In today’s world, Psychotherapy is a useful tool for many people in difficult circumstances. Searching for a psychotherapist is the first step to getting relief. It can be light at the end of the tunnel for those who have been battling depression and anxiety.
The only disadvantage of psychotherapy is that it is expensive. That’s the main reason for people who are already not in a positive mental state and who may struggle to find a way to overcome the obstacles they face.
Looking for a therapist to work on psychological healing or personal growth and making sure you use your hard-earned insurance to cover it. Unaffordable treatment should not be a barrier to receiving treatment. But for many, it is. Those who don’t have comprehensive health insurance may find themselves in a situation where they have to decide between household bills and therapy. People without health insurance may find it difficult to pay for mental health services.
In this article, we will let you know about sliding scale therapy and how it works.
What is Sliding-Scale Therapy?
Sliding scale therapy is simple therapy based on a person’s income. Both private and non-profit clinic therapists frequently use this method to make therapy accessible for people who can’t afford their standard rates.
The reason behind therapists offering sliding-scale fees is so they can succeed financially while still being able to help people who can’t afford their regular rates. Therapy rates are high, but they reflect the costs therapists have to absorb to maintain their practices.
Furthermore, therapists have to pay individual taxes, office rent, and their health insurance, liability insurance, licensing fees, and continuing education courses and credits they must take to maintain their licenses.
Most therapists believe that a person’s income should determine whether they can get therapy or not. Therapists wish that they didn’t have to turn anyone away but know that they couldn’t survive and support their families if they didn’t charge competitive rates. Therapists can’t offer rates everyone can afford, sliding-scale fees are one way they can compromise and open their doors for more people.
How Sliding-Scale Therapy Works?
The sliding-scale fee is a range of rates assigned to people based on their income. It varies the way therapists set up sliding scales. Some therapists assign a specific fee for a set range of incomes. For example, for people who make $30,000 to $40,000 /per year, a therapist might charge $40 per session, while charging $150 per session from people who make $120,000 to $150,000 /per year.
Most therapists who offer sliding-scale services mention fees on their website or profile page. Many therapists won’t list their full fee structure online, especially on sites they don’t update frequently, as rates may change over time. You can call or email the therapist for inquiries to find out what fee they will assign to pay per session.
Most of the sliding-scale fees are tied to income, it can be changed if your income changes significantly. If you’re doing an interim job that pays less, your therapist may be willing to lower your fees, especially if you both have a good working relationship.
Both private and public non-profit mental health clinics offer sliding-scale therapy for lower rates than private practices therapists.
Why is Sliding-scale therapy important?
Therapy has benefits for mental health. It helps in overcoming mental illness. People are mostly concerned about the cost of therapy, especially when they think about paying more out of pocket. There is affordable therapy available for people with low resources. Affordable therapy enables clients to pay less amount for their treatment. read more about online therapy reviews.
Sliding-scale therapy can help people with issues relating to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, and more. It is important to find a therapist that provides support. Therapists can help people make crucial decisions like continuing education and many other choices.
Many health care clinics make use of sliding-scale therapy to overcome mental illness. When you’re confused and facing problems, counseling serves as a weapon against psychological problems. Sliding-scale therapy helps you to see from a different perspective. With a trained therapist, you may have a cathartic experience that is beneficial to your mental health, and it occurs when you have a release of your feelings that you have kept for so long.
Wrapping up:
If you’re looking for traditional therapy at a reduced rate, you can start by searching online through a directory. You can call them individually via email or phone about rates. It’s important, to be honest with yourself about what you can afford and respect therapist fees and values. If you’re struggling with mental health issues, cost shouldn’t be the factor preventing you from getting help. Whether you opt to use your insurance or pursue a sliding-scale service, treatment is available.
