In Part 1 of the Finding the Right Therapist series, Knowing What You Need, we explored questions you can ask yourself to determine what it is you need from a therapist.
Now, in Part 2, we’ll explore one of the biggest mysteries…how to pay for therapy.
How you will pay for therapy may be a short or long answer depending on your particular situation, needs, and preferences.
The short list of how to pay for therapy is:
- Insurance benefits
- Health savings account
- Cash / bank account
- Credit card
Before we dive in, please know that I am not an expert in insurance. If you need specific answers to your insurance questions, please consult with your insurance provider. This information is provided as an educational overview and should not be considered expert advice.
Insurance Benefits
If you have private insurance, you may wish to use it to pay for therapy. There are two types of private insurance benefits, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and behavioral health (or commercial) benefits (which are associated with medical insurance benefits).
EAP Benefits
Many larger employers offer EAP benefits to employees that may come with a certain number of sessions that the company pays for (usually from 2-8 sessions). These are free to you and the focus is typically on brief, short-term therapy to help deal with one particular issue.
Behavioral Health Benefits
Behavioral health insurance may be a part of your medical insurance benefits. Depending on the type of insurance coverage you have, you may be required to pay:
- a copay for each therapy session
- the full amount of the session that may go toward your deductible
You can contact your insurance provider to find out if therapy is covered, what coverage you have, how much you would be paying for each session, how many sessions are allowed, and a list of therapists who accept your insurance.
Even if you use your behavioral health insurance benefits, you will likely have to pay some part of the costs for therapy.
Also important to note is that not all therapists accept insurance for a variety of reasons which are beyond the scope of this article. But, you still may be able to get partial reimbursement for therapy from your insurance provider if you choose a therapist who does not accept insurance (also known as an out of network provider).
Health Savings Accounts
If you have a Health Savings Account through your insurance, this may be a good option for paying for therapy services. You can check with your account provider to see if you can use your health savings account debit card to directly pay for services or if you need to pay for services then submit a receipt to your account provider for reimbursement.
Cash / Bank Account / Credit Card
If you do not have or don’t want to use insurance, you will be paying for therapy yourself. You may hear or see the following terms which all mean the same as paying for therapy yourself:
- Out of pocket
- Cash pay
- Private pay
- Out of network
Most therapists take major credit cards. Some take cash and checks.
Budgeting for Therapy (with or without insurance)
Whether you use insurance benefits to pay for therapy or not, you’ll want to think about what you can afford. When first starting therapy, it is common to see a therapist weekly for maximum healing benefit. Some clients stay in therapy for a few sessions, and others stay for years.
Once you find a therapist, you will have a discussion about how long therapy might last for you and how often you will have sessions. This will help you budget.
As you get started, however, think about how much you can afford to pay on a weekly basis for at least two months (that’s 4 sessions per month for 2 months = 8 sessions). Eight sessions will help you get through a less complicated issue but will generally not be enough time to process through more complex issues.
Creative Solutions for Budget-Minded Clients
Some therapists (like myself) have gotten creative about how to offer therapy and other therapeutic services.
Shorter and Longer Session Lengths
The traditional therapy hour (lasting anywhere from 45-55 minutes) doesn’t work for everyone or for every session. Some sessions seem done in a shorter time, others may need longer time. Many therapists are adopting alternative session lengths to better meet their clients’ needs. Look for sessions of 30 minutes (about 25 minutes of face time), 90 minutes (about 75-80 minutes of face time), or even longer.
Group Counseling
Group counseling isn’t new, but it is a great way to meet certain treatment goals with the support of not only a therapist but peers going through similar challenges. Groups can be used in addition to individual therapy or instead of individual therapy depending on your treatment goals and preferences. Plus, one group counseling session is typically a fraction of the cost of an individual session.
Sliding Scale
Some therapists offer sliding scale fees. This basically means they offer reduced rates for people who either cannot afford their regular fees or for people going through financial hardship. Therapists who do offer sliding scale options often limit the number of clients they accept for a lower fee.
Phew, that was a lot of information.
To sum it all up…
- Know what your options are
- Do some math
- Breathe
Finally, understand that therapy is an investment in your long-term well-being. It didn’t take overnight to get to a place of needing help, and it will take longer than overnight to get to where you want to be.
The cost of therapy may not be cheap, but the rewards will be priceless. And you are so worth it!
In Part 3, we’ll explore how to find potential therapists.
