Becca McConnell LPC-S

I completely understand wanting to use the insurance benefits you pay for, and I wish insurance made private-practice therapy more sustainable for both clients and therapists. What many people understandably don't realize is that therapists are generally paid only for the sessions they provide, while a significant portion of the work happens outside those sessions. Insurance typically reimburses therapists at rates significantly below their standard fees while also adding additional unpaid administrative work for claims, documentation, authorizations, and billing. For a solo practitioner with a full caseload, the combination of reduced reimbursement and additional unpaid hours can make it surprisingly difficult to earn a sustainable living—even while maintaining a very full practice. This is one of the primary reasons many experienced therapists eventually choose private-pay practice. It's certainly not an ideal solution, as I know it places more of the financial responsibility on clients. For me, however, it allows me to maintain a sustainable practice while keeping my caseload at a size that lets me give each client the time, energy, and quality of care they deserve.

Finding the right therapist is important, and it makes perfect sense to want to feel confident about the fit before moving forward. Just as you're getting a sense of me, I also want enough time to understand what brings you to therapy, what you hope to accomplish, and whether my experience and approach are a good match for your needs. I've found that a brief 10-minute call simply isn't enough time to do that well, which is why I use our first 50-minute session as both a consultation and an opportunity to begin our work together. Afterward, you're welcome to schedule another session or continue exploring other therapists. There's never an obligation to continue, and you can stop at any point in the counseling process. Because I know that first session is an investment, I've designed my website to answer many of the questions typically covered in a consultation—including fees, availability, experience, and my approach to therapy. My Yelp reviews from previous clients may also help you get a feel for whether I might be a good fit before scheduling.

This is a completely understandable question. Therapy is a meaningful financial investment, and it makes sense to wonder what goes into that cost. A therapist's hourly fee isn't quite the same as an hourly wage. A full caseload is typically around 20 sessions per week, with another 20+ hours devoted to documentation, treatment planning, client communication, continuing education, administrative responsibilities, and caring for the practice itself. Solo practitioners are paid only for the hours spent directly with clients—not for the many hours of work that happen behind the scenes. They also don't receive paid vacation or sick leave and are responsible for their own health insurance, benefits, office expenses, and other costs of maintaining a practice. Ultimately, your therapy fee supports much more than our time together—it supports the training, preparation, and thoughtful care that go into providing you with the best support I can.