jansummers.com

 

How much should it cost

to get your life in order? How much should it cost you to get rid of depression? Should you
just take drugs knowing that they only mask an underlying set of issues? Should you accept feeling bad? Do you feel that you somehow deserve to feel bad? How long have you been living with stress & worry? What can someone else possibly tell you that you haven't already thought of? And how long should it take a therapist to straighten out your life? How long did it take for things to get this way?

You have many questions

These are all questions you may have and may ask yourself, or a therapist, or a best friend, a pastor, a parent, a doctor. We will each give you different answers, because we each have different training and different experiences solving problems. As trained mental health professionals, it is our job to determine the many factors contributing to your feelings.

We have many answers

We can then unravel the tangle of painful experiences, confusing advice, shaky self-esteem, difficult feelings and overwhelming
responsibilities that most people come in with.

It is because of that, that most therapists don't try to provide any one answer, but rather, we hope to make you aware of many paths toward feeling and doing better.

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Fees

 

My fees are based on my experience, training and best judgment. The time spent in the session along with the time required to assemble additional resources, equipment or software (for neurofeedback), nutrition support materials (for "natural mind health" clients)  and case consultation & review may vary the fee.

Choosing the middle ground
When you contract for services, you are expecting to be provided the best information and ideas I have to offer. In setting the fee, I want to be sure my practice supports ongoing training, provides a pleasant environment and allows the time and resources to deliver life-enhancing new technologies to you. In the current economic climate, many people look to limit their costs without limiting their services. I seek some comfortable middle ground. I am a network provider with a few insurance companies currently. The services that I may feel would best meet your needs may not be covered by your insurance plan.

Insurance does not cover everything
For instance, some insurance policies do not cover couples counseling and neurofeedback. Some policies cover individual psychotherapy for children but do not authorize payment for supportive consultations with parents and/or teachers. As you can imagine, providing coordinated services for both parents and children greatly improves the outcome. Some policies cover increasingly shorter sessions. This year many companies are attempting to monitor session content, direct treatment steps and guide clients to take medication rather than correct the underlying problems. Often the gatekeepers who are questioning the therapy have never received or been trained in psychotherapy.

An honest appraisal of your unique needs
Your situation and your mental health may call for a mix of services, some of which your policy may cover and some which you will need to pay for out of pocket (or out of your HSA account). In budgeting your mental health costs, one should keep in mind that there may be no better aspect of your life to invest in. Without a well functioning brain, sanity and clear direction, your other activities are for naught. "A balanced brain is", as Dr. Daniel Amen says, "the foundation for a life that is happier, healthier, wealthier and wiser." I would hope that when you choose your level of services, that you are able to make your mind health a priority. In the long run, the improvement in your ability to earn and manage income will more than pay for the cost of your services.

Schedule an appointment.

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Copyright, Jan Summers © 2000-2010

 

      

Compare:

The cost of the average divorce ($10,000) to the cost of premarital counseling
($600 - $2000).

The cost of a permanent solution from ADHD treatment  (using neurofeedback) ($1500+) with the cost of a school year of tutoring ($2600+) or private school ($10,000+) or the lifetime costs of poor grades, school suspension/expulsion, delinquency/addiction ($unlimited) (and you get to take care of the babies),

The cost of a year of therapy (about $4600 without insurance; about $1200 with insurance) and the value of a job promotion (a probable minimum of $15,000 over 5 years) or a 4-day vacation for two to the islands ($2400+).

or      

The cost of a whole-mind health assessment and a year of life change coaching ( $5600) with the cost of a year of medication, personal trainer, gym membership, psychiatrist and nutrition consult (approximately
$7600).