network with your insurance may not be the best fit for you. In addition, they may not have immediate openings due to the high demand for in-network therapy. You might find yourself calling 15 therapists on your insurance directory and have a hard time finding someone who is a great fit with openings.

Your therapy can change with your insurance plan.

If you switch jobs or your insurance plan changes, you may have to end the relationship you have established with your in-network therapist to start over again with a different therapist. 

Insurance companies do not reimburse therapists at a reasonable or living wage.

The rates that therapists are reimbursed have not changed in decades. We believe this is a reflection of how undervalued mental health care is in our society. The insurance rates do not support our business or our therapists to have a sustainable and thriving life in Seattle. We believe in the value of our services to change and save lives. We want to challenge the idea that emotional labor should be low-cost or free. We believe in paying our therapists highly for what they do, promoting work/life balance, and providing high-quality care for our clients from a place of overflow rather than a place of sacrifice and burnout.

Insurance companies do not always reimburse the claims on time, if at all.

Claims can be denied for a number of reasons, including changes in insurance policies, insurance does not cover certain services such as couples counseling, the client needing preauthorization before seeing a specialist, etc. 

We recommend that you contact your insurance company directly and ask them the following questions:

• Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient psychotherapy?
• What is my deductible?
• How much of my deductible have I already met?
• What is the allowable amount for psychotherapy?
• What is the percentage of reimbursement for psychotherapy?

With this information, you will know whether you have met your deductible for the year and when your benefits will kick in. You will also know how much your insurance company’s “allowable amount” for therapy will be and what percentage of that amount they will cover. For example, if your insurance’s allowable amount is $300 a session and they cover 60% of the allowable amount, then you are responsible for $120 per session out of pocket after your deductible is met.

After each session, we will charge your card on file. At the end of the month, you will automatically receive a superbill in your secure client portal to submit to your insurance company. You will then receive a reimbursement check from your insurance in the mail or the amount will be applied to your deductible.

We accept debit cards, all major credit cards, and health savings accounts (HSA).

A superbill is a document that contains the information your insurance company needs in order to reimburse you directly. The information includes the name of your therapist, our office address, national provider ID number (NPI), business tax ID number, your diagnosis, dates of service, procedure codes, and the amount you paid.

Your card on file will be automatically charged at midnight on the day of your visit. At the end of each month, you will automatically receive a superbill in your secure client portal that contains all of the sessions attended and payments made that month. 

​​You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

Insurance companies require a Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code in order to process your claims. The CPT code defines the procedures or services provided during your visit. Below are the codes that we use for individual and couples counseling.

Individual Counseling

Couples Counseling

If you are unsure of your insurance coverage, we recommend that you contact your insurance first and then schedule the first session with your therapist, unless you are open to paying for therapy out of pocket.

Some insurance companies reimburse for couples therapy but some do not. Please contact your insurance company and ask what the out-of-network reimbursement would be for couples therapy.

We believe a good match with between you and your therapist includes financial considerations. We encourage you to review your budget and be honest with yourself about what you are able to invest in therapy if you attend weekly sessions. If we are not a good financial fit for you, we would be happy to provide referrals for therapists who are within your budget or are in-network with your insurance. Contact us with your specific needs and preferences for a therapist and we would be happy to help. You can also search for therapists by insurance and budget on the therapist directory Psychology Today.

Our therapists work Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. Some have early morning appointments at 8:00 am and some have evening appointments at 5:45 pm. We are not available on the weekends. If you have a specific time in mind or schedule limitations, please contact us to see if we can accommodate your schedule. You can schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation for us to learn more about your needs and see if one of our therapists can meet during the times that work best for you.

We are conveniently located in the Ballard neighborhood at 5306 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107.

Both paid and free street parking are available near our office. 

Yes, we offer online therapy.

It depends. Here in the United States, each state has different laws and regulations regarding whether a therapist outside of that state can provide online therapy to a client who is traveling to or living in that state. In other countries, the laws and regulations also vary regarding whether a licensed therapist in the U.S. can provide online therapy to a client traveling to or living in that country. If you are interested in working with one of our Washington State licensed therapists while you are traveling or if you live outside of Washington part-time or full-time, please let us know. We will do the research into whether online therapy across state lines or internationally will be allowed depending on your location.

We use an electronic health record system called Simple Practice which is also our online therapy platform. Once you are matched with a therapist, we will create a client portal for you in Simple Practice where you will access your online sessions. There is also a Simple Practice app that you can download onto your phone or tablet to access your sessions. You will receive a reminder email for your appointments that also contains the link to your session.

​The length of treatment depends on your concerns and how deep you want the change to occur. Your work with your therapist is unique to you. Research shows that by the 10th session, most people report feeling better. Some clients stop therapy after they began to notice improvements in their symptoms. Some clients decide to continue therapy even after they are feeling better to dive into deeper and older issues and to prevent relapse in the future. The deeper and more transformative work takes more time but clients also report longer-lasting change. 

Our therapists prefer meeting with new clients on a weekly basis for the first two months to establish a strong working relationship and to get the momentum going. Some clients start with twice-a-week sessions if they are in distress or want to see results faster. After two months, you can talk with your therapist about whether you want to decrease the frequency of treatment. 

Therapy outcomes depends on a number of factors: 

• The match between you and your therapist
• Your therapist’s expertise in the areas that you want to work on 
• You and your therapist’s ability to establish a trusting and growth-inducing relationship 
• Your readiness to change your patterns, life circumstances, relationships, and belief systems 
• Your motivation and commitment to therapy  

Although we cannot guarantee outcomes, you may see the following gains and growth after completing therapy:  

• From feeling lost to feeling confident of who you are and your purpose and meaning in life
• From feeling alone to feeling deeply connected with and supported by those around you
• From feeling confused to having clear insight into how this pattern came to be and what you can do to change
• From feeling exhausted all the time to creating a healthy routine of nourishing and caring for yourself  
• From feeling broken to finding the wholeness within you
• From survival mode to meeting your highest potential and calling 

Depending on the time of your scheduled phone consultation, you may be talking with either our Client Care Coordinator, Tori Belanger, or one of our therapists. 

Here are Thrive for the People, we pride ourselves on making great matches between clients and therapists. We believe that the power of the therapeutic relationship is crucial to why therapy works. Therapy is not one-size-fits-all and not all therapists are alike. Each therapist has their own unique background, identity, training, expertise, personality, and approach to therapy. Finding the right match is the first step in your therapy journey and we are here to make that process as easy as possible. 

When you schedule a 15-minute phone consultation, one of our staff members will ask you about the reasons that you are seeking therapy, the type of therapist that you are looking for, and the style of therapy that you prefer. We will listen carefully to what has helped you in the past and what you are looking for now. We will take into consideration your needs and preferences as well as the personality, specialty, and background of our therapists. We will provide a thoughtful match that maximizes the chance that the therapist you are matched with is going to be a great fit for you and can help you.

If we are not a good fit for you, we will do the research to find other therapists who are a better fit for you.

Finding a therapist who is a good fit for you can be a challenging but rewarding process that takes into consideration multiple factors. Below are some factors to consider to help you decide whether our therapists can be a good match for you:  

Specialty Fit

Does your therapist have the training and expertise in the areas that you want to work on? Some therapists have special training in approaches and styles of therapy and others specialize in specific age groups. A therapist who specializes in your concerns is important to the match. This does not mean that your therapist has to have personal lived experiences that is the same as yours in order to be helpful. For example, some of our therapists specialize in working with parents but do not have children of their own. 

Personality Fit

Do our therapists click with your personality? Therapy is a challenging and vulnerable experience. You want a therapist with whom you feel a sense of safety and trust to guide you on this journey. It is important to take into consideration the personality match between you and your therapist. For instance, you may appreciate a sense of humor in therapy; or, you might want someone who can be direct and cut to the core of your issues. 

Your Readiness and Motivation to Change

Part of what makes a good match is also your readiness and motivation to change. If you are not sure whether you are ready to change, if you don’t want to explore your emotions and core beliefs, if you want your therapist to do the bulk of the work to improve your life, or if you are in therapy against your will, therapy with our therapists may not be the best match for you. 

Here at Thrive for the People, we love working with clients who are ready and motivated to do deep and transformative work. Clients who are a good fit for us share the following characteristics: ​

• Ready to invest in their mental health
• Prioritize therapy
• Value what therapy can bring to their lives
• Reflective and insightful into their own patterns
• Welcome direct and honest feedback
• Open to trying something new
• Prepared to be uncomfortable in the process
• Can take accountability for their actions and decision

Schedule Fit

Do our therapists have openings during the times that are convenient for you? Our therapists work Mondays through Fridays with some early morning and evening appointments available. Sometimes our clients find creative solutions around their schedules to attend therapy regularly by rearranging their work schedule, talking with their supervisors about their mental health needs, finding childcare, and asking for help from friends and family.  

Financial Fit

Do our fees fit with your budget? Counseling is an investment in yourself and your well-being. However, it is important that it works with your finances. You don’t want to start counseling and then have to stop before you get the help you need. Ask yourself whether it is more important that you can use your in-network insurance benefits or are you willing to use your out-of-network benefits or pay for therapy out of pocket for the right fit?

We have a 48-business hour cancelation and reschedule policy. If you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, please do so before the 48-hour window. Otherwise, we charge our full fee for late cancelations and no-shows.

We do not have a waitlist. If you want to work with one of our therapists but they are full, we encourage you to contact us again in a few months to see if an opening becomes available.