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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 36. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
I'm just wondering what different T's charge (not what copay is with insurance). Maybe we should include credentials too? And years of experience? I'm sure these and all kinds of other things factor into the fee. Feel free to include anything else you think is relevant.
My T is a LMSW-ACP with 23 years experience and charges $125 for a 50 minute session. I have the distinct pleasure of paying the full amount as I am uninsured.
Anyone else?
Posted by mandinka on October 23, 2004, at 2:05:28
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
My T2, LMSW, has around twenty years of experience and is really good charges me 95$ per 50min. I also started seeing T3 along with T2 (they are partners - only professionally but they still make a nice couple) and he charges me 85$ per 50min. No insurance either (sigh).
Posted by Dinah on October 23, 2004, at 6:43:51
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
I'm guessing it depends on where you live more than anything else.
My therapist is a licensed couselor and charges $110 per fifty minute session, which I pay outright but I do get tax savings. Other therapists around here charge $90-100, and I know that I am charged more than most of what his clients are charged since most go through insurance and he only gets $70 for them. And I go twice a week, usually. And parking ups the cost to over $115 per session. (It wasn't my choice that he moved somewhere with expensive parking.)
I think it leads to some resentment on my part, because I'm relatively sure he knows all of this.
Posted by Annierose on October 23, 2004, at 7:43:33
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee? » Skittles, posted by Dinah on October 23, 2004, at 6:43:51
My response never appeared, so here I go again ...
My T is a PhD and she charges $140 for 45 precious minutes. I'm jealous of all the 50 min.
people. My insurance does pay approximately $60 of each session (thank goodness).
Posted by Aphrodite on October 23, 2004, at 7:49:00
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
Mine is a psychologist (Ph.D.) with 10 years experience and lots of extra certifications like EMDR and other "unorthodox" methods. He charges $90 for 70 minute sessions. My insurance pays him only $75. It can't be lucrative at all for him, especially since his sessions are long. However, he's been making a small fortune off of my support phone calls lately! I've become a steady part-time job for him! At first he insisted that I do not pay, but for anything over 15 minutes, I start to prorate his hourly fee. He realizes it's the only way I can accept his between session support, so he takes it. It's only fair to him, and it keeps everything "clean." Still, it cannot be a lucrative profession.
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 23, 2004, at 8:59:08
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
Mine's a Clinical Psychologist (PhD) with over 20 years experience in private practice and teaching. He's also a genius :)
$120 for 50 minutes. Luckily my insurance covers $85 of this.
Posted by badhaircut on October 23, 2004, at 11:13:13
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on October 23, 2004, at 8:59:08
My cognitive-oriented therapist (whom I stopped seeing several months ago) had a flat fee of $40 per office or phone session. He did not accept insurance, but at that price it wasn't necessary. He shared his one-room office with a lawyer and mostly saw patients there on the weekends. The rest of his psychotherapy practice was making HOUSE CALLS in a very wealthy suburb. I don't know what he charged for those visits.
For comparison, there was a thread on rates about a year ago, and I think they've gone up a little!
http://dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031202/msgs/286716.html-bhc
Posted by lifeworthliving on October 23, 2004, at 13:56:27
In reply to $40 — I win!!, posted by badhaircut on October 23, 2004, at 11:13:13
i get free counseling!!! i went twice a week for more than two years. now i go once a week. they are set up for ten visits, short term counseling type stuff. i was always worried i would get the boot before i was done... someone would notice or complain but t always said it was up to her how long to see clients. i am so incredibly grateful and thankful for the help i didn't have to pay for. for my kids, i pay 60 an hour.
Posted by gardenergirl on October 23, 2004, at 19:45:54
In reply to no, i win!!!, posted by lifeworthliving on October 23, 2004, at 13:56:27
I get to go for "free", too, unless you factor in more than $600 per credit hour of tuition. That really adds up for a full-time student.
My pdoc is out of network and charges me $100 per therapy hour (honestly I don't know how long we go). She charged $200 for the initial visit. I am paying this out of pocket until I meet my deductible, then insurance will pay $60 of it.
gg
Posted by Peddidle on October 23, 2004, at 20:45:46
In reply to $40 — I win!!, posted by badhaircut on October 23, 2004, at 11:13:13
I am at college now, so I see someone (PhD, PsyD, MD, etc.) in the counseling center for free. But at home over the summer, I think I paid $150 per session.
Posted by just plain jane on October 23, 2004, at 21:10:15
In reply to Re: no, i win!!!, posted by gardenergirl on October 23, 2004, at 19:45:54
All my Mental Health services, including my meds, are "free". I am a Disabled Veteran, and a portion of my disability is psychological disorders due to incidents which occurred while I was in the Army and were caused by Army personnel.
just plain jane
Posted by boomarang on October 23, 2004, at 21:41:47
In reply to AHEM!!, posted by just plain jane on October 23, 2004, at 21:10:15
Posted by badhaircut on October 24, 2004, at 7:47:31
In reply to AHEM!!, posted by just plain jane on October 23, 2004, at 21:10:15
I've wondered about this before. To get coverage by the Veterans, do you have to go to a VA-run clinic, or can you go to anybody?
Posted by just plain jane on October 24, 2004, at 9:26:02
In reply to Veterans coverage » just plain jane, posted by badhaircut on October 24, 2004, at 7:47:31
bhc
I am not sure.
In my area the nearest VA facilities with MH Ts are a hundred miles away. So, I drive two hours to get there. Where I live (in the boondocks) that is no big deal.
My advice to you is to get hold of your local VA Rep and make an appointment to see a VA health care screener. I believe this is the first step. The VA Rep does not need to know any details of your situation. The screener does, and will have a long list of questions and, if any good at his job, will discuss things with you so his report will be informative. Some questions will pertain to your financial situation.
The screener was the one who set me up for an appointment with my first VA T. Had I indicated I felt a need to see the Pdoc first, the screener would have accomodated me with an appt to see the Pdoc. Of course, this will all be subject to what kind of person the screener you deal with is.
He would also be the one to ask first about whether outside MH professionals are ever used in your area. I've found, generally, veterans deal with VA professionals.
Many of the VA professionals also have outside practices. Everyone I've dealt with has been as competent, or more so, as the multitude of non-VA MH professionals I've worked with.
The answer to your specific question, once again: I do not know if the VA will cover a veteran's MH care outside VA providers.
It'll take a little local homework to get your answers. Be persistent.
just plain jane
Posted by caraher on October 24, 2004, at 21:32:55
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
$110 for 50 minutes (PhD with about 10 years' experience)
Posted by babbgal on October 24, 2004, at 23:51:15
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by caraher on October 24, 2004, at 21:32:55
$150 for sessions ranging from 50 minutes to 2 hours. (Ph.D. with over 20 years' experience.)
Insurance covers unlimited visits in a 12-month period and pays 70%, but now that I've reached my max out-of-pocket for the year, insurance pays 100%. Thank the husband's work for the awesome insurance.
Posted by LittleGirlLost on October 25, 2004, at 10:32:37
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
My T is a LCSW, DCSW, CGP with 20 years experience and I think she charges about $140 for 50 minutes.
However, she is not covered with my insurance and she knows I can't afford the full fee, so she charges me $50. (Bless her heart!)
Posted by morning*bell on October 25, 2004, at 10:41:32
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by LittleGirlLost on October 25, 2004, at 10:32:37
Shes a PhD, and charges me $175 for 45 minutes. Ugh! I do get some insurance covereage though, so that helps.
Posted by alexandra_k on October 25, 2004, at 23:24:09
In reply to What is your T's fee?, posted by Skittles on October 22, 2004, at 23:46:50
OMG what are you guys: doctors, lawyers, or heirs to riches - how can anyone afford to spend that much on psychotherapy?????
I have never paid a cent.
I couldn't afford to pay more than maybe $10 pw.
I could make a comment about the quality of treatment I have received, but I suppose to be fair it was compentant.I suppose that the psychobabble community is likely to be composed of (comparatively) high functioning wealthy individuals, but boy oh boy I forget just how much money some people do have.
I hate CBT. Too many little boxes to rate ones progress on. Too superficial and too many 'platitudes' which are supposed to ammount to education. But CBT comes up good on 'objective measures' of outcomes - largely because the people involved in CBT are anal enough to believe in their operational definitions of progress.
Personally, I have much more respect for psychodynamic modes of psychotherapy. Not so many outcomes though with respect to improvement. I think that to be fair it is hard to operationalise progress and so forth. But without objective measures the question remains: is psychotherapy a luxury for the rich?
It seems as though it is.
Those sick enough to need it can't afford it.And those indulgent enough to want it
MUST PAY
Posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 0:14:31
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by alexandra_k on October 25, 2004, at 23:24:09
Posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:24:45
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by alexandra_k on October 25, 2004, at 23:24:09
I think that is pretty arrogant and judgemental of you to say. First of all, let's just get one thing straight: doctors don't make as much as you might think, with the exception of plastic surgeons or other specialists who do not accept any form of insurance. And you really would not fully understand that unless you worke in the medical field, or have a very close friend or relative who does.
I am a nineteen-year-old college student, so I am covered under my parents' plan, although counseling and other psychiatric/psychological services are available on campus free of charge. In that respect, it would not be fair of me to guage the extent of my insurance coverage or my parents' ability to pay sans insurance. However, I do know, and will admit, that when it comes to necessaties such as my health (mental or otherwise), or that of anyone else in my family, money is not a big concern.
I don't mean for any of this to sound conceited, but to be honest, if you don't have your health, what do you have? Yeah, good healthcare tends to be expensive, but I think you have to consider it a necessity, and maybe sacrifice other things in order to get it; spending money on second-rate healthcare is pointless if it doesn't do any good, and it doesn't get you what you need.
Posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:25:56
In reply to Re: What is your T's fee?, posted by alexandra_k on October 25, 2004, at 23:24:09
sorry, that post was meant for Alexandra_K....sorry Skittles!!
Posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 0:50:53
In reply to Re: Skittles' comment, posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:24:45
It is all relative.
Sure, doctors make 'nothing' unless you have lived all your life on welfare knowing that without that government cheque you are stealing your next meal.
It is all relative.
Rich, poor
Luxuries, necessitiesRelative
Posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:56:43
In reply to Re: Skittles' comment, posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 0:50:53
Ok, fine, I can't really disagree with that. However, I think that you should be aware of your surroundings, so to speak, and realize that you may be offending some people. Just because someone is "rich" doesn't make them a bad person.
Posted by alexandra_k on October 26, 2004, at 1:27:28
In reply to Re: Skittles' comment, posted by Peddidle on October 26, 2004, at 0:56:43
> Ok, fine, I can't really disagree with that. However, I think that you should be aware of your surroundings, so to speak, and realize that you may be offending some people. Just because someone is "rich" doesn't make them a bad person.
Whoo - I never said "rich" people were bad people, and I never would. I do realise that the "self-indulgent" and "luxury" comments were likely to cause offence, and I apologised for that. But I never said the bad person stuff.What I was thinking is that all of us (me included) don't seem to realise how lucky we are. In the sense of money. Financial security. Sure students are poor - but tuition gets paid, living expenses get met, someone covers the insurance. We get our high-speed internet connection.
I am amazingly rich now by the standards I was raised by (and I am a "poor student" too). We don't get the slums you guys get in the States - but I was raised the equivalent of white trailor trash in this lovely welfare country.
From that perspective "needs" and "luxuries" are surely different. Even food is relative - you can go without for a few days, you don't starve to death, hence it is not a "need". But it is not enough of a luxury so as to condemn the man who steals it. Not in my book anyway. How many starving children could we save with the money we feed to psychotherapy (which has not been measured for effectiveness)?
Relative.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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