Affordable therapy - what it is and why it matters
Cost should not be a barrier to getting the help you need
By Aviva Boxer, Registered Psychotherapist
In a perfect world, mental health would be treated the same as physical health in Canada and it would be covered by a national health system supporting both body and mind. But at this point it is not the case. Many people either pay for their therapy sessions out of pocket or through their work’s benefits programs. Recognizing that sometimes the cost of therapy can be a barrier to a person reaching out for support, many therapists offer affordable counselling to make therapy accessible to as many people as possible.
What is affordable therapy?
Affordable therapy is a session fee that is lower than the amount listed by the therapist. This can be a set amount offered by the therapist or it can be an amount that the client and therapist settle on together. The main thing to know is that therapists want their clients to be open about their financial challenges especially if this becomes a barrier to the client seeking mental health support when they need it. Everyone deserves support and access to therapy, and financial challenges should not get in the way of getting that support.
Affordable counselling only means that the fee is lower. It does not mean that the quality is any different than paying the full fee. As a client with a reduced fee, you should always expect to receive excellent care from your therapist.
Sliding-scale fees
Many therapists offer sliding scale fees where the fee can be lowered as needed for the client. Therapists often have a certain number of spots set aside to support clients who need to pay a lower rate. Sometimes clients pay the full fee and then have job loss or other life circumstances and need to access a sliding scale fee for a time until they can restore their financial stability. The opposite also happens where clients start off at a sliding scale and then move to full fee when their financial picture improves. Some clients remain on a sliding scale for the duration of their therapy sessions and that is OK too.
Low-cost therapy
At everwell we offer low-cost therapy by our dedicated group of therapist interns, who are masters students completing their practicums, the work term that is part of their degree. The regular fee to work with an intern is $85, which is approximately half of the cost of most fully licensed therapists. And even though our low-cost therapy option is already reduced, this can be further reduced to meet the needs of the client. It is so important for a client to be as open as possible about their financial situation so they can get the help they deserve.
Many therapists offer affordable counselling to make therapy accessible to as many people as possible.
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How to decide which fee is right for you
When you contact everwell to find out about booking a session with a therapist, you will first have a consultation meeting with a therapist intern or with the client coordinator and they will make sure to ask you which fee you are most comfortable with. But if you are already seeing your therapist and you want to talk about your fee, you can be open with them and tell them that you need to discuss a change in fees. Your therapist cares about you and wants to make sure you have the support that you need. They will help you figure out a solution so that you can continue with your therapy, either with your current therapist or with a new therapist who offers more sliding-scale options. You can read more about affordable therapy here on our website.
The main thing to know is that money should not stop anyone from reaching out and getting help. Please connect with us so we can help you get the support that is right for you. Book a free consultation to get started!
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