Frequently Asked Questions

Exceptional Counseling. Exceptional Experience. We strive to ensure that we exceed your expectations throughout your therapeutic process. Sage Wellness counselors live and practice the wellness habits we teach our clients. We value collaboration and work as a team to support our clients. The counseling team meets regularly to discuss best treatment practices and client situations to ensure you are receiving specific, tailored support to meet your therapy goals. Our sessions run on time because we respect your time. Also, we know how valuable it is to have access to your counselor should a concern arise between sessions. Our clients are invited to contact us between sessions for additional support as needed. We also provide tangible tools to our clients so they feel confident in learning how to reduce and manage symptoms, and create and maintain a sense of wellness and balance.

Sage Wellness is a fee for service practice. We accept debit/credit card (including HSA/FSA cards) and payment is due each session.

• Individual Therapy (Standard length: 45 minutes. Can be extended to 60 or 90 minutes) – Sessions range from $125 to $200 depending on the provider. Extended sessions are offered as needed and you can discuss this with your therapist. The cost of sessions longer than 45 minutes are prorated.
• Couples Therapy (Stand length: 45 minutes. Can be extended to 60 or 90 minutes) – Sessions range from $145 to $200 depending on the provider. The cost of sessions longer than 45 minutes are prorated.
• Group Therapy (45-90 minutes) – $75 / session

Sage Wellness has a variety of counselors available with different expertise to support you in your journey. We encourage you to read about each counselor to identify who you resonate with the most. Feeling comfortable with your counselor is a very important first step. Click here to read more about them. Our office team can also assist you in the selection process. Contact us today (352-474-8882) and we can support you in clarifying who may work best with your goals and schedule. Lastly, we offer a complementary, 10 minute phone consultation with your potential therapist. This allows you to speak to the therapist in advance to share more about your treatment goals and learn about the therapist’s treatment approach to support you in creating a healthier life. We are committed to helping you find the best therapeutic fit. If at any point you feel like you may prefer to work with another counselor, please let us know and we will help you get connected with a new therapist.

Contact our office to schedule this complimentary 10 minute phone call. The therapist will call you at the scheduled time. The consultation is an opportunity for you to spend a couple of minutes sharing with the therapist a brief summary about what brings you to counseling and what goals you have. After hearing about areas of concern, the therapist will share some treatment recommendations based on your goals and their treatment approach. It is our hope that at Sage Wellness you will have the best possible fit with your therapist so that you can experience the best possible outcome. If you feel ready to schedule your first appointment, the therapist will assist you in scheduling that while you are on the phone. If not, we can help facilitate another referral at Sage Wellness or in the community.

We are delighted you have made the courageous decision to attend counseling! It is a restorative, supportive, healing and life changing experience for our clients. Prior to the session, you will complete online paperwork to share some of your presenting concerns and treatment goals with your counselor. Your counselor will review confidentiality, practice policies with you and answer any questions or concerns. Your first session is an opportunity for you and your counselor to get to know each other. You and your counselor will discuss what brings you to therapy, your therapy goals, and learn more about a variety of areas of your current life and the past. They will begin sharing their suggestions or teach you a skill you can begin practicing. At the conclusion of the session, your counselor will share their recommendations for treatment and ask for your feedback about how understood and comfortable you felt. We want to ensure you feel each session is meaningful and useful for you. You can find additional ways to prepare for your first session here

Our goal is for you to become your own therapist! We want you to feel empowered and confident in your ability to work through and manage whatever life stressors or mental health symptoms arise in the future. To accomplish this, we have found this system to work well. Our clients begin by seeing their therapist weekly to begin to create momentum, accountability and build skills towards reducing symptoms and creating new habits. As you begin to feel more confident in doing this, we will space your sessions out to provide you more opportunity to practice and gain mastery. Sage Wellness clients attend therapy an average of 8 sessions before taking a break to continue to integrate what they have learned. You are welcome to return in the future at anytime should you find new concerns arise, or you find additional support feels warranted. Other clients find they enjoy having regular check ins with their counselor, even when life has calmed down, because it provides continued accountability in maintaining their gains.

No, Sage Wellness is not contracted with any health insurance companies. Instead, we are considered “out of network” providers. Our licensed therapists can provide medical receipts for potential out of network reimbursement (that a client can submit). However, our pre-licensed therapist's sessions are not eligible for reimbursement. The chart we have at the bottom of our “Meet the Team” page indicates pricing and which therapists may qualify for out of network reimbursement. We have made the thoughtful decision not to take any health insurance to ensure we are providing our clients with the highest level of care. The first consideration behind our decision is based on insurance companies' requirement that clients are given a diagnosis, even if a diagnosis may not be appropriate. This diagnosis goes on record in the client’s health file with the insurance company. A second reason we do not bill insurance is confidentiality. Most insurance companies require that clinicians file by using an Electronic Medical Record. The risk of a client’s information being exposed is increased anytime private information is released to a third party. There is an increased risk of client’s information being exposed. Also, if you or your family member needs a federal background check such as joining the military, when becoming a pilot, when taking the bar exam, or for a number of other reasons, their personal mental health history may be obtained through insurance. We want to offer the highest protection of your private mental health information. Third, rather than allowing insurance companies to dictate your treatment, we know the best outcomes are reached using a collaborative process with you. Many insurance plans choose the length of treatment, number of sessions, or duration of treatment. By not using insurance, you and your counselor can decide what ideal treatment is for you, rather than it being decided for you by your insurance.

We provide you monthly documentation for your sessions (a “superbill”) that includes a receipt of service, session code, required diagnosis, and amount paid that you can submit to your insurance company. You pay Sage Wellness the full therapy session cost, and if you have out of network benefits, your insurance company will send the reimbursement check directly to you. It can be helpful to contact your insurance company regarding the following if you would like to confirm your out of network benefits in advance:

• Do I have mental health benefits
• Is pre-approval from the insurance company, or a referral from my primary care physician required before treatment?
• Do I have a deductible? What is the amount and has it been met?
What is my coverage for an out of network provider?
• CPT Code: 90834 for a 45 minute individual therapy session (individual therapy)
• CPT Code: 90847 for family therapy with patient present therapy session (couples therapy)
• CPT Code: 90853 for group psychotherapy session (group therapy) Are telehealth sessions covered for an out of network provider (CPT Code: 90834-95 for a 45 minute individual therapy session)?
• What is the process for submitting the “superbill” and receiving reimbursement?
• How many sessions does my insurance cover each year?

Yes, we offer video appointments through a HIPAA compliant platform for Florida residents. Clients have reported this has been a safe, convenient and easily accessible way to receive treatment. Telehealth is a live, virtual appointment where you meet with your therapist via HIPAA compliant video or phone. Prior to each session, you will receive a unique link that takes you directly to the video session.

Required Equipment

Being on a secure internet connection, rather than public or free Wi-Fi.

For video sessions, you will need a desktop/laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Tips for a Successful Telehealth Session

Be in a location free of disruptions where you are alone and can speak freely. This may include using headphones, being outdoors, or putting on a bathroom fan to act as a sound machine. Be stationary and focused. Do not be driving.

Be in a space where there is good lighting and your face is clearly visible. Be aware of light coming from behind you as this will cast a shadow over your face and make it difficult to see you.

Keep the video steady by placing your computer on a hard surface or leaning your phone against something sturdy.

Wear clothing consistent to an in-person appointment.

Mute or silence your device to reduce potential distractions during the session.

Yes, we offer in-person sessions at our office located on 4881 NW 8th Avenue, Suite 1, Gainesville, FL 32605. At Sage Wellness, we understand how atmosphere can influence your experience. Our office is designed to be a welcoming space where you can relax with a cup of tea (or another of our many beverage options!) before or after your session. We invite you to check out some of our therapy rooms here which have been thoughtfully decorated to maintain a sense of calm and warmth.

We work with clients approximately age 10+.

As of January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act was passed which gives you the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining the approximate cost of your treatment. Please note that since the frequency and duration of therapy is ultimately determined by you, and can change throughout the course of treatment, we have decided to provide you with a general estimate. While our clients often attend an average of 8 sessions, we are providing an estimate of what the cost should be if you attend therapy twice a month, for one year. It is our policy that you are charged at the conclusion of every scheduled session or service, so you will never be charged without your notice.

Out of network provider: Sage Wellness, LLC
Tax ID: 83-3532877
Date of service: One year, bi-weekly sessions (24 total)
Service code and description:
90834 - Psychotherapy, 45 minutes (Individual therapy)
90847 – Family Therapy with the client Present (Couples therapy)
90834-95 - Psychotherapy, 45 minutes (Individual therapy, telehealth)
90847-95 – Family Therapy with the client Present (Couples therapy, telehealth)
Estimated amount to be billed: $125-200 (depending on your therapist) x 24 sessions
Total annual estimate you may owe for treatment: $3,000 - $4,800

Other Associated Costs/Fees:
- Missed appointment/Late cancellation within 24 hours of the appointment: $125-200 (full session fee)
- Consultation / Report writing: $125-200 (your session fee, prorated for time spent)
- Appearance at court on your behalf: $2,000 per day to reserve therapist time and must be paid in full 30 days prior to the expected court date.

The Good Faith Estimate is not a contract between you and your therapist, and does not obligate or require you to obtain any of the listed services from the provider. Questions about this notice and estimate? Contact your therapist or Dr. Jennifer Martin, owner of Sage Wellness, at 352-474-8882. Questions about your rights? Contact the No Surprises help desk at or 1-800-985-3059.

Your therapist is often able to document with your written consent that you are receiving treatment after you have established an ongoing therapeutic relationship, However, this is at the discretion of your therapist and is not guaranteed. Letters are most often used for student’s seeking a medical withdrawal, a transgender client seeking medical transitioning support, etc. However, we do not write any Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letters.