Sliding Scale
Reduced Fee (Sliding Scale) Policy
Website Summary
Effective Date - October 06, 2025
Sliding Scale – Making Therapy Accessible
At Weltitude Psychology, PLLC, I am committed to making mental health care accessible. To support clients experiencing financial hardship, I offer a limited sliding scale program for self-pay clients.
Session fees may be adjusted through a structured, confidential client self-assessment process, selecting a tier that reflects their current financial circumstances and needs.
The sliding scale is designed to be fair, sustainable, and consistent with professional and ethical standards.
Key points about the program:
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Available only to self-pay clients who have genuine financial need.
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Not available for in-network insurance*, Medicaid, Medicare, or court/third-party-mandated sessions. This is because insurance contracts require providers to charge and collect the contracted rate and any associated copayments.
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Fees are selected voluntarily and reviewed periodically; clients are asked to update their provider if their financial situation changes.
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Availability is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Waitlists do not guarantee placement.
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Sliding scale fees are non-refundable, even if insurance reimburses less than the amount paid or does not reimburse.
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Clients may request a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement, though reduced fees may affect insurance reimbursement.
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*Sliding scale is not available for clients using in-network insurance, including through Headway. This is because insurance contracts require providers to charge and collect the contracted rate and any associated copayments.
Clients who wish to participate can contact me to learn about current openings, eligibility, and the self-assessment process. A full Sliding Scale Policy and application is available upon request.
Sliding Scale Tiers (Table)
Sliding Scale Self-Assessment Guide
Instructions for Clients:
Use these descriptors to help determine which sliding scale tier best reflects your current financial circumstances and needs. Each leaf on the plant symbol represents financial resources, with less leaves meaning fewer financial resources. Consider both your household income and your lifestyle flexibility, such as discretionary spending, savings, and non-essential expenses.
Definitions
Essential Expenses: Costs necessary to meet basic needs, including housing (rent/mortgage), utilities (electricity, water, gas, internet), food and groceries, transportation (car payments, fuel, public transit), health care and insurance premiums, and minimum debt payments.
Non-Essential/Discretionary Expenses: Costs that are optional or for enjoyment, including: vacations or travel, dining out or entertainment (movies, concerts, events), shopping for non-essential items (clothing, electronics, hobbies), gym memberships or recreational activities beyond basic health needs, savings contributions above minimal emergency funds (optional), paying more than minimum debt payments.
Monthly/Annual Income: This includes any and all regular sources of income or financial support, such as: earnings from full-time, part-time, or self-employment, tips, bonuses, or commissions, disability or unemployment benefits, child support or alimony, retirement income or pensions, financial support from parents, family members, or others, scholarships, grants, or stipends (if they help cover living expenses), any other consistent funds that contribute to rent, food, or basic needs. If your income varies month to month, use an average of what you typically receive.
Tip: The goal is to select the tier that most accurately reflects your current financial circumstances, not necessarily your future financial plans or goals. Your honesty helps ensure that reduced-fee options remain available for others who need them most.
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About the Sliding Scale Model: This sliding scale was developed using a hybrid approach that combines standards from professional psychology practices and ethical billing guidelines, along with inspiration from the Green Bottle Sliding Scale Technique by Alexis J. Cunningfolk. The model aims to balance accessibility, fairness, and sustainability—helping clients access care that fits their current financial circumstances while supporting the long-term viability of services.
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Fairness & Non-Discrimination: Sliding scale fees are determined solely by financial need. No other personal factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability are ever considered in determining eligibility or fee levels. This ensures equitable, ethical, and non-discriminatory access to care.