The Hard Truth: Therapy Is Too Expensive For Most Americans

How Rising Therapy Expenses Are Forcing Many to Quit

A Verywell Mind survey recently revealed the harsh reality that cost remains a significant barrier to accessing therapy, despite its acceptance in mainstream mental health care. Alongside medication and lifestyle changes, therapy is one of the most beneficial treatments for individuals with conditions like depression, anxiety, addiction, and more — conditions that can be life-threatening if left untreated. In this blog post, we’re discussing the multi-faceted cost burdens of therapy and what’s needed to increase access to this care.

What Do The Numbers Say?

1000 American adults in therapy were surveyed by Verywell Mind. 62% of those adults reported paying out-of-pocket costs for the treatment — averaging $178 per month. Most of these payers also reported that their insurance or Employee Assistance Programs covers at least some of the cost.

Out-of-pocket costs are undoubtedly affecting the ability to attend therapy. Almost half of those surveyed are concerned about their ability to attend therapy long-term. A third have already had to stop attending temporarily in order to save money for other expenses. And even more have had to discontinue treatment indefinitely because sessions were simply too expensive.

The Costs Don’t Stop There.

Expenses that often accompany out-of-pocket payments include costs for childcare, averaging $100 a month, and gas for those who drive themselves to their appointments. On top of that, it’s common for patients to experience challenges like getting appointments and finding in-network providers that work for them. All of these expenses, both financial and not, act as barriers to treating conditions with therapy.

What Can Be Done?

For the vast majority, therapy works. Most find it to be a good investment that has helped them make progress towards their mental health goals. So how can we reduce the financial burden of therapy?

Expanding financial assistance is the clear-cut way to reduce costs incurred on the patient. This includes more insurance coverage, employee benefits, and the use of sliding scale models where prices are adjusted according to income and overall financial situation.

Until greater assistance is adopted, finding telehealth providers may help patients relieve some of the secondary costs that come with in-person visits. Negotiating fees with your provider can also help lower your bill. Finally, online therapy services, such as BetterHelp and Talkspace, often offer discounts to new sign-ups.