I would wager that one in every three women could read the title of today’s post and think to themselves, Yup, sounds about right, without even needing to read the content. That isn’t to say that men might not also think the same thing upon reading today’s title; however, speaking realistically, women are mistreated and ignored in the medical industry to a much greater degree than men.
The issues women face when it comes to doctors are not what the post is about – that’s a topic for another time. Rather, it’s about a tremendous moral dilemma regarding the cost of most mental health services and the hypocrisy existing at the hands of individuals who determine the prices for therapists and counsellors.
Counselling services are not cheap, and that’s assuming you even have coverage. Suppose you’re fortunate enough that you do; in that case, the outcome still isn’t feasible because most medical insurance sectors allot roughly eight free sessions with a therapist before you must pay out of pocket. Speaking from experience, most mental health conditions and illnesses are not completely cured after eight sessions with a professional.
I received an email earlier this year from a clinic where I used to attend therapy. The email was to inform customers (I refuse to say patients in this sense) that the prices of services had increased, so I was curious how much clinics are charging for sessions in general. According to torontophyschologyservices.com, “In Ontario, therapy fees can vary widely depending on several factors. The range of $250 to $500 per hour is a general estimate for therapist costs and may be influenced by the considerations discussed earlier.”
I mean absolutely no disrespect to therapists because their work is incredibly important and necessary. However, I do take issue with how much it costs to address and treat mental health conditions, and I do not see, in a moral sense, how these astronomical prices can be justified when the purpose of therapy is to help people. Perhaps the initial sessions truly help, but after a while, you’re going to be facing other issues in the context of stress because of the cost of continuing to go to therapy. In this economy, these prices are not realistic for the vast majority.
We must do better and stop perpetuating hypocrisy when it comes to mental health services. How can people truly be helped when they’re being financially gouged?
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
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