How to afford therapy?

[Spotofpaint]

So I'm taking my first baby steps in transitioning, and of course the first step is always to get a therapist, right? Yeah...that's proving to be difficult. The one therapist I really wanted doesn't take insurance. She told me to ask if my insurance does out of network reimbursement...which they do not until I shell out $4,000 dollars! The second therapist I really wanted takes my insurance...but I found out today that my copay is $60! $60 F-ing dollars!

I don't know about you guys, but I cannot afford $60 friggin dollars a week! And since this is my copay, I assume this will be the case no matter what therapist I contact. I was originally planning on going for quite some time. I'll need someone to help me through things like work place stress after starting T, loss of relationships which is inevitable (mother...etc.) so I thought getting a therapist in place sounded like a good idea. But there's no way I can have one for $60 a week.

Anyone else out there figure out a way to find a good experienced gender therapist for an affordable price? I don't need it to be free, I was just hoping it'd be something reasonable, like $20 a session or something.   

[Dena]

We have some in the links area and there may be some that Skype and will work on a sliding scale. My therapy sessions were $60 without insurance and that was in the late 1970's so really it is better. If your goal is to get a gender therapist, ask your insurance company for a list of approved therapists. If they are unable to provide an in network gender therapist, then as about in network coverage for an out of network therapist.

Last but not least, it's possible your local LGBT center will have a list of good local doctors.

[FTMax]

First - not everyone does therapy on a weekly schedule. If you can't afford $60 a week, can you afford $60 every two weeks? $60 a month? I know very few people who go weekly.

Second - I did therapy online for the purpose of referrals, but my therapist was really easy to talk to. It was via text chat, so I can understand if that feels too impersonal but it was also $40 per session and he's very experienced with trans patients. His name is Graham Peveller if that sounds like it could work.

Last - depending on where you live, if there are universities or colleges nearby, you may be able to get free or low cost therapy if you're willing to work with a student. They wouldn't be experienced, but you'd essentially be helping each other.

Ultimately, copay would be the same no matter who you go to, unless you go the out of pocket route. If there are therapists you like, ask them what their out of pocket payment rate is. Your copay is typically going to be lower but you never know. You may be able to work something out if you tell them your copay is not something you can afford.

Not wanting to make you feel bad, but you have to understand what you're asking for. An experienced therapist has had at least 6 years of higher education that they paid for, professional licenses that need to be renewed, and they likely have to pay rent on their office space. Taking patients for $20/hour would be charity.

[Gertrude]

I found someone that takes my insurance. It's a $15 copy. That said, I really liked the one before, but she didn't take insurance and cost 160 a session. We do what we can do.


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[amandam]

There are advocacy groups in every area. Call some of them and ask for resources. They might have doctors, etc. who work with low-income people.