Resources For When You Can’t Afford Therapy

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and although in a perfect world we’d all be in-tune with our mental health year-round, you can use the rest of this month to check-in with yourself and reset your body. Whether this a month of cleansing yourself of negative energies, finally taking that step to start therapy, or simply being more mindful of your mental health we’re here to support you. As we’ve all been living through the corona virus pandemic we’ve also been experiencing a mental health pandemic as well. Mental health services in this country are being pushed to their limit resulting in very limited access to essential mental health resources like therapy. If you’re struggling to afford or find access to therapy there are plenty of hidden resources we want to call attention to to help you out

Understanding your insurance 

Don’t let the cost of therapy deter you from finding out what all your options are. If you have an insurance provider, see what kinds out therapy or mental health resources are covered. You may have to pay some out-of-pocket costs but these payments should be small if your insurance provider covers some of your therapists fees or offers payment reimbursement. Not all therapists accept insurance so before booking an appointment, you’ll want to see if the therapist takes your insurance and if they’ll accept your specific plan.

Ask your therapist about sliding scale options, discounted rates, or shorter sessions

If you don’t have health insurance or your therapist doesn’t take insurance, you may still have options. Many private practitioners offer sliding payment scales. A sliding scale refers to treatment priced by your income and dependents. This fee structure exists to help make therapy more affordable for people living at a lower income level. You can also ask a potential therapist about shorter sessions which will cost you less. Psychology Today’s Therapy Finder allows you to lets you search for therapists who offer their services on a sliding scale.

Meet with a psychologist in training

Consider attending a psychologist training clinic. Most of these clinics are located at universities and colleges that are training their students to become licensed therapists. Though your therapist will be in training, they’ll always be supervised by a professionally licensed expert and teacher during your sessions. If you want to find a clinic closest to you, check out this list of training centers from the Association of Psychology Training Clinics. These services are offered at a heavily reduced rate.

Seek support from your education provider

You’re giving a lot of money to your university in tuition dollars, so make sure you get your money’s worth. At Elon University there’s an array of health-wellness counseling services available. Unfortunately, many students are hesitant to reach out to college-offered therapy but giving it a go is free and definitely worth a shot.

Apps 

Mental health care has never been as accessible online as it is today. While the internet and App Store are crowded with services and applications to help with your mental well-being not all of them work great. We’ve selected some of the best Apps for you to look into. To be matched and meet with a licensed therapist in your state from the comfort of your device check out Talkspace. Talkspace partners with health plans and companies across the U.S. to make therapy more affordable and accessible than ever before. Be sure to share your insurance info or employer during checkout to see if you’re eligible for coverage. If you’re looking to get more intentional peace and quiet, give daily meditation a try via apps like Calm or Headspace. Both of these Apps guide you through the essentials of meditation and mindfulness and provide a solid foundation for a mindfulness practice. The regular practice of mindfulness promotes better stress management and work-life balance, as well as long-term mental and physical health. So if therapy is absolutely not in your budget and you’re timid to begin your mental health care journey, try downloading these mindfulness apps. They’re free and super beneficial. 

No matter your approach to accessing mental health resources and therapy, the most important factor is that you don’t quit on yourself. You deserve care, and pretty much anyone could benefit from these resources. Hopefully, by the end of this month you can decide on which approach is best for you. With the past year we’ve experienced together, everyone could use some healing, so lets get on it