Is Mentaya the Ultimate Game-Changer in Therapy Practices?

Mentaya is gifting all Stress Less Therapist readers a free month trial of their services. Simply use the code: STRESSLESS (affiliate coupon code) when signing up and get 1 month free.

Have you ever struggled with the tedious task of paperwork when trying to get reimbursed for out-of-network therapy sessions?

I have, and it is a pain in the butt.

But I do it, because I LOVE the work that I do with my therapist and see great results in my work with her. For me the financial and time investment of seeing an out of network provider is worth it because I know that what I get from her is worth its weight in gold.

However, I will be honest, I do not know if I would do all this work (and expenses) if I was not 10000% certain this therapist would help me with my goals.

You see, when I started with my current OON therapist, she took my insurance. We worked together for years on my identified goals (making great strides) and it was not until about 2 years into our work together that she switched to become an OON provider. I as the client was confident in paying her $190/session rate up front because I had 2 years of evidence proving that it was a solid return on my investment.

This can not easily be said for all clients, especially those who are new to us, and even more for clients who may be new to therapy entirely.

So as tempting as it to to become an out of network provider, the reality is as OON therapists, we might have to go a bit above and beyond to help our clients with navigating the financial planning for how to pay for treatment.

This is where my search began, to find a company that would help my clients navigate the OON red tape, while still allowing me to charge my full fee.

In this article, I discuss my findings on Mentaya, a female-founded and owned company that is all about empowering therapists and clients alike to more confidently navigate the world of out of network benefits.

Mentaya is gifting all Stress Less Therapist readers a free month trial of their services. Simply use the code: STRESSLESS (affiliate coupon code) when signing up and get 1 month free.

Why listen to me?

You may be reading this and thinking, “Who the hell is she? Why should I care what she has to say?”

Fair enough. If you are new to my corner of the internet, Hi, I’m Alexandria Theordor. I am a life first business coach helping therapist build a private practice that prioritizes their personal life and values above all.

I am also a private practice owner myself, who started her solo virtual private practice in 2020 and now runs a small private pay practice. Meaning I am walking the walk right along side you.

My goal: I want to help therapist create a business that prioritizes what is most important: health, wealth, and relationships. I do this by providing consulting services and online resources to help therapists achieve success in their business endeavors, my goal is to help you gain the confidence and knowledge necessary to launch your own profitable practice.

Want to learn more about what i have to offer? Check out my everything page where I list all my courses and services in more detail for you to peruse at your leisure.

Mentaya is gifting all Stress Less Therapist readers a free month trial of their services. Simply use the code: STRESSLESS (affiliate coupon code) when signing up and get 1 month free.

Why bother?

Navigating out-of-network paperwork can be overwhelming for therapy clients, especially when they are already dealing with emotional struggles. Having assistance in processing these paperwork can alleviate the stress and anxiety associated with insurance claims and reimbursements. This support can allow clients to focus more on their healing journey rather than getting bogged down by administrative tasks.

Furthermore, offering assistance with out-of-network paperwork can strengthen the therapeutic alliance between clients and therapists. When clients feel supported in all aspects of their therapy experience, including the logistical side of things, it enhances trust and rapport. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of teamwork, as both client and therapist work together towards a common goal of improved mental health and well-being. Ultimately, providing this level of support demonstrates a genuine commitment to the client’s welfare beyond just the therapy sessions themselves.

Related Posts: Want To Break Free From Insurance Panels?

What I liked about Mentaya

• Woman founded and owned company… yay girl power!
• Gives clients an easy option to get reimbursed for out of network sessions without having to do the paperwork themselves. Mentaya charged clients 5% of clinician’s session fee to process claims. Meaning if a therapist charged $200/session, clients were charged an additional $10 to process the claim. (Note: this is the rate quoted at time of writing. Rate might change by the time you are reading this so please check with Mentaya for the most accurate rates.)
• Free for therapists
• Stripe processing fee slightly lower then Simple Practice (Note: this is the rate quoted at time of writing. Rate might change by the time you are reading this so please check with Mentaya for the most accurate rates.)
• Option for clients to link bank account instead of credit card for a lower processing fee (under 1%)
• Paid version has a benefits checker for therapist to use and upload on their website for clients to easily check benefits
• Paid version is also an optional feature and is able to be added on at a month to month basis (aka: only pay for it when you need it)
• Clients have the option of uploading past superbills for reimbursement
• Because payments are going through Stripe, similar to SimplePractice, clinicians get paid out in 2-3 days after claim is submitted. This differs from other platforms like Headway, Alma and Thrizer where they pay at the end of the week and/or a designated “pay day

Mentaya is gifting all Stress Less Therapist readers a free month trial of their services. Simply use the code: STRESSLESS (affiliate coupon code) when signing up and get 1 month free.

What I still have questions about

• During the demo there was discussion about providers are encouraged to bill under Mentaya’s NPI and group EIN number, yet clinicians were not considered to be a 1099 contract. This confuses me as to why clinicians would need to bill under a different EIN/NPI number

What I did not like about Mentaya

• Clients still pay the full session fee up front AND the additional 5% Mentaya processing fee. This makes out of network sessions even more expensive up front for the client. Using the previous example: if a therapist charged $200/session, clients were charged an additional $10 to process the claim. Meaning the client would be charged a total of $210 a the end of the session.

In all honestly this was the only complaint I have about Mentaya, but it is a big one. I understand that out of network can be expensive and waiting weeks- sometimes months for a reimbursement check can be a hardship for the client. Having done the out of network superbills myself as a client, I did not find them too difficulty to do so for me the 5% fee seems steep, then again I have also yet to get reimbursed so time well tell….

I would much preferer a platform that charges the client only the co-insurance amount and waits for the reimbursement themselves making it even easier on the client OR the option to submit past superbills and get “instant reimbursement” in a few days vs week. From what I hear, Thrizer offers this service, and is on my list to further explore.

What are others saying?

Over the past couple of months, I have been keeping an eye on the therapist Facebook groups and taking note of any comments surrounding Mentaya. Here is more on what I found…

While Mentaya offers services to streamline out-of-network billing for therapists, user experiences seem to be mixed. Several users reported significant delays, with claims taking months to process, despite repeated follow-ups. One user noted that it took 5-6 months for Mentaya to process claims consistently, even after numerous reminders, while others shared frustrations over unresponsive communication and unresolved claims, some lingering for nearly a year. A few clinicians eventually stopped using the service, opting for alternative billing solutions or managing courtesy billing themselves, which they described as relatively straightforward. While Mentaya may work for some, the recurring issues highlight the need for therapists to carefully evaluate their options, particularly if timely claim processing is a priority for their practice.

Final Decision

At this time I am continuing to explore my options in hopes I can find a platform that is free for the clinician and offers better benefits to the clients, however I have not ruled out Mentaya completely as it does offer a solution to clients who are completely uninterested in submitting superbill payments on their own and are willing/able to pay the premium service charge.

Mentaya is gifting all Stress Less Therapist readers a free month trial of their services. Simply use the code: STRESSLESS (affiliate coupon code) when signing up and get 1 month free.

[mailerlite_form form_id=3]