There are many people who will not be involved in therapy because of how expensive it can be. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services say that the cost of healthcare rises 4% roughly every year. By finding affordable ways to go to therapy, you can avoid missing more days of work and get your best performance back up and running.
What is the First Step to Ensuring Affordable Therapy?
The first thing you should do is to check your insurance coverage and the cost of therapy. You may be surprised at how affordable your co-pay will be. Your insurance also might show which therapy practices are on your plan. For example, your insurance may cover seeing a social worker and not a psychologist. However, social workers can be great sources of help as well since they were trained in counseling.
What is a Sliding Scale?
A sliding scale is when you can pay what you can before the first appointment. Find a therapist who will be able to work with you on this. If they cannot, let them know politely that you cannot afford their services and find another that is covered by your insurance.
What Can Community Resources Provide?
There are many communities that have low-cost clinics. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website has a map of federally-funded health centers as well as the OpenCounseling website. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America’s website can also help you find affordable therapists in your zip code. Their profiles will show whether or not they have a sliding scale and which disorders they can treat.
What Do You Do If None of These Options Work?
If you are religious, you can reach out to your place of worship to provide counseling or point you in another direction. Your local community center can also offer therapy and other services to those who cannot afford it. There are also free in-person and online support groups that can help you like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and PsychCentral. For those experiencing intense anxiety, call Lines for Life at 800-273-8255, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance at 800-826-3632, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 if you are experiencing suicidal ideation. Therapy can give you the opportunity to better change your life so use those affordable resources around you.
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