Most of us don’t have a lot of wiggle room in our budget.  So, fitting in a new expense like counseling can be a real challenge.

My aim is to give you a basic idea about what therapy costs and why it’s worth paying good money for it.

So, if you’re wondering…

Is therapy worth it?

What does therapy cost?

How can I afford therapy?

…then, keep reading!  You’re in the right spot.

Making a case for therapy

Why therapy?

Simply put:  therapy helps you have a happier, more satisfying life.

Research shows that therapy helps people overcome depression and anxiety.

It helps you have better relationships—with yourself and with other people.

It can help you through all kinds of hardship and change in your life.

It puts someone in your corner, so you don’t have to go through it all alone.

Many studies show that therapy is as effective as medication.  Many studies find a combination of medication and therapy to be the most effective form of treatment, particularly for depression.

Medication treats symptoms.  Therapy helps with your symptoms and also gets at the root cause of what is bothering you.

With therapy, your progress is portable.  You take what you’ve learned and can use it for the rest of your life.

What you are paying for

Some therapists are more hands-on than others.  Some will get up to their elbows in your life with you, helping you come up with solutions to your problems.

Others may focus less on coming up with solutions and more on helping you see the bigger picture.  They’ll trade immediate solutions for long-term understanding and power in your life.  They’ll help you identify your unhelpful choices, patterns and stumbling blocks.

Most therapists have both goals in mind:  helping you with your immediate concerns, while also giving you a chance to develop long-term strengths and understanding.

When looking for a counselor, ask them about how they work.  I offer complimentary consultations so you can get a first-hand experience of what it’s like before you make a decision—this is a fairly common practice among therapists in Austin.

Regardless of how your therapist works, here are the basics you can expect in therapy:

1.)    a therapist’s time, training, expertise, and impartiality

2.)    a designated time each week to put yourself first

3.)    a relationship that is all about you and your needs

4.)    privacy (counselors are obligated to keep content of sessions confidential, with few exceptions)

5.)    a relationship where you can truly be yourself—no need to censor your thoughts or feelings

6.)    a safe place to try new things, develop goals, and fine-tune your life

What therapy costs

This depends.  In Austin, the cost for therapy ranges widely—the average fee is around $100 per session.

But in most places in the United States, you can get therapy for free or very low cost, at $5 to $10 a session.  Fees can run upwards of $150-$160 per hour, and more than $200 an hour if you’re seeing a psychiatrist—that is, a medical doctor who specializes in mental health and prescribes medication.

Looking at that range, I’m sure you’re thinking:

“Why the wide range of fees for the same service?!”

Here’s the kicker:  it’s not the same service.

Therapy isn’t peanut butter

You might go to the store and get the store-brand peanut butter to save some money on your grocery bill.  Or a toothbrush.

Believe me, I get it.  I like a deal as much as the next guy!

So, you might feel tempted to pick a therapist based on these same principles– if it’s all the same stuff, why not go for the cheaper option?

That’s the thing– therapists are not interchangeable.  Each one has a particular personality, skill set, and background that they bring to the table.

If you asked fifty artists to paint you a picture of a tree, you’d probably get fifty very different renderings of trees, right?

There might be some common components, sure—branches, leaves, a trunk.  But there’s a whole lot of variability—some paintings might be lifelike, some stylized or abstract.  You’d probably like some more than others.

Therapy works the same way: it is both art and science.  The same technique or training expresses itself differently in the hands of different therapists.

Therapy is a unique, organic, creative process.  It should be tailored to you.

But there’s another, even more important reason why to pick based on more than just price or convenience—it has to do with how helpful your therapy will be for you.

The most important ingredient in your therapy

Research shows that your relationship with your therapist is the single most important factor in your treatment. 

It’s not a therapist’s training, or the number of years of experience they have, or how much you pay to see them.

The relationship is what matters. 

I’ve seen this in my own practice—people who saw me years ago for treatment will come back to see me again when they need some help.

They do this because they know our relationship matters.  They do this because they know and trust me.

You deserve a customized treatment

I bet you wouldn’t want your therapist to see you as interchangeable with all their other clients.

You’d probably want someone who tailors a treatment to fit who you are and what you need.

Your heart and mind are special.  They should be treated with care.

Of course, part of finding a good fit is finding something that doesn’t kill your budget—otherwise, you won’t be able to stick with the process long enough to see results.  This is an important part of your decision, too.

Next week, I’m devoting an entire post to exploring creative ways to make therapy more affordable.

Some final thoughts

It’s true: $400 a month is nothing to sneeze at.  Even with all the reasons I’ve listed, it may still feel like a hard investment to make.

So here’s one more piece to consider:

What sort of price would you put on happiness?

What’s the health of your marriage worth to you?

How much would you pay to feel better about yourself?

What’s it worth to be able to look forward to the future with hope and optimism, instead of feeling stuck in the past?

If things are hard, and they aren’t getting better on their own, there certainly is a cost if you do not get treatment.

Your time on this earth is precious.  And I want it to be time that you enjoy.  I’m sure we can agree on that.

So, whether your budget is large or small, consider investing in yourself this year.

A fresh start.  A second chance.

It’s one of the most important presents you’ll receive in a lifetime.

Do you need some help finding a therapist in Austin?  Or maybe you’d like to set up a free consultation.  Just send me a quick email—I’d be happy to help.