What is the typical cost of therapy? Perhaps this is the “million dollar” question. As some clients would assert, therapy seems to cost a million dollars! So what should a client be expecting to pay for good therapy? That all depends on what you think your mental health is worth. What you are willing to pay to feel good? What do you hope to get out of the therapeutic process?
How do I pay for therapy?
For starters, this is an easy question to answer. There are only two forms of payment for therapy: Insured/medical coverage, and Fee per service (money out of your own pocket).
Insurance and Medical Coverage
Some countries, states and provinces provide medical coverage for therapy. Mind you, the wait lists for getting in are usually miles long and for limited, short sessions. It is difficult to receive the appropriate therapy when you need it most. In crisis if you are a threat to yourself or others, admittance into the emergency/psychiatric ward for 72 hour holding becomes a scary reality!
Furthermore, most clients are only able to receive limited sessions before their medical insurance runs out. The sad part is, when they are finally making inroads towards healing, they are cut-off from their most beneficial source of help.
If you work for a good employer who offers you benefits, then your benefits may cover your counseling fees. In this instance, clients are referred to a therapist/psychologist recommended by their employee assistance program (EAP). They are able to utilize the counseling services they need and most times can see the therapist on a continual basis until they feel better. Luckily, they usually do not get cut off when they are finally making progress.
Explore your health benefit plans. What do they offer? Does mental health services qualify? What about “diseases” such as drug and alcohol dependency? You will see how different insurance policies have arrangements for therapy and physical and mental health. Discuss these options with your HR representative. They will be able to point you into various directions such as income adjusted/free counseling sessions.
Fee Per Service
Let’s be realistic, most individuals are not in positions to get this kind of therapeutic support. To get this quality of therapy would probably cost into the thousands of dollars if conducted for prolonged period of time. With that said, the majority of people receiving therapy fall under option two— fee per service.
Fee per service means clients have to pay from their own pocket. The bad part is that most people don’t have the extra income for counseling and can never get the counseling they need. Or when they are able to, it’s for only limited sessions. The good part is that the wait lists are not long and one can usually get in for immediate support. Immediate help is usually just a phone call away if you have the money.
Depending on where you live, some therapists are regulated by governing bodies that have standardized rates, while others, who are allowed to open practice can set their own rates. Typically, a session is an hour long. Depending on the qualifications and experience, and the caseload of a therapist, clients can be expected to pay somewhere around $50 to $200 per session. That’s right! Some therapists can and do charge a couple of hundred dollars a session. Guess what? If they are still in business with that set fee, something is working.
Some good therapists will provide a sliding scale pending on your circumstances. They will adjust prices to accommodate your lifestyle. They’re focus is on mental health and treatment rather than finances. Rates can drop to $20, even free.
Obviously, the cost of therapy is a major issue if you are limited in funds. However, what is more important is the quality of therapy received. Can you really place a price on your mental health when you are feeling the best you’ve had in a long time? Results matter if you want to have a positive cost basis.
There is no doubt that some people overpay for the quality of help they are getting. Some continue to pay for little or no help but are clueless in their dependence on their therapist. Furthermore, some therapists will milk their clients and take advantage of them.
Conversely, some people “nickel and dime” their therapy. They seek out “bargain” therapists who offer little, but they see the advantage of going on the cheap even when they have the money to spend for a more qualified therapist.
Rule of thumb when it comes to buying therapy
There is one basic, simple rule to follow: Get the most out of what you are paying for.
Whatever goals you set and whatever direction you and your therapist map out will probably produce results if followed. Furthermore, good therapists often times suggest homework assignments. To get the most of what you are paying for, it is a good idea to follow the prescribed methods and use the applications and tools.
People will buy new houses, cars or appliances and make sure they follow the directions the sales person or manual states. They want to maximize their investment and keep it safe. When it comes to therapy, many clients do not follow what they agree upon and it proves to be a fruitless process. You only get out of therapy what you are willing to put in. Time is the greatest cost!
Time Costs
When it comes to discussing the costs of therapy, perhaps the greatest cost any client will incur is their time. Going to therapy regularly takes time, patience and a great investment of thoughts and emotions. This is the greatest cost individuals will experience in therapy.
Simply put, spend the money and time if you will get better, or modify your thoughts/emotions to a point of functioning at a higher level. Conversely, by not attending therapy when you need it, you are in essence wasting time. The time lost in personal chaos could have been beneficial if invested wisely–in therapy.
The costs for therapy do not come cheap. If you want to become a “better” healthier person, it is going to occur at some cost. The important question to ask is not how much it’s going to cost, rather if they are dedicated and driven for change and mental health.
