Resources 🌺
To help understand the differences in mental health credentials and training
What’s the Difference Between a Psychotherapist, Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Mental Health Counselor, Psychoanalyst, and Social Worker? | Read the article at ClarityTherapyNYC.com
*If a provider has a limited permit, they are being supervised by a fully licensed clinician and you can request the supervisor’s name and information.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
Before contacting providers, it can be very helpful to contact your insurance to discuss your mental health benefits. Here are some questions to ask:
- What are my benefits for in-network vs. out of network providers?
- Is there a co-pay?
- What is my deductible and when does it start/renew?
- What is the reimbursement rate?
- What is the claims process for reimbursement?
Questions to Ask New Medical Providers
- I’m looking for: (state your preferences to find a good match!)
- Are you currently accepting new patients? If not, is there a wait list?
- Do you accept my specific insurance? Are they in-network with your insurance plan? If not, they may suggest you do out of network billing, which would require you to pay up front and submit claims for reimbursement.
- What is the out of pocket cost per session?
- Is there a sliding scale?
What is sliding scale therapy?
Sliding scale therapy pricing is a type of fee structure where the amount that a client is responsible for paying is determined based on income. With sliding scale, a therapist will offer different pricing based on a person’s income level. Some therapists offer sliding scale fee therapy to patients who are not covered by insurance or whose insurance is not accepted by the therapist of interest.