There are many benefits to paying out of pocket for therapy services:

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• Your confidential information is kept private, not sent to insurance companies so they can decide if your condition merits further services.

• Your private issues do not become part of your health care record forever after for insurance companies to use as they see fit.

• You don’t need a mental illness to see a counselor. Sometimes people just need to talk to a compassionate outside person, even if they don’t have a diagnosable mental illness.

• If you don’t want to be labeled with a diagnosis or mental illness, you don’t have to be. In order for insurance to pay for therapy, you need a diagnosis. You are a person, not just a diagnosis. However, diagnoses can often be helpful in understanding what is happening with the brain and body. But it is up to you if you want me to try to diagnose you with something.