Rates and FAQs

What are your rates?

Sessions with Sara

50-minute session: $150

90-minute session: $270

*Rates for mental performance consulting packages can be found here.

Sessions with Amanda

50-minute session: $125

90-minute session: $225

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. Learn more about Good Faith Estimates here.

Do you accept insurance?

We are not in-network with any insurance companies and do not submit claims to insurance companies on behalf of clients.

If you are interested in utilizing your out-of-network benefits for therapy:

• For services provided by Sara Thane Milam, LCSW: You may request that the practice provide a Superbill which you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. You may also choose to have sessions billed through a service called Thrizer, which can make it easier to use your out-of-network benefits for therapy. Please note that a diagnosis is required for out-of-network reimbursement. 

• For services provided by Amanda Twomley, M.Ed., Pre-Licensed Counselor: Because Amanda is not independently licensed, the practice does not provide Superbills for her sessions, and her services are typically not eligible for insurance reimbursement. Thrizer is also not available for sessions with Amanda.

Lyra Health EAP: While we are not independently contracted with any insurance companies, Sara is a contracted provider for Lyra Health and can provide care for clients who wish to utilize Lyra Health EAP and Health Plan Integration benefits. 

Why don’t you accept insurance?

Check out this article if you’re interested in learning more about why we, and many other mental health providers, chose not to go in-network with insurance companies:

From NPR and ProPublica: Finding a therapist who takes your insurance can be nearly impossible. Here’s why

What are the benefits of paying out-of-pocket for therapy? 

• Personalized Care: Unfortunately, insurance reimbursement rates for therapy are very low. This means that therapists who bill insurance generally have to carry large caseloads and complete a high number of sessions per week just to make a living wage (see the article linked above for more information). Not billing insurance allows us to work with fewer clients at a time so we can give you the time, attention, and thoughtful personalized care you deserve. 
• Increased Autonomy: When you privately pay for therapy instead of using insurance, you and your therapist are in charge of your care – not the insurance company. You and your therapist have the freedom to decide how frequently to meet, how long your sessions will be, and what you will do during sessions to support your growth. 
• No Unneccessary Labeling: Insurance companies require that clients have a mental health diagnosis in order to reimburse for therapy services. Not billing insurance allows us to avoid labeling you with a diagnosis that could follow you for the rest of your life.

Do you accept HSA/FSA cards for payment?

Yes!

Do you offer in-person sessions?

Yes! We offer in-person sessions at our office in Ooltewah, Tennessee and telehealth sessions for clients located across Tennessee, Montana, and Florida.

Do you offer evening and weekend sessions?

Amanda offers evening sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Sara does not have evening availability at this time. We do not offer weekend sessions.

How long are your sessions? 

We offer standard 50-minute sessions and extended 90-minute sessions. Some clients prefer 90-minute sessions for intake appointments (your very first session) because they allow more time to build a relationship with your therapist, gather a thorough history, and discuss your goals in detail. Extended sessions can also be useful for EMDR therapy. If you aren’t sure which session length is the best fit for you we are happy to provide a recommendation.

What types of therapy do you use? 

We primarily use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in our work with clients. These types of therapy are complementary, so we can integrate them to meet your unique goals and preferences. Check out our blog post,  Which Type of Therapy is Right for You? to learn more about each of these types of therapy.

What’s the difference between therapy and mental performance consulting? 

Therapy is focused on treating mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD, and enhancing functioning and quality of life across life domains. Mental performance consulting focuses on building mental skills for enhancing performance and enjoyment in a specific performance domain such as sport, performing arts, work, or school. Therapy and mental performance work can be combined or offered separately, depending on client need and preference. 

Do Sara and Amanda both offer mental performance consulting?

Sara offers mental performance consulting and therapy, Amanda only offers therapy at this time. 

How can I get the most out of my therapy investment?

Therapy is an investment of time, energy, and money. Check out my blog posts Three Tips to get the Most out of Therapy  and Tips to get the Most out of  Telehealth Therapy to learn how you can get the biggest bang for your buck.