One of the biggest gatekeepers towards great mental health is a therapy that is affordable. With therapy costing possibly hundreds per session, and with multiple sessions needed, finding therapy you can afford can be a challenge. If you have no insurance at all, or the therapists in your area don’t accept it, what can you do?
One option you can try is sliding scale therapy, an affordable way to get the therapy you need.
Sliding Scale Therapy
Sliding scale therapy is an income-based payment plan that some therapists use. The idea is that if you can afford it, you pay the full price per session, but if you cannot, you pay what you can afford.
A therapist goes through many years of education and training, so they need money. However, they also understand that there is a big mental health crisis, especially amongst the lower-income bracket of the population. Therefore, some therapists will give a break to those who can’t afford it.
If a therapist charges $100 per session, they may charge $50 for someone in the lowest income, or $75. There is a bit of negotiation involved for some clients, but either way, if you have access to sliding scale therapy, you don’t have to pay much to get the therapy you need.
A sliding scale therapist won’t diminish the quality of their services either. They believe that everyone needs help, and the therapy you’re provided will be just as good.
Reasons Why a Therapist Offers Sliding Scale Therapy
For the Good of the People
Most therapists, while they need to pay the bills, are there for the public. Because of this, they know that not everyone can afford therapy. If a therapist turned down a client who couldn’t pay the full price, they might come across like a little hypocritical in their philosophy. Sliding scale therapy helps keep a therapist bound to their philosophy by giving them a way to serve those who cannot afford it.
More Clients
Another reason why therapists may offer sliding scale therapy is that they can get more clients under their belt. If a therapist still has slots open, they may offer therapy at a lower price to bring in the poorer crowd. If one person is down on their money but then recovers, the therapist is able to charge more.
It’s Way Less of a Hassle Than Accepting Insurance
Some therapists will just use insurance to make their therapy affordable, but that does come with its problems. One obvious issue is that not everyone has insurance. However, this is not the only reason why a therapist may not want it. For one thing, all that paperwork is hard to cut through. For another, some insurance companies do not pay as well as the therapist would like, so sliding scale breaks even and is much less of a pain.
Why Some Therapists Don’t Offer it
With that said, not all therapists offer sliding scale therapy, which can be a little frustrating. Here are some reasons why a therapist may not offer it.
They Don’t Want to Make Their Other Clients Upset
If a therapist makes it clear that they offer a sliding scale payment, some people who make more money may be upset that they have to pay more. Not everyone, of course. Some people can empathize with a person who makes less money, but this isn’t everyone, and a therapist may not like taking the risk.
Working More Hours
Some therapists may not want extra clients because they don’t want to work around the clock. In order to provide great mental healthcare to people, the therapist has to be in the best mental state as well, and being overburdened may not help their situation.
They Like Money
While many therapists do their job to help people, we admit that some people are in this field to make money, and they don’t want to make any less. In a way, that is a bit understandable, as therapy is a profession that requires a person to get in a lot of debt. However, therapy is also about helping others.
How to Find a Therapist Who Offers Sliding Scale
If you are looking for a therapist who offers a sliding scale, here are some ways to find the one who is
right for the job.
Do a Search
As they say, Google is your friend. Or rather, websites like thero.org, which allow you to search for a therapist based on a sliding scale. Looking one up is a great way to filter out who offers it and who doesn’t. Of course, it’s not infallible. Some therapists may have offered it, but they no longer do, and the site doesn’t update accordingly. The opposite can be true as well.
Ask
One of the best ways to see if a therapist offers a sliding scale is to ask. Even if your research says they do, asking is how you confirm once and for all if they offer it.
If they say they do, tell the therapist firm what you can pay. Sometimes, you may have to offer some proof of income. However, there are some therapists who may not want you to do that, and instead take you for your word.
It can be a little challenging to talk about this, as some people believe that finances are something that should be private to talk about. However, it is worth it to talk about it because you deserve to get the help you need.
Conclusion
Sliding scale therapy is a great way for the low-income bracket to get past the gatekeepers of therapy. Also, there are other methods to get free or affordable therapy if no one in your area offers free therapy.
Some therapists may take you on pro-bono, or you could look to your local community health clinic. We hope that you get the help you need, and you stay happy and healthy for a long time to come. Good luck with your health.
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