Therapy Thursday is a weekly blog where I answer all your burning questions about the weird world of therapy, insurance, and more. Please comment and share – and ask some questions!
Melinda Hammond, Psy.D.
Maybe you’ve finally made the decision to seek help, but the price tag seems out of reach. Therapy costs too much! I’m passionate about making therapy affordable for everyone. Here are a few ways to make your counseling sessions affordable. Affordable therapy is out there – let’s talk about how to find it.
When your therapist doesn’t take your insurance: Maybe you have insurance, but your therapist isn’t in network. Or, maybe you got a new job, and your counselor doesn’t take your new insurance. Or, perhaps you found the perfect psychologist, but she doesn’t take insurance at all. If you’re in a rural area, or have a small insurance company, it can also be difficult to find a therapist available in your area.
Use your HSA or Flex spending account: In these situations, your HSA or Flex Spending account may come in handy. If you don’t have one yet, look into setting one up. This allows you to use pre-tax money to pay for your therapy. Because therapy is a medical expense, it qualifies for this type of payment.
Use out of network benefits: If you have insurance, but the therapist you want doesn’t take it, some plans allow for out of network benefits. This means that you pay the counselor directly and they give you a special kind of receipt called a superbill. This has more than just payment information – it includes important medical codes such as CPT codes and diagnosis codes. Then, you take this superbill and send it in to your insurance company. They reimburse you the agreed on amount. Make sure to call your insurance company to check before starting this arrangement – they’ll tell you if there are any limits to this benefit, and how much of the fee they will reimburse.
Get creative with scheduling: This is a commonly used way to make therapy affordable, and there are a few ways to do it, depending on your needs and financial situation. Most commonly, many clients come in for therapy every other week. With some support from your therapist (for example, she might give you extra readings or activities to do between sessions), you can see gains while making the cost affordable. Some therapists will ask you to come in weekly for the first few weeks, then move to every other week. Another, less common tactic, is to use half-hour sessions. This might be worth asking about – meeting with your therapist for a full session every other week, and a half hour check-in at a reduced rate on your “off” weeks.
Ask about a sliding scale: Many therapists offer a sliding scale – an adjustable rate that allows more people to access care. Be honest about what you can afford and any special circumstances, and see what is available. Most psychologists follow the APA’s recommendations, and document the reasons that a person needs a sliding scale in order to make sure that discounts are being applied fairly (and without discrimination). Some websites, like Open Path Collective, can match clients with available therapists at a low cost, or facilitate a reduced rate with a psychologist.
Look for a training program: Many therapy agencies will have a training program. In these programs, you can meet with a student therapist at a reduced rate (in some cases, extremely inexpensive or free). So your therapist will be learning – which makes some people nervous. However, they’ll also have regular supervision with a licensed therapist. In many cases, it’s like having two therapists in one. Furthermore, because your student therapist will still be in school (or a recent graduate), they’ll be learning about cutting-edge techniques and research. This is a particularly good option if you have extremely limited funds.
At the end of the day, it’s important to prioritize your mental health – it’s the cornerstone of everything important to you. Work with a counselor to find a way to make therapy affordable for your particular circumstances.
Melinda Hammond, Psy.D. is the owner of Hammond Psychological Services, LLC. As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Hammond is passionate about helping others better understand the therapy process and themselves. She lives in Crest Hill, IL with her husband, two boys and two dogs.
Hammond Psychological Services, LLC provides therapy and assessment to individuals and families in 14 states, focusing on anxiety, panic disorders and autism spectrum disorder.