Frequently Asked Questions

The cost of services to you will vary depending on your insurance provider, treatment and therapist. All fees will be made clear to you at the beginning of the therapy process.

Most of our therapists at Slate charge $225 for 50-minute sessions and $200 for couples/family therapy sessions. If you decide to use your insurance, our billing manager will submit for in-network benefits for you. We encourage you to consult your individual insurance plan to determine deductible and co-pay amounts.  

Some of our providers offer sliding scale rates for clients who prefer to pay cash for services. We encourage you to talk to your therapist regarding cash-based services if that is of interest to you. Slate has a partnership with Club Recovery, and all bills are submitted through Club Recovery’s billing services.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield 

• Health Partners   

• Preferred One 

• Ucare

• Medica

• United Healthcare

• Aetna 

• Cigna 

We encourage you to consult your individual insurance plan to determine deductible and co-pay amounts.

For those insurance plans not listed, our billing manager can provide you with documentation to file with your insurance for services from an out-of-network provider.

Depending on your insurance plan, the cost for these services can often be reimbursed by your insurance.

Copays and cash-based service payments are due at the time of service. We have a client portal that is accessible through our website and is shared with our partner, Club Recovery, LLC. The client portal enables our clients to pay their bill conveniently online.

Your therapist will discuss our online portal at the beginning of your treatment and with your approval, our administrative specialist will email you the link to access the online client portal. The initial link to your online portal account expires after 24-hours so we ask that when you receive the link, you follow the easy steps to set up your account.

Any time you opt to use your insurance, for either in-network or out-of-network benefits, we must submit a diagnostic code that describes your needs and reasons for therapy. Sometimes insurance companies request further information about treatment goals, and at times make decisions about limiting the amount of treatment they will cover. Because of this disclosure, some of our clients opt not to use their insurance and instead pay for cash-based services to provide themselves further confidentiality and autonomy over their therapy process.

We encourage you to talk with your provider about cash-based services if it is of interest to you.

Therapy is right for you if you are seeking greater self-awareness and insight; searching for new, creative solutions to the challenges you face; and/or learning healthy, effective ways of coping with the difficulties life inevitably presents. If you are unsure whether therapy is right for you, but are considering seeking help, we invite you to contact us and set up a free, brief, initial phone consultation to help determine if therapy is right for you.

Typically, your first two sessions are considered “intake” appointments so your therapist has an opportunity to learn why you are seeking therapy for you or your family; gather relevant background information; and discuss preliminary goals for treatment. The first sessions are also an opportunity for you to assess whether it feels like a “good fit” between you and your clinician’s therapeutic style.

Research shows that the most effective therapy is grounded in a strong therapeutic relationship in which clients feel understood by and connected to their therapist. These first sessions also provide time for you to ask questions about the therapy process and your clinician’s approach to therapy.

Copays and balances are typically due at the time of service. We may keep a card on file to make this process easier and more secure.

We ask that you provide at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellations or changes to avoid a late cancellation fee. You can cancel by contacting the front desk or contacting your therapist directly.

We offer both in-person and telehealth (virtual) appointments, depending on the service and your preference.

Please let us know as soon as possible. Our team can help you review your options and avoid disruptions in care or unexpected billing.

How long you stay in therapy, as well as how often you come in, varies based on individual needs. Short-term therapy can be effective for dealing with specific issues, while long-term therapy is better suited to address deep-rooted patterns. Some people need only short-term therapy because their issue requires only a few new skills that are relatively easy to learn and implement.

Other people may desire longer-term therapy to explore how their personal history is contributing to their current struggles. Depending on the situation and the individual, learning new skills and gaining insights is a process that can happen slowly or more quickly. This is something you can discuss with your therapist.

That depends on your reason for seeking therapy and your specific needs. We want you to come as often or as occasionally as is best for your situation, which will be determined in collaboration with your therapist. Most clients start with weekly one-hour sessions and, as progress is made or life circumstances change, reduce to biweekly or even monthly sessions.

Very occasionally, some clients will come twice a week if they are experiencing a more acute issue or need extra support.

What you talk about in therapy is kept confidential between you and your therapist, with a few exceptions including potential harm to self or others, or cases of child/elderly abuse. This is something your therapist will review in your first session – please ask them questions if anything about confidentiality is unclear to you!

Therapy focuses on behavioral/emotional health, exploring your relationships and feelings.

Psychiatry focuses on prescribing and managing medications to help you manage your mental health symptoms.

We do not offer crisis services. Please call 911 or the Hennepin County Crisis Connection in the event of an emergency: COPE for adults (612-596-1223) and Child Crisis for children (612-348-2233). You can also call/text the 988 Lifeline at 988, or text “HOME” to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.

The provider you see will depend on your reason for seeking therapy, your preferences, and your schedule. We encourage you to read the biographies of each of our providers on our Team page to determine who you think may be a good fit for you. When you reach out, whether by phone or the form on our website, we will be able to let you know whether that provider has availability and get you scheduled if they do.

If your preferred provider is not available immediately, you can be added to their waitlist, or we can offer other suitable providers for your consideration. We will do our best to provide you with an accurate estimate of how long their waitlist is likely to be. We are happy to answer any questions you may have to help facilitate your decision-making process.

We offer services Monday through Friday. We have morning, afternoon and evening appointments available depending on the provider you see. The typical range of hours during which we have providers seeing clients is 8am-7pm.

We are more than happy to involve family members in your treatment as appropriate. Please discuss this with your clinician, who can clarify risks and benefits of family involvement in your care and provide you with the necessary paperwork to sign if you do decide to involve them.

How soon you will be able to meet with a provider depends on what providers have current openings and how specific your preferences are.

Most people can get an intake appointment scheduled within a week if they are open to any of our providers. If you opt to be put on a specific provider’s waitlist instead, you may have to wait longer to get your first appointment scheduled. When you schedule, we will do our best to provide you with an accurate estimate of how long that provider’s waitlist is likely to be.