Dr. Melo offers individual psychotherapy for adults.
Sessions are 45 minutes. Cost is $260.00 per session.
To support accessibility, I maintain a limited number of sliding scale appointments at a reduced rate of $170 per session when openings are available.
What Therapy Usually Costs Clients
How it Commonly Works
Session Fee
$260
Paid at time of your appointment
Insurance Reimbursement
$125-$175
Estimated Out-of-Pocket Cost
$75-$125
What many clients ultimately pay per session
Example Estimate
This example uses a mid-range session fee and typical reimbursement rates from employer-sponsored plans in the DC area. Your actual cost will depend on your specific insurance benefits and therapist rate.
A Note About Deductibles
Many insurance plans require you to pay an initial out-of-pocket amount, known as a deductible, before reimbursements begin. Once that deductible has been met, the estimates above often apply for the rest of the plan year. Many clients meet their deductible within the first several months.
Investing in Your Well-Being
Many insurance plans require you to pay an initial out-of-pocket amount, known as a deductible, before reimbursements begin. Once that deductible has been met, the estimates above often apply for the rest of the plan year. Many clients meet their deductible within the first several months.
Why I Do Not Accept Insurance
Therapy works best when it is built on trust, privacy, and a strong therapeutic relationship. By not working with insurance companies, I am able to better protect your confidentiality and keep our work private. Insurance providers often require personal information, diagnoses, and treatment updates in order to approve services.
In my practice, your care is guided by your needs—not by the policies or limitations of a third party. The focus, length, and pace of therapy are determined collaboratively, based on what is most helpful for you.
I believe your treatment should be shaped by the quality of care you receive, not by insurance requirements or cost-driven decisions.
Unsure if you’ll receive reimbursement for our sessions? One Simple Call to Estimate What Therapy Will Cost
There’s one part we can’t do on your behalf: insurance companies typically only discuss benefit details with the policyholder directly. The good news? It’s usually a quick call, and we’ll help you know exactly what to ask. Most people finish in about five minutes.
1.Contact Your Insurance Provider
Call the member services number listed on the back of your insurance card. Let them know you’d like information about your mental health coverage.
2. Check Whether Out-of-Network Therapy Is Covered
Some plans include benefits for therapists outside the insurance network, while others do not. Many employer-sponsored plans in DC do, but it’s best to confirm.
Ask this:
“I’d like to confirm whether my plan includes out-of-network coverage for outpatient mental health therapy.
3. Ask About Your Deductible
Many plans require you to pay a certain amount out of pocket before reimbursement begins. This amount is called your deductible. Once it’s met, your costs are often much lower for the remainder of the year.
Ask this:
“What is my out-of-network deductible for mental health services, and how much of it have I already met this year?”
4. Find Out Your Reimbursement Per Session
This is often the most important question. Insurance companies set an “allowed amount” for therapy sessions and reimburse a percentage of that amount after your deductible is met.
Ask this:
“What is the allowed amount for CPT code 90834 with a licensed mental health provider, and what percentage is reimbursed after the deductible?”
If they ask what kind of provider you’re seeing, you can mention that your therapist may be a licensed psychologist, licensed professional counselor, or licensed clinical social worker. We’re also happy to help confirm your therapist’s credential before you call.
5. Calculate Your Expected Cost
Subtract the amount insurance reimburses from the session fee to estimate your actual cost per visit.
