“I need therapy, but I can’t afford it!”.

This is such a horrible and heartbreaking situation to experience.

Access to healthcare is a basic human right. And that includes mental health care. I hope that our society will eventually recognize the value that therapy has on the well being of communities.  Sometimes one barrier to people seeing me in private practice for couples counseling and sex therapy is the cost.   I have a number of ideas to share that can help people when they need therapy but can’t afford it.

Keep reading to learn several ways you can help you relationship, intimacy problems, or your mental health when you can’t afford therapy.

Below are some ways in which you can work on your relationship when you can’t afford therapy:

  • D.I.Y. your relationship problems or mental health ….this means accessing free resources to address the specific problem you are struggling with.  There is such a wealth of  free knowledge available online it is not hard to find some resources.  The hard part can be knowing which are the reliable resources.  Here are my favorite colleagues’ websites with tons of free resources, blogs, newsletters and recommended reading that can help you:   Institute for Relationship Intimacy   The Pact Institute  and Couples Institute


    

  • Access your local library to learn more about relationships, mental health issues, and intimacy. For a list of books about relationships and intimacy from Educators and Therapists check out the AASECT book list
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  • Schedule a weekly time to check in about your relationship and well being. This can be the same time you would have designated to meet with your couples counselor or individual therapist.  Create an environment with no distractions (phones off, T.V. off, etc).  Ask a serious of questions of your partner, or of yourself if you are single, to help you better understand what you feeling, what have been challenges, what you need most and what actions you need to take, or you need from someone else.
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  • Openly discuss fees with your therapy provider.  Ask if there are financial assistance options.  Ask your preferred counselor if they offer a sliding scale slot. It may already be filled, but they can put you on their waiting list and call you when it’s open. Or find a low fee provider at Open Path Collective
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  • Build Community: Make sure that you have trusted individuals and groups in your life.  Community is everything when it comes to navigating hard times.
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  • Prioritize your emotional and mental well being. This includes doing simple things that serve your well being: Take time to be in nature, spend time with your friends, or be alone if you heal best in solitude.  Eat nutritional foods, hydrate, and make sure you are getting quality sleep.
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If you find that you are in crisis, reach out to crisis line for support:


Text HOME TO 741741 for the Crisis Text Line


Call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Hotline