Last week, I promised you some ideas about how to make therapy more affordable.

So, here are some options you may want to explore.  Good luck!

Different settings

1.)     Community mental health clinics. 

Pros:  These clinic often receive state and federal funding, so they can offer therapy services for free or at very low cost.  Typically, fees are based on your income level.  Some clinics can be a one stop shop, so if you are looking for therapy and medication, you may be able to see a therapist and a psychiatrist in the same location.

Cons:  You typically don’t get to choose the therapist you see—you will be assigned to someone.  Depending on demand, you may be on a wait list for a while.  You may need a qualifying diagnosis in order to be eligible to receive services.  You will probably not be seen weekly—services are usually given on an every-other-week or monthly schedule.

2.)    Non-profit agencies.

Pros:  Many of these agencies are focused on a certain cause or need.  So, the treatment you receive is more likely to be specialized.  For example, My Healing Place here in Austin offers grief, loss and trauma counseling.  Most non-profits set their fees according to a person’s ability to pay.

Cons:  Some non-profits are staffed by counseling students and interns completing education and licensing requirements.  This means that you may end up with a therapist who does not have much practical experience.  In some cases, you can request a more experienced therapist.  You may have to be on a wait list for a bit.

3.)    Counseling students and interns.

Pros:  If you work with a counseling intern in a private practice, you usually get to choose your therapist.  A post-graduate intern has finished their graduate training but must accrue a certain number of hours of experience as a therapist before becoming independently licensed.  If you work with a counselor intern, your therapist will be supervised each week by a more senior clinician, so you get to benefit from two therapist’s perspectives.  Most interns offer services at a reduced fee or on a sliding scale.  Typically, you can start work right away.

Cons:  New therapists typically do not have as much experience as seasoned clinicians.  Depending on what you want to work on, you may want to seek someone out who is more experienced and specializes in your concerns.

4.)     Therapists in private practice.

Pros:  Some therapists will offer a sliding scale or will discount their fees for clients facing financial hardship.  Others may reduce their fee if you pay for therapy in monthly installments.  You have the freedom to choose who to work with, provided they offer a sliding scale and have spots open in their practice.

Cons:  These spots fill quickly.

Different formats & schedules

1.)    Meet 2 or 3 times a month.  While therapy is usually a once weekly affair, some therapists are open to alternative schedules.  This may not be a good solution for certain kinds of problems, and for certain kinds of therapy.  To be sure, ask your therapist.

2.)    Have shorter sessions.  Some therapists offer half hour sessions to make therapy more affordable for their clients.  Again, this may not be a good fit for everyone– it will depend on you, your therapist, and the kind of treatment you’re seeking.

3.)    Group therapy.  Your fee for group therapy will certainly be less than the cost of a solo session.  Plus, groups offer many therapeutic benefits that are harder to come by in individual therapy.

4.)    Crisis hotlines.  Crisis hotlines are not designed to supply therapy, but to help people in crisis.  Still, I wanted to add this option as a reminder that help is always available if you need it.

5.)    Meet at 2 pm.  Some therapists have a hard time filling certain hours of the day.  In most practices, evening, lunchtime and weekend appointments are popular and fill quickly.  Mid-morning and mid-afternoon appointments may be harder to fill.  Some therapists may slide their fee down in order to fill those spots.

It turns out help comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes.  So, if you don’t have an extra $400 in your budget for therapy, don’t despair.  There’s still help available.

Do you need help connecting with a therapist in Austin?  Feel free to send me an email.  I’d be happy to help.