Because all sessions are video now, four weekday spots are open and I will be making them available to all including new clients who qualify for Open Path discounts.
[MUST be in Pennsylvania to participate in video sessions.]
All fees are determined by sliding scale ($70-$120). Some clients may qualify for Open Path ($50).
PLEASE APPLY THROUGH OUR OPEN PATH LISTING:
We receive a lot of mixed messages about what it means to “talk to someone” when experiencing distress. Does it mean going to a hospital? The ER? Inpatient? Outpatient? Is it mostly for people who are suicidal or experiencing hallucinations? Is it really just for rich people who don’t have survival stress? Where should you even start looking?
Call me biased, but I truly believe that in fact most people could really use some kind of therapy at some point in their lives!
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) has a useful graphic (below) to help figure out which path might be the most useful for you to pursue, based on your own preferences and needs.
To be clear, this is primarily about psychology / counseling, which most therapy falls under, rather than psychiatry, despite how therapy is portrayed in most movies and TV shows. (To better understand the general difference between seeing a psychologist versus seeing a psychiatrist, ADAA has a useful explainer here.)
Did you find an approach that sounds like it might work for you? I hope so!
Intersectional Life Counseling and Therapy offers nearly all of these options: in-person sessions (individual and groups when available, and even outdoors!) as well as teletherapy sessions by video. (We do not offer text-based interventions.) See the chart below to compare them!
Compare Session options:
| In Office Sessions | Video Session | Hiking (In Season) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Rates |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Discounts Apply |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Pre-pay required |
X |
✓ |
✓ |
| Open Path (limited means) Availability |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Client Location | Lancaster Service Area | Outside of Lancaster Service Area (PA only) | Lancaster Service Area |
| Intake Process | Set up in-office intake assessment session via phone or email. Intake determines acceptance for therapy or referral. | Set up video intake assessment session via phone or email. Intake determines acceptance for therapy or referral. | Set up in-office intake assessment session via phone or email. Intake session MUST BE IN OFFICE.
If accepted for therapy may schedule for hiking or in-office sessions as desired. |
| Insurance Reimburses | Depends on insurance plan | Depends on insurance plan | Depends on insurance plan |
| EAPs cover (Quest/M&S) |
✓ |
TBD |
TBD |
| Helps you get out of the house! |
✓ |
X |
✓ |
Please contact us today by email or phone to schedule!
We receive a lot of mixed messages about what it means to “talk to someone” when experiencing distress. Does it mean going to a hospital? The ER? Inpatient? Outpatient? Is it mostly for people who are suicidal or experiencing hallucinations? Is it really just for rich people who don’t have survival stress? Where should you even start looking?
Call me biased, but I truly believe that in fact most people could really use some kind of therapy at some point in their lives!
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) has a useful graphic (below) to help figure out which path might be the most useful for you to pursue, based on your own preferences and needs.
To be clear, this is primarily about psychology / counseling, which most therapy falls under, rather than psychiatry, despite how therapy is portrayed in most movies and TV shows. (To better understand the general difference between seeing a psychologist versus seeing a psychiatrist, ADAA has a useful explainer here.)
Did you find an approach that sounds like it might work for you? I hope so!
Intersectional Life Counseling and Therapy offers nearly all of these options: in-person sessions (individual and groups when available, and even outdoors!) as well as teletherapy sessions by video. (We do not offer text-based interventions.) See the chart below to compare them!
Compare Session options:
| In Office Sessions | Video Session | Hiking Session | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Rates |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Discounts Apply |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Pre-pay required |
X |
✓ |
✓ |
| Open Path (limited means) Availability |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Client Location | Lancaster Service Area | Outside of Lancaster Service Area (PA only) | Lancaster Service Area |
| Intake Process | Set up in-office intake assessment session via phone or email. Intake determines acceptance for therapy or referral. | Set up video intake assessment session via phone or email. Intake determines acceptance for therapy or referral. | Set up in-office intake assessment session via phone or email. Intake session MUST BE IN OFFICE.
If accepted for therapy may schedule for hiking or in-office sessions as desired. |
| Insurance Reimburses | Depends on insurance plan | Depends on insurance plan | Depends on insurance plan |
| EAPs cover (Quest/M&S) |
✓ |
TBD |
TBD |
| Helps you get out of the house! |
✓ |
X |
✓ |
Please contact us today by email or phone to schedule!
Rev. Dr. John G. Smith (he/him) is a seasoned cross-cultural Pastoral Counselor who is extensively trained in Theology and in Sexology. He holds multiple advanced degrees from institutions including the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, the Graduate Theological Seminary in Indiana, and the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists in Florida.
Reverend John works with individuals, couples, and families, for a broad array of issues from grief and loss, relationships, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction, to conflict resolution for groups.
He brings kindness and acceptance as well as a passion for supporting and working with people in urban settings.
To make an appointment with Rev. John, please call or email us!
For more information, please see our About Us page.
To make an appointment with any of our practitioners, please call or email us!
It can be hard to access competent mental health care when you need it most.
While some progress has been made in requiring insurances to cover mental health needs, it can still be difficult to find good practitioners who are in your network. And even in those cases, insurance plans may have a high deductible, which can mean you will pay out of pocket for mental health services for months. And because of high administrative burden coupled with extremely low coverage rates, a considerable number of practices do not participate in insurance coverage networks.
As one practice put it, “reduced rates, extensive paperwork and rigid restrictions that are imposed on therapists by the insurance companies has pushed many of the most talented therapists away from working on insurance panels.”
So how can you get the mental health care you need?
Reimbursement: this is similar to the model used by many dental care practices. You do have to pay up front, but then your insurance company reimburses you or at least puts your payment towards your deductible for the year.
How it works: You pay your session fee at the time of service, and your therapist’s practice gives you a receipt that you send to your insurance company. Some companies also require a form or set of forms to be filled out. Some practices offer reimbursement service, that is, they will send in the receipt and forms for you.
While our practice does offer reimbursement services, not every psychology practice does. If your therapist does not, you can call your insurance company for instructions, or you may even want to try a fee-for-reimbursement app service such as Better.
Need-based programs: This may include sliding-scale fees such as community clinics may offer, which usually means clinicians are donating their time. This model may also include a discount clearinghouse service such as Open Path Collective, which allows low-income patients to find a therapist who is able to offer some sessions at a discount. Some practices also offer scholarships for those who are in financial need and do not have access. There may be a waiting list for free or nominal-cost services.
How it works: Services such as Open Path require signing up online. It’s a good idea to make sure there are therapists with openings in your location (usually our practice does have a few!) before paying a membership fee. For in-house sliding-scale or scholarship treatments, practices may require you to show that you are in financial need; there may also be a waiting list.
Professional Discounts: Practices may have agreements with local organizations such as businesses, schools and colleges, or medical facilities, so that their employees or students can get a discount. Sometimes this may be in the form of an EAP (employee assistance program) and sometimes it may be a different kind of arrangement.
How it works: If your workplace has an EAP (our practice participates with Mazzitti & Sullivan EAP as well as Quest EAP), ask what mental health services may be available. Often you can get 3-5 sessions for free. If your college has a counseling center, you may attend sessions there, or they may offer referrals to local practitioners. Otherwise you can ask your therapist directly what professional discounts they offer. Usually this will involve filling out a form of some kind. (Our practice offers certain professional discounts that are listed at the bottom of our financials page.)
Bottom line, if you are not sure what discounts may be available, please ask your therapist!
Online Services: Some practices may offer online sessions or may even specialize in only online services for somewhat of a discount. It’s important to carefully review any online therapy service you use to make sure they are legitimate, licensed, and well-reviewed. Online services are usually not appropriate for those under 18 except in rare circumstances. (Our practice does not currently offer online services.)
Support Groups: Most areas have a number of support groups for various issues that are peer-led, that is, you’re talking with others who may be experiencing similar issues as yours. You may want to look at Healthfinder, for example.
For more in-depth discussion of how to use out-of-network benefits, see wellbeing.com‘s page.
Dr. Neetu Anand (she/her) is a pre-licensed Psychotherapist who trained at Immaculata University. She has worked in local group and individual private practices. She offers individual, couples, and family treatment and assessment for a broad array of issues. She also accommodates clients requiring Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
To make an appointment with Dr. Anand, please call or email us!
After several years of being in-network with most major insurances, we decided to stop “taking” (being in-network with) most of them beginning January of 2018. This was for several reasons:
Some of these points and more are discussed by other therapists.
We offer receipts to submit to insurance companies for reimbursement, but you may need to call your insurance company for instructions, or you may even want to try a fee-for-reimbursement app service such as Better.
For additional alternatives to insurance coverage, please refer to the assistance (bottom) section of our service rates and financial page.
Originally posted 11/2018
Reposted 1/2019
Updated 1/2021
Part-time position available for therapist with dedication to social issues and issues of marginalized groups.
Please see listing on Indeed.
Intersectional Life Counseling and Psychology, LLC 