Shrink-ing paychecks
Mental health professionals are making less money than they need to, says the New York Times—in part because their rates haven't increased. My psychiatrist has charged me the same amount for the past couple years: $125 per session. I appreciate the fact that he hasn't increased the fee, but $125 is a lot of money. I pay him $500 a month—more than I pay for rent.
I sympathize with social workers and counselors who are severely underpaid, but I'm less teary-eyed about psychiatrists in private practice. Is that unfair? Maybe I'm just jealous that I don't make $125 per hour. I suppose fixing comma splices isn't quite as important as fixing the brain.
Mental Health Therapists Face Financial Stress as Fees Stagnate [NY Times]
Comments
The amount they make is plenty.
I'm lucky, I guess. I just pay a ten dollar co-pay to my HMO, who has mental/physical health parity. But that's what lots of people do with decent health insurance.
I simply don't trust that another can come up with methods to change me if I give them that much money. I'm dubious at $10.00 and the $100.00 a month health insurance premiium for the family.
Posted by: beagles | March 27, 2006 11:08 PM
And I thought paying $15/session (copay, mind you) was too much. Oh, man!
Posted by: robyn | April 1, 2006 12:37 AM