Payment & Insurance

Nido Individual & Family Therapy works within a “sliding scale” approach as a direct challenge to the financial barriers and income inequalities that people of marginalized identities face within healthcare as a whole. Our sliding scale payments adjust service fees to account for an individual’s income and financial circumstances.

The lower a person’s income, the less they have to pay to work with a therapist at Nido. Fees are adjusted to accommodate an individual’s true needs and access to resources, so those with fewer resources can more reliably access services by paying a lower fee.

For example, if a therapist typically charges $275 per 50-minute session for the actual cost of their services, individuals who have an income at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) may pay a minimum fee that is a percentage of the standard $275 cost in an amount determined by the therapist. Those who have an income above the Federal Poverty Line pay incrementally more based on what percentage bracket their income falls into (up to $275, in this example), with a payment that matches their means.

Clients who have the financial means pay an amount that is closer to or at the full rate based on their income and privilege. Those who cannot pay as much still have access to the services they need. Essentially, the full payment from some clients subsidizes the care for others, ensuring that therapy remains accessible to everyone in our community.

By structuring fees in a way that shares the cost of care across different income levels, we not only make therapy more affordable but also foster a sense of collective responsibility that acknowledges healing is not reserved for those with financial privilege, but is available to all — especially to those who are often most impacted by systemic inequities and intergenerational trauma who may need it most. It also ensures that therapists are still compensated for the labor of their care, without having to compromise their own well-being for clients with fewer means.

Therapy is not the only profession to rely on this type of sliding scale structure; other medical providers, dentists, and even lawyers use a sliding scale to provide a more affordable way to pay.

To access sliding scale payments, we invite you to schedule a consultation call to discuss your financial circumstances and set a fee structure that feels accessible and supportive for your care.

At Nido Individual & Family Therapy, we choose not to directly bill insurance because the reimbursement rates from insurance companies do not adequately support the level of care we provide and would require us to take on more clients to an extent that could potentially compromise the quality of service we offer.

Our therapists are committed to providing high-quality care, and we believe that being able to set our own fees allows us to maintain this standard. Many of our clinicians have pursued intensive training beyond their licensure to specialize in specific areas of treatment, and we want the freedom to continue providing that level of care without being constrained by insurance policies or regulations that may not align with our ethical standards.

We recognize that there are excellent therapists who accept insurance and provide valuable services. However, we prefer to keep our practice focused on offering the best possible care without limitations imposed by insurance companies. For support with utilizing your Out of Network Benefits through your insurance plan, contact our Billing Manager, Jenn Ortega, at billing@nidoIFT.com.

With 7-9 very demanding years of higher education, 3,000+ clinical hours, lengthy board exams, yearly licensing fees, liability protection fulfillments, and continued training, Mental Health Workers (LMFT/LPC/LCSW) are some of the most qualified professionals…and yet, the most underpaid. 

Unfortunately, in California, many therapists are no longer billing directly with insurance companies due to the ways that insurance companies delegitimize our work, pathologize and retraumatize our clients with the utilization of condescending medical jargon, and delay or refuse to pay for needed or already rendered services.

When insurance companies deny payment, this leaves therapists — many of whom have masters or doctorate degrees — unable to make a living wage. This is why many therapists have taken it upon themselves to maintain fee-for-service practices that require out-of-pocket payment, thus allowing them to charge a wage that they deserve and need to sustain life.

Because therapy is a highly emotional and mentally-involved career, many therapists consider a full time caseload to be 15-20 clients a week, which forces them to charge around $200-$300 a session in order to pay their office rent, liability insurances, training materials, billing services, scheduling and notation platforms, HIPPA-compliant video programming operations, students loans, and their own personal living expenses.

Here at Nido Individual & Family Therapy, we understand that while that fee range is an appropriate fee for a therapist to sustain their business and life, charging that amount does not make therapy accessible to all people, which is why we offer alternatives like sliding scale payments and support from our billing manager to navigate payment obstacles.

A Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is a document that provides an estimate of your therapy costs for the year. It helps you understand how much you might need to pay for your sessions so you can plan accordingly and avoid unexpected bills. The GFE is not a bill; it outlines the maximum amount you may be expected to pay over the course of the year based on your current treatment plan.

Keep in mind that the GFE is an estimate. It may change if your therapy needs change over time. If any changes in costs occur, a new GFE will be provided to you before proceeding with services.

If you have questions or need more information about your GFE, feel free to contact our Billing Manager, Jenn Ortega at billing@nidoIFT.com. For additional details Good Faith Estimates, explore the “Ending Surprise Medical Bills” section of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services site.

Associate therapists are clinicians in the early stages of their careers. They have completed 7-8 years of higher education, including graduate school and practicum work, and have accrued additional clinical hours working with clients since completing their master’s program. Although they have not yet obtained full independent licensure, they work under the supervision of a licensed clinical supervisor (at Nido, this is our clinical director, Kate McDonough) to gain further experience and refine their skills. Associates meet with their supervisor multiple times a week and participate in consultation groups to receive the support necessary at this stage of their career.

While associate therapists are working toward licensure, they are highly trained and fully capable of providing therapy. Their work is closely supervised to ensure quality care. At Nido Individual & Family Therapy, our associate therapists are passionate about offering compassionate, effective therapy and are dedicated to supporting you in your healing process. If you’re new to therapy or seeking a lower-fee service, working with an associate therapist could be a great fit for you.