Photo by JD Urban

Artist: https://studiobenola.com/ 

FAQs

Where is your office located?

We are mainly a virtual practice currently. We may have an office location in the future.

Do you accept insurance?

Yes. Most of our therapists are in-network with – Aetna (affiliates Meritain and Nippon), Blue Cross Blue Shield (most plans), United Healthcare (affiliates Harvard Pilgrim and Student Resources), United Student Resources, Oscar, and Oxford (but not the community or Medicaid plans).

In NJ, we are in network with Aetna and Aetna HMO and Horizon BCBS, which also services parts of NY.

We are considered out-of-network for other insurers including including SAG/AFTRA.. Most insurance plans offer out-of-network benefits that generally reimburse most of your session cost once your deductible has been fulfilled.

Before your consultation and/or session, our administration team will verify your insurance benefits, clarify your out-of-network coverage, and ensure that you have a clear understanding of your benefits including the cost per session or copayment. If needed, we can provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance yourself. Payment procedures vary depending on your insurance coverage. Our team will do our best to assist and it is important for you to contact your insurance as well.

Some therapists in our community offer specialty services, like coaching or spiritual guidance – they do not accept insurance.

What are your fees?

Our fees range from $150 - $220. We do offer sliding scale and payment plans. We expect payment at the time of service. Please contact our office for more information.

Is it better to use insurance or pay out-of-pocket?

Insurance companies can impose limitations on the number of therapy sessions, which can put you in a tough situation where you might have to prematurely end therapy or bear the financial burden of additional sessions without any possibility of reimbursement. The healing process varies for each individual and may extend beyond the predetermined number of sessions covered by insurance.

Also, when filing claims with your insurance company, your therapist must provide a diagnosis. Diagnosis can have implications in the future, potentially affecting court cases or hindering your ability to secure life insurance, as your treatment information may be disclosed by your insurance company.

Contrary to popular belief, utilizing in-network benefits does not necessarily translate to lower costs. In fact, in-network benefits often involve copayments for each session, which can add up; especially if you have a high in-network deductible. Depending on your insurance, they can dictate how much your copayment/coinsurance will be before your insurance will cover payments.

What is “liberation-based therapy”?

We are a collective of therapists and practitioners that center human diversity in age, race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religious and moral beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, and ability. Liberation-based therapeutic healing takes critical consciousness around the systems and structures that cause harm. We view your personal and relational problems within this context to enhance the effectiveness of therapy. Systemic issues are not personal ones. Liberation-based therapy is a healing practice that is from the place of acknowledgment and humility.

While liberation psychology exists, we are not a religious sect or a specified modality.

Do all of your therapists practice the same style?

No. Each therapist has their own specific treatment style and focus; although everyone here holds a liberated perspective and is trauma-informed. You can visit the profiles on the Meet Us section of the website or reach out to the office for more information.

Why do you have a store?

Yes, capitalism is a problem. It frequently places profit above both people and the environment, resulting in exploitative labor practices and environmental degradation. This systemic issue persists even when efforts are made to mitigate its negative impacts. Until our society undergoes significant transformation, we remain trapped within a system that many of us, motivated by principles of justice, would prefer to escape. We want to be able to support those in crisis and compensate our therapists and office staff in the work that they do.