Payment is due in full at the time of service and may be made using credit card, check, or transfer using Zelle. Non-emergency cancellations must be made a full 48 hours in advance of the time of the scheduled appointment.
Payment & Fees
The standard fee is $230 ($250 as of 9/1/24) for a 60-minute session and $460 ($500 as of 9/1/24) for a 120-minute session. Extended session are prorated accordingly. Rates are the same for in-person and telehealth sessions. I generally provide treatment in weekly, 120-minute sessions, unless there is clear, clinically-based rationale to provide shorter and/or less frequent sessions. I have found, as have many of the experts with whom I have trained, that longer, more intensive EMDR and CBT therapy sessions are often significantly more efficient and effective than shorter ones. Each session requires some attention to managing current life stressors, and longer sessions allow for this to be accomplished along with substantially more focused work toward resolving the primary symptoms of concern. My experience has shown me that far more can be accomplished in a briefer period of time through this approach.
Hourly prorated fees will be charged, should the time exceed 15 minutes and/or be necessary at frequent intervals during the course of treatment, for time spent communicating by phone, text, or email regarding treatment issues between sessions, as well as for time spent in consultation and coordination of care with other treatment providers. Hourly prorated fees will be charged should you require written reports of your assessment, treatment goals, or progress, with the minimum charge equal to the fee for a 60-minute session.
I offer a limited number of sessions at a reduced rate for those experiencing financial hardship. Typically, reduced rates are only available to established clients and for a limited period of time. Please bring it to my attention should your financial situation hinder your ability to afford therapeutic services at the standard rate. Court testimony is charged at an hourly rate of twice the standard fee for a 60-minute session, including travel time and with a minimum charge of a full 8-hour day for each day on call for court appearance. No reduced fees are available for court testimony.
No Surprises Act: You are entitled to receive this “Good Faith Estimate” of what the charges could be for psychotherapy services provided to you. While it is not possible for a psychotherapist to know, in advance, how many psychotherapy sessions may be necessary or appropriate for a given person, this form provides an estimate of the cost of services provided. Your total cost of services will depend upon the number of psychotherapy sessions you attend, your individual circumstances, and the type and amount of services that are provided to you. There may be additional items or services I may recommend as part of your care that must be scheduled or requested separately and are not reflected in this good faith estimate. This estimate is not a contract and does not obligate you to obtain any services from the provider(s) listed, nor does it include any services rendered to you that are not identified here. You have the right to initiate a dispute resolution process if the actual amount charged to you substantially exceeds the estimated charges stated in your Good Faith Estimate (which means $400 or more beyond the estimated charges). For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or call 1- 800-985-3059. The initiation of the patient-provider dispute resolution process will not adversely affect the quality of the services furnished to you.
Good Faith Estimate Valid through 8/31/2024: The fee for a 60-minute psychotherapy visit (in-person or via telehealth) is $230. The fee for a 120-minute psychotherapy visit (in-person or via telehealth) is $460. Most clients will attend one psychotherapy visit per week – which in my practice is typically scheduled in 120-minute increments. However, the frequency of psychotherapy visits that are appropriate in your case may be more or less than once per week, depending upon your needs. Based upon a fee of $460 per 120-minute visit, if you attend one psychotherapy visit per week, your estimated charge would be $1840 for four visits provided over the course of one month; $3680 for eight visits over two months; or $5520 for 12 visits over three months. If you attend therapy for a longer period, your total estimated charges will increase according to the number of visits and length of treatment. This estimate is valid through 8/31/2024, as rates for psychotherapy are reviewed each September and may be increased 5-10% annually. This Good Faith Estimate is not intended to serve as a recommendation for treatment or a prediction that you may need to attend a specified number of psychotherapy visits. The number of visits that are appropriate in your case, and the estimated cost for those services, depends on your needs and what you agree to in consultation with me. You are entitled to disagree with any recommendations made to you concerning your treatment and you may discontinue treatment at any time. You are encouraged to speak with me at any time about any questions you may have regarding your treatment plan, or the information provided to you in this Good Faith Estimate.
Good Faith Estimate Valid from 9/1/2024 through 8/31/2025: The fee for a 60-minute psychotherapy visit (in-person or via telehealth) is $250. The fee for a 120-minute psychotherapy visit (in-person or via telehealth) is $500. Most clients will attend one psychotherapy visit per week – which in my practice is typically scheduled in 120-minute increments. However, the frequency of psychotherapy visits that are appropriate in your case may be more or less than once per week, depending upon your needs. Based upon a fee of $500 per 120-minute visit, if you attend one psychotherapy visit per week, your estimated charge would be $2000 for four visits provided over the course of one month; $4000 for eight visits over two months; or $6000 for 12 visits over three months. If you attend therapy for a longer period, your total estimated charges will increase according to the number of visits and length of treatment. This estimate is valid through 8/31/2025, as rates for psychotherapy are reviewed each September and may be increased 5-10% annually. This Good Faith Estimate is not intended to serve as a recommendation for treatment or a prediction that you may need to attend a specified number of psychotherapy visits. The number of visits that are appropriate in your case, and the estimated cost for those services, depends on your needs and what you agree to in consultation with me. You are entitled to disagree with any recommendations made to you concerning your treatment and you may discontinue treatment at any time. You are encouraged to speak with me at any time about any questions you may have regarding your treatment plan, or the information provided to you in this Good Faith Estimate.
You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.
– C.S. Lewis
Credit Card Payments
You are expected to pay for services at the time they are rendered, unless other arrangements are specifically discussed and agreed upon with me in advance. An additional $10.00 per week will be charged for session fees not paid on the date of service, which will begin to accrue on the day directly following the date of service.
I typically process charges using the credit card authorization on file. You are expected to ensure I have a current credit card on file, and you will be informed in advance of any amounts charged to your card. Alternatively, fees may be paid via Zelle transfer, or Check. My Zelle account identification is susie@susiemorganlmft.com or 831-419-5271. Checks must be mailed in advance to ensure receipt by the date of service, and there is a $25.00 fee returned checks. Invoices for payment are available at your request.
Insurance Billing & Accounting
I treat my clients’ needs according to my clinical training and experience, and my rates are set in accordance with what is usual and customary for my level of expertise and specialization. I have found that the treatment protocols and authorization requirements of insurance companies are restrictive, burdensome, and often inadequate, and that they do not tend to promote my client’s receiving adequate and effective treatment. Therefore, as a rule, I do not contract with insurance companies as an In-Network Provider. As a service to you, I am willing to submit basic documentation of services to insurance and other third-party payers, but I cannot guarantee your benefit levels and am not responsible for their payment. In some cases, insurance or other third-party players may deem certain services as not “reasonable or necessary” or may determine that services will not be covered. You are responsible for payments regardless of any agency’s arbitrary determination of rates or coverage. Should your insurance company require written or verbal justification or pre-authorization for services and you wish for me to provide this information, hourly prorated fees will be charged for all time required to do so including chart review, hold times, and communication of clinical data, understanding that there is no guarantee it will result in subsequent approval by the insurance company.
Insurance billing and accounting is handled by Linda Griebel of Griebel Billing. You are welcome to contact her directly regarding any insurance related questions. Please contact her at the beginning of treatment or any time your insurance changes in order to verify the extent and specifications of your coverage. Insurance companies generally do not send this therapist the Explanation of Benefits for processed claims, so you are also encouraged to monitor the paperwork you receive from your insurance closely and contact Linda if anything appears amiss. Linda can be reached at (619) 224-6343 or griebelbilling@gmail.com.