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 claim (or superbill) to receive partial repayment. The amount of repayment will depend upon your plan’s policy. We make this process easy for you by partnering with Mentaya, a service that streamlines getting reimbursed for your therapy sessions through out-of-network benefits.

 

 

Do you have private health insurance?

If so, you should be aware of the following:

 We are not in-network providers (except for Medi-Cal)

Therapists at Shine a Light Counseling Center are NOT in-network providers for any private health insurance plans. Thus, if you have private health insurance, you may have lower costs if you choose an in-network provider. However, if your plan has a high deductible or high co-payments, your costs may be less by choosing a Shine a Light therapist. It all depends upon your insurance plan benefits and your sliding scale fee at Shine a Light. Please research your insurance plan benefits and discuss your sliding scale fee with your Shine a Light therapist to be fully informed of your options.

 You may not be able to utilize out-of-network benefits with us

You can request a superbill to submit with a claim to your insurance plan. But even if your plan has out-of-network benefits, your claim will likely be denied if your therapist is not fully licensed (most Shine a Light therapists are pre-licensed interns). You will remain responsible for full payment of your fee. So if you want to utilize your out-of network benefits, check with your insurance plan to see if your coverage will work.

Request an Appointment

To Request an Appointment at Shine a Light or NPCC, please fill out this form. Please note *We respond to inquiries Monday through Friday 8AM to 8PM. All inquiries we receive on the weekends or holidays will be processed the next business day. Thank you for your patience.

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Name
Date of Birth (of the intended client)
Use the drop down menu to select your nearest location.
Of whoever is paying for therapy
Use the drop-down menu to select your insurance coverage.
Use the drop-down menu to select the type of counseling you want.
Use the drop-down menu to indicate if you have seen a therapist with us previously.
Issues You Want Help With:
MORNINGS you are Available:
EARLY AFTERNOONS you are Available:
LATE AFTERNOONS you are Available:
EVENINGS you are Available:
Contact Preferences:
This helps us track your inquiry and respond to you quickly.

Agency Inquiries

This form is for agency information. If you want information about counseling for yourself or your family, use the other form. Thank you.

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Name
This form is for agency information. If you want information about counseling for yourself or your family, use the other form. Thank you.

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

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 medical care 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, please be aware that your costs for therapy may be less by using an in-network provider for your insurance company. 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 pre-licensed therapists (most of our staff).

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Shine a Light Counseling Center

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