Quick Summary
At Creative Healing Mental Health Center in Chippewa Falls, a standard EMDR session costs the same as any therapy session: $225 for 60 minutes self-pay, or your plan’s copay or coinsurance if you use one of the in-network plans we accept. EMDR Intensives are $250 per hour, typically 3 to 5 hours per day over 1 to 4 days, self-pay, with a 50% deposit to reserve dates. Out-of-network clients receive a monthly superbill. The total cost of EMDR depends on how many sessions you need, which depends on what you are working on. A free 20-minute consultation is the place to get a realistic estimate. Call or text 715-797-2770.
Table of Contents
Cost is usually the second question after “does it work,” and it is the one people are most hesitant to ask. Here are the actual numbers at Creative Healing and the factors that determine what EMDR will cost you overall.
What a standard EMDR session costs
EMDR is not billed as a special service. A standard EMDR session is a 55- to 60-minute psychotherapy session, and at Creative Healing that is $225 self-pay. If you are using in-network insurance, you do not pay that rate; you pay whatever your plan sets as your copay or coinsurance once your deductible is met. Our rates page has the current figures.
Using insurance for EMDR
Creative Healing is in-network with Alliance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Group Health Cooperative, Medicare, Medicaid/BadgerCare/Forward Health, Medica, Quartz, Security Health Plan, Tri-Care, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, UMR and WPS. Three numbers on your plan decide what you pay per session: your deductible (what you pay before the plan shares costs), your copay (a flat amount per session) or coinsurance (a percentage). Call the number on your card and ask about outpatient mental health benefits; a 60-minute session is typically billed as CPT code 90837. If your plan is out of network, you pay the self-pay rate and receive a monthly superbill to submit for potential reimbursement. Our guide to what therapy costs in Chippewa Falls walks through this in detail.
What an EMDR Intensive costs
An EMDR Intensive condenses the work into extended sessions: 3 to 5 hours of therapy per day, with breaks and grounding, over 1 to 4 days depending on your goals. Intensives are billed at $250 per hour. A 50% deposit reserves your dates and the balance is due on the first day. Because they are extended sessions, insurance does not cover intensives; they are self-pay. As a rough illustration, a single 4-hour day is $1,000; a two-day intensive at 4 hours per day is $2,000. Your actual plan is set with your therapist after the consultation and intake.
What determines the total cost
- What you are working on. A single recent event may resolve in a handful of sessions; complex or childhood trauma takes longer.
- How much preparation you need. Stabilization comes before processing, and for some people that phase is longer.
- Format. Weekly sessions spread the cost over months and are usually covered by insurance; an intensive concentrates it into days and is self-pay.
- Your insurance. A low copay makes weekly sessions inexpensive; a high deductible narrows the gap between insurance and self-pay.
Your therapist will give you an honest estimate of the likely number of sessions after the first one or two, so you can plan rather than guess. Some clients find relief in a few sessions; some work with us for a year or longer.
Weekly EMDR vs. an intensive: the cost logic
Per hour, weekly sessions with insurance are cheaper. Per result, it is less clear-cut. Each weekly session spends part of the hour settling in and closing down, and the time limit can mean stopping mid-process. An intensive’s consecutive hours let you process more per hour, so some clients reach their goal in fewer total hours, and they get there in days rather than months, which matters if the symptoms are costing you at work or at home. Neither is universally cheaper; our post on weekly EMDR versus an intensive helps you think it through.
Policies that affect what you pay
- 24-hour cancellation. Appointments canceled with less than 24 hours’ notice are charged the full session fee, which insurance does not cover.
- Good Faith Estimate. If you are self-pay or uninsured, federal law entitles you to a written estimate of expected charges before services begin. Ask for one when you schedule.
- Weather. Sessions can switch to telehealth in inclement weather so you do not lose a session.
Getting a real estimate
Call or text 715-797-2770 or send us a message for a free 20-minute consultation. Have your insurance card handy; we will help verify your benefits before your first appointment. EMDR at Creative Healing is led by Jenifer Olson, LCSW, a certified EMDR therapist. Learn more about EMDR therapy and how it works.
Ready to talk to someone?
Creative Healing Mental Health Center offers a free 20-minute phone consultation. Call or text 715-797-2770 or send us a message. We serve Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley from our office at 1791 County Highway OO, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an EMDR session cost without insurance?
At Creative Healing, a standard 60-minute session, EMDR included, is $225 self-pay. In-network clients pay their plan’s copay or coinsurance instead.
Is EMDR more expensive than regular therapy?
No. Standard EMDR sessions are billed as regular psychotherapy sessions at the same rate. EMDR Intensives are priced differently because they are extended sessions.
How much does an EMDR Intensive cost?
EMDR Intensives at Creative Healing are $250 per hour, typically 3 to 5 hours per day over 1 to 4 days. A 50% deposit reserves your dates and the balance is due on the first day. Insurance does not cover extended intensive sessions.
Does insurance cover EMDR?
Standard EMDR sessions are covered by the in-network plans we accept, including BCBS, Quartz, Security Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, UMR, WPS, Medica, Alliance, Group Health Cooperative, Tri-Care, Medicare and Medicaid/BadgerCare. Verify your outpatient mental health benefits, deductible and copay with your plan.
How many EMDR sessions will I need, and what does that add up to?
It depends on what you are working on. A single recent event may resolve in a handful of sessions; complex trauma takes longer. Your therapist will give you an honest estimate after the first sessions so you can plan.
Is an intensive cheaper overall?
It can be. Consecutive hours let you process more per hour than weekly sessions that each spend time settling in and closing down, so some clients reach their goal in fewer total hours. Whether it is cheaper for you depends on your insurance situation and goals; the free consultation is where we work that out.
Rates and accepted plans reflect the time of publication; coverage varies by plan, so please verify your benefits with your insurance company. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.