Why most therapists undercharge
The usual mistake is to divide the income you want by 52 weeks and a full diary. In practice, you'll take holidays, be ill, go on training, have clients end and gaps before new ones start, and lose some sessions to late cancellations. Add the cost of supervision, insurance, rooms and registration, and the fee you need is almost always higher than the one you first thought of.
How to set your therapy fees
- —Start with the calculator: what do you need to charge to be sustainable?
- —Then look at five to ten local therapists with similar training and experience on directories.
- —Decide where you sit. Specialist training, evening availability and in-person rooms can justify a higher fee.
- —Set one clear standard fee, plus any concession places you can genuinely afford.
- —Review it once a year, and give existing clients plenty of notice before a change.
Talking about fees without awkwardness
Put your fee, session length and cancellation policy on your website and directory profiles. Being open about cost is part of being trauma-informed: it removes one more uncertainty for someone already finding it hard to reach out. Our free therapy cost calculator widget lets visitors see the cost of a course of sessions on your own site.
If you're just starting out, our guide on how to get clients as a newly qualified therapist covers the next steps, and getting more private-pay clients covers growth once you're established.