Equity-Based Fee Options
At Asheville Family Counseling, we believe therapy should be accessible without sacrificing quality or care. Our Equity-Based Fee Options reflect our commitment to reducing financial barriers while honoring the realities of running a sustainable practice for our clinicians.
We reserve a limited number of reduced-rate spaces each week for clients who don’t have insurance we accept (we’re in-network with BCBS and Aetna) and who can’t pay the full fee of $175 for a 50-minute session. (Please note: clients with out-of-network benefits may still be able to use a superbill for possible reimbursement.)
Our rates help ensure that more people can access the thoughtful, relational, and change-focused therapy that defines our work, and we offer them in the spirit of equity, transparency, and care for our community.
Please review the descriptions below and select the fee that best matches your current financial reality. We trust you to choose the level that feels accurate and sustainable.
1. Full Fee - $175 per session
Choose this rate if you…
- can comfortably meet all of your basic* needs
- possibly have debt, but it never prohibits attainment of basic needs
- own your home or property or rent a higher-end property
- own or lease a car
- are employed or do not need to work to meet your needs
- have regular access to health care
- have access to financial savings and invest in stocks, etc.
- have an expendable** income
- can always buy new items
- can afford an annual vacation or take time off
- or if you are submitting super bills to your out of network health insurance policy
Paying full fee helps sustain our practice, fund training and supervision, and make reduced-rate slots possible for those with fewer resources.
2. Partial Reduced Rate - $125 per session
Choose this rate if you…
- sometimes stress about meeting basic needs but still regularly achieve them
- have some debt but it usually does not prohibit attainment of basic needs
- own or lease a car
- are employed
- have access to health care
- have access to some limited financial savings
- have some expendable income
- are able to buy some new items & thrift others
- can take time off as needed, and can go on vacation annually or every few years if you actively save
This tier is designed to support clients with moderate financial stability who still need some flexibility to sustain care.
3. Significant Reduced Rate - $100 per session
Choose this rate if you…
- frequently stress about meeting basic needs & don’t always achieve them
- have debt, and it sometimes prohibits you from meeting your basic needs
- rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing
- do not have a car and/or have limited access to a car but you may not always able to afford gas
- are unemployed or underemployed
- qualify for government assistance like SNAP & Medicaid
- have no access to savings
- have no or very limited expendable income
- rarely buy new items because you are unable to afford them
- cannot afford a vacation or have the ability to take time off without financial burden
We reserve only a few spots at this tier to ensure access for those with the greatest financial need.
* Basic Needs include food, housing, health care, and transportation.
** Expendable Income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month, etc.
This chart was adapted from the work of Alexis J. Cunningfolk
A Note on Trust and Transparency
Our equity-based fee options are built on mutual trust. We don’t ask clients to verify their financial situation. Instead, we offer clear transparency about what our clinicians and practice need financially to sustain this work, including the significant, ongoing investments we make in training, supervision, and high-quality care. We appreciate your support in helping us offer accessible services while honoring the well-being of our team.