Therapist listening to a client during a counseling session in Alexandria, LA

Yes, We Take Blue Cross Blue Shield for Therapy in Alexandria

If you have Blue Cross Blue Shield, you can use it for therapy at Alexandria Counseling. Eight of our licensed therapists accept BCBS, and you can meet with them in person at our Government Street office or by secure video from anywhere in Louisiana.

Plenty of people carry a BCBS card for years without ever touching the mental health side of it. Maybe it seemed complicated. Maybe you assumed counseling wasn’t included. Finding out usually takes one phone call, and this page walks you through exactly what to ask.

Your plan may cover more mental health care than you think.

Federal parity law requires most health plans that offer mental health benefits to cover them on terms no more restrictive than medical care. (You can read the basics of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act on the CMS website.) In everyday terms, the rules for seeing a therapist usually can’t be stricter than the rules for seeing your doctor.

Our therapists who accept Blue Cross Blue Shield help children, teens, and adults with:

Anxiety and constant worry
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Grief and loss
Substance use and relapse prevention
OCD and ADHD
Eating disorders
Attachment struggles and family stress tied to adoption, foster care, or kinship care
Major life changes and stress that won’t let up

If something on that list sounds like your life right now, your insurance can help you do something about it.

You don’t need to have it all figured out before you call us.

Tell us what’s been going on and that you have Blue Cross Blue Shield. We’ll take care of matching you with the right therapist.

Alexandria Therapists Who Accept Blue Cross Blue Shield

Each therapist below is fully licensed and lists BCBS among the insurance plans they accept. Most offer both in-person and online sessions.

Shirley Ryland, LCSW, Founder: Teens and adults dealing with substance use, relapse, anxiety, or depression, plus families affected by a loved one’s addiction. Uses Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART).
Alice Harper, LCSW: Girls and women ages 10 and up, and families touched by adoption, foster care, or kinship care. Uses CBT (with a spiritually integrated option), TBRI, and ART.
Dani Carter, LPC, LAC: Substance use, anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma. Offers online counseling and uses ART.
Janice Miller, LPC: Individuals and families working through anxiety, depression, grief, attachment concerns, and life transitions. Uses CBT, REBT, person-centered therapy, and ART.
Jennifer Riche, LPC-Supervisor, LAC: Children, teens, and adults facing trauma, PTSD, OCD, anxiety, depression, or grief. Uses EMDR, ART, TF-CBT, TBRI, and somatic therapy.
Lauren Arnold, LCSW: Children, teens, adults, and couples, with a focus on trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, ADHD, and grief. Uses CBT, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.
Michael Griffith, LCSW: Teens and adults dealing with anxiety, depression, substance use, or spiritual questions. Uses CBT, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness.
Von Vallery, LCSW: Individuals and families facing substance use, depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, or major life changes. Uses ART.

Not sure who fits? You don’t have to pick on your own. Browse the full team, or just call and we’ll match you with a therapist who takes your plan.

One note on our provisionally licensed counselors (PLPCs): they aren’t in-network with insurance companies, so sessions with them can’t be billed to BCBS. They do offer a reduced self-pay rate of $80 per session and work under active clinical supervision.

Six Questions to Ask Blue Cross Before Your First Session

Coverage varies from plan to plan, even within Blue Cross. Call the customer service number on the back of your member ID card and ask:

Does my plan include outpatient mental health benefits?
Do I have a deductible? How much is it, and how much have I met this year?
What will I owe per session (copay or coinsurance) with an in-network therapist?
Is there a limit on how many sessions I can have each calendar year?
Do I need a referral or written approval from my primary care doctor?
Are telehealth therapy sessions covered the same way as in-person visits?

Write down the answers, along with the date and the name of the person you spoke with. Then call us at (318) 704-6157 and we’ll get you scheduled with a therapist who accepts BCBS.

Louisiana Blue, Healthy Blue, or a Card From Another State?

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana began using the name Louisiana Blue in 2024. It’s the same company, still formally doing business as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, so if you see the Louisiana Blue name on your plan materials, everything on this page applies to you.

Eligible Louisiana Blue members can also work with a behavioral health case manager through their plan at no cost. Case managers help members find services that fit their health goals and benefits, which can be a helpful extra layer of support alongside therapy.

Healthy Blue is a different plan. It’s a Louisiana Medicaid plan, and several of our therapists accept it. Our Medicaid Counseling page explains how Healthy Blue and LHCC coverage work here.

Have a Blue plan from another state, or coverage through an employer based outside Louisiana? Give us a call before you book so we can confirm your plan with you.

What Therapy Costs With Blue Cross Blue Shield (and Without It)

With BCBS, what you pay per session depends on your plan’s copay, coinsurance, and deductible. Payment is due at the time of service, and we accept cash, check, and all major credit cards.

If you haven’t met your deductible yet, you may pay more per session until you do. Your plan can tell you exactly where you stand.

Prefer to keep insurance out of it, or need a backup plan? Our self-pay rates are simple:

$130 for your first 60-minute session, which includes an introductory assessment
$115 for each 60-minute session after that
$80 per session with one of our provisionally licensed counselors

Need to reschedule? Please give us at least 24 hours’ notice to avoid a $75 cancellation fee. Full details are on our Rates & Insurance page.

Woman smiling during a telehealth therapy session on her laptop at home in Louisiana

Online Therapy With BCBS Anywhere in Louisiana

Most of our therapists offer telehealth through secure video, and it’s available to clients throughout Louisiana. That matters if you live in a rural parish, work long shifts, or simply feel more at ease talking from home.

Before booking a video session, ask your plan whether telehealth therapy is covered the same way as an office visit. You can read more on our telehealth counseling page.

How to Start Therapy With BCBS at Alexandria Counseling

Here’s how getting started works:

Call (318) 704-6157 or request an appointment online, and mention that you have Blue Cross Blue Shield.
We’ll match you with a therapist who accepts BCBS and fits what you’re looking for.
You’ll fill out brief intake forms through our secure client portal so your therapist can prepare.
Your first session lasts 60 minutes. It’s a relaxed conversation about your background and goals, with no pressure to share more than you’re ready to.

Same-week appointments are often available.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Therapy Questions We Hear Most

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover therapy?

Most BCBS plans include outpatient mental health benefits, but the details vary. Your copay, deductible, and any session limits depend on your specific plan, so call the number on your member ID card to confirm.

Do I need a referral to use BCBS for counseling?

Some plans require a referral or written approval from your primary care doctor, and many don’t. Ask your plan when you call so there are no surprises.

Can I use BCBS for my child’s or teen’s therapy?

Usually, yes. If your child is covered on your plan, the same mental health benefits typically apply. Several of our BCBS therapists work with kids and teens, including Jennifer Riche, Lauren Arnold, and Alice Harper.

Will BCBS pay for couples or marriage counseling?

It depends on your plan. Insurance usually pays for therapy that treats a diagnosed mental health condition, so counseling focused only on the relationship may not be covered. Ask your plan directly, and visit our couples therapy page to see how we work with couples.

What does Blue Cross see if I use my insurance?

To bill your plan, your therapist submits a diagnosis code along with the dates and type of services you received. The details of what you talk about in session are not part of a standard claim. In some cases, a plan may request treatment records to confirm medical necessity. If privacy matters a lot to you, self-pay is always an option.

What if my plan doesn’t cover therapy or my deductible is high?

You can still get care here. Self-pay sessions are $130 for the first visit and $115 after that, or $80 per session with a provisionally licensed counselor.

Your Blue Cross Blue Shield card is already in your wallet. Let’s put it to work.

Call (318) 704-6157 or schedule your first appointment today. We’re at 3636 Government St in Alexandria, and we see clients online across Louisiana.

Looking for a therapist in Alexandria, LA? See every plan we accept on our insurance page.