Therapy (Counseling) Services – Return to Baseline, LLC

Provided by Nikki Espil, LCSW, BCD
Effective October 1, 2025

Therapy at Return to Baseline, LLC is confidential, practical, and tailored for high-responsibility professionals—military members, first responders, healthcare providers, educators, parents, and other leaders who carry heavy responsibilities.

We begin by establishing trust and understanding your unique goals, history, and stressors. Nikki brings over 15 years of clinical experience, advanced training, and board certification (BCD) to provide a thorough, initial, clinical evaluation. From there, therapy is customized to restore balance, clarity, and emotional steadiness—focused on results, not unnecessary steps. Our work is intentionally structured, personalized, and paced to meet the complexity of the roles our clients hold.

Therapy here emphasizes recalibration, resilience, and performance—helping you function optimally both at work and in life.

SERVICES OFFERED

Secure Telehealth
Private, convenient sessions from the comfort of your home.
Available in WI, TX, FL, VA, NC

Walk and Talk Therapy
A grounding, full-body experience combining movement and conversation.
Available seasonally in the Milwaukee, WI area

THERAPY RATES (Effective 01 OCT 2025)

Fees reflect advanced training, board certification, and depth of clinical expertise. Investing in therapy is an investment in yourself—supporting sustainable clarity, resilience, and performance.

• 15-Minute Introductory Consultation: Free

• Initial Diagnostic Evaluation: $215

• Initial Evaluation + 30-Minute Session: $275

• 30-Minute Session: $100

• 60-Minute Session: $185

• 90-Minute Session: $250

Ready to Begin?

Schedule a session below and take the next step toward returning to your baseline—restoring focus, balance, and effectiveness in your work and life.

Consultation Services – Return to Baseline, LLC

Return to Baseline offers professional consultation and leadership development for high-responsibility professionals. Personal and professional growth is an essential investment—one that supports sustainable leadership, clarity under pressure, and intentional living.

With nearly 20 years of behavioral health and EAP experience, Nikki partners with leaders seeking to optimize performance, realign priorities, and strengthen resilience. Consultation is focused, results-driven, and tailored to your goals: leading under pressure, making clear decisions, and building a life that extends beyond your role.

If your work has begun to define you, consultation helps you reset, clarify your values, and lead—and live—with intention.

Lead With Purpose

Consultation focuses on strategic, actionable growth:

• Clarifying priorities and values

• Enhancing decision-making and leadership under pressure

• Building sustainable routines and work-life integration

• Strengthening team resilience and communication

• Preventing burnout and supporting recovery

• Crisis debriefing & psychological first aid (call for rates)

Who We Support

Professionals in demanding roles seeking focused growth and actionable results:

• Healthcare providers (physicians, nurses, behavioral health, support staff)

• Military personnel & veterans

• First responders (fire, law enforcement, EMTs, dispatch)

• Educators, chaplains, operational leaders

• Business professionals and executives

What We Offer

• Brief, focused consultations (typically 1–4 sessions)

• Solution-focused, results-driven process to move from stuck to strategic

• Virtual sessions available in WI, TX, FL, VA, & NC

• In-person (limited) in Milwaukee, WI – call for availability

Rates (Effective October 1, 2025)

• 15-Minute Introductory Consultation: Free

• 30-Minute Session: $100

• 60-Minute Session: $185

• 90-Minute Session: $250

Fees reflect advanced expertise, specialized experience, and commitment to measurable growth. Investing in consultation is an investment in strategic leadership and personal performance.

Ready to Reconnect With Your Purpose?

Schedule your consultation below and take the next step toward clarity, effectiveness, and intentional leadership.

Walk & Talk Therapy – Return to Baseline, LLC

Walk & Talk Therapy is a results-oriented, movement-based alternative to traditional counseling. By taking sessions outdoors, clients benefit from fresh air, gentle activity, and focused conversation—a combination shown to support emotional regulation, clarity, and resilience.

High-stress roles—whether in the military, first responder work, healthcare, or leadership—often mean chronic activation of the body’s stress response. Over time, this can affect focus, mood, and overall wellbeing. Walk & Talk Therapy provides a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature and become attuned to the body’s signals, helping clients notice tension, release stress, and restore equilibrium.

Inspired by Nikki’s deep connection to nature, Walk & Talk Therapy offers a grounded, holistic setting where reflection and insight are amplified. Clients of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome. Designed for high-responsibility professionals, this approach integrates mind and body to help you process stress, maintain clarity, and reconnect with purpose.

Why Nature Supports Mental Performance

1. Calms the Nervous System
   Time outdoors lowers cortisol, helping you feel centered and grounded.

2. Enhances Awareness and Perspective
   Natural settings encourage mindfulness, reduce overwhelm, and increase attunement to your body and mind—especially important for those in high-stress roles.

3. Movement Boosts Mood and Focus
   Walking releases endorphins and energy, while pairing physical activity with guided conversation deepens insight and emotional regulation.

Session Details

• Rates: Same as standard counseling sessions

• Location: Milwaukee, WI area

• Weather: Sessions may be rescheduled for inclement conditions

• Travel: A surcharge may apply depending on location

• Consent: A separate Walk & Talk Therapy consent form is required

Ready to Schedule?

Scroll below to get started and experience a grounded, performance-oriented approach to therapy—outside the office, in motion, and in tune with your body and environment.

Return to Baseline is a private-pay counseling practice.

To improve access for local law enforcement officers and city employees in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin, we accept UnitedHealthcare on a limited basis. Availability may be restricted.

During a consultation, we can review your goals and discuss whether private pay or insurance is the best fit for your needs.

Accepted Forms of Payment

• Private Pay (Self-Pay)

• Secure client portal

• Venmo

• Out-of-network insurance benefits

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) / Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

See below for a brief description of each option.

1. Enhanced Privacy & Confidentiality

Private pay means no third-party access to your records or treatment details.
→ Your sessions remain fully confidential, reserved only for you and your therapist.

2. Support Without a Diagnosis

Insurance often requires a formal mental health diagnosis to approve coverage.
→ With private pay, you can receive guidance and support without needing to meet diagnostic criteria—because your growth and wellbeing are the priority.

3. Choose the Right Therapist for You

Insurance networks can limit your options and speed of access.
→ Private pay allows you to select a therapist based on expertise, experience, and fit—often with faster availability.

4. Flexible, Client-Directed Care

Insurance may restrict session length, pace, or treatment approach.
→ With private pay, you and your therapist decide the focus, format, and rhythm that best supports your goals and responsibilities.

5. Transparent, Predictable Investment

No surprise bills, claim denials, or hidden fees.
→ Return to Baseline provides a Good Faith Estimate, so your investment is clear, intentional, and strategic.

Payment at Time of Service

All services are paid in full at the time of your session unless a prior written agreement is made. Payments are processed securely through our client portal, keeping the process simple, confidential, and seamless.

Using Out-of-Network Insurance Benefits

GREAT NEWS!! If your insurance plan includes out-of-network (OON) mental health benefits, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement. OON benefits can save you big bucks on your therapy and wellness investment with Return to Baseline, LLC. Please note, you are responsible for this benefit, Return to Baseline, LLC does not interact with the insurance companies.

We will provide a superbill (an itemized receipt with required codes and details) for you to submit to your insurance provider. We can also help answer generic questions about insurance and help teach you how to advocate for this benefit.

Ask your insurance company:

• Do I have out-of-network coverage for outpatient mental health services?

• How do I submit a claim for out-of-network reimbursement?

• Is there a deductible I must meet first?

• What is the reimbursement rate for the following CPT codes?

• Are there limits to the number of sessions?

Common CPT Codes:

• 90791 – Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation

• 90832 – Psychotherapy, 30 minutes (16–37 minutes)

• 90834 – Psychotherapy, 45 minutes (38–52 minutes)

• 90837 – Psychotherapy, 60 minutes (53+ minutes) *** Most common service we offer.

Consultations, supervision, and classes are not eligible for insurance reimbursement or FSA/HSA use — these services are paid directly through our secure client portal.

FSA & HSA Payments Accepted

Therapy (counseling) with Return to Baseline, LLC is recognized as a qualified medical expense. Clients may use Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to pay for therapy sessions, making it easier to invest in your mental health and wellbeing.

Please note: Consultations, supervision, and classes are not eligible for insurance reimbursement or FSA/HSA use and are billed directly through our secure client portal.

Using FSA or HSA funds is a convenient way to prioritize your mental health while maintaining flexibility and privacy in how you access care.

DISCLAIMER – WISCONSIN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS

Return to Baseline, LLC is a private counseling practice and does not provide clinical services to current members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard or their spouses.

The provider concurrently serves in an official capacity as a Behavioral Health Officer within the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Providing counseling services to individuals within this population would constitute a dual relationship and present a conflict of interest, raising ethical concerns and potential violations of military regulations and federal compliance standards.

This policy is implemented to uphold professional ethical obligations, protect client confidentiality, maintain appropriate professional boundaries, and ensure compliance with applicable military and federal ethics requirements. Referrals and external resources are available to assist affected individuals in obtaining appropriate care.

Miscellaneous Fees & Surcharges

To maintain high-quality, flexible, and personalized care, certain fees apply. These are transparent, fair, and ensure that all clients receive the attention and availability they deserve.

No-Show / Late Cancellation Policy

• 48-hour notice is required for cancellations.

• $125 fee applies for late cancellations or no-shows.

• One-time emergency excusal may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Three missed sessions in 90 days may result in removal from the practice to preserve availability for active clients.

These policies ensure that your time and your therapist’s time are respected, while maintaining the quality and reliability of services for all clients.

Travel Rate Surcharges

To support flexible, on-location sessions, travel-related fees may apply:

• $1.25 per mile (round trip), calculated from ZIP code 53220

• Clients are responsible for parking fees or tolls

• Travel fees may be renegotiated in cases of heavy traffic or significant delays

Why we charge:
Travel fees cover fuel, time, and vehicle wear, allowing us to provide mobile services without compromising care quality or availability.

Administrative Services Fee

For tasks completed outside of therapy sessions, including:

• Writing letters (employers, schools, legal matters)

• Completing forms (FMLA, disability, insurance)

• Creating personalized reports, presentations, or clinical documents

Rate: $30 per 15 minutes (billed in 15-minute increments)

Why we charge:
These tasks require clinical expertise, attention to detail, and often must meet legal or professional standards. The fee reflects the time, skill, and care required to provide personalized, high-quality support beyond your sessions.

We appreciate your understanding—these policies allow us to maintain the highest level of care and availability for all clients.