** This is a vent post and does not reflect the occupation as a whole, only the individual who is writing it. **

As a therapist, my license requires at least 30 hours every 2 years of continuing education (CE) in relevant topics. I usually try to take any opportunity I can to attend free ones and often exceed that requirement. My state only allows up to 12 hours to be saved for the next cycle, so sometimes I don’t get credit for the (unpaid) learning I do to be a better therapist. I don’t regret doing that, but it’s hard not to be a little bitter about the time spent on those CEs.

In years past, I would always focus on clinical topics that I hoped would help me to be a therapist, but this year, I chose to go a different route when it comes to CE. Therapist historically have fallen into one of two camps: chronically underpaid and damn near unattainable for a majority of people. Most therapists I know fall into the first camp.

The different approach I took was to spend a lot of my CE time on business related courses and it’s left a sour taste in my mouth. One course I’ve taken focuses on the idea of “Get paid what you’re worth”, which I agree with in theory, but the presentation of it is counter to the values of my practice. I work hard to make my services accessible to clients who need it, regardless of how they pay. This course harped a lot on the private pay portion, where the therapist/practice doesn’t accept insurance and places the burden of getting therapy paid for on the client. I personally think that’s bullshit. If a client has insurance, the plan should pay for those services and not the client.

However, in practice…it’s difficult not to be tempted by this philosophy. Insurance in the US is a cesspool. I submit claims to insurance plans monthly and each month there is at least one set denied for a reason outside of my control. One plan refused to pay for services since August 2023 and I couldn’t get it resolved until March 2024. I refused to transfer the burden of payment to my clients for that plan. As an aside, the reimbursement ratees for therapists are actually laughable for most plans. My lowest plan pays $69.69 for an hour session (you can laugh at that, I do).

I have tried to be included on more plans, but the process is difficult and full of bureaucracy. I’ve been refused to be included in network for plans for reasons like “We have too many providers in your area” or “We don’t provide coverage for behavioral health services”.

I am honored and privileged to be able to be a therapist and I am not asking to make millions a year. I’d just like to break the 6 figure mark as someone with a graduate degree and years of specialized training in a very difficult field at times.

I will keep taking insurance and wherever I can, I will not transfer that financial burden to my clients.

#finance #therapy #insurance #healthcare #counseling #mentalhealth #therapist