matthew stanley

Life is hard. Sometimes we all need some support and guidance to get us to a healthier/happier place. I use a values based approach to help my clients take steps toward aligning their life with their true values. I believe that when our lives align with our values, we experience a more fulfilling existence. Through the process of counseling, we work toward getting rid of old unhealthy habits and mindsets, finding your true values, and creating new habits that will lead you toward overall fulfillment. I'll be with you every step of the way. I understand that many wish to use their insurance to pay for therapy; however, I do not take insurance. Here's why: Insurance billing is expensive, time consuming, and would require me to hire a professional billing specialist. This cost would have to be built into my prices, thus raising the rates for those paying out of pocket or those who have not yet met their deductible. Insurance ALWAYS requires a diagnosis which stays on your medical history, potentially raising your rates or making it more difficult for you to qualify for insurance in the future. I believe that clients rarely benefit from diagnostics. Billing through insurance removes a layer of confidentiality. Your mental health diagnosis could be available to other health providers, insurance companies, and even employers. Insurance companies often limit the amount of sessions they will cover. Insurance companies are often picky about what types of mental health concerns and the modes of therapy they will cover. Simply put, there’s often a significant discrepancy between what insurance companies want and what is in the best interest of the client. Billing through insurance removes the possibility of flexible payment rates for those who have significant financial worries or who have not yet met their deductible. Billing through insurance removes the ability for those with significant resources to support members of their community who could otherwise not afford mental health services. Insurance often has a significant lag time in paying therapists. Just like most of you, I also have a family to support, and bills which require me to maintain predictable income. Here’s the solution that I, as well as many other therapists, have decided on: an honors-based, tiered pricing system. I do not ask for income verification such as bank statements or W2s. I trust my clients to know what they can afford and to sign up for the price that best reflects their financial situation. I will never question your decision, nor will the quality of my service change based on the price chosen. Receiving mental health services through me will require a financial investment on your part. For most of my clients, this might mean cutting back on expendable purchases for the duration of treatment. For some, affording mental health services will cause significant financial burden, and for these clients I offer a reduced rate. For the fortunate few who have significant financial blessings, I offer the opportunity to pay it forward and/or sign up for a higher rate that will help offset the cost for those in our community who are struggling to get by. Pricing Options $130 Standard Rate 14 spots available -I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic* needs. -I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs. -I own my home or property OR I rent adequate housing. -I own or lease a car. -I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs. -I have regular access to health care. -I have access to financial savings. -I have expendable** income. -I can often afford to buy new items. -I can afford an annual vacation or take time off without financial burden. $100 Reduced Rate 6 spots available -I may stress about meeting my basic* needs but still regularly achieve them. -I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs. -I own or lease a car. -I am employed. -I have access to health care. -I might have access to financial savings. -I have some expendable** income. -I am able to buy some new items and I thrift others. -I can afford a vacation every few years without financial burden. $160 Pay It Forward Rate 4 spots available -I am more than comfortably able to meet all of my basic* needs. -I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs. -I own my home or property OR I rent a higher-end property. -I own or lease a car. -I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs. -I have regular access to health care. -I have access to significant financial savings. -I have significant expendable** income. -I can always buy new items. -I can afford an annual vacation or take time off. -I am okay with paying a little more so that those in need can pay less. Free (Pro bono) -1 slot available As a way of giving back, I keep 1 Free slot open. This client will always receive the same level of care as everyone else. *Basic needs include food, housing, health care, and transportation. **Expendable income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, and/or buy new clothes, books, and similar unnecessary items each month. Please be mindful that if you purchase a price at the lowest end of the scale when you can truthfully afford the higher price, you are limiting access for those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. I ask students who are still financially dependent on their parents/caregivers to please base your price choice on the financial status of those parents/caregivers. Available Upon Request I am more than happy to provide each client with a Superbill (invoice) to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Insurance company websites usually have a quick and easy way to submit these online. There are also tons of videos on YouTube explaining how to submit these. Why does it cost so much? Being a therapist can be just as expensive as owning any other business. In addition to getting a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and completing 2 years of associate licensure in which we’re paid at a lower rate, therapists also have to think about continuing education requirements, license application and exam fees, liability insurance, electronic health record programs, trainings, and therapy supplies. In addition to these therapist-specific expenses, we also have typical business expenses like rent, utilities, office supplies, accounting fees, and technology supplies. While the $130 can seem like a big expense, the therapist is not taking all of that home.