Q: What do you charge and what forms of payment do you accept?
Q: Why do some choose to pay "out-of-pocket"?
Q: Can I communicate with you via email?
Q: What if I need to talk with you after hours?
Q: How can I get the most out of my therapy?
Q: How long will I need to be in therapy?
Q: What do you charge and what forms of payment do you accept?
A: Fees are as follows:
- Initial intake: $225
- Individual 50-minute session: $175
- Extended 80-minute session: $200
- Couples/family 50-minute session: $190
- Group 90-minute session: $90
- Checks returned NSF: $35
- No show or late cancellation: Full fee of scheduled session
Fees/copays are due at the end of each session. Cash, personal checks and debit/credit cards are accepted.
Cancellation policy: If you find it necessary to cancel an appointment, you must notify me so that I can attempt to fill the unused appointment time. If you cancel an appointment with less than a 24-hour notice, you will be charged the full fee if I am unable to fill the time. Sessions scheduled for Mondays must be cancelled by noon on Friday to be considered within the 24-hour limit.
A: I am an in-network provider for most insurance companies. For these companies, Integrative Psychological Services, P.A. (IPS), will bill directly. Note: many insurance companies require a deductible to be met before they will reimburse for services. Therefore, you may be required to pay out-of-pocket in the beginning.
For insurance companies of which I am an out-of-network provider, IPS does not bill directly. Your payment in full would be due at the end of the session. However, a statement will be generated for you to submit directly to your insurance company as your psychological services may be eligible for reimbursement through out-of-network benefits, medical spending or health care savings accounts.
Health insurance plans and benefits vary greatly. Check with your provider about reimbursement for your psychotherapy services. Download this form to guide you through how to find out what your insurance plan will cover and what may be out-of-pocket expenses.
Q: Why do some choose to pay privately or 'out-of-pocket'?
A: Private-paying clients choose not to involve insurance companies in their mental health care primarily for privacy and control over their therapeutic process. In this manner, their therapy is not limited by the diagnosis, treatment plan or session limits that health insurance companies may dictate.
To have therapy services covered under insurance, a mental health diagnosis must be made. This will become a part of your permanent health care record. NOTE: Some insurance companies may choose not to reimburse for certain services, such as couples or family therapies.
By paying privately or out-of-pocket, you are assured of the highest degree of privacy, flexibility and control of your mental health record allowed by Minnesota state law, since my records are exempt from insurance reporting and random compliance audits. There is a greater freedom in working collaboratively to decide how often to attend therapy, and it is your choice as to what you want to focus on.
Q: Can I communicate with you via email?
A: Yes—however, please know that unencrypted email is not guaranteed to be secure. If confidentiality is of primary importance, telephone calls may be preferable. Depending on circumstances, I may choose to limit treatment-related communications to in-person or phone consultations. If you initiate email communications with me I will assume, unless explicitly stated otherwise, that email is an acceptable way to respond.
Q: How can I get the most out of my therapy?
A: Beyond approaching therapy with an open and honest desire for improvement, you can:
- Be as honest as you can possibly be about yourself, your issues, your thoughts, and your emotions; that is the only way your therapist can help you
- Establish treatment goals with your therapist so you have some way to measure progress
- Ask your therapist for ‘homework’ or ways to implement insights and desired behaviors in your life
- Read about your diagnosis, issues or topics that you cover in your therapy sessions
Q: How long will I need to be in therapy?
A: How long you stay in therapy will depend both on the particular challenges you face and on your treatment goals. However, the duration of therapy is ALWAYS up to you. For mild problems, 12 to 18 sessions is a reasonable amount of time; for more difficult or chronic issues, more time will be required. In judging how long to stay in therapy, it is important to ask yourself if you feel like your therapist is helping you; if you don’t feel like you are progressing, you may want to try working with a different therapist.
A: Dr. Freitag's office is located at 10480 Perkins Ave North
Stillwater, MN 55082
Q: How can I find out what my insurance plan will cover and what may be out of my out of pocket expenses?
A: Download this form to find out what your insurance plan will cover, and what your out of pocket expenses may be.