First, let’s look at some low-cost options for professional
treatment:
Public and private
mental health agencies. Most agencies offer an income-based sliding scale, and
accept public assistance such as Medicaid. Many have caring and competent
therapists, along with the resources to handle issues like medication, crisis
intervention and serious or persistent mental illness.
Colleges and
universities. Graduate students in psychology are one of my favorite resources
for therapy. First, their fees are extremely reasonable: in my area, local
university mental health clinics charge as little as $15 per session. Second, graduate
interns are often up on the very latest clinical skills and supervised by top
experts in the field.
Pre-licensure
candidates. Most states require thousands of supervised hours to become a
psychotherapist, and clinicians working toward licensure are often eager to see
clients at little or no cost. State associations of fields such as social work,
mental health counseling or marriage and family therapy may be able to help you
locate clinicians in training, as well as larger mental health practices.
Pro-bono therapy.
Many private therapists honor an unspoken professional obligation to treat a
certain number of people at little or no charge. Don’t be afraid to disclose
your financial situation to therapists and see what is possible. Also, your
local mental health association (a consumer advocacy group distinct from mental
health agencies) may be able to arrange treatment options you can afford.
Finally, here are some resources that can
help or support you in addition to formal professional help:
Crisislines. Crisis
counselors are available 24 hours a day from anywhere in the United States at
800-273-TALK (8255). You do not need to be suicidal or desperate to call: their
job is to listen empathetically, direct you to resources, and help you take
next steps in any situation. Crisis counseling is NOT psychotherapy, and not
designed for the treatment of ongoing mental health issues. But trained
volunteers are always there to talk with you.
Support groups.
Live or online support groups can be a source of both information and fellowship.
Support groups are also not meant to take the place of therapy, and are not for
everyone – specific groups can vary widely depending on their participants or
leadership.
Community-based
programs. Many areas offer low cost therapist-led training programs for
mental health skills such as managing your anxiety or controlling your emotions
– check your local community activity listings. My own Anxiety Camp program,
for example, teaches people in upstate New York how to deal with fears and
phobias in an intensive weekend program costing less than $100.
The common thread through all of these ideas is: don’t give
up when the cost of care seems overwhelming. Ask questions, explore resources,
and keep trying. Your good mental health is worth it.
