Financial and Payment Policy
Purpose
To ensure clarity and transparency regarding session fees, payment expectations, billing procedures, and financial options at Common Thread Therapy. Our goal is to maintain transparency, sustainability, and equitable access to care while acknowledging that financial systems are shaped by structural inequities.
Private-Pay Model
Common Thread Therapy operates as a private-pay practice. This approach is intentional and based on ethical, clinical, and values-driven considerations. This model allows us to:
Provide individualized, clinically appropriate treatment without insurance-imposed limitations
Avoid assigning diagnoses when not clinically necessary
Protect client privacy
Offer redistributive pricing structures
Prioritize client care over billing requirements
We understand that private-pay services can be a financial commitment. Our tiered rates, sliding scale options, and occasional pro bono spots are designed to make therapy accessible while maintaining the quality and ethics of care.
While we do not bill insurance directly, super bills are available upon request for clients seeking out-of-network reimbursement.
If private-pay services are not financially accessible, referrals to in-network providers are available upon request.
Session Fees & Tiered Rate Structure
We use a tiered pricing structure grounded in economic justice and mutual care. Clients select a rate using the honor system. No income verification is required.
Intake sessions include clinical assessment, paperwork review, and treatment planning, and are therefore billed at a higher rate than regular 55-minute sessions.
Choosing a higher tier when financially able supports redistribution and increases access for others.
Tiered Rates
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Regular Session (55 minutes): $210
Intake session: $245
Supports practice sustainability
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Regular Session (55 minutes): $175
Intake Session: $210
Typical market rate
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Regular Session (55 minutes): $145
Intake Session: $170
Designed for accessibility
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Regular Session (55 minutes): $115
Intake Session: $135
The Supportive Rate is reserved for a limited number of clients experiencing financial constraint.
In rare circumstances, the rate may be adjusted slightly below this level for a defined period of time at the clinician’s discretion. Any adjustment is temporary and will be revisited collaboratively.
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Regular Session: $0
Intake Session: $0
The Community Care Rate is reserved for a very limited number of clients and is offered in time-limited increments (typically 3-6 months), with periodic reassessment.
The rate is generally available only to existing clients who are experiencing acute financial hardship or crisis and would otherwise lose access to care.
$0 intake sessions are not offered broadly. In rare cases, a returning client in crisis may be offered a $0 re-intake to support continuity of care and clinical stabilization.
Community Care placements are determined at the clinician’s discretion based on availability and sustainability of the practice. Placement is not guaranteed and may not be immediately available.
Reflection Questionnaire
Clients may use a short reflection questionnaire to guide their choice of tier. THis tool is provided for support only and is not used to verify income or eligibility. If a client is unsure which tier feels most appropriate, the therapist can offer guidance and support in reviewing their options, helping the client consider their financial capacity, personal needs, and long-term sustainability in therapy. The goal is to collaboratively find a rate that is accessible, fair, and supportive of ongoing care.
Payment Responsibility & Auto-Pay
All clients are required to maintain a valid payment method on file. All sessions are automatically billed through the client portal on the day of the appointment.
Payments cover:
Sessions rendered
Late cancellations
No-shows
HSA/FSA cards may be used for session payments but are generally not accepted for late cancel or no-show fees and will require an additional payment method on file. Clients are responsible for verifying their plan’s guidelines.
Superbills / Out-of-Network Reimbursement
Clients may request a superbill to submit to their insurance provider for possible reimbursement.
Clients are responsible for verifying coverage, submitting claims, and following up. Reimbursement is not guaranteed The practice is not responsible for denied or delayed claims.
Late Cancellation & No-Show Fees
Notice Requirement: A minimum of 24 hours’ prior to the scheduled session.
Late Cancellation Fee: 75% of Client’s designated session fee.
No-Show Fee: 100% of Client’s designated session fee.
Fees will be charged automatically via autopay.
Emergencies or exceptional circumstances may be considered case-by-case at the clinician’s discretion.
Payment Plans
Short-term payment plans may be approved for temporary financial hardship. These plans:
Must be adhered to as agreed
Do not waive late-cancel or no-show fees
Failure to maintain the plan may result in temporary suspension of services.
Refunds & Outstanding Balances
Payments for services already rendered are non-refundable.
Outstanding balances may result in suspension of services until resolved.
In rare cases where balances remain unresolved for an extended period, the practice may consider additional steps to address the balance, including referral to collections as a last resort.
This approach ensures ethical management of unpaid fees while prioritizing client care.
Fees for Services Outside of Sessions
Certain services requested by clients that occur outside of scheduled sessions may incur additional fees. These include, but are not limited to:
Writing letters or documentation (e.g., for school, work, insurance, legal purposes)
Completing forms or applications on behalf of a client
Legal consultations or court-related work
Review of records, reports, or other documentation beyond what is typically included in session notes
These services will be billed at a pro-rated rate, calculated based on the client’s session rate, in 15 minute increments. The first 15 minutes of work may be included in session time if it is directly related to ongoing therapy. Any time beyond that will be billed. Clients will be informed of anticipated fees before services are provided whenever possible.