Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question? We've listed our most frequently asked questions here. If you have a question not answered here, please reach out.
Watershed is an out-of-network provider, which means you pay for services upfront and if your insurance plan offers out-of-network benefits, we can provide you with a Superbill (receipt) after your counseling sessions to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Depending on the individual insurance plan, many will reimburse for a percentage of the session fee, which is typically around 50-70% on average. To determine if you have out-of-network mental health coverage, contact your insurance company and ask if your plan includes out-of-network mental health coverage. Feel free to contact our office with any questions.
Keep in mind most insurance companies require a counselor to provide a diagnosis code on the Superbill which then becomes part of their permanent medical records.
To determine if you have mental health coverage, the first thing you should do is check with your insurance carrier. Check your coverage carefully and find the answers to the following questions:
- What are my out-of-network mental health benefits?
- What percentage do you reimburse for counseling from an out-of-network provider?
- Is there a limit on the number of counseling sessions covered by my plan?
- Do I need to meet my deductible before out-of-network benefits kick in?
- Do I need a referral from my primary care physician?
- Does my plan cover sessions with a Christian/Biblical Counselors (if you want to see a Biblical Counselor)?
- Do you require a diagnosis code for reimbursement?
Therapy fees vary from provider to provider. They start at $125 and go up to $150 per 50-minute session, depending on education and experience level. When you fill out the questionnaire form or contact our office, you can tell us the fee range that is comfortable for you and we can match you to a therapist who offers rates within your desired fee range.
We accept all major credit and debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and HSA/FSA cards.
In January of 2022, the No Surprises Act (HR133, Title 45 Section 149.610) began requiring providers to inform their clients that they have a right to a “Good Faith Estimate” to help them estimate the maximum expected charges that they may incur. The Act requires providers to provide a Good Faith Estimate directly to clients who are uninsured or self-pay clients. Self-pay clients are those who are enrolled in commercial insurance (including a Federal Employees Health Benefits (“FEHB”) program health benefits plan) but is not seeking to have a claim submitted to that plan.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the maximum expected cost of any non-emergency items or services which includes counseling serves. At Watershed Counseling Center, we believe in and practice transparency about billing and the cost of therapy. We are happy to provide you with a Good Faith Estimate upon request.
Click here to read more about your rights and protections against surprise medical bills.
We don’t want anyone that needs help, to do without therapy so if you cannot afford our fees and don’t have mental health insurance coverage that can subsidize the cost with out-of-network benefits, please contact us to let us know your situation and what you can afford for therapy and we will try to accommodate your budget. Or we can try to refer you to someone who can help you within your budget.
We do offer a limited number of sessions on a sliding-scale rate based on your total family income.
Yes! Please call us at 936-297-5252 or email us at info@watershedcounselingcenter.com if you would like to schedule a consultation call with one of our counselors.
Most therapist offer a free 10-minute initial consultation call to allow you the opportunity to see if they are a good fit for you prior to scheduling your first session. This is not required but if you are debating on which one of our counselors is a good match for you after reviewing their Bios on our website or talking to our Care Coordinator in our office, it is a good idea to request a consultation call. Use this call to ask your potential therapist questions and allow them to get a sense of who you are, what your goals are, and what you are struggling with. And you can discuss their availability and ask them the frequency they recommend for your treatment plan (ex: once a week). You can bring up any concerns you have about working with them so they can address them or refer you to another therapist that can meet your needs.
1st step: Please call us or email us at info@watershedcounselingcenter.com to let us know you are interested in being matched with a counselor.
2nd step: We can send you a questionnaire or go over it on the phone to get some basic information to help find the best fit for you based on your specific area of need, budget, and availability.
3rd step: Once we find your best match, we can look at the schedule to determine what date/time is best for you. We typically book out 6-12 weeks to hold your spot on that therapist’s schedule for the same day and time of the week. You and your therapist will re-evaluate and gage if more or less time is needed. If less time is needed, we can always cancel those appointments.
4th step: We will email you the Intake Forms that will need to be completed before your first session. This includes consent forms, HIPPA policy, cancelation policy, credit card authorization, etc.
5th and most important step: Come to your first session excited for the opportunity to grow, ready to share your story and learn how to work towards your goals!