Because our entire model is built to be the opposite. A "cash grab" assessment is a high-volume, low-transparency operation. We charge a simple, transparent hourly rate so you only pay for the time we actually spend working for you. Our philosophy is built on social justice and accessibility, not on maximizing profit. Our rebellion is in our business model itself. Read more about the cost of testing in St. Louis.
The Most Taboo Subject in Therapy: Money.
The traditional mental health system is built on a foundation of financial mystery and shame. Practices often hide their prices, use confusing billing codes, and make you feel like a burden for asking the most important question: "Can I even afford this?"
That is intentional. And it is bulls*hit.
At Enlitens, we believe that financial transparency is a non-negotiable part of ethical, trauma-informed care. You cannot feel safe in a therapeutic relationship if you are constantly terrified of the bill.
Your Financial Reality is Real, and We See It.
We live in the same world you do. We know that student loan debt is a crippling, ever-present reality. The "ADHD tax"—the real money lost to late fees, forgotten subscriptions, and impulse purchases—is already a strain on your budget. Navigating the American healthcare system is a soul-crushing, full-time job that seems designed to make you give up.
You've been made to feel like your inability to afford an assessment or therapy priced out of reach is a personal failure. It's not. It's the predictable outcome of a broken system that prioritizes profit over people.
You are not a walking dollar sign. You are a human being who deserves access to high-quality care, regardless of your income. Your financial situation is a valid and important part of your story, and we will always treat it with respect.
A Rebellion Against Predatory Practices
Our financial model is a direct rebellion against the standard operating procedure in mental health.
The Assessment "Cash Grab"
Traditional psychological testing is often treated as a high-profit "cash grab." Practices buy expensive, pre-packaged test kits, administer them in a cold, robotic way, and charge far more for a confusing, jargon-filled report. It is an exploitative model that profits from a parent's desperation and an adult's search for answers.
The Insurance Shell Game
We also want to be radically transparent about the state of the health insurance industry. Many major insurance companies have created massive, intentional barriers to care. They have closed their panels to new therapists, created absurd credentialing delays that can last, and have slashed reimbursement rates to levels that are simply not sustainable for a small practice that prioritizes high-quality, individualized care over a high-volume, "churn-and-burn" model. This isn't a secret problem. It's a systemic crisis designed to maximize their profits at the expense of your well-being.
Our Model: People Over Profit. Period.
We have built our practice on a different philosophy. Our goal is to make exceptional care accessible, not to squeeze every possible dollar out of you.
Clarity Assessments: Transparent & Accessible
- Our Rate: We charge a simple, transparent $125 per hour for all assessment-related work—the conversation, the analysis, and writing up your User Manual. A typical assessment takes between 3-6 hours from start to finish, woven into weekly therapy or done all at once. No hidden material fees.
- Our Promise: We know that even this can be a stretch. We will never let cost be the sole reason you can't get answers.
Therapy & Coaching: A Simple Sliding Scale
- The Tiers: For ongoing therapy, we use a straightforward sliding scale: $50, $75, $100, or $125 per session.
- The Process: During our Fit Check, we will have a real, no-judgment conversation to figure out which tier is sustainable for you. That's it. No complicated forms, no need to show us your pay stubs. Just an honest conversation.
A Note on Using Your Insurance
We are in-network with several major panels, including Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, UMR, TRICARE, VA Community Care, and ChampVA. Because every plan has its own weird quirks even within the same carrier, we still verify your specific benefits directly rather than leaving you to guess from a list of logos.
- The Fit Check is Your Clearinghouse: In our free, 15-minute Fit Check, we can verify your specific plan in real-time. We will tell you directly if we are in-network and what your benefits look like.
- Out-of-Network (Superbills): If we're not in-network, we will explain exactly how to use your out-of-network benefits. We'll provide you with a monthly "superbill" that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement, and we will walk you through that process.
Quick Answers About Cost
A superbill is a detailed, coded receipt of our sessions that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. We'll be honest: whether it's "worth it" depends entirely on your specific out-of-network benefits. We are committed to helping you do the math so you can make an informed choice. Learn more about our People Over Profit philosophy.
It comes down to the difference in the work. Therapy is an ongoing relationship where a sustainable fee matters. Assessments are a short-term project where the time required can vary. A transparent $125 hourly rate is the fairest method, but our commitment to accessibility is the same. We are committed to creating flexible payment plans to ensure the cost is not a barrier.
Absolutely not. The shame and judgment that come with conversations about money are part of the broken system we're dismantling. Our sliding scale is built on trust and mutual respect. We will have a brief, no-judgment conversation to determine a sustainable rate. We trust you to be honest, and you can trust us to be compassionate.
In almost all cases today, yes. Since 2020, nearly all plans cover telehealth for mental health. Whether they pay it at the same rate as an in-person visit varies a lot by plan and state, which is why we verify your specific benefits directly rather than leaving you to guess.
We have a simple, non-negotiable policy: You will never receive a surprise bill from us. Period. Your rate will be clearly established and agreed upon before your first appointment. For assessments, we will give you a clear, good-faith estimate of the total expected hours. Financial surprises are re-traumatizing and unethical. We don't do them.
It isn't, and I'll say it as many times as you need to hear it. After a lifetime of running at 200% just to keep up, routing some resources toward a User Manual for your own brain is deferred maintenance, not indulgence. And practically: insurance rarely covers an assessment as "testing," but HSA/FSA dollars are eligible, which takes a real bite out of the cost.
The First Step is Always Free.
The goal of this page is to remove the fear and uncertainty around the cost of care so you can make an empowered decision. You deserve to know what you're getting into, and you deserve a partner who is willing to have an honest conversation about the financial realities of therapy. That honest conversation starts with the free, 15-minute Fit Check.
