Why We Don't Accept Insurance | Encounters in Joy

1

We're a ministry, not a clinical practice.

Encounters in Joy is a 501(c)(3) ministry. Our counselors are board-certified Christian counselors, not state-licensed clinicians. We're not LPCs, LMFTs, or LCSWs — and we're transparent about that.

Insurance companies only pay licensed clinical providers. By design, that isn't us. What you get with us is conversation, care, scripture, and prayer when you want it — not a clinical protocol or a treatment plan filed with a payer.

2

Insurance requires a diagnosis on your record.

For insurance to pay for counseling, a licensed provider has to assign you a billable mental-health diagnosis — depression, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, something. That diagnosis becomes part of your permanent medical record.

For most people, most of the time, that's fine. But it can also show up later in:

Life insurance applications
Security clearances and background checks
Custody decisions in divorce proceedings
Future medical care decisions
Some employment processes

Many people don't want that — and they shouldn't have to choose between getting help and protecting their record. With us, what you share stays between you, us, and God. No diagnosis. No claim. No paper trail at the insurance company.

3

Insurance decides how we serve you. We'd rather you do.

When insurance pays, insurance gets a vote. They decide:

How many sessions you're allowed
How long each session can be
What approaches are "medically necessary"
When you need to stop

We'd rather answer to you. We meet for as long as it's useful, with whatever approach fits. If you need to come weekly for a month and then stop, that's the plan. If you need to check in around a hard anniversary three years from now, that's the plan too.

4

We built an honest answer for the cost problem.

"No insurance" only works if cost doesn't become the barrier. So we built three things in:

A set fee per session — disclosed at scheduling, due at time of service. No surprises.
A sliding scale — based on family size and income. You qualify by asking.
The Counseling Scholarship Fund — donor-funded, for those who can't afford even the sliding-scale rate. Income verification (such as your most recent tax return) may be required.

We never want money to be the reason someone goes without help. If cost is hard, ask. Always.

Being honest about scope

When you should see a licensed clinician instead.

We're not the right fit for everyone — and pretending otherwise wouldn't be honest. Please seek a licensed clinical provider (and use your insurance if you have it) if you need:

• Medication evaluation or management — only licensed psychiatrists or PMHNPs can prescribe.
• A formal diagnosis for school accommodations, disability claims, or court proceedings.
• Care for severe psychiatric conditions — psychosis, severe untreated bipolar disorder, active eating disorders.
• Court-ordered counseling — courts require documentation from licensed providers.
• Active suicidal intent or immediate crisis — call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911 right now.

If you reach out and we sense you'd be better served elsewhere, we'll tell you — and help you find the right person. That's part of caring well.

Have questions about whether we fit?

Send a short message. A real person will respond within 24 hours and we'll talk through whether what we do matches what you need.