Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know therapy is right for me or my family?
Therapy is an important decision and investment of time and money; having a "good fit" between a client and therapist is critical for a successful outcome. When you contact Key Counseling Group by phone or email you will receive a response from our Business Manager who will gather information from you and will then connect you to a therapist in our group. From there you will have the option to schedule your first session or speak directly to the therapist for a 20-minute free consultation via phone, video or in-person, your choice! They will answer all of your questions and let you know what to expect. If the therapist does not feel they have the expertise to help you then they will refer you to another therapist in the group or a trusted colleague outside of the group. Making sure you have the therapist that will meet your needs is what matters most to us!
As our Business Manager, our therapist Jennifer serves in multiple roles behind the scenes. One of these roles involves responding to new client inquiries. Jennifer serves as a “therapist concierge,” connecting clients to the therapist that will best match their needs. Jennifer knows each therapist’s specialties, personalities, and each unique approach and style used with clients. Jennifer is happy to hear what you are looking for in a therapist so she can match you with someone who will be a dynamic fit. All general practice inquiries go to Jennifer, or you can email her at jennifer@keycounselingatl.com.
We also offer Teletherapy online as a contact-free way of providing therapy in both Georgia and Florida. You can find our Florida license verification here.
How much does therapy cost?
We have a variety of fees based on clinician experience and length of session, ranging from $135 - $350 per session. All of our clinicians also reserve a limited amount of sessions for clients in need of a sliding scale rate.
Payment is due at the time of service, and online storage of credit card information for automatic, recurring processing is the required payment method. We accept debit/credit cards (Visa, Mastercard and Discover) and payments through your HSA/FSA accounts.
What if I have to cancel my session?
A 48-hour advance cancellation notice of scheduled appointments is required for any reason in order to avoid being charged for your session.
Can I use my Insurance- Out of Network Benefits?
Please consider contacting your insurance company. You may have an “out-of-network” benefit which allows you to see any fully licensed therapist, pay directly, and then be partially reimbursed by your insurance provider. We can provide you with invoice / receipt so that you have documentation to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Many insurance companies will cover 50-100% of this fee as an “out-of-network” provider.
The best way to determine what portion of our fee may (or may not) be reimbursed by your insurance company is to contact them directly by calling the customer service phone number on the back of your insurance card (there is often a separate phone number for mental health or “behavioral health” services information).
When speaking with your insurance company, you will want to ask them the following questions:
What are my "out-of-network" outpatient mental health benefits? How much of each therapy session will your insurance provider reimburse (this is typically a percentage)?
Must I meet a deductible (the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company will start to reimburse you) before my benefits will begin paying for out of network providers? Have you already paid any of this deductible?
Are there any limitations to services (e.g., only a certain amount of money allowed for mental health reimbursements, a limited number of sessions, reimbursement only for certain types of diagnoses, etc.)?
Do you need any kind of special referral (i.e., from a primary care doctor or your University Counseling Center) before I can be reimbursed?
How long will it take to get reimbursed after I mail my receipt?
Where do I need to mail or email my receipt?
Do my benefits cover online (tele-mental health) counseling?
Are there other payment options?
Many individuals who have health insurance elect not to use it for coverage of mental health services, and instead pay for therapy as an "out of pocket" expense or use their flexible or health savings account. Most often, this is due to concerns about the privacy of their health information, and the potential release of this information to health insurance companies and their affiliated entities.
Do you offer a sliding scale or student discount?
The cost of services should never be a barrier to receiving mental health. Even if you cannot afford our services, and you do not have insurance coverage, we do have a sliding scale offer for those who qualify. There are also several low-fee counseling services in the community such as Families First and Odyssey Counseling. Please reach out to either of these agencies to determine your eligibility.
Once I start receiving services, where can I find the client portal login?
Here is a direct link: https://keycounselinggroup.clientsecure.me/
Ready to get started, please click here.
Michelle Hession, LCSW
Clinical Director