A lower rate does not mean lesser care.

• Student interns are graduate students completing a supervised practicum. They receive close, frequent supervision on every case.
• Associate clinicians hold a master’s degree and an associate license from Washington State (LMHCA, LSWAIC), and are accruing supervised hours toward full licensure.
• Fully licensed therapists have completed those supervised hours and practice independently (LMFT, LMHC).

Many clients do excellent work with interns and associates, who often also have the most availability.

It depends on your plan, not on us. Being in network means we bill your insurer directly at a contracted rate, but you may still owe a deductible, a copay, or coinsurance — and until your deductible is met you may be responsible for the full session rate.

What those words mean:

Deductible

The amount you pay out of pocket each year before your insurance starts contributing. If your deductible is $2,000, you pay the full session rate until you have spent $2,000 on covered care that year.

Copay

A flat amount you pay per session, often $20 to $50. Copays usually apply after your deductible is met, though some plans charge a copay from the first visit.

Coinsurance

A percentage of the session rate you pay instead of a flat fee — 20% coinsurance on a $175 session means you pay $35 and your plan pays the rest.

Out-of-pocket maximum

The most you will pay in a year. Once you reach it, covered care is paid in full by your plan for the rest of the plan year.

In network

We have a contract with that insurer and bill them directly at an agreed rate. It does not mean therapy is free — your deductible, copay, and coinsurance still apply.

Call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask:

1. Do I have outpatient mental health benefits?
2. Do I have to meet a deductible first? If so, how much?
3. Do I have a copay or coinsurance amount? If so, how much?
4. Are telehealth visits covered differently than in-person visits?Washington’s parity law generally requires telehealth to be covered no less favorably than in-person care. Self-funded employer plans are regulated federally rather than by the state, so this may not apply to them.
5. Do I need a referral or prior authorization?
6. Is there a maximum number of sessions I can have per year?Mental health parity rules generally prevent plans from limiting therapy more strictly than medical care, so hard session caps are uncommon. Coverage can still depend on medical necessity, and self-funded employer plans follow different rules.

“Self-funded” means your employer pays claims directly rather than buying coverage from an insurer, even though a familiar insurer may administer the plan. Your HR or benefits team can tell you which kind you have.

Write down who you spoke with and the date. If coverage is later disputed, that record helps.