How to Navigate Insurance for Therapy
If you're considering therapy, you might be wondering how to use your insurance to help cover the costs. It’s a great way to make mental health care more affordable, but we also understand if you have concerns about privacy. After all, therapy is personal, and you deserve to know what information is shared with your insurance company.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the basics of using insurance for therapy and what details may be disclosed in the process. Our goal? To help you make an informed decision that feels right for you.
Step 1: Check Your Insurance Benefits
Before starting therapy, it’s helpful to understand what your plan covers. Here’s what to look for:
Mental health coverage – Does your plan include therapy sessions?
In-network vs. out-of-network – In-network providers have agreements with your insurer, often making sessions more affordable. Out-of-network providers may still be partially covered.
Copays, deductibles, and session limits – Some plans require you to pay a portion of each session (a copay) or meet a deductible before coverage kicks in. Others might limit the number of sessions per year, but that’s less common.
A quick call to your insurance provider (the number is usually on the back of your card) can clarify these details.
Step 2: Understand What’s Shared with Your Insurance
When you use insurance, some information about your care is shared with the insurer. Here’s what typically gets disclosed:
Diagnosis – Insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis to approve coverage. This is a general code (like "generalized anxiety disorder" or "adjustment disorder") rather than detailed session notes.
Session dates and length – They’ll know when you had appointments and how long they lasted.
Treatment type – This could include whether you're doing individual therapy, couples counseling, etc.
Progress notes (rarely) – While insurers rarely request full therapy notes, they may ask for a summary to justify ongoing treatment.
What Isn’t Shared?
The details of what you discuss in session
Personal stories or identifying information beyond what’s needed for billing
Step 3: Consider Your Privacy Preferences
If you’re uncomfortable with a diagnosis being shared, you have options:
Pay out-of-pocket – Some clients choose to self-pay to keep their therapy completely private.
Ask about a "general" diagnosis – In some cases, a less specific diagnosis can be used for billing.
Use an HSA/FSA – If you have a health savings account, you can often use those funds for therapy without involving insurance.
We’re Here to Help
Navigating insurance can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. If you have questions about using your benefits or concerns about privacy, just ask! We’re happy to explain how billing works and help you find the best path for your needs.
Therapy is about your well-being—financially and emotionally. However you choose to pay for it, we’re here to support you.
Disclaimer: Insurance policies vary. Always check with your provider for the most accurate information about your coverage.
Ready to get started? Contact us today, and we’ll help you verify your insurance benefits so you can focus on what matters most—your healing.
