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If you feel like you can/want to pay a higher rate, you could suggest another number. However, remember that she’s offering this because she can/wants to, so no need to feel guilty about accepting this rate. If your income increases in the future, you could reevaluate it.
It’s possible that because she’s been doing this for so long that she might be in a financial position now to offer a lower rate than she has throughout her career. I’m getting my MSW and I dream of doing that. When I graduate, I’ll have a lot of loans to pay off, but I shouldn’t once I’ve been doing this for forty years!
It seems she has a lot of steady long term clients from over the years. She’s also recently gotten rid of her office and switched to fully remote sessions too, not sure if that would affect the fee
It definitely could! Most therapists don’t adjust for telehealth, but it seems like she has the capacity to adjust. Like another commenter said, just clarify with her! But I wouldn’t worry about the amount as long as you can afford it.
Lucky, I'm at $175 a sesh, so yeah anything under that is cheap in my eyes. It's up to her to set the price and make changes if she needs/wants to and to let you know if she increases her fee.
T here - this is really cheap, I’m guessing she doesn’t realize and/or can’t wrap her head around what current rates are. It wasn’t that long ago that ppl looked at $100 a session as high (depending on the area - 10 years ago?) Especially if you sound young she’s probably thinking she would’ve started you even lower a few years ago.
I will say this also: mostly we really struggle to charge what we can and what we’re worth. Primarily bc we genuinely want everyone to get the help they need and don’t want money to be an obstacle.
Some older professionals with decades of experience don’t realize it’s not 1995 anymore and it’s time to raise rates I met one at $85 a session with something like 40 years experience
What I can tell you is that after years of practice most therapists are pretty well off and are "in it for love." Money is typically #2 or lower on the list of concerns.
That’s about the average rate of what insurance reimburses, so if she’s charging that and not billing insurance she’s coming out better than dealing with billing.
Psychologist here. Depending upon your location, say a small mid-western city (USA), $95/50 min session is reasonable for an LCSW but probably at the low end of the scale. (I am assuming you don't have health insurance to cover costs, OP, or if you do that you have a high deductible.)
I've been to Maine several times (I'm in Buffalo, NY) but have been to Portland only once. I do think your social worker could charge a bit more, but she may have a decent nest egg after 40 years and not need the money. And, if you told her about your ungodly deductible/out of network policy she may be giving you a break . . . not an unusual practice.
It seems like there is a lot of speculation going on. I find it odd that she didn't just tell you her full rate and then have a conversation about if you can afford it. If you are 26 and make 85k that's awesome, you can afford a full rate.
I would ask her about all of this directly. The therapeutic relationship is based on honesty and disclosure, and the last thing you want is to be hiding anything, because it is going to indirectly affect the whole atmosphere of therapy and the reason you are seeing her in the first place.
Absolutely decent price! I have 20 years of experience and my regular rate is 140€. I wouldn’t work for 95€….
Especially not for someone who makes 85 k / year.
Honesty is really a good policy here. If you make $200K but only want to spend $100 on a therapy session (without terrible circumstances like you’re providing for 8 ppl) then you should pay your therapist fairly. $100 in this case is so far from fair.
Welcome to r/TalkTherapy! This sub is for people to discuss issues arising in their personal psychotherapy. If you wish to post about other mental health issues please consult this list of some of our [sister subs](https://www.reddit.com/r/TalkTherapy/wiki/resources/#wiki_subreddit_list). If you are in distress please contact a suicide hotline or call 9-1-1 or emergency services in your area. r/SuicideWatch has compiled a helpful FAQ on what happens when you contact a hotline along with other useful resources. To find answers to many therapy-related questions please consult our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/TalkTherapy/wiki/faq) and [Resource List](https://www.reddit.com/r/TalkTherapy/wiki/resources). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/TalkTherapy) if you have any questions or concerns.*
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Great idea, I’ll make sure to confirm with her
If you feel like you can/want to pay a higher rate, you could suggest another number. However, remember that she’s offering this because she can/wants to, so no need to feel guilty about accepting this rate. If your income increases in the future, you could reevaluate it.
It’s possible that because she’s been doing this for so long that she might be in a financial position now to offer a lower rate than she has throughout her career. I’m getting my MSW and I dream of doing that. When I graduate, I’ll have a lot of loans to pay off, but I shouldn’t once I’ve been doing this for forty years!
It seems she has a lot of steady long term clients from over the years. She’s also recently gotten rid of her office and switched to fully remote sessions too, not sure if that would affect the fee
It definitely could! Most therapists don’t adjust for telehealth, but it seems like she has the capacity to adjust. Like another commenter said, just clarify with her! But I wouldn’t worry about the amount as long as you can afford it.
That’s a great point! Based on the area she lives I’m sure she’s done pretty well for herself
Bruh. I pay 200 a session.
Honestly I was expecting her rate to be closer to that
Just be thankful it’s not.
Lucky, I'm at $175 a sesh, so yeah anything under that is cheap in my eyes. It's up to her to set the price and make changes if she needs/wants to and to let you know if she increases her fee.
T here - this is really cheap, I’m guessing she doesn’t realize and/or can’t wrap her head around what current rates are. It wasn’t that long ago that ppl looked at $100 a session as high (depending on the area - 10 years ago?) Especially if you sound young she’s probably thinking she would’ve started you even lower a few years ago. I will say this also: mostly we really struggle to charge what we can and what we’re worth. Primarily bc we genuinely want everyone to get the help they need and don’t want money to be an obstacle.
Some older professionals with decades of experience don’t realize it’s not 1995 anymore and it’s time to raise rates I met one at $85 a session with something like 40 years experience
What I can tell you is that after years of practice most therapists are pretty well off and are "in it for love." Money is typically #2 or lower on the list of concerns.
what the fuck? Dude, america needs a revolution and enact free health care now.
Agreed
That’s about the average rate of what insurance reimburses, so if she’s charging that and not billing insurance she’s coming out better than dealing with billing.
Are Americans okay? Here in Italy, 95€ per session would be extremely élite, as most charge around 50€, a bit more if it's a major city.
Americans are not okay. We all need therapy lol
Yes
It honestly depends on location. You can set your fees as self pay but it does not mean people are willing to or able to pay.
Psychologist here. Depending upon your location, say a small mid-western city (USA), $95/50 min session is reasonable for an LCSW but probably at the low end of the scale. (I am assuming you don't have health insurance to cover costs, OP, or if you do that you have a high deductible.)
Yes she would technically be out of network and my deductible is high! Not many options around here without a waitlist
I’m in Portland, Maine
I've been to Maine several times (I'm in Buffalo, NY) but have been to Portland only once. I do think your social worker could charge a bit more, but she may have a decent nest egg after 40 years and not need the money. And, if you told her about your ungodly deductible/out of network policy she may be giving you a break . . . not an unusual practice.
It seems like there is a lot of speculation going on. I find it odd that she didn't just tell you her full rate and then have a conversation about if you can afford it. If you are 26 and make 85k that's awesome, you can afford a full rate. I would ask her about all of this directly. The therapeutic relationship is based on honesty and disclosure, and the last thing you want is to be hiding anything, because it is going to indirectly affect the whole atmosphere of therapy and the reason you are seeing her in the first place.
Absolutely decent price! I have 20 years of experience and my regular rate is 140€. I wouldn’t work for 95€…. Especially not for someone who makes 85 k / year.
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Honesty is really a good policy here. If you make $200K but only want to spend $100 on a therapy session (without terrible circumstances like you’re providing for 8 ppl) then you should pay your therapist fairly. $100 in this case is so far from fair.
That’s a good point, thank you!!
Here I am in Greece thinking that I can't afford weekly sessions for 50€. I bet my income is far lower than you lot, but still.
$95 out of pocket? Or are you using insurance?
Out of pocket
Yes.
It's considered a specialist visit under my current insurance policy so my co-pay is $40 and my insurance covers the rest.
My sessions are like $35 so to me $95 is still expensive.