Rates for therapy are $100-150 per session due at the time of your appointment. Rates will vary by therapist. Fees can be paid with cash, check, or credit card. In some cases, a sliding scale fee or discount may be available. Please talk to your therapist to see if you qualify.

Some therapists with Guiding Light Counseling, PLLC accept certain insurance plans through a third party provider (Headway). Please check with your therapist for more information. We do believe, however, that there are certain benefits to choosing to pay out of pocket.

Benefits of Private Pay

We realize many clients carry medical insurance with mental health benefits and sometimes the obvious choice is to use your insurance to pay for therapy. There are also several reasons that you may decide it is better to pay out of pocket:

Flexibility

Insurance carriers may limit the number of sessions allowed or prescribe a specific approach to therapy (such as problem focused or short term.) Some types of therapy, such as family/couples counseling or grief therapy, may not be covered even if the primary client is a child and family sessions would be beneficial. Paying for your own therapy allows you to choose your own goals, determine who is in the room during your sessions, and prioritize the issues you want to work on at your own pace. You do not have to worry about looking for a new therapist should your insurance coverage change.

Choice of Therapist

Making the decision to seek counseling can be monumental and potentially life-changing. The most important factor in the success of therapy is the relationship between the counselor and the client. Insurance companies offer only a limited number of therapists with whom they have contracted to provide services at discounted rates. Choosing to pay out of pocket affords you the opportunity to pick the therapist that is best suited for you rather than being told by the insurance company who you can see.

Confidentiality

At Guiding Light Counseling, we place your privacy as a top priority. All the information that is shared during your sessions as well as all written records pertaining your sessions are confidential and may not be revealed to anyone without your written permission. Insurance companies require a diagnosis and documentation of medical necessity in order to reimburse for services. For your insurance to pay for therapy, we would be required to share your confidential information. Any diagnosis or other private information will likely become a part of your permanent medical record and could potentially impact you in the future.

You can request and appointment with the therapist of your choice by clicking here (Insert link). Alternatively, you can call us directly at 214-945-4515 and leave message on the confidential voicemail and we will return your call as soon as possible during business days.

Sessions usually last around 50 minutes.  Most often, you will meet with your therapist weekly or every other week.  The length of therapy varies greatly depending on many factors including your presenting issues, your goals for therapy, and client and therapist availability.

At your first appointment, we will meet for a “get to know you” session. During this time, we will discuss the reasons you have decided to reach out for counseling and your goals. Your therapist will answer any questions and explain what you should expect from therapy. Together, we will identify your goals, develop a plan, and discuss how we will know you have met these goals. Please be sure to complete all your paperwork prior to your first session.

Guiding Light Counseling, PLLC is conveniently located at 3900 Stonebridge Drive, Suite 703, McKinney, TX 75070. We are easily accessible to US380, US75, and Hwy 121.

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

-You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

-Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

-If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

-Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.