Sliding Scale Fees and Extended Health Care Insurance

1. Sliding scale (Psychotherapy and coaching)

15% to 20% of my clients are currently seeing me with sliding scale fee. I want to make my services available to someone who is financial challenged. These limited positions are open for those who are really interested in Transpersonal therapy, Gestalt therapy, Buddhist psychotherapy, east-west psychology, spirituality, or personal development/personal growth. These positions are open for both psychotherapy and integral coaching. Normally I will have the first session with potential client (full fee) and see if both of us feel right to work together. If we matched, we will talk about sliding scale and figure out the fee.

2. Extended health care/insurance (psychotherapy/clinical counselling)

Besides my sliding scale offer to some clients, there is another avenue that you can explore. Some extended health insurance covers the services that is provided by me. For example, I understand the extended health plan/employee benefits of BC government employees are covered $500 a year for my services now. Some insurance companies like Blue cross also covers my services. The other place to look is checking if your extended health plan have employee assistance program (EAP) family assistance program. Sometimes they will cover part of your fee.

All you need to do is to see whether your extended health plan/insurance policy covers the services provided by “Registered Clinical Counsellor” (RCC). If it did, your fee for psychotherapy/clinical counselling with me will be covered up to the amount in your policy.

Remember psychotherapy/counselling or coaching is not all about money. Your well being is most important factor in your life. The purpose of finding alternative ways to handle money issue should not become the focus of the process of finding the help or assistance that you need. Once you are really determined to reduce your suffering or to work towards your well being, money will be less an issue. There are many of us will be open to help.