What Does Marriage Counseling Cost at Relationship Gardening?
Marriage habit shifts using the Gottman method at Relationship Gardening with Shannon take about 3 to 6 sessions and lots of practice at home (your mileage may vary). If you are coming in with an event based reason (like gender transition), and not for relationship repair then you might need only one session, maybe just a few, but it will not be the repair path of 3 to 6 sessions. Plan for about two, 90 minute sessions per month for three months with booster sessions as needed when coming in for a Relationship Check Up and repair.
How much would you spend in typical marriage counseling every week for a year or more? Some have gone to therapists for years and still divorced. Some of those find me before divorce or on the 2nd marriage and can't believe the quick relief and contrast in Gottman research based methods. What are the costs in your bank account and in your hearts and family for an avoidable divorce? Separate households? Read on to get the details on rates.
RATES (for in person sessions) are negotiable depending on what you can afford. Rates stated below are in person rates, although the policy of entirely flexible rates still applies. For the pandemic, with virtual sessions, rates are lowered, and are also flexible.
Rates are by the quarter= $40 per 1/4 hr. One hour (yes full hour, not the typical 50 minute counseling hour) = $160. Couples have 90 min sessions and out of session email or text support as needed and as I am available = $240. Distance rates are slightly lower ($2/min or $120/hour, $180/90 min). If these rates are out of reach for your income level-please discuss with me! Counselors are legally and ethically required to make sure that your session fee is clear up front and that is why we agree on fees at the first conversation. If you are a Black American couple seeking repair or support - you have access to my Reparations Program-your session is at no charge or you can make a donation as desired.
Gender Affirming sessions for the purpose of obtaining a referral letter for your doctor or insurance company-let's talk. $ will not be a barrier for you for your planning and preparation for your procedures and letter in consult with me (you have to come to Portland though to access your appointment in person).
If you have the abundance of $ in your life, then please do make a donation to contribute to transgender services for others who do not have the financial services-keep our doors open!
No insurance is accepted. Why? I have a list of reasons why but #1 is that marriage help is not the act of treating a mental disorder but that is how insurance companies approach funding it. Insurance billing uses codes not just for the service (marriage sessions) but for the diagnosis (schizophrenia, for example). Some counselors commit fraud by just picking a mental disorder diagnosis and putting it on the form. This is not just fraud, but also sticks a fake diagnosis for you in your permanent medical record with negative future consequences we may not anticipate.
Using insurance for counseling opens another Pandora's box and has been known to include the insurance company controlling how many sessions you have, whether your counselor can keep seeing you after benefits are maxed, or forbidding sliding scale after benefits are maxed. I am not playing that sick industry game.
An alternative that has worked for some couples is to pay cash up front and then submit your receipt to your insurance company for out of network provider partial reimbursement to you, or for applying to your annual deductible. Don't assume this will happen for you as a condition of getting help for your marriage as it may not. Also, please don't ask me to diagnose you for reimbursement purposes.
EASY ELECTRONIC PAY OPTION
If you are paying electronically, please do so as soon as I confirm your appt. I use Square which also accepts Apply Pay, NFC and chip enabled cards. Paypal is also an option. Be prepared to pay for your appointments unless you give 24 hours advanced notice of cancellation. The time is reserved for you and taken out of availability for others. Your appointment will not start till after your payment.
How much would you spend in typical marriage counseling every week for a year or more? Some have gone to therapists for years and still divorced. Some of those find me before divorce or on the 2nd marriage and can't believe the quick relief and contrast in Gottman research based methods. What are the costs in your bank account and in your hearts and family for an avoidable divorce? Separate households? Read on to get the details on rates.
RATES (for in person sessions) are negotiable depending on what you can afford. Rates stated below are in person rates, although the policy of entirely flexible rates still applies. For the pandemic, with virtual sessions, rates are lowered, and are also flexible.
Rates are by the quarter= $40 per 1/4 hr. One hour (yes full hour, not the typical 50 minute counseling hour) = $160. Couples have 90 min sessions and out of session email or text support as needed and as I am available = $240. Distance rates are slightly lower ($2/min or $120/hour, $180/90 min). If these rates are out of reach for your income level-please discuss with me! Counselors are legally and ethically required to make sure that your session fee is clear up front and that is why we agree on fees at the first conversation. If you are a Black American couple seeking repair or support - you have access to my Reparations Program-your session is at no charge or you can make a donation as desired.
Gender Affirming sessions for the purpose of obtaining a referral letter for your doctor or insurance company-let's talk. $ will not be a barrier for you for your planning and preparation for your procedures and letter in consult with me (you have to come to Portland though to access your appointment in person).
If you have the abundance of $ in your life, then please do make a donation to contribute to transgender services for others who do not have the financial services-keep our doors open!
No insurance is accepted. Why? I have a list of reasons why but #1 is that marriage help is not the act of treating a mental disorder but that is how insurance companies approach funding it. Insurance billing uses codes not just for the service (marriage sessions) but for the diagnosis (schizophrenia, for example). Some counselors commit fraud by just picking a mental disorder diagnosis and putting it on the form. This is not just fraud, but also sticks a fake diagnosis for you in your permanent medical record with negative future consequences we may not anticipate.
Using insurance for counseling opens another Pandora's box and has been known to include the insurance company controlling how many sessions you have, whether your counselor can keep seeing you after benefits are maxed, or forbidding sliding scale after benefits are maxed. I am not playing that sick industry game.
An alternative that has worked for some couples is to pay cash up front and then submit your receipt to your insurance company for out of network provider partial reimbursement to you, or for applying to your annual deductible. Don't assume this will happen for you as a condition of getting help for your marriage as it may not. Also, please don't ask me to diagnose you for reimbursement purposes.
EASY ELECTRONIC PAY OPTION
If you are paying electronically, please do so as soon as I confirm your appt. I use Square which also accepts Apply Pay, NFC and chip enabled cards. Paypal is also an option. Be prepared to pay for your appointments unless you give 24 hours advanced notice of cancellation. The time is reserved for you and taken out of availability for others. Your appointment will not start till after your payment.
