Why is Therapy So Expensive?
I hear this question often, and I have to admit, it wasn’t until I became a therapist that I truly began to understand the cost of therapy. Therapy can indeed be expensive, and I completely get how this might create accessibility challenges or even deter some from seeking help. It’s natural to question whether the cost is justified.
The reality is that therapy is so much more than just an expense it’s an investment in yourself. And when you’re working somatically, it’s also an investment in your physical health, as chronic illnesses are often linked to unresolved trauma. The dividends of investing in therapy impact your emotional, spiritual, relational, professional, and physical well-being, as well as your overall life satisfaction. It’s worth every single penny. But let’s really break it down …
Costs Beyond the Session
When clients consider the cost of therapy, it’s understandable that they focus on the hour they spend in session—why should they think beyond that? However, just like doctors and other allied professionals, the therapy fee reflects decades of costly education, specialized training, and substantial investments in personal development, that ensure you receive the highest quality care.
Becoming a therapist involves significant financial and personal sacrifice. Before we’re able to graduate with a Master’s degree, we’re required to work as unpaid interns for 6-18 months. Once graduated, we begin working as associates and often pay our supervisors around 50% of what we earn, and after taxes, we take home only about 30-40% of the client fee. We work at this rate for roughly 2-3 years, or the time it takes to accumulate the 3000 hours (in CA) necessary to apply for state licensure. This phase is essential for developing our skills, but it highlights the considerable investment required to reach full licensure and provide high-quality care. During this time, many therapists also begin paying back student loans and are also required to invest in certification programs (such as EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, etc.).
Personally, I bring various degrees, certifications, and specialized training to each session, and I continually invest in ongoing education to stay at the forefront of effective therapeutic approaches. This commitment isn’t just about fulfilling requirements; it’s about ensuring that you benefit from the most effective techniques available. The time I dedicate to learning and attending trainings is time not spent working or earning income, but it’s a crucial part of my commitment to offering the best possible support to my clients, and it’s well worth it.
Many therapists, myself included, have also invested deeply in their own personal therapy and healing journeys. A therapist can only take their clients as far as they’ve gone themselves, which is why it’s so important for us to do our own deep work (and not all do!). My personal healing is a critical aspect of my professional development, allowing me to sit with you not just as a clinician, but as someone who has walked a similar path of healing and transformation (and continues to do so). This personal work deepens my empathy and understanding, enabling me to support you more effectively on your journey. And, it also costs me an arm and a leg (we’re all on the same boat ultimately).
Every time I hear, “You just get it, thank you,” I’m reminded that the tens of thousands of dollars I’ve spent on my own therapy go well beyond benefitting my own life … they translate into meaningful connections and real results for my clients.
The Business of Care: Therapists are comparatively underpaid & de-valued
Another aspect clients often overlook is that running a therapy practice also means running a business—with real overhead costs, continuing education requirements, and a significant emotional burden. Therapists are among the only healthcare professionals consistently devalued and underpaid, despite doing some of the most emotionally demanding work in the field. Rarely do people question the rates of doctors, psychiatrists, or chiropractors—yet those providers often spend less ongoing time with each client and carry far less emotional burden, while earning significantly more.
Maintaining a space that is confidential, safe, and conducive to healing involves several expenses. This includes using HIPAA-compliant technology to protect your privacy, several different types of liability insurance, paying professional association and yearly licensing fees, and even consultation fees when we seek guidance from other experts in the field. Additionally, we adhere to stringent legal and ethical standards, such as writing thorough, legally compliant notes after every session—an often unseen but time-consuming task that we must factor into the cost of your hourly session rate.
These business costs, while not always visible, are crucial to creating an environment where you can feel secure and fully focused on your healing. They form the infrastructure that allows therapists to provide you with the highest standard of care.
Why can’t i use my insurance for therapy?
Many therapists in private practice opt out of contracting with insurance companies due to the significant administrative burden, including extensive paperwork and the need to submit detailed treatment information, which takes time away from client care. Insurance often dictates the type and length of therapy covered, limiting flexibility and requiring a diagnosis even for personal growth work. Additionally, low reimbursement rates make it difficult to sustain a practice while providing high-quality care. By not working with insurance, therapists can offer more personalized, effective treatment tailored to your unique needs. For more on this, take a look at my blog post on why many therapists don’t accept insurance.
you will never regret investing in your own healing.
Therapy is an Investment with Significant Returns
When you choose to invest in therapy, you’re not just paying for a session. You’re entering into a professional partnership that is dedicated to your growth, healing, and long-term well-being. The benefits of therapy can be profound and far-reaching, often leading to lasting positive changes in your life.
Therapy is a space where you can explore, heal, and grow—where you can invest in yourself. And like any wise investment, the returns are not just immediate but can continue to benefit you for years to come.
So, while the cost of therapy may seem high, consider the value it brings—the chance to rewrite your narrative, end generational patterns that result in trauma, and transform your life and relationships. Therapy helps you understand yourself better and build a future where you thrive, not just survive. In that context, therapy isn’t just an expense; it’s one of the most valuable investments you will ever make!
