Soft Power Psychotherapy is in-network with Optum in Texas and New Jersey, and we accept Optum EAP.
Optum administers behavioral health benefits for UnitedHealthcare and for a number of employer plans, so many people reach us through Optum without ever having seen the name on a card. If your employer's benefits portal lists Optum, Optum Behavioral Health, or Optum EAP, that is the network we are in.
Optum EAP sessions are typically employer-funded and cost you nothing, and they usually do not touch your deductible. If your employer offers one, it is almost always the cheapest way to start.
Before Your First Session
What you will actually pay.
We deliberately do not publish a number here, because the honest answer depends on your specific plan and how much of your deductible you have already met. Two people with the same Optum card can owe very different amounts. What we can do is tell you exactly how to find out in about five minutes.
- Call the member services number on the back of your Optum card.
- Ask whether outpatient mental health is covered, and whether telehealth is covered at the same rate as an in-office visit.
- Ask what your copay or coinsurance is, and whether your deductible has been met this year.
- Bring those answers to your free consultation — we will translate them into what a session costs you.
Optum & therapy: common questions.
What is Optum EAP and how is it different from my regular benefits?
An Employee Assistance Program is a short-term counseling benefit your employer pays for directly. It usually covers a fixed number of sessions at no cost to you, does not require you to meet a deductible, and does not bill your health plan. When those sessions run out, you can typically continue with the same therapist under your regular Optum or UnitedHealthcare benefits.
How do I check what my Optum plan covers?
Call the member services number on the back of your card and ask four things: whether outpatient mental health is covered, whether telehealth is covered at the same rate as in-office, what your copay or coinsurance is after any deductible, and whether your deductible has been met this year. Those four answers tell you almost exactly what you will pay. You are welcome to bring the answers to your free consultation and we will walk through them with you.
Is couples therapy covered?
Often it is not, and that is true across most insurers rather than being specific to any one plan. Health plans generally pay for the treatment of a diagnosed condition in one person, and relationship difficulty on its own is not one. Some couples work is billable when it is part of treating a diagnosed condition in one partner. We will be straight with you about which situation you are in before your first session rather than after a claim is denied.
What if I would rather not use insurance?
That is a completely reasonable choice, and some clients prefer it. Using insurance requires us to assign a mental health diagnosis and share it with your plan; paying privately does not. Self-pay rates and sliding-scale options are available, and we will tell you the rate before you book anything. There is no surprise billing here — you will always know the cost in advance.
Other plans we accept
Not sure what your plan covers?
Bring your card to a free 15-minute consultation and we will go through it with you. No obligation, and no surprise billing at any point after.
Book a Free Consultation