TREATMENT: Affording mental health therapy

I've noticed several people mentioning that seeing a counselor or psychologist isn't an option for them because they simply can't afford it. This is a really common problem in the U.S.--in fact, a recent federal survey found that the reason most people with mental health problems don't seek treatment is because of the cost. Maybe you don't have health insurance, your insurance doesn't cover mental health care, or you have a high deductible--whatever the reason, if you don't think you can afford mental health care you aren't alone. But there actually are affordable options--they're just harder to find than they should be. Here are a few tips to help.

• If you have health insurance, see if it will cover a trip to a general practitioner for a check-up. GP's can prescribe anti-depressants and suggest lifestyle changes to help with depression. They can also refer you to a mental health professional and are likely to know which ones are most affordable.
• If you are part of a religious congregation, visit your pastor or other religious counselor. Many are trained in providing basic counseling services and most will know of other local resources that offer affordable or even free services. Many religious leaders will help you out even if you aren't a member of their congregation.
• If you have a job, check to see if your employer offers an employee assistance program--it's free and can get you a few therapy sessions.
• Ask at your local social service agencies, senior centers, community outreach programs, etc.
• If you live near a university, check to see if it has graduate programs in social work or clinical psychology. Sometimes graduate students run clinics that cost much less than seeing a practicing doctor, and the students are supervised by trained professionals. (Kind of like getting your hair done at a beauty school!)
• Just ask. Look up local psychologists, social workers, etc and give them a call. Ask if they offer a sliding fee, if they do pro-bono work, or if they offer payment plans. If they don't, ask if they know of someone in the area who does.

These are two websites I found where you can search specifically for affordable mental health professionals:

• Federally-funded Health Centers
• Find a Therapist--Click on Advanced Search and choose "Accepts sliding scale" under Average Session Cost