Dispelling the Mysteries of Psychotherapy

As one of the premiere New York psychoanalytic therapy programs, we field a lot of questions from patients who want to understand how this sort of talk therapy compares to other techniques. The short answer is that we are principally concerned with causes, not symptoms: analytic therapy’s mission is to understand what lies behind the issues of depression, anxiety, doubt and other concerns. But there is perhaps an even simpler answer, published recently in this short column:

Psychotherapy works very simply – it enables you to see things about yourself or your life that you can't currently see and that is affecting how you feel, what you do, and what happens to you. Once you can see what has been making the things happen that have been happening, you can get your hands around it and do something to improve how you feel, what you do, or what happens to you.

The best reason to get into psychotherapy is relief: relief from pain, sadness, isolation, stress. Some of these elements originate in the world around us, but others originate from within, powered by many years of personal history. Talking through these personal stories is a way to steal their power, and to make sense of the choices we all make on a daily basis.

At PPSC, we specialize in low cost therapy, sliding scale therapy, and LGBT therapy throughout New York and the region. If you are looking for a specific area of expertise, don’t hesitate to find a therapist at PPSC today.

What to Expect from Low Cost Therapy

Finding good low-cost therapy is often more meaningful than simply nailing down a good price. For many people, sliding scale psychotherapy represents a lifeline. But it can also represent a potentially awkward topic undertaken with their therapist:

Gutheil and Gabbard write, "Money is a boundary in the sense of defining the business nature of the therapeutic relationship. This is not love; it's work" (1993, p. 192). Thus the fee and fee arrangement are important determinants of the nature of the therapeutic process and the boundary of the patient-therapist relationship.

Reaching out to experienced analytic therapists is the easiest way to avoid a protracted negotiation over price. Many of them will have worked out similar arrangements in the past, and become adept at sidestepping some of the difficult and embarrassing parts of this conversation. You may even come away feeling better understood and supported than you did going in.

Working out a good system to evaluate and agree on pricing is a tricky process, but once it’s done, you can move forward with the really fruitful work of psychotherapy. Just watch out for a few familiar pitfalls along the way:

As with any fee arrangement, therapists should try to clearly articulate, preferably in writing, and agree upon the arrangement. The concern with the sliding scale is that it can put therapists and clients in a conflict of interest where clients may have an investment in presenting a scaled down financial picture in order to obtain a lower rate. If this negotiation takes place at the beginning of therapy, it can contaminate the therapeutic relationship. Some factors, such as retirement investments, upcoming inheritance, etc., cannot be easily factored into the equation of the sliding scale.

The moral: be open, speak clearly, and don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. At PPSC, we proudly offer sliding scale therapy for patients across New York. Start here to learn more.

An Ode to Low Cost Therapy

It is an all-too-common complaint: patients are certain they need therapy, but are afraid that they cannot afford the kind of lasting care that’s likely to help. This recent article describes the mindset perfectly, listing common issues such as depression, anxiety and relationship difficulties before concluding:

Any of these types of issues can stretch a person beyond his or her ability to cope. Any of them can challenge the most creative, caring, and responsible person, You’ve tried your best. You’ve tried to look at a brighter side, to be rational, to be smart about whatever it is. But you still can’t figure things out. You still feel alone in your troubles and without the inner resources or the outer supports to change things. This is when people often go to therapy. You wish you could. But you have no insurance and you know it can be costly. The situation seems hopeless.

It’s not. Serious, yes. Hopeless, no.

That’s right: there are good options for low cost therapy in New York. You simply need to do a little homework, and to not be afraid to ask.

Here at PPSC, we proudly offer low cost therapy and sliding scale therapy to patients whose financial circumstances warrant consideration. We are deeply committed to the work of analytic therapy, and that means we make this essential mental health service available to as wide a swath of people as we possibly can.

If you’re looking for a better approach to low cost therapy, please don’t hesitate to contact the professional therapists of PPSC today.

Finding Low Cost and Sliding Scale Therapy in New York

It’s a common concern: where can I find low cost and sliding scale therapy here in New York City? The simple fact is that analytic therapy can be expensive over the long term, and many patients don’t have the financial means to make that kind of commitment. This PBS article gives you a way out. It’s a basic guide to the different avenues you may explore to secure lower fees and subsidized treatment. Although the author points toward several good sources, the most resonant advice in the piece is also the simplest:

The first place to check is with your current therapist. Many, but not all, therapists offer a fee service schedule for cash-only clients that may "slide" – that is, the fee goes down based upon your income. If you're making a middle-class salary, the discount offered by such sliding scales may not be much. But if you're in the lower socio-economic class, this discounted fee schedule can cut a regular therapist's fee in half or more.

Here at PPSC, we offer low cost therapy and sliding scale therapy across the board on a need-based basis. Our psychoanalytic psychotherapists are experienced in low cost structures, so often you simply need to engage your therapist in conversation to agree on a more viable fee.

To start your own affordable therapy in New York, contact us today.