Frequently Asked Questions

Our practice works with Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield plans as well as Cigna plans. If you are unsure if you are in-network with our practice, feel free to send us an email and we are happy to check.

Yes, you can still meet with a therapist at our practice even if you don’t have an in-network insurance plan. You would pay for the sessions out of pocket, but we would be happy to provide you a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. 

A superbill is a specialized receipt that you can receive when paying for sessions out of pocket. This is a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company to prove that you paid for therapy services out of pocket. Depending on your out of network benefits, your insurance company may reimburse you for some of your out of pocket expenses. We typically send out superbills once a month, but can send them to you more frequently if requested.

When you pay for sessions out of pocket, you are entitled to an estimated cost of your treatment. A good faith estimate will outline the expected number of sessions for a certain amount of time, with the cost per session listed. This way you know the estimated total expense. A good faith estimate is not a contract locking you into agreeing to treatment for the duration of the estimate, but rather a tool to let you know the highest amount your cost may be.

Sliding scale pricing is when the out of pocket cost for sessions is lowered to make therapy more affordable relative to your income. Each clinician at Balanced Thoughts Therapy determines if they are able to offer sliding scale positions. Ask your therapist if you feel this may be a helpful option for you.

Therapists require 24 hours notice of any cancelled appointment. Cancellations within 24 hours will incur a $100 cancellation fee. Some clients opt to not receive automatic appointment reminders, but the policy applies to all clients regardless if they receive appointment reminders.

It is recommended that you use the client portal in order to message your therapist between appointments. This is the most secure way for communication to occur. You can also email your therapist if that is preferred, but it is recommended that you don’t share any sensitive information via email.

The duration of therapy is an open and ongoing conversation to be had with your therapist. Therapy is a highly individualized process, so the expected length of treatment is dependent on your current symptoms and goals. The length of therapy is also dependent on the frequency that you meet with your therapist. Generally, short-term therapy is generally 4-5 months worth of sessions. Many clients opt to decrease the frequency of their sessions after they have made progress and have achieved some of their goals. 

Clinicians at this practice offer both in-person and virtual sessions. Feel free to discuss with your therapist which option you would prefer to explore scheduling options. Some clients prefer to alternate between virtual and in-person sessions. Feel free to discuss with your therapist which options would work best for you.

Sessions typically last 50 minutes.

When setting up your client portal, you will be asked to add a valid credit card to your client account. After your session, your card will be automatically charged for your copay, session cost, or any other fee.