Using Private Insurance
If you have private health insurance, you can see an in-network therapist for a co-payment specified by your insurance plan. Unfortunately, insurance companies tend to offer very low payment rates to in-network providers. This means that it can be difficult to find an in-network provider, or that the ones you find might not be the highest quality.
Out of Network Benefits
Fortunately, many private insurance plans offer out-of-network benefits. This allows you to see the therapist of your choice. And the therapist can bill their normal fee. You will have to pay the full fee up front. But you can submit a Superbill to receive partial repayment. The amount of repayment will depend upon your plan’s policy. We are happy to supply Superbills for all insurance companies we are not contracted with.
Check your Out-Of-Network Benefits
Use the form on the right to see what out-of-network health insurance benefits you may qualify for. This tool is provided by a HIPAA compliant third party (Mentaya). You should verify any information provided with your insurance company. (Note: the word “Hartnett” on the form refers to Tim Hartnett, the director of Shine a Light Counseling Center)
If you have an HMO or other insurance policy that does not have out-or-network benefits, then we may be able to help you with a sliding scale fee.
Out-of-Network Plans
Some of the plans we are out-of-network with include:
Aetna, Cigna, Health-Net, Humana, United Healthcare
Request an Appointment
To Request an Appointment at Shine a Light or NPCC, please fill out this form. We respond to inquiries Monday through Friday. All inquiries we receive on the weekends or holidays will be processed the next business day. Thank you for your patience. If you need immediate services, please call 911.
New Office in San Francisco!
Shine a Light Counseling Center is please to merge with New Perspectives Center for Counseling. NPCC has been serving the San Francisco community for thirty years. Now NPCC is transitioning to become the San Francisco site for Shine a Light. NPCC will retain its name, character and history. For information about NPCC or counseling in San Francisco:
New Perspectives Center for Counseling (link)
Emergency Contact
Shine a Light does not provide crisis services. If you have a mental health emergency, call 988 or 911. Or click here for more Crisis Resources
Telephone Contact
You can call Shine a Light at 831-996-1222, but we encourage you to use the email forms to the left. If you call, please leave the following:
- Phone number
- Preferred location
- Best times to meet
- Issue you want help with
- What insurance you have (if any)
FAX us at: 831-417-0443
Good Faith Estimate
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your therapy sessions will cost. Your fee will be set according to a sliding scale, in collaboration with your therapist, prior to your first counseling session. Total costs depend upon the number of sessions you choose to utilize.
If you have private health insurance and we are not in-network with your plan, please be aware that your costs for therapy may be less by using an in-network provider. This will depend upon your plan's deductible amounts and co-payments. In some cases, counseling at Shine a Light is less costly than using private insurance.
If you hope to use "out of network" benefits through your private insurance, please be aware that many plans will not reimburse for services provided by trainees. Please request an Associate level therapists for out-of-network billing.
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