We get it. Talking about money can be uncomfortable, like wearing an itchy sweater. It makes you want to wiggle and get out of it quickly. But hey, let’s toss those awkward feelings aside for a moment, and talk about the costs of investing in your relationship. Money is never easy, but the amount of money you can spend on a few dinners out on the town can cover the cost of a couples therapy sesh. We are going to go over the costs of improving the health of your relationship and having the real conversations you both need.
Understanding the factors that impact the cost of couples counseling
Let’s be honest here – saving your relationship is worth more than trying to save a few bucks on counseling. Is there really a price tag on love, security, and those good old snuggles? There are many factors that impact the price. Growing together as a couple has an effect on the fees for psychotherapy.
Location, location, location.
The location of couples or marriage counseling in Spokane really does matter. Most people don’t like to drive much. As a matter of fact, most folks like to keep it around a 10-15 minute drive max. And while we dive into the nitty-gritty of this all, therapy doesn’t come cheap, but neither do the years you have together.
According to Sean Abraham, LCSW, the average cost of marriage counseling is $75 to $250 per session. Typically couples counseling is more expensive than individual therapy because it requires special training and skills. There are more people in the room, more dynamics to track, and a specific skill at de-escalating the relationship. I will get to that a bit later.
If you want a price range, a 50-60 minute couples or marriage counseling session in Spokane costs from $100 to $250, with an average session costing around $150.
Frequency of appointments
Your relationship has been built over time and a therapist will need to unpack and change up your negative cycle. Imagine if a therapist can have 1 month to every year you have had together. It will take some time to untangle the mess and conflict you both have built up. The patterns have been ingrained and will require weekly appointments at first.
A therapist will typically recommend weekly sessions for at least 3 months. This will focus on de-escalation and assessments.
If you reside in Spokane and your therapist suggests you have weekly sessions for 12 weeks and charges $100 for each session, you’d be spending $1,200. It is important to know that weekly sessions are more expensive and you can speak to your psychotherapist about bi-weekly or monthly sessions to cut the cost down.
Therapist Expertise and Experience
A therapist charges based on their education, experience, and expertise. The higher the education and time they have been in the field, the more a couples therapist or marriage counselor charges. This is in fact very important with the type of training, mentorships, and certifications.
Location also influences the level of education. Washington State requires therapists to have a minimum Master’s degree to practice. Therapists working to earn their license (known as Associates) are under supervision and might charge less in their sessions for having less experience.
In Spokane, Associates that are right out of their Master’s program can own their own business with little experience and charge high rates. It is important to ask questions about their mentorships, trainings, certifications, and years of experience.
Session Length
A typical session in couples counseling lasts 50 minutes (or an hour). However, some relationships require more time due to the complexities, conflict, and injuries. By increasing the time of the session, it can increase the cost.
Low Fee Slots
Let’s be real – therapy costs money. Some therapists may offer low-fee slots or a sliding fee schedule based on your income and ability to pay. These might be for sessions that are at non-peak times or via Telehealth. Another option is looking to work with an Associate or a Master’s Degree student in the counseling field. These can reduce the cost, yet still focus on improving the relationship. Don’t be shy – ask if your therapist offers a lower fee slot for your couples or marriage counseling.
Insurance to cover the cost of couples therapy
We all love to use our insurance and it is great to have our mental health covered. If you or your partner were diagnosed with a mental health illness, such as depression or generalized anxiety, you might only have to pay the co-pay.
The only caveat – your therapist must be in-network with your plan. Some insurances do not cover the cost of couples counseling or require a medical diagnosis. Make sure to talk to your insurance.
We (your favorite Spokane Counseling Hub therapists) want our clients to have the best chance at getting the counseling covered, so we provide superbills that contain certain codes for the insurance. Some insurances will reimburse and some do not. We don’t bill the insurance. Our clients pay upfront, and then we provide a superbill so you can get reimbursed.
Find the RIGHT couples counselor, not the cheapest.
We see it all the time. Couples go down the list of therapists and book with the first therapist they speak with. We get it. Time is of the essence, however, finding the best-fit therapist is critical. Don’t take the “one size fits all” approach and schedule with the least expensive therapist in Spokane. No matter how desperate you are, this approach does not help your marriage quickly. It can actually cause harm.
You want to put in the work to find the best couples therapist that fits your specific relationship needs. Don’t go with the cheapest. Every move counts – especially when it comes to couples counseling. And we really get relationships. The owner of Spokane Counseling Hub trains therapists all over the world on how to work with high-conflict couples and she even wrote the book, “Help For High-Conflict Couples.” She is certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy, which is a research-based approach that shows long-term change in couples. So make sure you do the work in researching therapists.
At Spokane Counseling Hub, our fees range from $100 to $250 per couples therapy session. However, we do offer some options for reduced-fee sessions.