The main complaints of potential clients about psychotherapists and psychotherapy in general relate to price. Where do these rates for work come from? The average price for the services of an experienced psychotherapist in Kyiv is 700 UAH ($25), there are, of course, some specialists who charge 1500 UAH ($50) for work and more than 3000 UAH. ($100). Beginning specialists and students can work for more modest fees.
Usually the appointment takes place once a week, 4 times a month. That is, it turns out to be about $100 per month. In severe cases and psychoanalysis, the frequency of meetings can be 2-3 times a week.
As a rule, each psychotherapist has a supervisor and his own psychotherapist. A supervisor (colleague) helps to overcome difficulties in working with a client, and a psychotherapist (if necessary, helps to overcome the specialist’s own emotional problems that may interfere with therapy). These are additional expenses associated with the work of a psychotherapist, which he pays himself.
It may seem that a psychotherapist who himself needs support is a shoemaker without boots, but in fact psychotherapy is a highly intellectual intensive activity that can cause emotional burnout and psychosomatics, so additional support is needed to prevent this burnout and possible problems associated with psychological load and listening to negativity.
At the same time, the psychotherapist also rents the premises (in my case, I rent hourly, and this hourly rent is added to the cost of consultations; if the client decides to work online, then no).
Some methods do not require an online format and require additional equipment that needs to be stored somewhere. In this case, you have to pay rent monthly.
It’s easy to calculate, if you take into account the above costs and also the costs of periodic training, then the tariffs are moderate.
In general, upon reflection, we must admit that quality costs money, as in any field. And everyone must decide for themselves what price-quality ratio will be acceptable.
You can, of course, use the services of students or beginning professionals, but there is a risk that the effectiveness of the sessions will be lower, and their number will be much higher. And of course there is a risk of being left without results at all. This risk is practically eliminated in the case of an experienced specialist. As you know, “the greedy person pays twice.”
Below I will give a few more objections, in addition to the price of services, that prevent people from seeking psychological help.
I can handle my problems myself
This is a great position! If a person can independently cope with his psychological problems, this is a sign of psychological health. The ability to independently cope with psychological problems is the goal of psychotherapy. There is no goal to put a client on the needle of psychotherapy and keep it there for as long as possible. On the contrary, the sooner the client can manage independently without help, the better. I periodically ask clients, “Are you ready to end psychotherapy?” so that they understand that I am ready to finish it as soon as they see fit and do not feel a sense of guilt or discomfort for the fact that they may finish it earlier than I would like. This is psychotherapeutic honesty. The method of psychotherapy in which I work is short-term and does not involve delaying work for years on one request.
I don’t want to reveal my secrets to a stranger
This phrase reflects the common sense desire of a normal person who protects his personal territory. It's normal not to trust sensitive information to strangers.
In a situation of psychotherapy, as in the case of a dentist, toothache should overcome the fear of going to the dental office and drilling with a machine. That is, the problem must be so uncomfortable that this discomfort overcomes the reluctance to trust.
The willingness to open up and be vulnerable is a sign of great strength and courage. Therefore, as a psychotherapist, I try to help a person trust me, open up and feel safe, strictly maintaining the confidentiality of our meetings and all information that was entrusted to me, without disclosing it to third parties without the client’s consent.
On the other hand, if it is difficult for a person to trust, then I cannot turn on this trust in him with a click. If there is not enough trust to start therapy, then there will be no therapy.
I doubt that psychotherapy is effective.
If you have doubts about the effectiveness of therapy, it is better not to use the services of a psychotherapist. In this case, you are unlikely to be actively involved in the therapy process, and will rather sabotage it and therefore the effectiveness will be extremely low.
Use those services in the effectiveness of which you believe; faith is an important factor in success in any treatment.
Efficiency itself depends largely on the efforts of the client. It is believed that success in psychotherapy depends 30% on the client, 30% on the therapist, and 40% on subjective factors independent of anyone. If the client’s efforts are not there, then the therapy will not be successful either.
On the other hand, if the psychotherapist believes that he will not be effective in working at the client’s request, he will always say so. I have a free initial conversation for this purpose. If I consider that your request is not my profile, I will either refuse, or redirect you for examination to a psychiatrist, or recommend contacting a colleague.
I don’t want to repeat my bad experience with a psychologist.
Bad psychologists do not negate the existence of good ones. Of course, any such experience for a long time discourages any desire to turn to anyone for help. On the other hand, we need to understand the reasons for this bad experience and eliminate them when applying for the future. The same as with any other services. If you get a bad haircut, just find a good “your” hairdresser.
Success in therapy largely depends on the personality of the therapist. Therefore, you need to select “your” psychotherapist in the same way as you select “your hairdresser” or “dentist”. And of course, meeting “one of your own” will cover all the negativity that accompanied the search.
In addition to subjective contact with you, the psychotherapist must have a certificate of qualification, which implies many hours of practice, personal therapy, supervision.
If negative emotions arise during therapy, this may be a resistance phenomenon that is normal in the therapeutic process. In this case, you need to inform the psychotherapist about this and try to talk it through without leaving therapy. As a rule, overcoming resistance leads to personal growth of the client and success of therapy.
I'm afraid of becoming dependent on meetings with a psychotherapist
Addiction can form if you have a dependent personality type. In all other cases, you will not be dependent on several meetings with a psychotherapist.
If you are prone to developing dependent relationships with other people in life, or, on the contrary, avoid close relationships, then perhaps a relationship with a psychotherapist will help you finally overcome the fear of addiction and learn to build healthy relationships.
You can protect yourself from scammers who will deceive you and encourage addiction if you choose the right psychotherapist. Sometimes it is useful to tell another specialist about your suspicions to get an independent opinion.
Of course there are jokes about dependence on a psychotherapist. Indeed, therapy can last several years. BUT! They are talking only about psychoanalysts - those who work in the method of psychoanalysis, which involves working for many years.
The method of positive psychotherapy in which I work is short-term and does not imply many years of work on one request. Most often, one request is resolved in 10 consultations.
I don’t want people to think that I’m mentally ill or weak
The level of understanding of psychological services in post-Soviet countries is very low. Many people cannot tell the difference between a psychologist and a psychotherapist, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.
Lack of understanding and information creates anxiety. Moreover, historically in post-Soviet countries psychology was suppressed, and psychiatry was used to fight politically objectionable people, imposing diagnoses on them.
Therefore, shame and stigmatization of seeking help leads to unnecessary suffering and leads to serious mental problems when the help of a psychiatrist is already needed. Of course it's sad.
A possible way out is I will keep quiet about my visits to a psychotherapist to those close to me who you think might judge or misunderstand your desire to overcome psychological difficulties.
Another reason for the fear of looking weak in the eyes of others is the stereotype about the behavior of men. That supposedly men don’t cry and should solve their problems in silence.
An argument against such a stereotype is the proven effectiveness of psychotherapy. It’s normal to use a working tool to solve your problems, a specialist, a method that is recognized all over the world, and leave independence for other areas where it will be more appropriate.
I don’t have time for psychotherapy
Lack of time is the scourge of our lives.
But as you understand, time is just a matter of priorities. If something is really important, then you will find time for it.
If you don’t have time, it means you are not yet ripe for psychotherapy and can deal with your problems on your own, which is also not a bad thing.
I would like to note that modern technologies make it possible to undergo psychotherapy online. I also offer such services. In this case, you at least halve the time it took to get ready and travel to the psychotherapist’s office, not to mention that a 50-minute session in this case is easy to arrange early in the morning or late in the evening, even on weekends and on business trips . This format offers flexibility and convenience not available in face-to-face meetings.
I have no psychological problems
If there are no psychological problems, there is a possibility that this is indeed the case. Then you can be envied. This is a rare case.
But it is possible that there are no psychological problems - because you do not see them, but other people see them. Like an alcoholic, he doesn’t have problems with alcohol, but everyone around him does.
Sometimes, when you cannot formulate a problem for yourself, it is useful to come to a psychotherapist with a request for the study itself. Problems are hidden from awareness so as not to clearly traumatize the psyche; sometimes it takes time to detect a serious problem.
In general, if you don’t see any problems, then you don’t need to contact a specialist.
Psychologists are swindlers, although I have never encountered them
If you have not encountered psychologists, but as if in a joke someone sang Caruso in a false voice, then it is best to gain personal experience.
But you can’t force this to happen. If you haven’t asked for help yet, it means it wasn’t necessary.
I am ready to help those who decide to search for solutions and answers using online psychotherapy or in person in Kyiv. To sign up for a consultation, you can click the button below.
Take action and you will succeed!
Date of update: 04/18/2024 Mikhail Dickey - certified psychologist - psychotherapist - coach. Read about the author