So, after mulling it over for a while, you have finally decided to take the jump and find a therapist to “work through some issues.” It’s not uncommon for it to take individuals a while to get to the point of making an appointment with a therapist. While the benefits of therapy can be great, it is also important to have a strategy in place for how to pay for it.
First Step
Investigate your insurance options. Know what your plan is. Since the Affordable Care Act, mental health services must be a covered insurance benefit. Call your insurance provider and ask them what your in-network and out-of-network benefits are for psychotherapy. They should tell you what your co-pay will be, if there is a coinsurance rate, and what your out-of-pocket max is per year. For out of network coverage, your insurance will typically pay a percentage of the cost for therapy.
Second Step
Decide how much you can pay out of pocket. I have found over the years that people don’t always prioritize their emotional wellbeing. Sometimes it takes a hard look at your budget to see how you can afford therapy.
Next Step
Have an honest conversation with the therapist you are interested in working with. After talking to the therapist and exploring what your needs and goals are, it may be possible to come up with a strategy around the frequency of your visits in order to keep the costs down. The therapist may also be able to be flexible with his/her rates or come up with a payment plan for you.
I think psychotherapy or “talk therapy” should be affordable for everyone. I am in network with some insurance plans and will provide you with any documentation you need for out-of-network benefits. If the cost of therapy is a concern, please contact me so we can explore a sliding scale fee or payment plan.