Why Is Therapy So Expensive?
These days, seasoned therapists generally only take cash. You'll rarely find them "in-network". The reason is that insurance companies vastly underpay mental health professionals (think less than half of the "going rate"). Additionally, companies make it a headache for small practice owners to file in-network claims, and to keep up with acceptances and denials. Companies often require herculean efforts to prove that the client's treatment is "medically necessary". If the therapist can't get insurance approval, she doesn't get paid at all. There can also be limitations for clients as well, such as a restrictive cap on the number of sessions you can attend. Insurance companies aren't built to understand your emotional journey. Their decisions are driven by the bottom line... not by what genuine healing looks like for you.
Waitlists and High Turnover:
In-network counselors often have long waitlists - and understandable so. Many people are seeking affordable mental healthcare. In general, the counselors you'll find on your in-network policy are brand new graduates, trying to build their client base. Unfortunately, even the hungry younger therapists only stay on insurance panels for a brief time. Once they realize how little they're paid and how challenging the insurance system can be, many choose to close their insurance accounts. This leaves you - the client - facing a high turnover rate. Therapist after therapist. Each time, you're starting over - retelling your story, trying to rebuild trust. But finding yourself losing the opportunity to form a steady, long-term healing relationship with just ONE counselor.
Which Therapists ARE Listed as In-Network?
It's common practice among new graduates, fresh out of school, to build their client-bases by signing up for in-network insurance panels, even if it means accepting significantly reduced rates - at a fraction of their standard fee - in exchange for a chance to build experience.
Therapists who choose to go this route tend to be interns, or newly licensed professionals with few clinical hours behind them. One CAN find wonderful counselors in-network. My advice is to interview at least 3-4, and use your intuition.
Waitlists and High Turnover:
In-network counselors often have long waitlists - and understandable so. Many people are seeking affordable mental healthcare. In general, the counselors you'll find on your in-network policy are brand new graduates, trying to build their client base. Unfortunately, even the hungry younger therapists only stay on insurance panels for a brief time. Once they realize how little they're paid and how challenging the insurance system can be, many choose to close their insurance accounts. This leaves you - the client - facing a high turnover rate. Therapist after therapist. Each time, you're starting over - retelling your story, trying to rebuild trust. But finding yourself losing the opportunity to form a steady, long-term healing relationship with just ONE counselor.
Which Therapists ARE Listed as In-Network?
It's common practice among new graduates, fresh out of school, to build their client-bases by signing up for in-network insurance panels, even if it means accepting significantly reduced rates - at a fraction of their standard fee - in exchange for a chance to build experience.
Therapists who choose to go this route tend to be interns, or newly licensed professionals with few clinical hours behind them. One CAN find wonderful counselors in-network. My advice is to interview at least 3-4, and use your intuition.
Nothing compares to the insight and finesse
that come from thousands of clinical hours spent "in the chair".
that come from thousands of clinical hours spent "in the chair".
What That Means for You as the Consumer:
If you have full-coverage mental health benefits through your insurance, you can usually find a list of in-network counselors on your provider's website and just pay the copay. If you find someone great that way, YOU SHOULD GO FOR IT! That said, many clients come to me after spending months or years with insurance-covered therapists who weren't equipped to deal with realities of what comes up in sessions. That's why many people eventually choose private-pay therapy: not to spend more, but to work with someone who brings years of experience, real presence and the kind of support that helps true healing take root.
Lasting healing happens in spaces that feel more personal, stable and less constrained - with a seasoned therapist who can truly meet you where you are.
If you have full-coverage mental health benefits through your insurance, you can usually find a list of in-network counselors on your provider's website and just pay the copay. If you find someone great that way, YOU SHOULD GO FOR IT! That said, many clients come to me after spending months or years with insurance-covered therapists who weren't equipped to deal with realities of what comes up in sessions. That's why many people eventually choose private-pay therapy: not to spend more, but to work with someone who brings years of experience, real presence and the kind of support that helps true healing take root.
Lasting healing happens in spaces that feel more personal, stable and less constrained - with a seasoned therapist who can truly meet you where you are.
How "Big Box" Therapy Mills Cut Costs - and What That Means for You:
Better Help, and other similar companies typically don't take in-network insurance either. However, the rates can be lower than "the going rate" for private practices in your area. That's attractive to many consumers.
The large therapy companies stay profitable leaving the provider to absorb the financial strain while the company pockets the profits. The big companies usually take a monthly contract from you, requiring that you pay for an entire month of therapy upfront - non-refundable. Sessions are 50 minutes in length, (average but inadequate in my mind). You will usually pay around $360 - $425 per month for companies like Better Help. It CAN BE cheaper - but there are drawbacks to the quality of service. For instance, I hear reports of people losing counselors due to high turnover rates as often as once a month. It can be hard to build a trusting relationship with someone you like - much less a relationship that leads to good therapeutic outcomes with that much turnover. I've also had reports that the counselors seemed less interested, tired, and less creative - presumably because of overflowing caseloads.
Conglomerate companies hire mainly brand new therapists with little training. They usually have few, if any, specialized certifications, and are not experts in their field. These counselors use mainly CBT (talk therapy), which has not shown therapeutic benefits for highly traumatized, abused, emotionally wrecked and exhausted, deeply depressed, highly anxious patients - or PTSD / CPTSD survivors. New counselors are not equipped to handle complex cases for clients with a lifetime of pain, abuse, emotional fragility, or ongoing depression and anxiety. In short - the "big-box therapy mills" are designed to meet mild needs. If you need more depth and breadth of experience, and solid know-how - it's time to seek a master therapist.
The large therapy companies stay profitable leaving the provider to absorb the financial strain while the company pockets the profits. The big companies usually take a monthly contract from you, requiring that you pay for an entire month of therapy upfront - non-refundable. Sessions are 50 minutes in length, (average but inadequate in my mind). You will usually pay around $360 - $425 per month for companies like Better Help. It CAN BE cheaper - but there are drawbacks to the quality of service. For instance, I hear reports of people losing counselors due to high turnover rates as often as once a month. It can be hard to build a trusting relationship with someone you like - much less a relationship that leads to good therapeutic outcomes with that much turnover. I've also had reports that the counselors seemed less interested, tired, and less creative - presumably because of overflowing caseloads.
Conglomerate companies hire mainly brand new therapists with little training. They usually have few, if any, specialized certifications, and are not experts in their field. These counselors use mainly CBT (talk therapy), which has not shown therapeutic benefits for highly traumatized, abused, emotionally wrecked and exhausted, deeply depressed, highly anxious patients - or PTSD / CPTSD survivors. New counselors are not equipped to handle complex cases for clients with a lifetime of pain, abuse, emotional fragility, or ongoing depression and anxiety. In short - the "big-box therapy mills" are designed to meet mild needs. If you need more depth and breadth of experience, and solid know-how - it's time to seek a master therapist.
What is the "Going Rate" for Private Pay Therapists?
A "Master Therapist" is one who has accumulated multiple trainings and certifications, and who has over 1000 clinical hours of experience. In Texas, master therapists charge somewhere between $170 - $250 cash, per session
Even with a high-level therapist, you may not need to pay full price. My out-of-network support can reduce your out -of-pocket cost by 50 - 90% depending on your benefits. That's the same - or less than you'd pay at the Big Box Therapy Mills.
Even with a high-level therapist, you may not need to pay full price. My out-of-network support can reduce your out -of-pocket cost by 50 - 90% depending on your benefits. That's the same - or less than you'd pay at the Big Box Therapy Mills.
I Want to Help.
I see a great public need for affordable psychotherapy, and I intend to meet that need in the best way I can. That's why I set my fees low, offer sliding scales for those who need it, and work with Texas insurance companies on an out-of-network basis to get you every dollar you're entitled to. I will communicate with your insurance company to find out what your out-of-network benefits are, your yearly deductible amount, and the amount you'll be reimbursed for therapy. I'll do all of your paperwork for you. I will fight for your claims to make sure you receive your reimbursement checks in a timely manner.
You pay dearly for your health insurance! Let's squeeze the most out of it that we can!
You pay dearly for your health insurance! Let's squeeze the most out of it that we can!