FAQ
Frequently asked questions about our therapy practice.
We’d Be Honored To Be Your Choice For Care
What Are Your Rates?
50 minute standard sessions: $170
Intake session: $210
Couples Therapy: $190
What Is Your Cancellation Policy?
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, I ask that you provide us with as much notice as possible.
If you reschedule or cancel less than 24 hours prior to your appointment, the card I have on file will be charged for the full session fee.
How Long Are Sessions?
The intake session (the first initial session) is 60 minutes long. A standard individual therapy session is 50 minutes.
How Do I Know If We’re A Good Fit?
The relationship between a therapist and a client is the biggest determining factor when it comes to success and satisfaction in therapy. I will regularly check in with you to see how you feel about therapy and your progress. If I am not the right fit for you, I am happy to provide you with referrals. Finding the right therapist for you is my number one goal, even if it isn’t me!
Do You Offer Online Therapy?
Yes! I offer teletherapy in Missouri and Illinois.
I also have in-person therapy in St Louis, Missouri.
What Is A Phone Consultation?
A phone consultation is a brief 15 minute phone call to determine if you and the therapist are a good fit. I will ask about what you are looking for in therapy, what your goals are and it’s also a time for you to ask me any questions you may have about my background or the process.
Do you take insurance?
This may be the #1 question I receive, and my answer might surprise you: no, I do not accept insurance—and there are a few reasons for that.
Why we don’t work with insurance
First, I prefer to avoid hard-and-fast diagnoses. In order to submit a claim to insurance, I have to give you a diagnosis, or your treatment will not be covered. A diagnosis becomes a part of your permanent mental health record and will be listed as a pre-existing condition. Identifying too heavily by a diagnosis might actually limit your healing, because it emphasizes how you present yourself to the world, not the inner work you’re doing to grow into the person you want to be.
Second, insurance means you have less control over your treatment. In the field of mental healthcare and psychotherapy, insurance can determine what type of treatment you can receive, how many sessions you can have and how often you meet with your counselor.
Lastly, insurance limits confidentiality. An insurance company may request mental health records from your provider at any time to approve coverage for services. This includes confidential information such as diagnosis, case notes, treatment plans and treatment type.
As a private pay client, you can choose a provider that best fits your unique needs and develop a personalized plan with your therapist based on your goals and needs. You can also be confident knowing your personal information and the details from our sessions are fully confidential.
Why work with a private pay therapist
The decision whether to use insurance for therapy is a personal and complicated choice.
Private pay therapists, like me, often have a higher rate, which can make finding an in-network provider seem like the obvious choice. If finances are your biggest concern, take a look at your out of network benefits.
Out-of-network reimbursement
Many insurance policies reimburse for out-of-network care, making it more affordable and comparable to in-network costs. We are more than happy to provide you with a document to submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement.
If you would like to receive an estimate of your insurance reimbursement, please use my insurance reimbursement calculator.
Get Started
Fill out the form to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation.
Authentic Change Therapy
Contact
Phone:
314-596-2335
Email:
grace@authenticchangetx.com
Office Location
8000 Bonhomme Ave #102
Clayton, MO 63105
Hours and Telehealth
Telehealth:
Missouri and Illinois
Hours:
M-F 10 AM-6 PM