Sessions are REDUCED fee private pay fee only.
No Insurance will be billed for these sessions.
Fees:
Intake Session (60 Minutes): $70
Individual Session (50-60 Minutes): $60
Couples Session (60 Minutes): $100
Family Session (60 Minutes: $110
Payment:
All fees are due at time of service. A credit card must be on file for all payments.
Here at Carla Barnes LPC PLLC and Associates, we are a teaching group practice. This means we allow post-graduate Licensed Professional Counseling Associates and Social Workers to obtain real life experience in the counseling profession alongside our more seasoned clinicians. This is extremely important to provide continued quality of care in the mental health field and it also allows us to provide therapy at a lower cost to you.
What is an LPC Associate?
LPC Associates: LPC Associates are highly trained post-graduate counselors. They have already completed two years of a rigorous masters degree program, in which they had to complete 700 hours of counseling experience (on average) before graduation. During this time, they received training on various counseling techniques, assessments, and diagnostic skills. After graduation, they then go on to complete their national licensing exam, which allows them to receive their LPC Associate license from the state.
This is when the period of clinical supervision begins with us. During the clinical supervision period, LPC Associates complete an additional 3,000 hours of counseling work over a minimum of 18 months (much like a doctor going through residency) before receiving their unsupervised LPC license. Throughout these 3,000 hours, they are supervised either off site by a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor who has had a minimum of five-years post license experience and has also taken another rigorous 40-hour course in order to be certified to supervise.
The LPC Associate you see may discuss your case confidentially with their supervisor. When you are receiving treatment from an LPC Associate you receive the benefit of not just your clinician’s knowledge, experience, and expertise, but also the knowledge, experience, and expertise of the Associate’s supervisor as well, all at a reduced cost to you!
Why Private Pay instead of using Insurance for Counseling?
There are many reasons to consider Private Paying for mental health services as a benefit to you. A few reasons are listed below.
No Diagnosis Required!
Most insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis in order for the counselor to receive payment from the insurance company. This diagnosis then becomes part of the client's medical record. In some instances, certain diagnoses may affect future insurance and life insurance coverage, types of jobs that you may apply or be hired for, and your ability to serve in the military. When you choose to private pay for your counseling services, there is no requirement by the counselor to make a diagnosis in order for you to receive services.
No Limit to the Number of Session!
In addition to the requirement of a diagnosis, most insurance companies put a limit on the number of sessions a client is able to receive with in a year. This can negatively impact the progress you make in counseling if you are unable to complete treatment due to the limits placed on services. When you choose to private pay for counseling services, there is no limit to the number of sessions you can receive. It is left up to you and the counselor to determine when the maximum benefit from services is received and when discharge should occur.
Confidentiality at it's Highest!
Counselors are required by law to keep all records obtained through the counseling relationship with a client confidential. When a counselor bills an insurance company, the records are often required by the insurance company in order to be paid for services. As stated above, the confidential information in the counseling record becomes a part of your official medical record which can then be accessed by third parties in the future as allowed by the insurance company. When you private pay for counseling services, you are guaranteed that your counselor and yourself are the only two people who will know and have access to records. Aside from normal limits to confidentiality, therapy is completely confidential, without any third party being privy to information exchanged in sessions.
Cancellation Policy:
If you do not show up for your scheduled appointment, and you have not notified your therapist at least 24 hours in advance, you will be required to pay the full cost of the treatment as booked. If you are having an emergency, out of your control, you will not be billed for the missed appointment.