Cost is a real part of deciding whether to start therapy, and it helps to have the numbers before you call anyone. No authoritative source for a typical private-pay fee in the Boston area was found for this guide, so this page does not print a range. It gives one practice's fee exactly, shows you how to find out what your own plan pays, and lists grief support that costs less or nothing.
It also helps to remember that most bereaved people do not need therapy. If you are unsure, read Do I need grief therapy? first.
What does Dr. Rabin charge?
These are the terms on her fees and insurance page and her FAQ page, and they apply to grief and loss therapy the same way as any other work with her:
- $375 per session, paid at the time of service. Sessions are 45 to 50 minutes. Telehealth sessions are the same length and fee as in-person sessions.
- Private-pay and out-of-network. She does not bill insurance directly.
- A monthly superbill that you can submit to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
- A sliding scale is available on request. Her site says the number of sliding-scale places is limited, and asks you to raise it during the consultation.
- A free initial consultation of about 15 minutes, by phone, with no obligation.
- Cancellations: she asks for at least 24 hours' notice. Late cancellations and missed sessions are charged the full fee.
She explains the fee and how the superbill works before you begin, so you can decide with the full picture.
How does a superbill work?
A superbill is a detailed receipt. It lists the dates of service, the fees you paid, and the standard billing codes an insurer needs. You pay Dr. Rabin at each session, she gives you a superbill each month, and you send it to your insurance company yourself.
What comes back depends on your plan. Her fees page says some clients are reimbursed for a meaningful portion of each session and others receive less, and that the insurer decides what it pays. No therapist can tell you in advance what your plan will reimburse. Only your insurer can.
What should you ask your insurer before you start?
Coverage for out-of-network therapy depends on your plan. Call the member number on your insurance card and ask:
- Do I have out-of-network benefits for outpatient mental health?
- What is my out-of-network deductible, and how much of it have I met?
- What percentage of the fee do you reimburse after the deductible?
- Is there a limit on the number of sessions per year?
- How do I submit a superbill?
Write down the answers, the date and the name of the person you spoke with. With those answers you can work out a realistic cost per session before you commit to anything.
What is a good faith estimate?
A good faith estimate is an estimate of expected charges. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), it usually applies when you are not using health insurance to pay for your care. Your provider must give you one if you ask, or if you schedule services at least 3 business days in advance. It must include an itemized list with expected charges.
The timing is set out by CMS. If you schedule care 3 to 9 business days ahead, you get the estimate within 1 business day. If you schedule 10 or more business days ahead, you get it within 3 business days. You can also ask for an estimate before you schedule, and the provider must give it to you within 3 business days.
If a provider charges at least $400 more than the estimate, you can use the federal patient-provider dispute resolution process. Your initial bill must be dated within the last 120 calendar days, and there is a $25 non-refundable administrative fee. The No Surprises Help Desk is at 1-800-985-3059.
Where can you find free or lower-cost grief support?
Therapy is one kind of support. Federal rules require hospices to make bereavement services available to families for up to 1 year after a patient's death, and the National Institute on Aging notes that you can ask hospice workers for bereavement support even if hospice was not used before the death. These Greater Boston organizations describe their own programs as follows. Programs change, so check each site.
- Good Shepherd Community Care (hospice, Newton) offers support groups that it describes as free and open to the community.
- Care Dimensions (hospice, North Shore and Greater Boston, plus virtual) runs groups and workshops for Massachusetts residents, open to anyone who is grieving whether or not hospice was involved. Its site does not state a fee, so call 855-774-5100 for details.
- The Children's Room (Arlington) provides grief support free of charge for children and teens after the death of a parent or sibling, and for their parents and caregivers.
- Samaritans SafePlace meetings for suicide loss survivors are free, ongoing and drop-in, in the Boston area and online.
- The Compassionate Friends, Boston Chapter is a self-help group for people who have lost a child, sibling or grandchild. It describes its meetings as a support group, not counseling. Ask the chapter about any cost.
- Louis D. Brown Peace Institute (Dorchester) supports families after a homicide. Its Survivors Outreach Services are free and confidential. Phone 617-825-1917.
A word on evidence: many people value groups, but trial evidence that they reduce grief symptoms is weak, and they are not a treatment for prolonged grief disorder. For more options see grief support groups in Boston.
What if you need help now and cannot pay?
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line is free, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and available to all Massachusetts residents with or without insurance. Call or text 833-773-2445. It is staffed by trained clinicians and certified peer specialists and connects people to treatment in their community, including Community Behavioral Health Centers.
If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
When you contact any therapist, it is fine to ask about a sliding scale. The National Institute on Aging notes that some mental health professionals offer one, meaning what you pay is based on your income.
Does Massachusetts give you paid time off after a loss?
Not through the state program. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave does not include bereavement. The state says medical leave may be available if you are eligible and a health care provider certifies that you have a serious health condition. As of October 2026, Massachusetts has no general law requiring employers to provide bereavement leave. Whether you get it depends on your employer's policy or contract. Federal wage law does not require pay for time off to attend a funeral either, so ask your employer what it offers.
If you would like to talk through fees with Dr. Rabin before deciding anything, the free 15-minute phone consultation is the place to do it. You can request one on the contact page.
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Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
