I am currently in-network with Optum and Aetna.

Accepted Optum Plans:

UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare Shared Services (UHSS)

GEHA - UnitedHealthcare Shared Services (UHSS)

UnitedHealthcare Global

UnitedHealthCare Exchange Plans (ONEX)

Oscar

Harvard Pilgrim

Oxford

UHC Student Resources

UMR

All Savers (UHC)

Health Plans Inc

Surest (Formerly Bind)*

Accepted Aetna Plans:

Meritain

Nippon

Allied Benefit Systems

GEHA - United Healthcare Shared Services (UHSS)

Trustmark

Trustmark Small Business Benefits

Health Scope

Christian Brothers Services

I am also an “out-of-network” provider, which means if your insurance company offers out-of-network benefits, you should receive some reimbursement for the cost of therapy. Many insurance companies that provide out-of-network benefits cover between 50%-75% of the cost per session. Contact your insurance company to find out about your specific coverage. I can provide you with a monthly “superbill” which you can send to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.

If you have Out-of-Network benefits, this information is to help you get the information you may need to submit a claim on your own behalf. It's often easiest to call your insurance company for this information. You can find the number on your insurance card. Keep your insurance card on hand, as well as information about the primary insured and their employer.

1. Do I have Out-of-Network Benefits? If you answered, no. This means you do not have Out-Of-Network Benefits. This means none of your fee will be covered by your insurance company.

2. Do my out-of-network benefits cover routine outpatient mental health services (also known as behavioral health)? My therapist uses the following CPT codes, can you tell me which are covered?

   CPT Codes: 90791, 90837, 90834. Are prior authorization required? If so, what are the details?

3. Do I have a deductible? (a deductible is the amount you will pay out of pocket before your insurance company will provide reimbursement)

4. How much does my plan cover? (this might be called your coinsurance, or member cost-share. It is often calculated on a percentage basis).

5. Does that cover the full billed charges or the insurance companies allowable amount?

6. Will Telehealth be covered if I use my Out-of-Network benefits?

7. Does my provider have to use a special Telehealth platform to obtain reimbursement?

8. How do I submit the claim?

9. Do I need a special form to submit along with my Superbill?

10. How will I be reimbursed

11. Can I get your name and a reference number for this call?

    Some additional tips Some insurance companies will try to encourage you to use an in-network providers before giving you information. As you know, you are welcome to find an in-network provider, and they should be able to provide you with a list of current in-network providers. However, it is your right to use your OON benefits. You generally should not have to provide details about why you want to use your OON benefits. Insurance companies must provide you with the details of your benefits, including answering the specific questions here. It could be helpful to getting your claims processed/approved to provide some basic details about why are seeking to work with me over another provider (eg. you have been referred for a specific treatment modality or speciality of mine; you cannot find an in-network provider etc). If you feel the representative does not know how to help you, or is withholding benefit information, you can ask to speak to another representative.

    Please note, I do not offer Single Case Agreements. I should not have to provide anything to the insurance company for your claims to be accepted. Recently, some insurance companies are no longer covering Telehealth for OON benefits, or they want providers to use a certain Telehealth platform that requires contracting. If you are still having trouble getting this information, talk to your employer/HR representative.

There are benefits of using your insurance as well as benefits of not going through insurance. The benefits of not using your insurance are:

I can provide services in the most flexible way possible, as we are not constrained by the mandates of an insurance company.

I also do not have to diagnose you with a psychiatric condition for you to be able to receive services. This works best for my practice, as some of my clients are not coming in for treatment of a psychiatric condition.

Additionally, not using insurance allows clients to have more privacy.

Therapy is a commitment of time, energy, and financial resources.

My cash pay rate is:

$150 per 55 minute individual session

$175 per 55 minute family/couples session

I accept all major credit cards through a secure client portal, as well as cards linked to a Health Savings Account (HSA).

If you are using your in-network insurance benefits, we will check your eligibility and any potential co-pay amount prior to starting therapy. All insurance billing goes through Alma.

Yes. For cash-pay clients, 90-minute EMDR or Brainspotting sessions may be available upon request when clinically appropriate. These extended sessions can provide additional time for preparation, deeper trauma processing, grounding, and closure.

Therapists are people too, and finding one that is a good “match” is an important part of the work. Feeling comfortable with and trusting your therapist are both vital to a good relationship. I like to tell my clients that I have a thick skin- I’d far rather hear from you that something I am doing isn’t working for you and try a different approach. If that doesn’t help, and if it feels like we aren’t a good match for whatever reason, I will try to find you someone who is! My advice is to speak with a prospective therapist by phone first and trust your gut!

A significant amount of our daily lives has been moved online in the past few years, not all of it by choice! That being said, online therapy can be a great fit for you if:

• You're overwhelmed managing your family's obligations and have difficulty making time for your own appointments.

• You have a demanding work schedule and can't make time during the day to go to a therapist's office.

• You're a busy individual who needs or prefers the convenience and flexibility of virtual sessions.

• You prefer the comfort and privacy of your own home. ​​

No extra time needed for a commute; no need to add the stress of finding an unfamiliar building, parking, no need for childcare, etc. Sit on your own sofa, with a cup of tea and your favorite blanket, and maybe even a furry friend. If your home (or office) is safe, comfortable, and private, and you have a good internet connection, online counseling may be the answer for you. Sometimes the best healing occurs in your own safe space!

Weekly sessions are most common and often recommended when starting therapy. Sometimes biweekly sessions are necessary or a better fit for your needs. We will discuss this together to determine what is best.

This depends on many factors including the reasons you are coming to therapy and your goals for the work. It is difficult to know until we have met and explored this together. Sometimes I do short term work that lasts a few months or less. More often, a longer process of therapy is necessary to reach your desired goals.

During the first session, we will be covering a lot, and I will ask a lot more questions than I normally will in a regular session!

We will talk about what is going on in your life currently, as well as begin to talk about your history. We will also talk about what your goals are for therapy.

For individual therapy, we usually take the first 2 or 3 sessions to do a full intake assessment where we go into detail about your history and formulate a treatment plan together.

For family and couples therapy, after the first meeting with everyone together, I will meet with each family member individually for a session to take their history. Once I have completed this, we reconvene, and I will provide feedback, and we will set treatment goals together.

Yes, I ask for 24-hours notice if you need to cancel a session. This allows me enough time to offer the spot to another client who may need it.

My fee for a missed session or late cancellation is the full session rate if we can’t find another time to meet in the same week.

Whether it's from the comfort of your home or in a cozy therapy office, what matters most is that you're taking the step to care for your mental health.

Virtual therapy offers flexibility, convenience, and privacy—ideal for clients with busy schedules, limited transportation, or those who feel more at ease opening up from a familiar environment.

In-person therapy provides a grounded, face-to-face connection that can feel deeply personal and comforting, especially for those who find healing in shared space and presence.

There’s no one-size-fits-all. What’s most important is starting therapy in the way that feels right for you. Healing begins where you feel safe and supported—whether that’s online or in the room together.

Connections Counseling offers both!

EMDR certification signifies advanced training, experience, and commitment to best practices. While any clinician who has completed basic EMDR training can begin using the modality, an EMDR Certified Therapist—like Brittany Katz, LCSW—has completed extensive additional consultation, conducted a high number of EMDR sessions, and demonstrated clinical competence under EMDRIA-approved supervision.

Certification ensures your therapist is not only trained, but deeply experienced in using EMDR to safely and effectively treat trauma, anxiety, and related concerns. It reflects a strong dedication to continuing education and ethical practice, offering you a higher level of care and confidence in the process.