This page covers the practical questions about working together: fees, insurance, how telehealth works in Colorado, what to expect at a first session, the consult, cancellation, confidentiality, and crisis resources. Clinical questions about a specific area (autism and AuDHD, anxiety and OCD, codependency, and so on) live on the specialty pages.
Fees and payment
The standard fee for a 55-minute session is $150, paid by the client.
I offer a limited sliding scale based on need. No documentation is required. If cost is a barrier, mention it on the free consult and we will talk through whether a sliding-scale spot fits.
Payment is taken securely at the time of session through the practice's billing system. Major credit and debit cards are accepted, including HSA and FSA cards where the card processor allows.
Your right to a Good Faith Estimate
Because Sagelight is private pay, you have the right under federal law to a written Good Faith Estimate of what your care is expected to cost before it begins. You do not need to ask. It arrives through the secure client portal once your first session is scheduled, and you can request one at any time, including before you decide to book.
The full notice, what the estimate covers, and how to request one are on the Good Faith Estimate page.
Insurance
Sagelight Counseling is private-pay and not in-network with any insurance plan.
That choice keeps the clinical work clean, the schedule manageable, and your records under your control.
I do not bill insurance on your behalf, but I can give you a superbill, a receipt with the details your insurer asks for. If your plan has out-of-network mental health benefits, you can submit it yourself for possible partial reimbursement. Out-of-network benefits vary a lot from plan to plan, so it is worth calling your insurer before you count on it. I cannot promise any reimbursement.
Whether or not you use a superbill, you get a written Good Faith Estimate of expected cost before we begin, described above, and a rate that does not change based on what a plan decides to cover.
One thing to know before you submit. A superbill includes a diagnosis code, because insurers require one, and that diagnosis then becomes part of your insurance record. If you would rather keep it off, just pay privately and do not submit. That choice is yours.
Telehealth across Colorado
I see clients across Colorado by secure video, including the Denver metro communities of Westminster, Arvada, Littleton, Golden, Lakewood, and Broomfield, and across the rest of the state. The platform is HIPAA-compliant.
You only need a private space, a stable connection, and a device with a camera. You do not need to be a tech person. The longer take on telehealth, and what makes it work, is on the Online Therapy in Colorado page.
I do not currently see clients in person, and I can only work with people who are physically in Colorado at the time of session. That is a state licensing rule, not a personal one.
What to expect in a first session
The first session is 55 minutes by video, like any other session, with a few specific things layered in.
We review the intake paperwork you completed beforehand. We talk about what brought you to therapy and what you would like to be different. We get a feel for working together. Toward the end, we agree on a regular weekly time slot and on what we will focus on first.
You do not need to come with anything polished. Plain language is plenty. If you are not sure where to start, I will help you start.
The free consult, and what it is for
The consult is a twenty-minute video call, free. It is the lowest-pressure way to see whether we are a fit.
I will ask what brought you here and what you are looking for. You can ask me anything you want to know. If we both feel like it is a good fit, we book the first session. If either of us does not, we leave on good terms and I am happy to point you toward someone who might fit better.
You pick the time. There is no commitment.
Cancellation and rescheduling
I ask for at least 24 hours' notice for any cancellation or reschedule.
Cancellations made with 24 hours' notice or more are no problem. Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice, and missed sessions, are billed at the full session rate.
That policy is not a punishment. It exists because a late-cancelled slot cannot usually be filled, and I hold your time specifically for you each week.
If life makes the late notice unavoidable, tell me. I am a person, and I respond to context.
Confidentiality and limits
What you share in session is legally confidential under Colorado law, with a small set of exceptions named in the mandatory disclosure statement.
The standard exceptions are these.
- Imminent danger. If you describe a serious, imminent risk of harm to yourself or to an identifiable other person, I am legally required to act to prevent that harm.
- Abuse or neglect. If I have a reasonable suspicion that a child, an at-risk adult, or a vulnerable person is being abused or neglected, I am legally required to report it.
- Court orders. A court order can compel disclosure of records or testimony.
- Routine clinical supervision. As a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate, I consult regularly with my clinical supervisor, John F. Arman, PhD, LPC. That consultation is covered by the same confidentiality protections that cover our work together.
The full disclosure statement is on the disclosures page.
Crisis and after-hours support
Sagelight Counseling is not a crisis service. I do not monitor messages outside business hours, and I cannot guarantee a same-day reply.
If you are in crisis, please use one of the resources below.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988. Available 24 hours a day, every day, free, in English and Spanish.
- Colorado Crisis Services. Call 1-844-493-8255, or text "TALK" to 38255. Free, confidential, 24 hours a day.
- 911 or your nearest emergency department for any medical emergency, including a mental health emergency requiring immediate care.
If you are an existing client, we will talk about a safety plan early in our work, including who to call and what to do between sessions if a hard moment arrives.