Tips and Tricks to Find the Right Self-pay Therapy
Self pay therapy is ideal for clients looking for increased treatment flexibility. With self pay, you can choose a therapist outside your insurer’s network and determine the frequency and length of your sessions without consulting your insurer. Here are tips and tricks to help you choose the right self pay therapy:
Consider Your Goals
Determining what you want from therapy can help you narrow down your options. Some people go to therapy to deal with anxiety, others to increase their self-awareness, and others to boost their self-acceptance. Determine what your primary goal is, and research the best form of therapy to undergo.
If you want to manage anxiety, consider therapists who offer options like cognitive behavioral therapy to allow you to learn how to identify and control your triggers. For goals like self-awareness and self-acceptance, consider professionals who offer options like mindfulness-based stress reduction, and acceptance and commitment therapy, as they’re better suited for these goals.
Your therapist may recommend alternative therapies after assessing your goals. Be ready to adjust as you move forward with therapy.
Assess the Therapists’ Credentials
Insurance companies assess therapists’ credentials before including them in their networks to protect their clients. Licenses and certifications are key credentials for therapists. With self pay therapy, assessing these credentials becomes your responsibility. Choose a certified therapist licensed to work in your state to improve your chances of receiving quality care.
Licensing boards only license professionals who’ve met their quality of care standards. Choosing a licensed therapist can also limit the risk of dealing with unethical professionals. Licensed therapists are bound by the codes of ethics of their licensing and certification bodies. This means they may be less likely to engage in unethical behavior.
Understand All Therapy Costs
With the self pay option, you’ll cover all therapy costs out of pocket. You need to understand all potential therapy costs to budget appropriately. Ask your potential therapists to disclose their charges to allow you to choose one that fits into your budget. Transparent professionals will be open about their rates per session.
Discuss payment plans with your preferred therapist if you need more cash to pay their charges. Some may be willing to accept credit cards, and others may be willing to set up payment plans that allow you to pay when you have the money.
Other therapists make their services affordable by offering sliding scale rates. A sliding scale plan discounts sessions based on clients’ incomes. This means you can pay less than your therapist’s standard asking rate if you’re from a low-income household.
Evaluate Accessibility
Consider a therapist’s location to help keep your total costs manageable. Choose one located near you to minimize traveling expenses. Choosing a therapist near you can also make it easier to keep your appointments, as you won’t need to travel too far.
You can also choose teletherapy over physical sessions if your preferred therapist offers it. Since teletherapy is conducted online, you can eliminate travel expenses from your therapy budget. Some therapists make this form of therapy more affordable for clients by charging lower rates.
This may be common among professionals who solely offer teletherapy, as they don’t incur operating costs like rent and electricity to run their practices. Discuss whether teletherapy is a viable option for your situation with your therapist.
Assess Cultural Competency
Your compatibility with a therapist can determine whether or how fast you achieve your goals. The more compatible you are, the better your chances may be. Working with a professional from the same community or who helps clients from your community may make it easier for you to open up.
If you can’t find one, schedule appointments with those available in your area to determine who you’re the most comfortable working with to potentially improve your chances of achieving your goals.
Follow These Tips When Choosing Self Pay Therapy
Self pay is a great option for those seeking therapy who don’t have insurance or whose insurance won’t cover the cost. Some professionals offer self pay options, allowing you to pay your treatment costs out of pocket.
Paying for therapy out of pocket presents numerous benefits, including increased privacy, as your therapist doesn’t need to submit medical records to your insurer, and greater flexibility, as an insurer’s guidelines won’t bind you. Follow the tips discussed here when you opt for self pay therapy to make sure you choose the right one.
