THE TRUTH ABOUT THERAPY
AND INSURANCE
(And why self-pay might actually save you time, stress, and money)
Do we take insurance?
At The Banyan Tree, we’ve chosen to operate as an out-of-network, self-pay practice. This decision is intentional—and it allows us to provide the highest quality of care in a way that supports both our clients and our clinicians.We understand that navigating the cost of therapy is an important part of deciding where to begin. Below, we’ve outlined the key reasons we don’t work directly with insurance companies and how this model may actually benefit you.
Your Privacy Is Protected
When you use insurance for therapy, your provider is required to submit a mental health diagnosis and provide clinical information to the insurance company. This information becomes part of your permanent medical record and can impact coverage decisions in the future.
At The Banyan Tree, we believe your personal story deserves privacy. By working outside of insurance, your therapy stays between you and your clinician—confidential, protected, and not subject to outside oversight.
You Receive Personalized, Unrestricted Care
Insurance companies often limit the number of sessions covered, restrict the types of therapy approved, or require providers to justify treatment based on narrow definitions of “medical necessity.”
As a self-pay practice, we’re able to build your treatment plan around your goals—not a predetermined framework. You and your therapist decide together what frequency, length, and style of therapy is right for you. There are no arbitrary limits and no pressure to rush your process.
You Work with Highly Qualified, Present Clinicians
The reality of insurance-based work is that it requires therapists to carry high caseloads, navigate excessive administrative demands, and spend hours each week on unpaid paperwork just to be reimbursed. This model contributes to clinician burnout and makes it difficult to sustain meaningful, long-term work with clients.
By remaining out-of-network, our therapists are able to maintain more balanced caseloads, focus fully during sessions, and stay engaged in the work in a way that honors your time and investment.
Using Your Out-of-Network Benefits
While we do not bill insurance directly, many of our clients are able to receive reimbursement from their insurance companies through out-of-network benefits.
We provide detailed superbills (receipts with diagnostic and service codes) upon request, which you can submit to your insurance provider. Every plan is different, so we encourage you to call your insurance company and ask the following:
- Do I have out-of-network benefits for mental health services?
- What percentage of my therapy sessions will be reimbursed?
- What is my out-of-network deductible, and has it been met?
If you have questions about how this process works, we’re happy to walk you through it.
Making Therapy Worthwhile
We understand that the decision to invest in therapy is not always easy. But we also believe that when care is consistent, personalized, and truly focused on your wellbeing, it becomes one of the most valuable investments you can make.
Our self-pay model supports deeper, uninterrupted therapeutic work and reflects our commitment to high-quality, ethical, and intentional care. If you’re considering beginning therapy with us, we invite you to reach out. We’re happy to answer your questions and help you explore whether The Banyan Tree is the right fit for you.