As a therapist of 17 years, I have had the opportunity to be contracted on insurance panels as well as being solely self-pay. Although I realize self-pay is not a right fit for everyone, here is a sneak peek of some differences that may help you choose what payment option would be the right fit for you and your child.
Quality vs. Quantity of Therapy:
While this is not true in every case for me when I was on insurance panels, I needed to have a large caseload to have enough money to cover my personal bills. Insurance companies can pay as low as $60 a session, so I started to feel overworked and burnt out keeping up the caseload just to receive a stable income. Although I gave my best to all my cases, my best was not the quality of work I knew I could have provided.
When I moved to self-pay, I was able to take fewer clients and also give each session a more meticulous, quality of care. I hear from many of my clients who use self-pay with me and have experienced going to a therapist who takes insurance that they have seen more results in a short period of time with their child than they ever have before. I think this is more due to the time, energy, and freedom to create a more tailored approach.
Creative Treatment Plans:
When therapists are required to work within the confines of insurance guidelines, they may have to tailor their treatment plans to meet the criteria set by the insurer. This can sometimes result in a one-size-fits-all approach that may not be ideal for your child’s unique situation. Self-paying allows for a more personalized treatment plan. A plan that is entirely focused on your child’s needs, without the pressure of meeting insurance requirements. Let me give you an example: most insurance companies allow you to see the child only once (maybe twice) a week for 45 minutes or 60 minutes.
While this may work for some children, others may benefit from a different approach. In fact, I have had HUGE success when doing a more accelerated treatment model. For example, the child comes in for 30 minutes a day for 5 days and then I follow up for a few sessions with parents to maintain our results. That’s right—five days and I get results!
However, on most insurance policies I would not be able to do this treatment at all. While 5 days may not work for all cases, your insurance therapist wouldn’t even have the option to provide this for you. Or even worse, would never know that this works or any other modalities different from the insurance standards because they do not get the opportunity to be creative in their treatment planning.
Freedom to Choose a Seasoned Therapist:
In the therapy world, it is rare to see a therapist who is seasoned (10+ years of experience) and takes insurance. Many therapists invest a lot of time and money in training such as EMDR (which can be costly). They are also commonly known in the community amongst doctors, psychiatrists, and other professionals since they have had many shared cases over the years. Because their background, word-of-mouth knowledge shared by clients, professional networking, and training provide them with the marketing they need, they often do not need the insurance panels to receive clients.
It can be very frustrating for parents who want EMDR work for their child for medical trauma, anxiety, attachment, and regulation issues to find someone on their insurance panel. If they do get so lucky to find him someone, most often that therapist is new to these approaches. Of course, there are exceptions to the rules. Such as supervisors staying on to help their associates, or therapists who enjoy the wide variety of clients insurance panels may bring. However, for most therapists, if they are highly experienced, they are not taking insurance.
Flexible Therapy Session Length and Frequency:
Insurance companies often dictate the number of sessions or the length of each session that they will cover. For example, if your child doesn’t want to go to school due to school anxiety, often in my experience a daily session to help soothe and regulate the child for a week can create more benefits than a weekly session. However, if you are using insurance, your therapist is restricted to what the insurance deems is a sufficient frequency and duration of your child’s session. This can create what I call a “kick the can down the road” treatment plan. Now the parents are stressed every morning, while at the mercy of the insurance company, and going to weekly sessions for months and months. I am not saying that a 1 week intensive is the right fit for all children but with insurance, you do not even get that choice.
Diagnosis and Medical Model:
While some people come to therapy diagnosed with trauma, anxiety, and depression, some people come into therapy with no diagnosis at all. Although they may be experiencing moments of anxiety and depression, it can be due to a recent change in life, death, relationship challenges, or phase of life issues. The problem is for insurance to pay for your sessions your therapist must give a diagnosis to all their clients that are under that insurance panel. Insurance companies will not pay without a diagnosis. Choosing a self-pay therapist or opting out of insurance gives you the freedom to bring your child to therapy without having to worry about unnecessary diagnosis. Of course, if a diagnosis is needed that can be helpful as well. Nevertheless, when working with children I know that some symptoms can subside over time throughout development, especially with therapy interventions.
Final Thoughts From a Child Therapist in Katy, TX
While the decision between self-pay and insurance for child therapy depends on your family’s financial situation and specific needs, the benefits of self-pay are substantial. From greater privacy and flexibility to more personalized care, self-paying for therapy can provide a more supportive and effective therapeutic experience for your child. If you have the means, it can be worth considering self-pay as an investment in your child’s mental and emotional well-being.
If you’re looking for a personalized, flexible approach to therapy that truly meets your child’s unique needs, self-pay may be the right option for your family. At WHCC, we provide customized treatment plans designed to help your child thrive without the constraints of insurance. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, or behavioral issues, or simply want to give your child the best possible care, we’re here to support you. Reach out today to explore how self-pay therapy can make a difference for your family!
- Contact us here.
- Learn more about our approach here at WHCC.
- Get started with a child therapist in Katy, TX, and watch your child thrive!
Other Services Our Child Therapists Offer in Texas
In addition to child therapy, WHCC offers a wide range of services to support the entire family. Our team provides teen therapy to help adolescents navigate emotional challenges, and adult therapy to address personal growth, mental health, and well-being. We also specialize in parent coaching, offering tailored strategies to support parents in fostering healthy relationships with their children. For couples, we provide marriage or relationship counseling to strengthen connections and improve communication. Our trauma therapy helps individuals heal from past experiences, while LENS neurofeedback offers a cutting-edge approach to managing anxiety, ADHD, and more.