Genuine doubt regarding cost of therapies
Mental health has become an increasingly discussed topic, and seeking therapy is becoming more common—which is certainly a positive development.
I’m a veterinary doctor, and something I’ve been wondering about is how consultation fees and treatment duration are determined in mental-health practice.
In my own profession, when I plan treatment for a patient, I try to consider several factors: the expected duration of treatment, the client’s financial situation, the cost of medicines, and what is realistically sustainable for them.
In Kerala, therapy sessions can often cost around ₹1,500–₹2,500 per session, sometimes even more. I know several people who started therapy, found it helpful, and had no complaints about their therapist, but eventually stopped because the cumulative cost became difficult to sustain. Some continued for 10, 15, 20 or even more sessions.
I completely understand that there is no fixed number of sessions. Some people may benefit from short-term therapy, while others may genuinely require long-term psychotherapy depending on their problems, therapeutic approach, goals and progress.
But I have another genuine question, particularly for practicing psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors:
How are therapy fees determined?
For example, in many places, a therapy session can cost ₹1,500–₹2,500 or more per hour. This can sometimes be comparable to—or even higher than—the consultation fee charged by an MBBS doctor in the same area.
I’m not saying that psychologists or therapists should charge less. Their time, training, expertise, professional expenses and the nature of their work obviously have value.
But as someone from another healthcare profession, I’m genuinely curious: What factors justify or determine these consultation fees, and how does the pricing compare with other healthcare professionals?
There is also a difference in the way the costs accumulate. A medical consultation might be a one-time or occasional expense, whereas psychotherapy can involve weekly sessions for several months, making the overall financial burden quite significant.
I’m asking this genuinely to understand the economics and professional reasoning behind therapy—not to suggest that therapists are unnecessarily prolonging treatment or overcharging.
I would especially appreciate responses from psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors who are actually practicing, as I’d like to understand how you look at this from the professional side.