Cost

Read below on what to expect!
We recognize that for many, the question of whether or not to pursue counseling and which counselor to choose comes down to the bottom line, "What is this going to cost me?" Counseling is not cheap, and we understand that for many, this is quite an investment. At ALCS, we try to have top-notch clinicians at differing price-points, along with some sliding-scale availability, so that individuals who are committed can get the help that they need, regardless of their financial status. Counseling services are provided at rates consistent with that of professional mental health facilities in the area.  As the director of our center and a specialist with extensive post-graduate training in sex therapy, Kerry's rate is the highest, followed by our Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and then our Licensed Professional Counselor-Associates. We will try to help you find the help that is best both for your needs and your budget.

Do we take insurance?

Our center is not on insurance panels, so payment is collected at the time of service.  However, many of our clients independently file for reimbursement with their insurance companies, and we will support you in that process by providing you with the documentation you will need.  To learn whether your insurance covers counseling sessions with Abundant Life Counseling Services, P.A., you can call them and ask whether they provide "mental health benefits for out-of-network providers." If they do, they will require specific information on your statements. Please inquire about what specific items are needed so that we can facilitate the process for you as smoothly as possible. 

Forms of Payment

We accept Visa and Mastercard, as well as cash or check. We also accept HSA cards from those who have Health Savings Accounts.

What Are Your Rates?

Rates depend on the therapist that you see. Rates for LPCs and LMSWs are $150, with the exception of Carolyn and Candice ($170), and Kerry ($200). Our LPC-Associate rate is $105. We encourage you to investigate other options, because we believe you will find that these rates are very competitive with other therapists' rates in Austin who have the same credentials and levels of experience. 

How does the sliding scale work?

At ALCS, it is our desire to serve those who come to us for help regardless of their financial resources. The primary way we try to accomplish that is with top-notch interns, who can charge a lower rate. For those clients with limited financial resources, we try to offset the cost of counseling as we are able. Since we are not non-profit, we cannot accept donations, which means that we must generate all of the income necessary to keep our center financially viable. Therefore, sliding scale slots may be limited, particularly for certain therapists. (Please note that Kerry reserves all of his sliding scale slots for individuals being sponsored through their church, so his sliding scale slots are not available to the general public). To request consideration for a sliding scale rate, you can email our office administrator directly for an application. (Please do NOT request a sliding scale through the Contact Page of our website, as those requests will not be honored, and you will not be contacted). Once you have completed the application, it will be submitted for processing to determine what percentage of a therapist's rate you should be able to pay based on your financial resources. Please note that these are combined family resources, not necessarily the resources of the client. You may be asked to submit proof of your income, or you may be asked further questions for clarification so that we can have the most accurate understanding of your financial situation possible. Once we process your information to see what you should be able to pay, the therapist(s) you are interested in look at their schedule to determine how much they are already giving away with their current caseload. It may be that you technically qualify for a lower rate, but that your desired therapist cannot offer that rate to you. Once the rate you would receive is established, our Office Administrator will reach out to you to notify you of your rate. If you believe that you may qualify for a sliding scale rate and would like to request an application, you may do so here.

How long will it take?

That is a very good question. And the answer is, it depends. It depends on the severity of your circumstances and issues when you come to us. It depends on your goals and expectations about what you want out of therapy. Since therapy is a partnership as we work together toward your goals, it also depends on how committed you are to working both inside and outside of sessions. We want to help you heal and grow and find comfort and relief and joy as quickly as possible. We think working ourselves out of a job is a very good thing! We will work hard to provide the very best care so that you experience the most benefit from your time with us.