Fees & Insurance

Investing in Your Mental Health

Dr. Kayla Sykes and her therapy dog in training golden retriever Louie - relationship anxiety therapy in CA

Making Therapy Affordable

I'm an out-of-network provider, which means I don't bill insurance directly. However, most of my clients use their out-of-network benefits to cover a significant portion of each session, depending on their insurance plan.

What makes my billing different: You have the option to only pay your portion each session through Thrizer. This means you may have no large upfront costs and no waiting for reimbursement.

Low-cost therapy: I'm passionate about making therapy accessible. I offer a limited number of reduced-fee spots for clients experiencing financial barriers. If cost is keeping you from getting support and we're a good fit to work together, let's talk about it during our free consultation.

You Only Pay Your Portion.

No Large Upfront Payments. No Waiting for Reimbursement.

I've partnered with Thrizer, a secure billing platform that handles insurance claims for you. Here's what makes this different from most out-of-network therapists:

  • You only pay your portion of each session—not the full fee upfront. I use Thrizer, a billing platform that handles insurance claims automatically. After each session, Thrizer processes the claim with your insurance, calculates what you owe, and sends you an invoice for only your portion. You pay securely online, and Thrizer collects the rest directly from your insurance.

    This means: No upfront full payment, no paperwork, no waiting weeks for reimbursement.

  • No. Thrizer handles all the claims paperwork and tracking for you automatically.

  • You'll receive an invoice after each session showing your out-of-pocket cost. You pay your portion securely online through Thrizer's portal.

  • Most out-of-network therapists require you to pay the full session fee ($250+) upfront and wait 2-4 weeks for a reimbursement check from insurance. With Thrizer, you only pay your actual portion each session—no fronting the difference, no waiting.

Modern living room offering a space to relax - people pleasing therapy in CA

HSA & FSA Funds

Therapy is an eligible medical expense under most HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) plans, which means you can use these pre-tax funds to pay for sessions.

How to Use It:

  • If you have an HSA or FSA card, you can use it directly for payment

  • I provide superbills for your records if needed for reimbursement

  • Using pre-tax funds effectively reduces your out-of-pocket cost

Not sure if your plan covers therapy? Check with your plan administrator, or we can discuss during our consultation.


Payment Methods

I accept:

  • Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)

  • Debit cards

  • HSA/FSA cards

Payment is processed securely through a HIPAA-compliant platform at the time of each session.

How Out-of-Network Insurance Benefits Work

This is confusing for a lot of people, and I want to simplify it for you. If you see an out-of-network therapist, you pay for the session upfront, and then your insurance reimburses you based on your plan's out-of-network benefits. Here’s the process:

The number one representing the first step in the out of network insurance process to receive therapy

You pay for your session at the time of service

Close up of the number two to show how the insurance reimbursement process works for anxiety therapy

I provide a superbill (detailed receipt with all necessary codes)

A lit up number three to help guide clients on how to receive reimbursement for anxiety therapy

You submit to insurance through Thrizer or directly to your insurance company

Close-up of a metal sign with the number 4, symbolizing the final step of insurnace reimbursement for therapy

Insurance reimburses you typically within 2-4 weeks


Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company.

Download the Full Guide:
How to Check Your Out-of-Network Benefits (PDF)

This guide I created includes a script of exactly what to say and a worksheet to record the information.

You can call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask:

  • Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits?

  • What percentage is covered for out-of-network therapy?

  • What is the "allowed amount" for CPT code 90837 (individual therapy)?

  • What is my out-of-network deductible, and have I met it?

  • Is there a limit on the number of therapy sessions per year?

  • Do I need pre-authorization for out-of-network mental health services?

Frequently Asked Questions.

  • I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots for clients facing financial barriers to therapy. If we're a good fit and cost is what's holding you back, let's discuss options during your consultation.

  • I'm passionate about making therapy accessible. I offer a limited number of reduced-fee spots for clients experiencing financial barriers. If cost is keeping you from getting support and we're a good fit to work together, let's talk about it during our free consultation.

  • Some insurance plans don't cover out-of-network providers. If that's your situation, we'll discuss the full session fee during our consultation. You may still be able to use HSA/FSA funds, which can help offset the cost with pre-tax dollars.

  • Most insurance companies process out-of-network claims within 2-4 weeks, though it can occasionally take longer. Thrizer tracks your claims and sends you updates throughout the process.

  • That's completely fine. Some clients prefer to pay out of pocket to keep therapy completely private (insurance claims become part of your medical record). We'll discuss the session fee during our consultation.

  • Session fees are discussed during the free consultation so I can give you accurate information based on your specific insurance plan. However, if you'd prefer to know the fee range before scheduling, you can email me at kayla@drkaylabreslin.com and I'm happy to provide that information.

Investing in Your Mental Health

Therapy is an investment: in yourself, in your relationships, in your ability to live the life you want rather than the one anxiety has been running for you.

I know cost matters. Here's what I want you to consider:

What's the cost of not changing?

How much longer do you want to feel exhausted from overgiving? How many more years will you avoid dating because vulnerability feels impossible? What would it be worth to finally feel seen in your relationship?

Most of my clients say therapy was worth it. Not because it was easy or inexpensive, but because the alternative—staying stuck in the same patterns—was costing them more.

If you're unsure whether you can make it work financially, let's talk during the free consultation. I'll be honest about costs and whether I think we're a good fit. If it's genuinely not feasible, I can refer you to other resources.

Person holding a grey mug during a therapy session for anxiety in CA
A woman holding her own hands together while in contemplation during a therapy session focused on intergenerational trauma
A cozy therapy room that allows clients to open up and be vulnerable - people pleasing therapy CA

Good Faith Estimate.

Under federal law, you have the right to receive a "Good Faith Estimate" of expected costs for therapy services.

I will provide this estimate before your first session. For more information about your rights, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

Ready to Get Started?