Should a T raise prices for existing clients ?

Should a T or clinic raise prices for existing long-term clients ? How would you feel and how would you respond if this happened. All feedback welcomed.

I was just thinking about this myself because T's wife is raising hers (by £2!) and I am wondering whether he will follow suit (they were previously charging the same as each other).

My view is that if the therapist does want to raise current clients' fees, its' their prerogative and it is fine so long as it is clearly contracted at the outset of therapy. If it's not contracted, it's not okay. And there should be flexibility around current clients' ability to pay.

They have the right to charge whatever rate they like. But I would hope that they'd work with clients who had trouble paying the new rate.

I guess if I’d just started with the therapist I’d be annoyed. If I were a long term client and it’d been years, I’d be more OK with it—I get cost-of-living raises regularly, and I don’t have the overhead they do.

They are running a business. Their rent likely goes up every year, along with utilities and other costs. I don’t think it’s unreasonable at all for them to adjust their fees to offset the rising costs. Every other business does it.

I never had one do it. If they had tried, I would have asked myself if the increase was worth the hobby that I found therapy to be. I don't really think therapists should be paid to begin with because they don't do anything but at the same time, paying them keeps them back and much safer than if they were not paid.

With ex-T, when she raised rates, she kept me at the original rate, which I appreciated. I discussed this topic with current T the other day, and he said the last time he raised rates (before I started seeing him), he gave 3 months notice, and if the new rate would have been a hardship for an existing client, he'd have worked something out with them (possibly keeping them at the old rate). I think that's a good way of handling it. Or else keeping clients at their original rate.

They can, but only with lots of warning and ample consideration for existing ongoing clients' ability to pay.

It's a business. I've had them raise rates. I was always given plenty of advanced notice of the change. Usually didn't really affect me much because I was using insurance and my copay didn't change; it was a change in their billing to insurance. They were still well within customary charges for their services, so it was not an issue.

I would not mind if he raised his rates. I've raised my own rates, although I'm usually hired by the gubment, not individuals. As someone who works for myself, I see rate increases as necessary because it never gets cheaper to be in business for yourself. It's unclear whether the new US tax scheme will decrease or increase self employment taxes. I also see raises as signaling my increased experience/skill/whatever, and they are the only way I can get a raise.

The rates for sessions over the near decade I've been seeing T have stayed the same. My copayment for my insurance went down a few years ago, because the collective T organizations lobbied my provider, the largest in the state, to consider T's as "generalists" rather than "specialists." I.e. the copay to see my family med doc is $20, but it's either $25 or $30 to see a specialist like an OB or a cardiologist. The T lobbying efforts, which did not result in any increases in session fees (those are also negotiated by my insurance), did result in my paying $5 less per session, or about $20/month or over $200 per year. It was a good example of general T advocacy for clients.

I've been seeing my T for almost 4 years and he raised his rate by 7% 1 time. It didn't bother me as he gave me notice and inflation is very real.

My T is raising her price by 10% in January. She said she hasn't raised her price in over 5 years. Plus, it will help her a little because she now has her own office. I'm fine with it. Everyone needs to raise their rates to keep up with the the increase cost of living. And I like knowing that I get to help her have her own office.

Why wouldn't they raise their rates?

It is absolutely fair that they raise prices especially if you have been seeing them over a few years or more. If I didn’t get at least a cost of living raise once a year at my own job I’d look for a new position.

Out of interest, although sadly I don't think you will respond to me, why did you seek out a therapist specifically? From your descriptions of your attitude towards the sessions, any woman who was able to shut up and "keep back" could have done the job. It seems to me that you could have paid much less to a choice of any number of people to simply sit and listen and read your emails. What prompted you to seek out and continue to work with therapists?

Mine raises her rates annually, but it’s a small amount, so I don’t mind. I agree with most that it makes perfect sense to raise prices. Just like I like raises in my work, I’m sure they do too, along with their staff (never mind all the other expenses of running a business that go up).

They are certainly allowed to raise rates across the board, but this has to be made clear in their informed consent they give you at the onset of therapy.

The policy of the rate increase has to be clearly outlined. It has to state how often they raise the fee and by how much and they also have to send you an advanced notice prior the next rate change.

Please do not highjack my thread. If you want to know the details of another member's therapy I suggest you PM them. Thank you.

I think it’s appropriate for therapists to raise their rates periodically. When I worked at a private firm, we raised our rates periodically on existing clients. I don’t see why therapists can’t do the same thing.

Mine has raised his twice. But, I see him at a lower rate; my price hasn't changed since I began seeing him at the lower rate twice per week.

I usually do group therapy, which tends to be much cheaper than individual. But lately I have just been doing free support groups.

Mine can raise his rates all he wants but will only get what he is contract for with the insurance company. My co-pay stays the same.

In the 10 years I saw T my copay went up twice by $5 each. T only saw one increase that I am aware of which was $5.

Your copay went up because your insurance company changed the price. It would be illegal for your T to charge more for a copay.

Oh I know that. I was frustrated that the raises our premiums and my copay multiple times in this 10 years yet she receives one increase. I have on of highest profiting insurances with one of the lowest reimburse rates.