Maybe youve been laid off and can no longer afford how much youve been paying your therapist.
You could be losing yourhealth insuranceand need to reevaluate your out-of-pocket expenses.
Read on to learn how to negotiate how much you pay fortherapy.
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That is more than many can reasonably afford.
Amongst those surveyed, 37% had to quit therapy due to financial burdens.
How to Negotiate Your Therapy Rate
Some therapists offer asliding scalerate for a limited number of individuals.
A sliding scale is a discounted fee that therapists offer to make mental health care more accessible.
There is an art to negotiating your rate, though.
Holding the value of paying for therapy in mind, it is important to begin by setting your budget.
Pay Attention to When You Receive Paychecks
Be mindful of your pay dates as well.
You dont want to have to cancel a session because youre waiting on your paycheck.
Once youve set your budget, youre ready to startreaching out to therapists.
This can make the process of finding atherapistmuch easier.
Always Ask
There is no harm in asking about sliding scale fees.
Open Path Collectiveis a great resource for seeking out diverse sliding-scale providers.
Your therapist should be able to have an open and honest discussion with you about your rate.
This kind of conversation about fees does not have to be personal.
It is ultimately a business transaction that must be amenable to both parties.
There is no shame in this, and you still deservecare.
A Word From Verywell
Therapy is expensive, but that shouldnt hold you back from seeking care.
Even emailing therapists in your area for referrals can be a start.
Verywell Mind.Cost of Therapy Survey.
Lazar SG.The cost-effectiveness of psychotherapy for the major psychiatric diagnoses.Psychodyn.
2013;15(4):311-329. doi: 1080/13642537.2013.849274
