Dear Colleagues,
We know there is a mental health crisis happening in our culture. We knew it had already started years before this generation was mass diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Maybe some of us thought this would bring in financial security to our field, or a greater appreciation of our craft. And maybe to some of you, this has been your outcome. To you, I celebrate your success. Unfortunately, I don’t think that is a reality for our field as a whole. Why? An outsider might ask. Because non-mental health professionals saw this problem too and they had the resources to capitalize (in the most literal sense of the word) on the mental health crisis.
I live in the Silicon Valley, amongst the tech professionals, venture capitalists, and business savvy men and women who have created platforms like Better Help, a slew of employee assisted programs, third party agencies, and coaching based mental health companies all sporting the tagline of “making therapy more accessible to therapy seekers”. Here’s the thing. And listen closely. What they did is create an unnecessary middle man, between the mental health professional and the client; or the professional, the insurance agency, and the client. These clever companies take a significant cut of the profit and pay therapists an unreasonable wage for their field.
A small disclaimer, I am sure these companies have helped people, but are they necessary? Platforms already exist, which are FREE to clients and affordable to clinicians ($29.99/month), like Psychology Today to help match seekers with therapists based on expertise, fee, location, years of experience, theoretical background, religious affiliation, sexual orientation alliances.
Have you ever stopped to wonder why Better Help ads are everywhere? Because they have a MASSIVE marketing budget. Their company makes a lot of money, while their therapists get paid approximately $40 a session. If you are new to the field, this might be a good rate for you. But for a licensed professional who had to earn at least a master's degree, gain 3,000 hours of supervised therapy, and successfully pass two board exams to earn a license, this amount of money is a disgrace. Therapists in private practice charge between $125-350. Heck, coaches, who aren’t required to gain the same level of education nor have an overseeing licensing board charge $125+ per session.
I urge you, do not fall for this. These companies cannot succeed without us. Instead of taking half of your fee (or less) from a servicing agency, charge your full fee and let's put the pressure on the insurance companies to reimburse you, or your clients via a superbill, that same full rate.
These convenience-based forms of mental wellness will only lead to burn out of the therapist and a low quality product to clients.
In this field, we are the commodity. Set your pay standards to a livable wage. Expect regular raises. Together, we can stop the “uberizing” of our industry.
If you are reading this and are in charge of hiring mental health professionals, remember that premium care comes with a premium price tag. And it should, would you want an underpaid surgeon performing your appendectomy? I wouldn’t. Inner healing and identity formation is a sensitive process. Harm can occur when administered poorly. Choose wisely and pay adequately.