What Are Sliding Scale Payments, and Why Do Therapists Offer Them?

Searching for a therapist is difficult, especially if you’re in a financial bind. One of the many obstacles to people seeking treatment is their financial situation. It’s common not to be able to pay out of pocket, or worse yet, to have insurance that doesn’t cover treatment. As a result, many private practices work with clients to get the treatment they need on their budget.

How do sliding scale payments work?

Sliding scale payments, or fees, are set by private practices and businesses to provide affordable services depending on a client's income. While sliding scale fees can be in any industry - from carpentry to surgery - they all tend to follow the same basic principles when setting prices.

You can think of sliding scale payments as the lowest and highest fee professionals would charge for their services. The highest cost being the fair market value for their service and the lowest cost being… well, a bit less defined. There isn’t a defining standard for setting the lowest price in a sliding scale payment option. Instead, each professional sets their prices according to their preferences. 

Professionals who provide sliding scale payments want to do good for the community around them. For example, while a financially stable person could afford $300 for a plumber to fix a leaky pipe, that amount could severely impact those in need. However, a plumber that provides sliding scale payments would offer customers rates based on their income. For example, someone who makes 100k a year would pay in full, but someone making 20k would get a discounted rate. The plumber might not make as much money, but they are happy knowing they didn’t bankrupt someone for a desperately needed service.

Sliding scale therapy is much the same! Even though a person might not be able to afford what a typical session costs, it’s crucial to me (and many other therapists!) that they get the help they need. This is especially important to me as my focus is to help marginalized people, people of color, and those in the LGBTQIA+ community. I understand that the going rate of therapy can be too much for some people in the community, so I work with my clients to offer them a rate that works for them. 

While it’s essential to make money (this is my job, after all!), it’s also crucial that the cost of my services doesn’t become a stressor for my clients. I mean, therapists are here to help you work through problems, not cause more of them! I pride myself on the fair pricing I offer to every one of my clients. So if you’re looking for therapy that works on your budget, schedule a free consultation with me today!