Why Is Therapy So Expensive

For many, therapy can be prohibitively expensive. While our medical costs are usually covered by some type of insurance, therapy often is not. Even if your insurance covers therapy, there can be some major drawbacks, such as long wait times, high copays, and the necessity of a diagnosis, which can stay on a person’s record forever.

If you do not have insurance that covers therapy, or want to pay out-of-pocket for some of the reasons listed above, you might be shocked to discover that therapy can cost anywhere from $60-$200/session. It may come as a further shock to learn that therapy takes some time; unlike visiting a doctor, your mental health issues are not ever solved in a single visit.

Many people might think that all a therapist does is sit there and get paid an enormous sum of money per hour. However, let us take a step back and realize, first of all, that the therapist has paid for his or her degree in time, money, or both. A Ph.D. program takes around seven years to complete, whereas a master’s degree may take three years and cost around $50,000. So, a therapist’s time is expensive because he or she has spent a lot of time and/or money learning the craft.

Secondly, you meet a therapist in an office—hopefully a nice office with comfortable furniture, adequate lighting, sufficient heat and air-conditioning, and perhaps a waiting room. Keep in mind that a therapist must pay for this space. Typically, rent accounts for the largest cost in a therapist’s practice.

It is important to understand a few more things. The money you give to a therapist cannot just go right into his or her pocket—it has to be reported and taxes must be drawn out. A therapist is also required to keep current on his or her continuing education credits (CEs), which cost time and money. Finally, a therapist must find clients—a large portion of earnings must be reinvested into the business so that the therapist can ensure him or herself a steady stream of referrals.

In next week’s post, we’ll talk about how to negotiate a fee that is reasonable for both you and your therapist.

Recent Posts

Self Help

Unlocking the Secret to Finding a Top-Notch Therapist

Are you looking to find a top-notch therapist? The process of finding the right therapist can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to …

Read More →
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

OCD: Beyond E/RP

If you are familiar with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder- perhaps you live with the diagnosis yourself- you are likely aware that the golden standard treatment for …

Read More →
Anxiety

Changing Themes: Neurobiology x Environment = ?

If you’ve suffered from OCD for a while, you probably know that themes change. Or maybe you’re new to your diagnosis and haven’t yet realized …

Read More →

Ready to Get started?

Schedule your session today

Continue to Grow

Still Thinking About it?

Don’t worry about it! We understand. It can be a big decision to make. Join our newsletter and stay updated when we publish new self help articles on our blog, as well as when we are running promotions. 

Appointment Request


Psychiatrist Appointment Request Form

Appointment Request Form