A private pay therapy practice is a group of licensed therapists who are paid directly by clients instead of billing insurance companies. The practice sets its own fees, policies, and treatment offerings, and clients pay for sessions themselves. Many private pay practices still help clients use their out-of-network benefits by providing the paperwork needed for reimbursement.
MindWell NYC is a private pay group psychology practice founded in 2017 by Drs. Rachel Hutt, Jessica Renz, and Rebecca Skolnick. Our team of psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors provides care to children, teens, adults, parents, and couples, both in person in Manhattan and online.
Therapy practices go private pay only so they can put clinical quality and client needs first. Insurance contracts often limit session numbers, require specific diagnoses, pay low rates, and add layers of paperwork. Stepping outside of that system lets a practice build its services around what actually works for clients.
Going private pay allows a practice to:
A private pay therapy practice usually offers a broader and more specialized range of services than a single clinician can provide. At MindWell NYC, services include:
Private pay therapy practices bill clients directly, usually by charging a card on file after each session or on a set schedule. Because the practice isn’t billing insurance, there are no claims to process on the practice’s end, and clients pay the full session fee.
At MindWell NYC, clients pay for sessions directly, and we provide statements at the end of each month that can be submitted to insurance for possible reimbursement. Current clients can also access billing information through our secure client portal, and our billing team is available to answer questions.
Many private pay group practices offer care that involves more than one clinician or specialty, even if it isn’t sold as a formal “package.” In a group practice, your care can be coordinated across providers when it helps your treatment.
At MindWell NYC, this can look like:
The intake process at a private pay therapy practice is usually quick and personal. Because there’s no insurance authorization step, you can often move from first contact to your first session faster than with in-network care.
At MindWell NYC, the process typically works like this:
Yes. Most private pay therapy practices provide superbills, which are detailed statements that include your session dates, fees, diagnosis and procedure codes, and your clinician’s credentials.
At MindWell NYC, you can download your superbill through our portal following your session and submit these to your insurance company to request reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits. We also offer a coverage check tool on our website so you can get a sense of your out-of-network benefits before you begin.
Many do. MindWell NYC offers individual therapy along with structured groups and skills-based programs. Some clients use group therapy on its own, while others combine it with individual sessions.
Look at whether the practice treats your specific concerns, uses evidence-based methods, and has clinicians with relevant training. A free consultation is a good way to ask questions, learn about fees and scheduling, and see how comfortable you feel with the team.
Yes. Group practices often bring together clinicians with different specialties. At MindWell NYC, our therapists specialize in areas including anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma, ADHD, eating disorders, couples therapy, and parenting support.
Most private pay practices accept major credit and debit cards, and many also accept HSA and FSA cards. Payment details vary by practice, so it’s best to confirm during your consultation.