Are you ready for a transformative journey towards a better you? Discover the possibility of a pivotal change and reconnect with your best self through mental health therapy services.
At Storm Haven Counseling and Wellness, we are here to guide you on this transformative journey.
Founded by Jennifer Hyatt in 2017, Storm Haven Counseling and Wellness has evolved from a solo practice to a thriving group practice as of October 2022. Our team of dedicated mental health professionals offers a wide range of services to support your well-being.
Insurance
Storm Haven Counseling and Wellness offers access to in-network mental health professionals who are committed to your well-being. We are proud to offer in-network providers for a variety of insurance companies, including:
Aetna, Cigna, Anthem Blue Cross, Optum, United Healthcare, Oxford, Oscar Health, and UMR.
We understand that navigating the complexities of insurance can be challenging, and we strive to make your mental health care journey as seamless as possible. Please check with your specific insurance plan to confirm your coverage and eligibility, and our team will work closely with you to ensure you receive the quality care you deserve.
Out of Network
If you prefer to work with a provider who is not in-network with your insurance, Storm Haven Counseling and Wellness has you covered. We understand that your choice of therapist is important, and we are committed to accommodating your preferences. For clients seeking services with an out-of-network provider, we offer Superbills that contain all the necessary information for you to seek reimbursement directly from your insurance company. This way, you can access the therapeutic care you desire while maximizing your insurance benefits to help manage your mental health expenses effectively
Private Pay
At Storm Haven Counseling and Wellness, we respect your individual choices when it comes to managing your mental health care. For clients who prefer not to use insurance and opt for self-payment, we offer flexible options to ensure accessibility and affordability. Our self-pay clients can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with personalized therapy services without the need for insurance processing. This streamlined approach allows you to focus solely on your well-being while working with our dedicated team of mental health professionals to achieve your therapeutic goals.
Fees
Storm Haven Counseling and Wellness fee is $180 for a 50-minute session. Please note that session lengths for insurance-based clients may vary, depending on your insurance provider and coverage.
For new clients, we offer comprehensive intake sessions priced at $225. These sessions include a thorough assessment and personalized treatment planning to kickstart your mental health journey.
We look forward to being a part of your transformative path at Storm Haven Counseling and Wellness.
Within my work with insurance companies, there is some valuable information that I have learned along the path that I desire my prospective clients to also know so that they can make a well-informed decision on how to best proceed.
Your therapist must diagnose you in order to get reimbursed for your care.
Similar to when you go to a doctor for the common cold, your medical professional must diagnose you in order to be compensated for the medical care provided.
Also, in the mental health field, generally, insurance will not reimburse for difficulties that are associated with your marriage, family difficulties, relationship challenges, grief/ loss, personal growth, values clarification, self-esteem, stress management, or even if the person is just “having a hard time.”
In fact, beyond diagnostic criteria, most of the issues my clients seek out therapy with me for would ultimately not be covered. This is often because many of my client’s are functioning well beyond the basic level managed care/ insurance companies compensate for.
Here are some of the typical therapeutic focus areas that I work with my clients on:
This means (even for couples or family therapy) a person within that treatment unit must meet medical necessity and receive a diagnosis, which may remain a part of their official record permanently. This may not seem like an issue now but what if they need to seek out new medical coverage in the future…a mental health diagnosis could mean the difference between obtaining the preferred coverage or none at all.
Records may not be protected.
When one uses their insurance to receive mental health services, the insurer may have access to your records at anytime they desire via an insurance audit. This could mean that confidential information that you entrusted with your therapist are now exposed to the eyes of the claims specialist.
This exposure may also apply if an individual decides to seek out or apply for high clearance employment or even if you have other reasons for your records to remain confidential. When utilizing private pay, your records remain secure with few exceptions–unless there is a court order signed by a judge or you, yourself sign an authorization for release of records (see informed consent).
Your care is dictated by the insurance company and meeting medical necessity.
Insurance companies require a treatment plan to be submitted by an in-network providers. This means that when individualizing your mental health care and treatment towards the optimal benefit of your needs, your therapist is obligated to share what the focus of your sessions will be, how long you will require treatment, and gain approvals for initial and ongoing treatment. Oftentimes, it may not matter what your therapist decides may be the best approach to your therapy as your treatment will need to fit within the insurance companies/ managed care matrix of decisions. Further, the amount of sessions you will receive is decided ahead of time and may not based on your ideal need(s). Ultimately, it is an overall highly intricate and tangled web and sometimes, despite best efforts, your therapist may not even be compensated for your care.
Insurance Companies almost never pay the full session fee.
Since insurance almost never pays the full session fee, the client may be responsible for the difference between what the clinician charges and what insurance pays. Also, if the claim is denied (for various reasons)…you got it…the client is on the hook for payment for services rendered. If your therapist does not charge the difference…this means your therapist is working for, what may be, less than fair market wage. It is highly recommended that you check with your insurance carrier directly on your coverage so that you may make as well informed of a decision as possible.
Pay cash for sessions…often referred to as “Private Pay.”
This will best ensure–with very few exceptions–your records remain confidential. That is all information between you and your therapist remains between you and your therapist with few exceptions. Further, your care is dictated by what YOU think you need–not your insurer.
If you need to bill insurance, consider an out-of-network provider and submit a SuperBill for reimbursement.
You may pay upfront and your diagnosis will be recorded but it will give you the freedom to choose any clinician/ therapist and your records will be more protected than if you go with an in-network therapist.
If you must absolutely use and bill your insurance with an in-network/ insurance-based clinician, be ready to ask questions, and do your due diligence ahead of time.
Your in-network therapist should be able to discuss what level of transparency the insurance provider expects/ requires. The therapist will likely know what notes may be requested, if a treatment plan is required, and what diagnosis may qualify as a “Medical Necessity” to give you coverage and even if you meet this criteria (via an intake assessment). Asking these questions ahead of time may better support you in determining how you would like to proceed.
Jennifer Hyatt 