WHY PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THERAPY?
The price tag for therapy can seem overwhelming and intimidating to think about adding in to your budget. Depending on the area you live in and the kind of therapy you are looking for, prices may vary for therapy which means that you should do the research on the therapist, the cost and the type of therapy before committing to someone for therapy.
In Mesa County, therapy can range from $80-$180 for private pay. That can be a HUGE chunk out of someone’s monthly budget when you are talking about weekly sessions totaling $320-$720 a month.
As you read that, you may be asking yourself, “Is this even worth it?”
Well, is there worth on your relationship? What about your mental health? Your happiness? Can you put a price tag on the things that matter the most to you in your life?
Let’s talk about what the benefits would be of private pay therapy.
1. You are not limited on therapist options. You get to choose who you want for therapy! So much of therapy is about the relationship between clients and therapist. If you are depending on insurance to pay for therapy, you may have a limited amount of therapist that are in-network for your insurance. Once you know who is in network, you have to narrow down your preferences of what you want in a therapist (gender, location, specialty, etc.) If someone doesn’t meet what you wanted, you may be forced to make the best choice of not so good options.
2. There is not a requirement for a diagnosis. Insurance companies require therapists to diagnose clients to justify that the service is medically necessary. This can cause therapy to be insurance driven because the therapist is required to meet to expectations of the insurance company versus do what is clinically in the best interest of the client.
3. High quality therapy. Therapist who are private pay know that the price tag is an investment. We also know that you are ready to work if you are willing to make the investment. By not taking insurance, our focus is also on YOU and only YOU in therapy. We are not concerned about what an external party expects us to do and can be fully present to meet your needs in therapy!
4. You get the control of your therapy. You drive your therapy. Deciding how long you want to be in therapy, how often you want to go and what you want to focus on.
5. Confidentiality. This one can be so important. No one but you and the therapist know anything about your therapy. You can choose to involve doctors, other therapists, or others in your care but it is all your choice. Insurance companies are not tracking your progress and they don’t get to know about what is going on in your life.
Private pay is not for everyone, that is okay. It is important to know what the benefits may be when exploring your options in choosing a therapist that is right for you.
Written by Chantel Landeros, MS, MFTC
Thrive Marriage & Family Counseling