FAQs

Due to insurance negotiations and contracts, I am unable to publicly post my rates right now (I know, feels shady). Happy to discuss via email or during your initial consult!

I also have sliding scale spots available—please contact me so we can discuss options! You do not have to provide any specific documentation or proof of finances, it’ll just be an open conversation.

If you have any additional questions about fees, payment methods, or how to navigate your insurance benefits, please reach out!

Yes, but I want to stress that insurance coverage can vary by plan and state. Please contact your insurance provider directly to verify your benefits and check what your estimated out-of-pocket costs might be.

I am not currently in-network with any Medicaid or Medicare plans at this time.

North Carolina Residents:

I am currently in-network with most of the following commercial plans:

• Aetna

• BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina

• Cigna

• Optum

  • Oscar

  • Oxford

  • United Health Care

Note: Unfortunately, I am not currently in-network with BCBSNC with UNC Alliance/Blue Home.

I bill Aetna and BCBS plans independently and bill Cigna and Optum plans through a third-party platform. Your coverage may depend on your specific plan and benefits.

South Carolina, Florida, & Texas Residents:

It’s complicated; coverage can vary by plan/state!

I accept Aetna for South Carolina, Florida, and Texas residents, billed independently.

I generally can accept BCBS BlueCard PPO plans (suitcase symbol and PPO on your card) for SC, FL, and TX residents, billed independently.

I also accept Cigna for Texas residents, billed through a third party.

I am still navigating out-of-state credentialing and reimbursement for other insurance networks and plans.

I am not currently in-network with any local BCBS plans outside of NC (i.e. BCBS of SC, Florida Blue, BCBS of TX, etc).

Important Note: I am keeping this information up for the sake of transparency, but as of 10/1/26, I am not accepting new clients with insurance plans that I bill through third party, unless self-pay/submitting for OON reimbursement.

I’m still figuring that out! Truthfully, colonialism is woven into the mental health field—I’m still operating this practice within the Medical/Mental Health Industrial Complex (MHIC), with or without accepting insurance. I'm continuously learning and finding action steps to remain liberation-oriented, at least until we’re able to change/dismantle the current system.

I recognize that working with insurance, especially the insurance-required DSM diagnosis from the very start of services, clashes with truly anti-oppressive and non-pathologizing care. I’m not a fan, but since therapy is only possible through insurance for many (including myself), I continue to work within the system. While I do adhere to insurance rules and regulations, I am committed to decolonizing my practice and acting in values-aligned ways.

In honor of these values, including transparency and trust, we’ll communicate openly about diagnoses and other aspects as they relate to insurance. Check “Is everything we talk about confidential?” for a bit more about insurance, including documentation and limits of confidentiality!

Note: This is not to say I don’t believe in any diagnoses or anything like that—I know there are times it is incredibly helpful and validating to have a diagnosis/name for your experience. I just don’t like that it is required by insurance and doesn’t account for times when one might be in therapy because life is life-ing.

I put quotes around “evidence-based” because clinical research and psychotherapeutic practices are biased. From the specific questions asked to what is defined as “normal” and what is pathologized, to which populations are actually included in studies.

Note: Will be saying more—got side-tracked before I could finish!

That is totally okay, and it’s actually pretty common! Sometimes it’s helpful to have a low-pressure way to explore whether therapy (or working with me specifically) feels like the right next step. I offer free 15-minute consultation calls via phone or video where you can ask questions, share what you’re looking for, and get a sense of my style. While it’s impossible to know for certain in that short time, my hope is that it gives you enough clarity and comfort to decide what’s best for you.

If you’d like to schedule a consult, visit my Sessions Health booking page to book directly or email me at amanda@moonrisepathways.com!

So an “intake” session is the start to services, with a focus on gathering information. It’s generally far more structured than a regular therapy session (partially because insurance requirements dictate a lot of the structure).

During this 50-60 minute session, we’ll discuss what’s bringing you to therapy, your background and history, and what you’re hoping to work on and get out of therapy (goals).

I know it can be unnerving to try to fit your whole life story in just one hour, especially with someone you’re only speaking to for the first time—or second if we’ve had a consult. I try to make it as smooth as possible, and you don’t have to share more than you’re comfortable with, even if I ask about it.

Overall, it’s to gather important background info—getting to know who you are as a whole person, not just your symptoms and struggles—so we can begin to create a plan that’s personalized and meaningful to you! It’s a key step in setting the foundation of our work together, though it doesn’t include in-depth talk therapy quite yet.

Not necessarily.

I know that beyond good rapport with your therapist, one of the most important things is knowing that what you say is going to be kept private. I take confidentiality very seriously, and the law protects the information you share in therapy. Generally, I cannot and will not share info with anyone without your express written permission, but there are legal, insurance-mandated, and ethical limitations to confidentiality.

These include legal requirements for mandated reporting (such as harm to self/others, suspected abuse), and insurance requirements that demand a diagnosis and occasional limited clinical information for payment purposes. Insurance companies can “audit” or request a record review, including session notes and treatment plans, to make sure that billed services “align with coverage” and that treatment is “medically necessary.” (Can neither confirm nor deny I rolled my eyes even typing that).

I am committed to navigating these systems with an anti-carceral and anti-oppressive lens, minimizing harm whenever possible. I recognize that these limitations, especially mandated reporting and required diagnoses, are rooted in harmful systems & practices, including carceral ones. I am mindful about what is included in clinical documentation and records, and provide the minimal information necessary during audits. We will review all the limits of confidentiality during our first session, and it can always be revisited during our work together to ensure you feel safe, or at least informed.

I also want to note that while I have a full unrestricted license, in order to provide the highest quality of care, I do occasionally consult with other licensed mental health professionals. These consultations are done in accordance with ethical standards and legal requirements, and the professionals I consult with are also legally/ethically bound by the same rules of confidentiality. Your identity is strictly protected—I do not disclose your name or any information that could compromise your privacy, like specific identifying details.

If you have specific concerns or questions about confidentiality and what may be included in your records, we can discuss this at any time!

I ask for at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule a session. Late cancellations or no-shows are subject to a $70 fee (not covered by insurance), as that time has been reserved for you. I completely understand that emergencies happen, just please reach out you reach out as soon as you can!