Unlike individual therapy, which typically takes place in 50-minute sessions, couples therapy requires the time and space for each person to share their unique perspective, to practice skills live, with facilitation by the therapist, and requires time at the end of the session for containment so that partners don't leave the session feeling dysregulated.

As one couple who had experienced 50-minute sessions with a past counselor said, "When we did 50 minute couples sessions, we left feeling like our entrails were hanging out!" And another noted, "We barely got started and the session was over."

The work that we do is based on empirically validated research on couples and what that research indicates is that sessions less than 75 minutes actually have a detrimental impact on couples' nervous systems.

Historically, insurance companies reimburse therapists for 50-minute individual sessions but "evidenced-based" couples sessions, which are devoted to science-based couples therapy, is not based on a "50-minute hour." The gold standard for couples therapy is at least an hour and 15 minutes or longer.

Based upon the explicit assessment of your clinician, shorter sessions may be arranged once therapeutic goals are achieved and couple is in maintenance mode.

No. If we are networked with your insurance (BCBS or UHC/Optum), the 90847 code (couples or family therapy with the client present) will allow for up to 50-minutes of treatment and require that one partner be given a diagnostic label. Therefore, while technically both partners can be in the room, one of the partners, who has been given a psychiatric diagnosis, is the center of the treatment. This means that treatment of the couple must include treatment of the identified patient's diagnosis, and this must be reflected in the therapist's notes.

If we are networked with your insurance, you will be covered for up to the first 50 minutes of treatment, subject to any co-pays and deductibles, and the rest of the session will carry an out-of-pocket cost.

"Out of network benefits" indicates that while we are not networked with your insurance company, your plan does allow you to work with clinicians who are out of network and allows for some reimbursement towards those sessions, While we will not submit bills on your behalf to your insurance company, we are happy to provide you with a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company to seek reimbursement. You will be required to pay out of pocket for sessions at the time of the sessions. We cannot say how much your insurance company will reimburse toward sessions but a call to your insurance company may provide information.

You would pay out of pocket for services. It is possible in some cases to request special Out of Network coverage if you have a managed care plan. You will need to contact your insurance provider and confirm they will cover “out of network family therapy”.

You can call your insurance company and request for out of network coverage. The first thing to clarify is if they will cover family therapy out of network. It may be useful to let your insurance company know that you are seeking treatment at a couples center because nationally, there is a shortage in well trained couples therapists and that you have not found an equivalent therapy in your area that is in network.

Depending on the level of clinician you see, and the specifics of your plan (co-pay, any deductible), your out-of-pocket costs for 75-minute sessions can range from $160 to $100.

Fees depend on the level of licensure or experience of the clinician you see but the range is $260 to $200.