Fees & FAQs

Have questions before getting started?

Starting therapy is a big decision, and it’s completely normal to have questions before scheduling your first appointment.

I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can briefly talk about what brings you to therapy, what you’re hoping to work on, and whether my approach and services feel like a good fit for you.

There’s no pressure to commit to therapy after the consultation. My goal is for you to feel comfortable and informed about your options.

Therapy Fees

At In Bloom Mental Health Counseling, I believe quality mental healthcare should be transparent and accessible. I’ll always be upfront about fees so you know what to expect before beginning therapy.

Individual Therapy with Shandelle

Comprehensive Initial Intake — $175

Your initial appointment gives us an opportunity to talk about what brings you to therapy, your history, your goals, and what you would like to be different. We’ll also begin developing a treatment approach that fits your needs.

55-Minute Individual Therapy Sessions — $150

Standard individual therapy sessions are 55 minutes and are tailored to your goals and needs.

Couples Therapy with shandelle

Couples Therapy — $175 per hour

Couples therapy provides a supportive, structured space to work on communication, connection, conflict, boundaries, and other relationship concerns. Sessions are one hour.

Sliding Scale

A limited number of sliding-scale appointments may be available based on need and availability. Please reach out to discuss whether a reduced-fee appointment may be an option.

Payment

Payment may be made by:

  • Credit card

  • Debit card

  • HSA

  • FSA

Payment is due at the time of your appointment unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

Insurance

Using insurance for therapy

I know navigating insurance benefits can feel confusing and frustrating. I want the financial side of therapy to be as straightforward as possible.

I am currently in-network with the following insurance plans:

New York

Aetna

Cigna/Evernorth

Oscar

Optum

Oxford

United Health Care

Maryland

Aetna

Carefirst BCBS

Cigna/Evernorth

United Health Care

Optum

Insurance participation can change, and your specific plan may have different benefits or requirements. Please contact me before your first appointment so we can confirm your coverage.

If you are using an in-network plan, you may be responsible for your plan's copay, coinsurance, or deductible.

Your insurance company ultimately determines your benefits and what your plan will cover. I recommend contacting your insurance provider directly to confirm your mental-health benefits as well.

What if you don't see your insurance plan?

If I am not in-network with your insurance plan, you may still be able to use out-of-network benefits to help cover the cost of therapy.

Depending on your plan, your insurance company may reimburse you directly for a portion of your therapy expenses after you meet your out-of-network deductible.

I can provide you with the documentation you need to submit claims to your insurance company.

If you don't have insurance or prefer not to use insurance for therapy, you are also welcome to work with me on a private-pay basis.

FAQs

  • Absolutely. Here’s how it will work. You will be responsible for paying the therapist directly when you have a session. Then you will be given a detailed “super bill” after your appointment to submit to your insurance for reimbursement. Typical reimbursement is 50-75%, though this will depend on your individual insurance plan.

    Questions to ask your insurance about out of network coverage.

    1. Do I have out of network mental health benefits?

    2. Does my plan have a deductible that needs to be met prior to me being eligible for reimbursement? If so, has any of this been met for this year?

    3. What is the percentage of reimbursement, or maximum allowable for sessions?

    4. Are there any limitations, like number of sessions in a year?

    5. What provider credentials are acceptable? Are limited permit/licensed clinicians acceptable?

    Please note that Shandelle is a fully licensed LMHC and LCPC in the states of NY and MD. Sessions with an MHC-LP or LGPC working under Shandelle's direct supervision may not be covered by your out of network benefits.

    6. Where and how do I submit the providers Superbill?

  • Yes, we offer in person sessions in Maryland.

  • No travel time. No waiting times. No running into people you might know in the waiting room. Just modern, confidential therapy at your convenience and where you are.

    Teletherapy is just like regular in person therapy except it is conducted over the computer, tablet, or mobile device. All sessions are done through a secure HIPAA compliant video platform for healthcare professionals. Sessions are always private and never recorded or stored.

  • All you need is a computer, tablet or mobile device with internet access, a built-in webcam, and speakers.

  • Yes, check out these 5 tips to help you get the most out of Teletherapy.

    1. Consider what kind of environment makes you feel most calm. What could you do to make your environment more calming during your session? I usually prefer dim lights, a few items nearby like a cup of tea or water, a notebook and pen, tissues, pillows/blankets or comfort items, or fidget toys/objects.

    2. Try to minimize distraction and extra noise. If you share a living space with others, consider using headphones or a white noise machine to help with sound and increase privacy.

    3. Check your internet connection beforehand. You can google "speed test" to check your internet download and upload speed. If connectivity issues are present, consider ways to boost signal (e.g., connecting directly to your modem/router or using a USB wifi adapter). Additionally many teletherapy platforms recommend closing all other browser tabs.

    4. If the teletherapy platform you’re using shows you yourself on screen too, mute your image! It’s unnatural to do therapy in front of a mirror. It adds an element of self-consciousness that can affect your ability to be vulnerable in session or fully present. With the platform I use, if you hover over your image, you will see three dots (...). If you click on it, you can select "hide my preview."

    5. Before your session, take some time to reflect on your week and what issues you want to talk about in therapy. I usually recommend keeping a therapy journal to track pre-session goals (and post session thoughts, insights, strategies and homework).

  • Tech platforms are not healthcare platforms and as such are not bound to the same rigorous ethics and privacy protection requirements for their clients. These platforms typically also do not accept insurance, unlike many private therapists. While clients are able to get access to help at reduced fees, which is a huge benefit, consumers should be aware of the larger impact this has. Because of these reduced fees, of which only a small portion goes to the actual clinician, therapists need to take on large caseloads to compensate. This can translate to higher burnout rates and frequent turnover in therapists and needing to start over with another therapist.

  • In compliance with the No Surprises Act that went into effect January 1, 2022, all healthcare providers are required to notify clients of their Federal rights and protections against potential “surprise billing.”

    This Act requires that we notify you of your federally protected rights to receive a notification when services are rendered by an out-of-network provider, if a client is uninsured, or if a client elects not to use their insurance.

    You and your therapist will work together to build a treatment plan that is based on your individual needs. Without knowing your individual therapy needs, you can easily estimate the cost of your therapy by taking your therapists rate and multiplying it by the expected frequency of sessions (for example, if you estimate you will need weekly sessions, you would multiply the therapists rate by 52).

    However, depending on how treatment progresses, more or fewer sessions may be needed.

  • Yes, we have limited spots available. Our interns are able to provide sessions as low as $50.