‍This article is co-authored by Thrizer.

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Making therapy accessible to all clients is a noble goal many therapists have. Yet financial barriers often get in the way.

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For clients without insurance, paying for therapy out of pocket can feel daunting. Some may even forego care altogether. And for clients who have insurance but can’t find a therapist who accepts it, things can feel hopeless.

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As a therapist, there are actionable steps you can take to bridge the gap—helping clients afford your services while ensuring your practice remains sustainable.

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How might you be able to make your services more affordable for your cash-pay clients?

First, let’s talk about barriers to accessibility of therapy

Many clients face tight budgets and competing financial priorities, which can make therapy seem out of reach. Or like a luxury for the privileged few.

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Even if they value mental health services, the cost of private pay sessions might deter them from seeking help. According to the 2024 Financial State of Private Practice Report, the average cash pay cost of individual therapy is $157 per session.

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So it’s important to keep that reality in mind when structuring your payment options. They really have the power to ease the financial burden for clients.

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Some clients avoid therapy because they believe all private pay sessions are prohibitively expensive. 

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This misconception often stems from a lack of knowledge about options like sliding scales or shorter sessions, which can make therapy more affordable.

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A bit later we’ll look at openly addressing payment options. For now, know that many clients would be pleasantly surprised to know there are other options.

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While sliding scales and payment plans are common practices among therapists, not all clients are aware these options exist.

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Clients may assume therapy is unaffordable without proactive communication and choose not to inquire further. Keep this in mind as we look at strategies.

Simple strategies for increasing accessibility of therapy

Now let’s look at eight different strategies to help your clients. Undoubtedly, one or more of these strategies will be novel and doable for your practice.

Try payment plans

Payment plans give clients the option to break larger costs into smaller, manageable installments. For example, rather than paying the full fee after each session, clients could spread payments over several weeks. This approach can make therapy feel more attainable without requiring a significant financial commitment upfront. Combined with a sliding scale option? Even better.

Offer group therapy

As you know, group therapy sessions offer clients a lower-cost alternative to individual therapy while still providing valuable support. This option can be particularly effective for clients seeking connection and shared experiences with others facing similar challenges.

Use shorter sessions

Offering shorter sessions, such as 30-minute check-ins, can reduce the financial burden for clients while still providing meaningful support. These sessions are a practical option for clients who may not need or afford a full hour of therapy but still want professional guidance. Did you know that eight minutes of focused listening is enough to help someone feel better?

Offer sliding scale services

Sliding scales allow you to adjust your fees based on a client’s income or financial circumstances. This makes therapy more accessible to a wider range of people. This flexibility not only helps clients in need but also demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity and care. Just run your numbers and make sure this is something you can comfortably offer.

Help clients with out-of-network benefits

Help clients tap into their insurance benefits through out-of-network reimbursement. By educating clients on how this process works, you can make therapy more affordable without compromising your private pay rate. Platforms like Thrizer simplify this process by calculating reimbursement estimates, submitting superbills on behalf of clients, and allowing them to pay only a copay upfront while you receive your full fee.

Work with Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)

Partnering with local businesses to provide Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services is a great way to offer therapy at a reduced or no cost to clients. These programs allow employers to fund counseling sessions for their employees, increasing access to mental health care while ensuring you’re fairly compensated. Studies show 76% of employees are stressed, so this is an impactful way to give back.

Create free classes for your community

Hosting free workshops or classes on topics like stress management, mindfulness, or coping strategies can introduce more people to mental health care. These events not only serve as a community resource but also help build trust and visibility for your practice, potentially encouraging attendees to seek individual therapy. Lastly, free classes are a way to combat stigma around mental health, which is often the biggest barrier to seeking support.

Lower your costs by working from home

We’ll admit this isn’t an option, nor the best option, for many providers. But if it’s a good fit for you and your practice, it’s very effective. Eliminating the expense of renting office space, by working from home and offering teletherapy, can significantly reduce your overhead costs. By operating more efficiently, you can pass some of these savings on to clients in the form of reduced session fees or flexible payment options.

Communicating options to clients

If a therapist is more accessible but nobody knows, are they really accessible?

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Let’s get proactive in communicating your accessibility. It will help fill your caseload, while getting the word out about a valuable offering.

Highlight your accessibility

Making clients aware of your accessible payment options starts with clear, intentional marketing.

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Use your website, social media platforms, and email campaigns to inform potential clients about sliding scale openings, payment plans, or group therapy options.

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Clearly outline these services in a dedicated section on your website to ensure clients know that affordability is a priority in your practice.

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If you’ve read this far, it’s definitely something you value, so why not share it publicly?

Teach clients about OON benefits

Out-of-network benefits can significantly reduce the cost of therapy for clients. But many are unaware of how to use them!

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Educate your clients by providing simple explanations during consultations or offering downloadable guides on your website.

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You can review (and even share) our previous webinar with Thrizer, All About Out-of-Network Benefits. This webinar explains how clients can take advantage of their benefits.

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In the end, it helps them save thousands on your sessions while you maintain your private pay rate.

Be transparent

Clients appreciate transparency, especially when it comes to financial matters. That’s true no matter how we feel about money.

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During initial consultations, openly discuss the cost of therapy.  If needed, talk about your options for financial flexibility, such as sliding scales or payment plans.

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Providing this information upfront helps build trust and alleviates the stress clients might feel about affordability.

Partner with community orgs

Collaborate with nonprofits, schools, or local businesses to provide mental health services to underserved populations.

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Partnerships like these can help you offer reduced-cost or subsidized therapy while reaching clients who may not have otherwise sought care.

Good tech reduces costs

In the spirit of exploring all our options, let’s look at reducing your overhead. This may not be a scalable solution to the mental health crisis, but if it’s right for you, it can make a big difference for clients.

Offer telehealth services

Telehealth therapy allows you to save on office-related expenses, such as rent and utilities, while giving clients a convenient and often more affordable option for care.

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By reducing overhead, telehealth can make it easier to offer lower session fees, especially for clients with financial constraints.

Use practice management software

Streamlining administrative tasks like billing, scheduling, and documentation through practice management software can save you time and resources.

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Why not cut down on non-clinical work? You’ll have more capacity to focus on clients and can offer accessible pricing options without straining your workflow.

Simplify billing (with this tool)

Tools like Thrizer automate the process of submitting superbills, providing upfront  reimbursement estimates, and relieving clients of the insurance stress.

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This convenience not only saves time for you and your clients but also reduces confusion about payment, creating a smoother financial experience that encourages clients to commit to therapy.

On free consultations

Free consultations can reduce the financial pressure clients may feel when exploring therapy.

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A brief, no-cost introductory session allows clients to assess whether your services meet their needs without a financial commitment, making therapy more approachable.

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It’s a way to help people dip their toe into the world of therapy.

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If that’s what it takes to get people engaged in mental health support, we think that’s an amazing thing.

On true accessibility in mental health

Making therapy more accessible is a meaningful way to expand your practice while supporting clients who may otherwise struggle to afford care.

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By adopting strategies like sliding scales, out-of-network reimbursement education, and leveraging technology, you can remove barriers and make mental health services more attainable.

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Accessibility doesn’t mean compromising your income or practice sustainability. Tools like Thrizer can streamline so much in your practice and help you be accessible for those who need it.

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The steps you take to make therapy more accessible can have a lasting impact on your clients and your community.

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You’ll help clients afford care while strengthening your reputation as an empathetic and client-centered provider.

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Thrizer is an out-of-network reimbursement platform made specifically for mental health professionals and their clients. The mission? To help clients save on therapy while ensuring therapists earn their private pay rate. If you’d like to try Thrizer for free, click here or sign up with promo code HEARD.

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This post is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult their own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post.

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Brandon Grill is a mental health copywriter and marketer based in Las Vegas, NV. He loves helping therapy practices attract more perfect-fit clients through SEO. Outside of work, you can find Brandon spending time with his nephews, reading self-help, and meditating.

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