We regret to inform you that Hurdle will no longer offer therapy to its members as of March 31, 2023.

Your story matters. Speak with someone who gets it.

Get paired with a therapist who understands you fully.

When you place culture at the center of therapy, change happens.

Life is challenging as it is - and racial and cultural injustices can punctuate the burden of maintaining your mental health. By creating a safe space where all people can show up as they are, we make sure you feel seen and understood.

How it works

Tell Us Your Preferences

Fill out the registration form to share what you’re looking to accomplish as well as your therapist preferences, so we can pair you with the right therapist.

Get Paired

We’ll pair you with a therapist that matches your preferences so you can show up whole, operate with joy, and live with power.

Start Healing

Connect with your therapist in a secure and confidential online environment so you can start getting the help you need when and how you need it.

Hurdle therapy is different.

We’re not like the other teletherapy platforms.
We’re different on purpose.

Other Teletherapy Platforms
Minimal to no training in culturally responsive care
Culturally avoidant therapists
Members reluctant to self-disclose
Early termination / poor outcomes
Hurdle Teletherapy
Expertly trained to address impact of race, ethnicity, and culture
Stronger therapeutic relationships
Higher levels of self-disclosure
Sustained engagement in therapy

Our providers are specially trained to help you navigate your unique challenges.

Hurdle trains its entire clinical network to provide culturally responsive, evidence-based care to individuals, couples and families of all backgrounds.

Never let cost be a barrier to improving mental health.

Whether you are paying out of pocket or through insurance, we have options so you can get the help you deserve.

Insurance

Browse our list of accepted
insurance plans to see if
your sessions can be covered by insurance.

See Insurance Providers
Membership
On Demand
Pay as you go
$129
/
session
Membership
Gold
2 Sessions per month*
$97.50
/
session
Membership
Platinum
4 Sessions per month*
$87.25
/
session

*Pricing for individual therapy for adults. Receive another 10% off when you sign up to be billed every 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you or a loved one are in a crisis or a life-threatening situation, please call 988 or visit your nearest emergency room. For other crisis resources, please click here.

Getting Started
I’ve never been to therapy. How will I know if it’s a good fit for me?

It is normal to be unsure or hesitant about trying therapy. In addition to therapy sessions, Hurdle offers complimentary 15-minute information sessions so you can speak with us to get questions answered before registering to start therapy.

I’ve been to therapy before and it wasn’t effective. How is Hurdle different?

Hurdle understands that people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds have a unique experiences in this country. Our therapists are highly trained and dedicated to providing counseling that allows you to show up as your whole self. If you ever feel that your therapist is not a good match for you, Hurdle makes it simple and easy for you to switch providers. We take your feedback seriously and are committed to ensuring you have a positive and empowered experience with therapy.

What type of therapy does Hurdle offer?

Hurdle provides individual therapy and couples therapy. Hurdle also offers therapy for minors 12+ and families, based on availability. 

How do I sign up and get paired with a therapist?

Register here. Once you complete your registration, Hurdle will pair you with a therapist best suited to meet your therapeutic needs. We have a multicultural, multi-ethnic platform of therapists who provide culturally responsive care.

Will my therapist be Black or POC?

While many of our therapists are Black, we do not discriminate and welcome all races to apply for employment opportunities to meet the needs of those we serve.

At Hurdle, we value the diverse culture of the world, and train all of our therapists in our proven model of culturally intentional therapy. With our therapists, you can be assured that your narrative will not only be heard and acknowledged, but also put in perspective to understand your experiences.

Your culture will always be honored.

Can I share my preferences before I am matched with a therapist?

Absolutely! There is an opportunity for you to share your preferences when you register for therapy.

What happens if I don’t think my therapist is a good fit?

Our sincerest desire is for you to have an experience in which you feel confident that your emotional needs are being met and addressed. If you feel that isn’t the case, please contact Member Success at hello@hurdle.health, and we can work with you and your provider to re-direct your sessions to fulfill your therapeutic needs. In cases where this is not possible, we can also help you switch providers, where possible. 

Once I register, what is the average wait time to schedule my first session?

Appointments are typically available within seven (7) days

How often will I meet with my therapist?

During your first session, your therapist will work with you to determine how often you will meet. Most often, our members meet with their therapists on a weekly basis.

What do I do if I have suicidal thoughts? Will Hurdle work with me?

If you had suicidal thoughts in the past and are no longer actively suicidal, we can work with you. If you are actively having suicidal thoughts we encourage you to call The National Suicidal Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or 911.

Do Hurdle therapists provide medications or help manage prescriptions?

No, Hurdle therapists do not prescribe medications. Participants are encouraged to speak with their primary doctor or seek a referral through their insurance to meet with a psychiatrist or other professional to assist.

What should I do if I want to stop treatment?

You are free to stop treatment at any point. Talk with your therapist before ending therapy to align your treatment plan and have a closing out session. The therapist will provide feedback to us. If you would like to return to treatment, please contact us at hello@hurdle.health. Our virtual doors are always open to you.

How can I provide feedback about my experience?

Please direct all feedback, concerns, and complaints to our Member Success team by phone (724-250-8855) or email (hello@hurdle.health).

Appointments
How long are therapy sessions?

Therapy sessions are typically 45 minutes long.

Are therapy sessions held in person?

No, you will meet with your therapist by video. All Hurdle therapy sessions are held virtually through our secure portal. You will receive a unique link to join your session in the reminder email and texts for each of your sessions. In addition, your portal will hold all information for upcoming sessions.

What if I don’t have access to a computer?

You can also join your session through a web-browser on your smartphone or tablet.

How do I schedule an appointment in my portal?

Desktop:

  1. Select "Appointments" using the toolbar on the left of the screen.
  2. Select "Find Appointments." 
  3. You will see a calendar appear on the left-hand side of the screen--if the calendar does not appear, try re-sizing your screen or look for the small calendar icon to pull up a monthly view.
  4. Click the "What reason should I choose?" prompt below the "Reason for Visit" field, and select the appropriate reason. 
  5. The calendar will update to show dates highlighted in green; this is your provider's availability. Select any of those dates to see available times for your first session. 
  6. Select a time, and review the details that appear. The portal may say "no insurance on file"; please rest assured that ten sessions are covered for Guild employees at no out-of-pocket cost.
  7. If you have any notes for the therapist, please provide them in the "Additional Notes" field.
  8. Finally, select "Schedule Appointment" to finalize your booking! 

Mobile:

  1. Open the "Appointments" dropdown on the main screen to schedule your session, then select "Schedule New Appointment." 
  2. Select an option from the dropdown in the "Reason for Visit" field. 
  3. The calendar will default to a day view; click the calendar icon near the top of the page to switch to a monthly view.
  4. You will see dates highlighted in green; these dates are your provider's availability. Select any of those dates to see available times for your first session.
  5. Select a time, and review the details that appear. The portal may say "no insurance on file"; please rest assured that ten sessions are covered for Guild employees at no out-of-pocket cost.
  6. If you have any notes for the therapist, please provide them in the "Additional Notes" field. 
  7. Finally, select "Schedule Appointment" to finalize your booking!
What if I need to cancel my appointment?

No problem! You can cancel your appointment up to 24 hours before your appointment time to avoid a cancellation fee. If your appointment is not canceled within that time frame, you will be charged a $50 fee for any no-show or late cancellation. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you.

Sessions may be canceled independently in the patient portal up to 48 hours before your scheduled appointment time. If you would like to cancel within 48 hours of your appointment start time, please contact Member Success at 724-250-8855 for assistance.

If a member repeatedly misses (“no-show”) or late-cancels appointments, Hurdle will make further consideration of the continuation of the member’s therapeutic relationship with Hurdle and may charge up to the full cost of the missed session, regardless of health insurance coverage. Members can refer to the Practice Policies & Financial Responsibility Agreement for more information.

Can I schedule a last-minute appointment with my therapist?

We do not offer last-minute appointments. Appointments must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance of the appointment start time.

Attending Sessions
How do I attend my session?

Your appointment link will be included in a confirmation email sent at the time your session was booked. In the email message, click the blue button that says ‘Click here to start your call.’ If you can’t find these emails, check your spam folder or search for the subject line ’[First Name]‘s Appointment Scheduled.’ We will also text the link to your phone if you have opted-in to text reminders. If you can’t find the link, you can ask our Member Success team to send it to you again in advance of your session, or log in to your patient portal to access the scheduled session. Be sure that you have entered your up-to-date contact details, including email address and phone number.

How do I prepare for my first session?

Plan to join your appointment call 5-10 minutes before your scheduled time to check your connection and make sure everything is ready for when your provider joins.

Shut down any other open apps, web browsers or windows, as this could slow down your connection and impact the quality of your session. If joining from your smartphone, we recommend that you place the device in “Do Not Disturb” mode to prevent interruptions. Ensure your device is fully charged, as low power mode can affect your call and may turn off some features on your device.

Before your appointment, get your equipment ready:

  1. Make sure your computer, tablet, or smartphone has all of these:
    • An internet connection
    • A camera and microphone
    • A compatible web browser
      • Desktop
        • Google Chrome (latest three versions) for macOS and Windows
        • Microsoft Edge (latest three versions) for macOS and Windows
        • Safari (latest three versions) for macOS
      • Mobile
        • Google Chrome (latest three versions) for Android
        • Safari (latest three versions) for iOS
          Important: athenaTelehealth is not supported on other iOS browsers, such as Chrome
  2. Check that everything is set up:
    • Make sure that your camera, microphone, and speakers are working (use the quick pre-call device check).
    • Turn off any apps you’re not using to free up bandwidth and memory for better call quality.
  3. Lastly, find a quiet, private space where you can feel comfortable to talk and work one-on-one with your provider. Be honest with the provider about what you want to work on. Be sure the lights are on or that you are sitting near a window to ensure your provider can see you clearly.
When should I join my call?

When you join the call, you will be in a private virtual “waiting room.” Please sit tight until your provider joins. If your provider has not joined after five minutes, please contact our Member Success team at 724-250-8855 so that we may assist with any issues which may prevent you and your provider from connecting. 

Don’t start using other apps that use your camera, microphone, or speakers. This could prevent you from hearing when someone else joins.

If you and your provider are unable to connect via video call, your provider will attempt to call you from a private line.

What should I do when I join the call?

Join your call 5-10 mins before your scheduled time to check your connection and make sure everything is ready for when your provider joins.

Which web browsers can I use for my appointment?

You can use these browsers to enter your session:

  • Desktop
    • Google Chrome (latest three versions) for macOS and Windows
    • Microsoft Edge (latest three versions) for macOS and Windows
    • Safari (latest three versions) for macOS
  • Mobile
    • Google Chrome (latest three versions) for Android
    • Safari (latest three versions) for iOS
      Important: athenaTelehealth is not supported on other iOS browsers, such as Chrome
Can family members join my therapy session?

If your therapist feels it is appropriate for your family member to join a one-time session, they may allow this once. However, if the family member joins more frequently than once, they will need to register for our services to begin couples or family sessions.

Troubleshooting
Why can’t I see myself during my session?

Another app might be using your camera. Try shutting down all other apps or restarting your device, and then rejoin your call. This should free up your camera for use.

Your camera may also be blocked or disabled. To make sure your device is set up for a successful call, go through our simple pre-call device check.

I can’t hear my provider. What should I do?

Make sure your device volume is up and that you don’t have the sound on mute.If you have headphones or other speakers connected, check to see if the sound is playing there.

If you’re using Bluetooth speakers, first check that your device and speakers have been set up as a pair.

If they are already paired, make sure that Bluetooth is switched to “on” on your device. To make sure your device is set up for a successful call, go through our simple pre-call device check.

My provider can’t hear me. What should I do?

Check your sound and equipment:

  • Make sure you’re not on mute.
    • If you’re on an Android device and this is your first call, you will need to mute and unmute at the start of the call. Your browser will show you a permission check for your camera and microphone. After you give that permission, you will be set and won’t have to do this again.
  • Check that your internet connection is working.
  • If you’re on a mobile device, make sure you’re connected to WiFi.
  • See if your microphone is blocked or disabled and try enabling it.
  • If you’re using headphones or a headset, disconnect them and use your device’s speakers and microphone instead.
  • If you’re using a Bluetooth headset, you may need to disable Bluetooth as well.

If that didn’t fix the problem, try checking your device itself:

  • Shut down any other apps. Close other browser tabs and windows.
  • They may be using the microphone. They may also be taking up internet bandwidth and memory on your device.
  • This includes unused apps, background apps, and streaming apps like Netflix or YouTube.
  • Check that your browser isn’t in private mode or an incognito window.
  • Disable low power mode on battery-powered devices. Plug the device in to charge to get out of low power mode.
  • Restart your device to close down any other apps that are using up power

Your internet connection could also be causing problems. Try these steps:

  • If you’re on a WiFi connection, move closer to the router.
  • If your router is in a cupboard or far away from your device, consider moving it to a central location in your home for better overall signal.
  • You can also try switching to the 5GHz frequency to increase the bandwidth available to your device.
  • Other devices close to your router could also disrupt your signal. Consider moving those further away.
  • If other people in your household are also using the internet, see if they can stop while you make your call.
  • Use an ethernet cable to directly connect to your router instead of using WiFi for a more stable connection.
  • Contact your internet service provider. They may be able to help troubleshoot problems and offer different options for faster connection if your signal strength is fine but your speed is slow.

To make sure your device is set up for a successful call, go through our simple pre-call device check.

I started my call but got disconnected. What should I do?

If you get disconnected, simply refresh the page and rejoin your call.

Billing
Do you accept my health insurance?

We are in-network with most major carriers, varying on a state-by-state basis. If you have questions about whether your specific plan is accepted, you can contact us at hello@hurdle.health to verify your coverage.

Do you accept EAPs?

We accept and bill EAPs backed by most major carriers, varying on a state-by-state basis. If you would like to apply EAP benefits toward your sessions, please email your authorization code to hello@hurdle.health as early as possible, and at least three business days in advance of your session date.

How much does therapy cost?

The cost of therapy will be determined by your insurance agreement or the membership plan that you select. For insurance, you are responsible only for your deductible and you may be responsible for co-insurance or co-payments. Hurdle can help verify your coverage and estimate your co-payments prior to your first session. Hurdle offers a range of membership plans to make therapy affordable for those who pay out-of-pocket. We offer membership packages for individual therapy starting at $78.53 per session. Our standard out-of-pocket rates are $129/session for individual therapy and $150/session for couples therapy without membership plans.

How do I pay for sessions?

Payment for self-pay members will be charged to the credit card on file within two business days of the session. If you are insured and have a balance due after your insurance claim has settled with Hurdle, payment will then be processed to the credit card on file.

Hurdle requires that all members have an active credit card on file. If we are unsuccessful with processing payment, you will be notified and asked to provide updated credit card information to avoid any pause in service.

Membership Plans
What does my membership include?

Your membership gives you access to either two tele-therapy sessions (Gold Package) or four tele-therapy sessions (Platinum Package) per month (30 days).

How will I pay for my membership?

Membership payments are charged to your debit/credit card or FSA/HSA on a recurring basis.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes, there are no contracts. You can cancel your subscription at any time. Please note, there are no refunds for unused sessions. All cancellation requests should be emailed to Member Success at hello@hurdle.health.

If I don’t use my sessions this month, do they roll over to next month?

Unused sessions do not roll over to the following month.

What if I need an extra therapy session?

If you’ve used your sessions for the month and would like to schedule an additional session, you are able to pay the per-session rate of $129.

What if I miss my appointment?

We assess a $50 fee for appointments you miss or cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. If you have any questions about a cancellation fee you incurred, please contact Member Success by emailing hello@hurdle.health

Up to 48 hours before your appointment, you may cancel your appointment independently via the patient portal. For cancellations outside of this window, please contact Member Success at 724-250-8855 for assistance in cancelling your appointment.

If a member repeatedly misses (“no-show”) or late-cancels appointments, Hurdle will make further consideration of the continuation of the member’s therapeutic relationship with Hurdle and may charge up to the full cost of the missed session. Members can refer to the Practice Policies & Financial Responsibility Agreement for more information.

Can I use my membership for a family member?

Memberships cannot be divided between family members. Only the membership subscriber can use the sessions that are included in the membership plan.

Can I use my membership for couples or family therapy

Memberships are currently only available for individual therapy use. Couples and family therapy can be scheduled and paid for at their standard per-session rates.

Does my plan auto-renew?

Yes, once you’ve signed up you are all set, but you can cancel anytime.

Can I change my plan?

Yes, you can change your plan by emailing us at hello@hurdle.health. Any plan changes will be reflected on the next billing cycle.

How often will my credit card be charged?

As a member, you are automatically charged on a recurring basis, which you select when you sign-up for the plan. You can choose to sign up for a monthly plan or a quarterly plan (every three months).

How do I get a receipt that can be used to send to my insurance company?

You will receive an emailed copy of the receipt once payment has been processed. If you need additional information, send your request to hello@hurdle.health.

I signed up for a Hurdle membership. What’s next?

Once you’ve signed up, you will receive an email granting you access to Hurdle’s client portal, where you will be able to schedule your first appointment.

Privacy
Are my virtual sessions confidential?

Yes, our telehealth sessions are private and secure. Both the athenaHealth patient portal and our mobile app are HIPAA compliant.

Every online appointment gets a unique link. The links are never reused or copied, and they are never accessible to anyone else.

Can my health information be shared with other entities?

Hurdle is committed to protecting your privacy. Federal regulations allow healthcare providers, who have a direct treatment relationship with patients, to use or disclose personal health information without the patient's written authorization to carry out treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. Protected health information may be disclosed to other health care providers in our practice, without patient's permission, for relevant treatment activities or during consultation/supervision events, yet, this does not occur with clinicians at other companies without a patient's explicit release of information, unless in the case of an extreme emergency such as if it includes information related to imminent potential to harm to self or others. For example, if your current clinician were to consult with your former licensed health care provider at our organization about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information, which is otherwise confidential, to assist the clinician in diagnosing and treating your mental health condition.