FAQ's
Clinical Interns: Our clinical interns are private pay and are not eligible for insurance reimbursement out of network. We can provide superbills for clients who want to submit for out-of-network reimbursement. However, most plans do not reimburse for sessions provided by unlicensed clinicians. Our interns are sliding scale, $60-$75 per session, pay what you can.
Associates: Our associate therapists are in-network with Premera, which includes Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Lifewise, Heritage, and other Premera plans. If you have a Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) insurance card, and you’re not sure if your plan is run locally through Premera, you can call the number on the back of your insurance card or log into your insurance client portal to see if we are listed as an in-network provider. You can also use our Nirvana insurance calculator on our scheduling page to see if you are out of network.
Some BCBS plans are run locally through Regence, which we are not in-network with. This can be even more confusing because we will likely show up on BCBS lists as an in-network provider, even though we are only in-network with BCBS Premera plans–not BCBS Regence Plans. We cannot guarantee that we are in-network with your specific plan, so if insurance coverage is important to you, please confirm that your plan is indeed Premera and that your mental health benefits are run through Premera.
As an example, Providence employees have a Premera branded insurance card. However, their mental health benefits are run through Optim rather than Premera. If you have any questions about whether or not your mental health benefits are indeed Premera, please refer to your insurance client portal, the number on the back of your insurance card, or use our out-of-network insurance calculator to see if your plan is listed as an out of network result.
Our AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and owner, Brittany Steffen, is in-network with Lyra EAP, which will cover individual, couples, and sex therapy sessions. For more information on your Lyra benefits, contact your Lyra or HR representative. Most Lyra plans offer 25 free sessions per year to members.
- What is the out-of-network reimbursement rate for therapy?
- Are there any annual limits on out-of-network reimbursement for therapy?
- Are there any requirements that need to be met before I can be reimbursed for out-of-network therapy?
- Will I need to submit claims forms or any other documentation to receive reimbursement?
- How long will it take to receive reimbursement after I submit a claim?
You can book an intake appointment with the therapist of your choice by going HERE, where you can review our clinicians’ schedules in real time. Select a provider, select a date and time, and then request the appointment—we require a card on file to hold the spot, regardless of whether or not you’ll be using your insurance for treatment. Your request will be approved, typically within a few business days, and we will follow up with intake paperwork, and a telehealth link for your first session.
To determine the availability of one of our providers, please review their schedule HERE. You may then request an appointment, which the provider will review for approval. You can also email the provider of your choice directly to discuss scheduling, or fill out our new client questionnaire if you want assistance determining who would be the best fit for you:
https://steffencouns.wpengine.com/new-clients/
Therapists use electronic health record (EHR) systems, like Simple Practice, to securely store and manage client information. Simple Practice is a cloud-based EHR software that is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations and is designed to keep client information confidential.
Here are some ways that therapists can use Simple Practice EHR to keep client information confidential:
- Secure login: Simple Practice uses a secure login system, which requires therapists to enter a unique username and password to access client information. This helps to prevent unauthorized access to client information.
- Encryption: Simple Practice uses encryption to protect client information, both when it is stored in the system and when it is transmitted over the internet. This ensures that client information is only accessible to authorized individuals.
- Access controls: Simple Practice allows therapists to set different levels of access for different users so that only authorized individuals can view or edit client information. This helps to prevent unauthorized access to client information.
- Audit logs: Simple Practice keeps an audit log of all access to client information so that therapists can see who has accessed client information and when. This helps to ensure that client information is being handled appropriately.
- Backup and disaster recovery: Simple Practice automatically backs up client information and has a disaster recovery plan in place. This ensures that client information is protected in the event of a system failure or data loss.
Overall, Simple Practice EHR is designed to keep client information confidential and secure. Therapists can use this software to store and manage client information in a secure and compliant manner.
Many of our providers accept new clients via our client portal, where you can review their available openings in real time. If you don’t see availability with the provider of your choosing, please contact them directly to inquire about their waitlist. Some of our providers do have a waitlist, which can be anywhere from 1-4 weeks.
SCS is a remote-only practice. All services will take place via a secure telehealth system.
Therapy sessions typically last between 45 minutes to an hour. This is the standard duration for most therapy sessions. This time frame allows the therapist to have a meaningful conversation with the client, address any concerns or issues, provide support and guidance, and also allows for enough time for the therapist to make notes and document the session.
However, some therapies or sessions may be longer or shorter. For example, some therapy sessions such as family therapy or group therapy may be longer, lasting from 90 minutes to 2 hours. On the other hand, some therapies such as EMDR or some specific techniques used in therapy may require shorter sessions, around 30 minutes.
It’s important to note that the duration of therapy sessions may also depend on the therapist’s availability, the client’s schedule, and the type of therapy being provided. It’s always a good idea to check with the therapist to understand the duration of the sessions and to make sure it works with your schedule.
SCS is happy to offer low cost, sliding scale services through our clinical intern program. Interns offer 50-minute sessions on a pay what you can scale from $60-$75. Our interns offer a variety of modalities and work with a number of mental health symptoms. Most of our interns have availability for new clients, with as short of a wait time as 1-2 weeks. You can review our intern profiles HERE.
SCS has a 48-hour cancellation policy.
Confidentiality is a pillar of the therapeutic relationship. What you say in a counseling session will remain confidential except for a few limitations. A therapist will have to report safety concerns, including a client’s intent to harm themselves, intent to harm someone else, or reports of child or elder abuse. Your therapist will explain confidentiality thoroughly during your intake session.