FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
how much does therapy cost & why private pay?
Consultation: 15 minutes - FREE
Therapy is an investment, not just financially, but in the way we show up for our lives, our relationships, and ourselves.
Investment:
Initial Intake Session: 60 minutes, $225
Ongoing Therapy Sessions: 60 minutes, $200
ESA & GAMHA Assessments with Letter: 60 minutes, $150
I offer discounted services for LPC-Associates, LMSWs & LMFT-Associates upon request. Investing in therapy may feel difficult when you’re used to putting others first. But therapy isn’t a luxury. It’s like medicine, not an optional supplement. While vitamins may boost your health, medicine is essential when it comes to truly addressing the problem. Therapy goes deeper than just managing your overwhelm or anxiety; it helps you heal and find lasting balance. When you feel drained, resentful, or like you’re running on empty, it’s a sign that your emotional well-being needs more than just surface-level care. By prioritizing therapy, you’re choosing the help that gets to the root of the issue, allowing you to not just survive but thrive in both your personal and professional life. Taking this step isn’t an indulgence; you must keep showing up for others and, most importantly, yourself.
WHY PRIVATE PAY?
I am a private pay practice, which means I do not accept insurance. This is intentional because it allows for more privacy, flexibility, and depth in our work. Insurance often requires a mental health diagnosis, limits the type and length of care, and involves a third party in your treatment. Working outside of insurance keeps your therapy focused on you, not what a company will approve.
You are welcome to use out-of-network benefits if your plan offers reimbursement.
I tend to be a good fit for people who are looking for more than short-term, solution-focused work and are ready to engage in deeper, process-oriented therapy. This work is not surface-level, and it is not a quick fix. It is intentional, process-oriented, and designed for lasting change in how we relate to ourselves and move through the world.
If you are primarily looking for the lowest-cost option or need to use insurance, I may not be the best fit and I’m happy to help point you in a direction that better supports your needs.
can i use my out-OF-network (oon) benefits if you don’t accept my insurance?
Your health plan may still cover a large portion of your therapy costs if you have “out-of-network” benefits for mental/behavioral health. Look up your plan details (specifically under the out-of-network Mental Health Outpatient Services). If you don’t have out-of-network benefits, consider switching to a plan that does during the Open Enrollment period.
CAN I USE HSA, FSA, OR HRA?
Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA’s), and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s) can be used to cover the cost of therapy and often decrease the cost of treatment significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Creating a truly safe, judgment-free zone: Here, every feeling is welcome, and no topic is "too much” or off limits. This is your space to finally exhale.
Developing robust tools to navigate high-achieving demands: We'll equip you with strategies to manage external pressures and reframe internal expectations that keep you trapped.
Granting yourself permission to feel the feelings you don’t want to acknowledge: We'll gently acknowledge and process the suppressed guilt, resentment, and anger. If this feels scary, I assure you we do this in a way that doesn't overwhelm your nervous system.
Accepting Help: Giving keeps you safe and in control. Receiving feels icky and undeserving, forcing you to be seen in a vulnerable way. We explore the underlying dynamics perpetuating the pattern, creating burnout because it didn’t feel safe to ask for help. I help guide you through the discomfort of receiving instead of being the chronic giver.
Integrating holistic, evidence-based approaches: Using powerful techniques like mindfulness, EFT/tapping, and somatic therapy, we'll heal your nervous system at a foundational level. These are professional, proven methods, not fleeting trends found on TikTok and ChatGPT.
Developing real, preventive self-care: Learning how to nourish yourself. It goes beyond face masks, hair care, and massages. It’s about slowing down to listen to what your body is saying. Together, we develop a routine offering real care to your mind, body, and spirit.
Providing true, uninterrupted respite: You'll experience 60 minutes completely focused on you, where your phone is on DND and you are free from the burden of emotionally caring for anyone else.
Rebuilding deep self-trust and honoring your limits: You'll learn to listen to your body's signals, set boundaries that protect your peace, and move forward with genuine self-respect.
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My practice is outpatient, which means I work best with clients who are able to show up consistently, reflect between sessions, and apply what we are working on in real life.
If you are in immediate distress, feeling unsafe, or need more intensive, frequent support, this likely is not the right level of care. In those cases, a higher level of care is more appropriate. You can call 911 or reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support.If you or someone you know is in immediate, life-threatening danger and decide to call 911, please be aware that police are not equipped to offer mental health support and may even pose danger to People of Color, Transgender, Mentally Ill, Neurodivergent, and Disabled people. Please ALSO reach out to community leaders, neighbors, friends, and family to be present if you are calling the police. For community-based alternatives to police in your city, visit: Don't Call the Police.
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I work with adults 18 and older. Most of my clients are therapists, healthcare workers, and helping professionals who are used to being the one everyone relies on and are starting to feel the cost of that.
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This work is not a good fit if you are looking for quick fixes, surface-level coping skills, or someone to validate your desire for “productivity hacks”.
It is also not the right fit if you need a higher level of care, are in active crisis, or are dealing with concerns that require more specialized or intensive treatment (i.e. active eating disorder, substance use). In those cases, I am happy to help guide you toward more appropriate support. -
I do not provide court-ordered services, disability evaluations, or documentation for legal purposes.
I also do not practice from a purely solution-focused, short-term model that only targets symptoms.My work is deeper and more process-oriented, integrating somatically informed EMDR and mindfulness-based approaches to create long-term change.
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Yes, in limited, intentional ways that support the behind-the-scenes operations of my practice, not your clinical care.
I do not use AI in therapy sessions, and I never input any identifying or protected health information into AI tools. Your privacy and confidentiality are non-negotiable.
Where AI does show up is on the administrative side, like drafting general email templates, supporting website content and SEO, organizing workflows, or refining how information is communicated. This allows me to spend less time on backend tasks and more time fully present and engaged in sessions.
All clinical decisions, treatment planning, and therapeutic work are done by me, a licensed therapist providing therapy in Texas. AI is not involved in your care.
AI is a tool I use to support the structure of my business, not something I rely on to do the work of therapy.
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Records are stored in an encrypted, HIPAA-compliant electronic format. Requests for medical records may be submitted by email to aubrey@sageholisticcounseling.com. A Release of Information form is required before the release of medical records to any individual or entity. Requests to complete forms or provide clinical letters are billed to the client at the rate of $150 per hour. Clients may transfer to or receive treatment from multiple therapists within our organization. As a client of our organization, you consent that your therapist(s) will have access to all medical records accumulated throughout your care with our organization. Aubrey Richardson, LPC, is the custodian of record on all cases. Custodians have a plan in place regarding the custody of medical records in the event of their death or unavailability.
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You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.
Where can I learn more about licensed professional counselors (LPCs) in Texas?
Please visit the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors website.
Contact Information for Texas State Licensing Boards
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC)
George H.W. Bush State Office Bldg.
1801 Congress Ave., Ste. 7.300
Austin, Texas 78701
Ph: 512-305-7700 or 1-800-821-3205
Encompasses the following licensing bodies:
Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors (LPC)
Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners (LMSW/LCSW)
Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
Professional licenses for all therapists may be verified on the BHEC website www.bhec.texas.gov
To file a complaint, call the 24-hour, toll-free complaint system at 800-821-3205.