Fees and Policies
What is Self Pay?
Soma’s services are self-pay. We do not file with insurance companies due to the limits that they impose on treatment. This ensures that you and your therapist can make the best decisions for your course of treatment, together. Insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis to deem the care as medically necessary. Many clients prefer to not have a diagnosis on their record. This allows you to have agency over who knows you are in therapy and why. However, Soma therapists can provide superbills for reimbursement on an out-of-network service that may result in partial or full reimbursement.
Although we do not offer a traditional sliding scale, a number of spaces are reserved discounted tiered rates. This is per therapists availability. If you are in need of a reduced rate please contact us to find out more.
*As a private pay psychotherapy practice we are unable to accept or offer superbills for reimbursement for Medicaid.
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Soma is unique in that we do not charge a higher fee for initial intake appointments. Your first appointment is the same rate as psychotherapy appointments.
Fully licensed therapists
Individual $130-$150 Couples $140-$165
Resident therapists $95 - $130
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License Therapist $130-$150
Licensee Resident $95-$130
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License Therapist $140-$165
Licensee Resident $95-$130
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$95-$150
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2-3hr Intensive that range from $300-$450
Available upon request
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2-3 hr Intensives that range from $330-$500.
Available upon request.
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$95 for LCSW Supervision
$165 Professional Consultation for Licensed Therapists
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The full rate of your session fee is due.
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Community Learning + Experiencing Wellness Workshops
Equity Based Pricing - Choose the fee that works for you $30, $15, $10, or Free
Our Policies
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At SOMA, we are committed to walking alongside our clients on their unique journeys. We celebrate diversity and seek to honor people of all races, cultures, ethnicities, religious and spiritual beliefs, gender, sexuality, physical and mental abilities, size and appearance. Our clinicians are open-minded, committed to their own anti-racist work, and LGBTQ+ affirming.
*Soma is located on the second floor of a historic building, as a result, the building has not been updated with an elevator. In light of how stairs can present as a barrier to access care, all SOMA therapists offer virtual sessions.
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Effective Date: January 01, 2026
Last Updated: February 16, 2026
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
Your health record contains personal information about you and your mental health care. This information is known as Protected Health Information (PHI).
We are required by law to:
Maintain the privacy of your PHI
Provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices
Follow the terms of this notice
This notice explains:
How we may use and disclose your PHI
Your rights related to your PHI
Our legal duties regarding your information
We reserve the right to change the terms of this notice. Any revised notice will apply to all PHI we maintain and will be made available on our website or upon request.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Information
1. Treatment
We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your mental health care. This may include consultation with clinical supervisors or other providers involved in your care.
PHI is shared only as necessary and in accordance with professional, ethical, and legal standards.
2. Payment
We may use and disclose PHI for billing and payment purposes, including submitting claims to insurance companies or processing payments.
Only the minimum necessary information is disclosed. Additional practice-specific consent may be required for insurance billing as outlined in your informed consent documents.
3. Health Care Operations
We may use or disclose PHI for practice operations, including:
Quality assurance and quality improvement
Licensing, compliance, and audits
Administrative and billing services
Third-party service providers (Business Associates) are required by contract to safeguard your PHI in compliance with HIPAA.
Uses and Disclosures Without Your Authorization
HIPAA generally requires your written authorization before releasing information. However, we may disclose PHI without authorization when permitted or required by law, including:
Child, Elder, or Dependent Adult Abuse or Neglect – Required reporting to appropriate authorities
Health Oversight Activities – Licensing, audits, investigations, or disciplinary actions
Judicial or Administrative Proceedings – Court orders, subpoenas, or lawful requests
Serious Threat to Health or Safety – To prevent imminent harm to you or others
Medical Emergencies – To medical personnel as necessary
Law Enforcement – When legally required
Workers’ Compensation – As required by law
Disclosures are limited to the minimum necessary whenever applicable.
Specially Protected Information
Certain types of information have additional legal protections and require your specific written authorization, including:
Psychotherapy Notes
Substance Use Treatment Information
HIV/AIDS-related information
Additional confidentiality protections for substance use treatment records may apply only in specific circumstances and settings, such as federally assisted substance use disorder treatment programs.
You may revoke authorizations in writing unless action has already been taken in reliance on them.
Psychotherapy Notes
Psychotherapy notes are kept separate from the clinical record and receive additional protections under federal law. These notes are not shared or released without a separate, specific written authorization, except as required or permitted by law.
Clients do not have a general right of access to psychotherapy notes.
Your Rights Regarding Your Information
You have the right to:
Request restrictions on how your PHI is used or disclosed
Request confidential communications (such as alternate contact methods)
Access and obtain copies of your records
Request amendments to your records
Receive an accounting of certain disclosures
Obtain a paper copy of this notice
All requests must be submitted in writing.
Breach Notification
We will notify you as required by law if a breach occurs involving your unsecured PHI.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may:
Contact us directly
File a complaint with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Contact Information
Adele Martelle, LCSW, CCTPNorfolk, VA 78759Email: info@somatherapyandwellness.com
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The opinions and views expressed on Soma Therapy & Wellness social media platforms represent the thoughts of individual and online communities, and not those necessarily of Soma Therapy & Wellness, its affiliates, or any of officers, employees, or staff. The opinions and views expressed on these platforms/pages do not in any way reflect the views of the site they are posted on, other sites affiliated with the site, or the staff involved in maintaining those sites.
The therapists of Soma Therapy & Wellness and any registered interns or provisional licensed mental health counselors we may supervise from time to time may hold separate and isolated social media accounts. The content presented on their accounts are specific to them as mental health providers and not necessarily reflective of Soma Therapy & Wellness.
Soma Therapy & Wellness makes reasonable efforts to monitor its social media, however, we do not moderate all comments and cannot always respond in a timely manner. We reserve the right to edit and delete any comments/content we deem inappropriate. The following will not be tolerated:
-Hate speech towards any group of people (to include but not limited to racial, ethnic, or gender)
-Abusive or hurtful comments
-Solicitation of any group or organization or product
-Privacy violations or personal attacks
Information provided on Soma Therapy & Wellness social media and website is not intended to be medical advice or therapy. It should not replace consultation with a qualified physician and/or mental health provider.
Soma Therapy & Wellness is not responsible for the content of any links associated with shared content
Any information relative to appointments, scheduling or specific interventions will be deleted as it may pose as a HIPPA violation. By posting or commenting on Soma Therapy & Wellness social media, you understand and acknowledge that this information is available to the public, and that social media platforms are not HIPAA compliant entities.
Further detailed information regarding our social media policy is part of the Soma Therapy & Wellness intake packet.
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The No Surprises Act & Good Faith Estimate:
As stipulated in section 2799B-2(d) of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act), which was introduced as a part of the No Surprises Act, every patient holds the entitlement to receive a Good Faith Estimate delineating the anticipated costs of their medical care.
The Good Faith Estimate, an integral component of the No Surprises Act, mandates that all healthcare providers furnish clients with a detailed projection of expected expenses for non-emergency healthcare services, using a standardized framework. This initiative serves to promote transparency in cost structures, mitigating the likelihood of unforeseen invoicing or unanticipated fees.
Contained within the estimate, you will find a comprehensive breakdown of projected therapy or assessment sessions, along with the overall expected expenditure for the services. It's important to note that the Good Faith Estimate itself does not establish a contractual relationship with Quest; rather, it offers an approximation of expenses to enhance your comprehension of healthcare costs.
Furthermore:
You possess the right to contest a bill that significantly surpasses your Good Faith Estimate (amounting to $400 or more). For more detailed information, please refer to https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers/understanding-costs-in-advance.
Upon receipt of a Good Faith Estimate, you will be given the option to download the corresponding form. It's advisable to retain a copy of the estimate for your records.
The estimate encompasses all services linked to your treatment, excluding peripheral items like letters, no-show penalties, charges for late cancellations, or other unforeseeable fees that cannot be accounted for in the initial estimate.
Should you seek additional clarifications about the Good Faith Estimate or aim to enhance your comprehension of assessment or therapy expenses, please don't hesitate to inform us. Our billing team is at your service to address any queries you may have and provide the necessary information to facilitate an informed decision-making process.
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