How much do Therapy Sessions cost?

What is a Therapist?

A therapist is a health professional who is qualified to help you to overcome emotional distress by talking through your problems. You don’t need to talk about anything you don’t feel comfortable about. 

A therapist is trained in listening and identifying reasons why you might be suffering from mental illness symptoms. They can also teach you certain habits to cope with various challenges in your life. Therapists are there to help with a range of mental health problems including: 

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 

• Relationship problems

• Low mood/Low self-esteem

• Phobias

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder 

Therapists use a range of different techniques to help you overcome your issues, a common one being Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This is a talking therapy designed to help you change the way you think and behave as a way to overcome your issues. 

How much does Therapy cost?

Therapy is an ongoing process that requires several sessions to show results. The amount of time a person needs therapy depends on what the problem is and what they’re hoping to achieve. It's important to understand how much therapy is going to cost you if you want regular sessions.

The price of a therapist can vary greatly depending on several factors. Although there is no fixed rate, a breakdown of average therapy costs based on local Australian professionals is given below:

Factors influencing cost: 

The main factors influencing therapy costs are:  

• Group therapy vs. individual therapy

• Experience

• Location 

Group Therapy vs. Individual Therapy 

Therapy works well in both individual and group settings, but there is probably a preferable option for you based on your situation and preferences. 

Individual therapy involves the therapist working one-on-one with the client, whereas group therapy involves one or more therapists treating a group of people at the same time. Although individual therapy means the therapist can solely focus on you, group therapy has its advantages, in meeting people who share similar problems to you. Group therapy is also less expensive. 

If you’re nervous about starting therapy and would rather talk to someone in a private environment, individual therapy may be a better option. An individual session tends to be around 50 minutes to an hour, whereas a group session lasts around 90 minutes to 2 hours to make time for everyone.

Experience 

Therapists will increase their rates as they gain more experience. You should make sure that your therapist has the minimum qualifications to practice. There are different types of qualifications for different types of therapists: 

• Counsellor: Counsellors need a formal qualification to practice in Australia. The Diploma of Counselling is the minimum requirement for entry-level roles. The most common qualification is the Bachelor of Counselling which enables someone to register as a fully qualified counsellor. 

• Psychotherapist: To qualify as a psychotherapist, the minimum requirement is usually an undergraduate degree as well as additional specialist training and experience. 

• Clinical psychologist - At a minimum, a clinical psychologist needs to have 6 years of experience in education and training in psychology to practice. 

Location

Therapists tend to charge more in major and capital cities to reflect the higher cost of living. Bear in mind that you may spend more for the same service if you live in a city compared to more rural areas.

How to save money on Therapist Services 

Everyone should be able to speak to a therapist if they need to, regardless of their financial situation. Read on to find out how to reduce your therapy fees if you’re on a budget: 

• Ask about price packages - If you are booking multiple sessions with a therapist you can normally get a small discount per session. In most cases, you will need multiple sessions with your therapist before you start seeing results.

• Choose the right therapist - All therapists are different in their approach, and not every approach will be right for you. It’s worth asking for a free consultation with a therapist before booking a session to see whether you gel, as you have to trust your therapist for the sessions to work. If you feel comfortable with your therapy and their method works for you, then you won’t need as many sessions.

• Go online - Therapists sometimes provide their services online, which is a cheaper alternative to face-to-face sessions. You might find online therapy more comfortable as the session can take place from the comfort of your own home. 

 Look after your wellbeing with a trusted Therapist on Bark today.