Reduced fee psychoanalysis

Reduced fee psychoanalysis is often available. Washington DC Psychologist, psychoanalyst examines how to obtain this sort of treatment.

You have read about psychoanalysis and you have decided that it might be helpful to you. You have begun to learn more about this intensive, long-term, 4-5 day a week treatment. You have considered psychoanalytic psychotherapy a treatment that meets once, twice or three times a week. However, you feel that your difficulties could be more effectively addressed in psychoanalysis. But one thing stops you. As you begin to explore this possibility, you recognize that you can not afford the high tariff. Still more frustrating, in most cases, your insurance company offers little help, paying at best only a fraction of the cost. You find yourself wondering if there's a way you can pursue this treatment at a fee that you can afford.

The good news is that in many cities, the answer to that question is, "yes".

So how do you go about finding a high quality, psychoanalysis that you can afford? What should you do if your income is, for example, very low? What if you are a graduate student with a negative income? Are there any options available to you?

Here in Washington DC there are a plethora of options. Each with their pros and cons. These include:

1. Seek a consultation with an experienced psychoanalyst so that they can assess what sort of treatment will be most helpful to you - and, they can help you find a, "good fit".
2. Call an experienced psychoanalyst and ask them to provide you with a referral to someone who will see you at a reduced fee.
3. Call an experienced psychoanalyst and ask if they will see you for a reduced fee.
4. Call a psychoanalytic institute and ask if they can refer you to a psychoanalyst who will see you at a reduced fee.

Each will be addressed in turn.

1. Seek a consultation with an experienced psychoanalyst so that they can assess what sort of treatment will be most helpful to you - and, they can help you find a, "good fit".

While psychoanalysis can be a very useful, even transformative, treatment, it is not the treatment for everyone. Many difficulties can be effectively addressed in a less intensive, psychoanalytic, psychotherapy.

While you may have some sense that psychoanalysis might be most useful to you, only a careful clinical assessment can clarify whether this is the most optimal sort of help for your situation. Psychoanalysis is time-consuming, expensive, and most importantly, emotionally demanding. Therefore, prior to embarking on this journey, it may be worthwhile to have an experienced psychoanalyst assess whether or not it is the best option for you. Beyond this, a consultation can help you clarify what you can expect from psychoanalysis. And, a consultation can help you think through whether it might be helpful for you to pursue this sort of intensive treatment.

If the psychoanalyst feels that psychoanaylsis is the best option for you, then they may be able to provide you with a referral to a psychoanalyst who is willing to work with you on a sliding scale basis. Beyond this, after spending a few sessions with you, the consulting psychoanalyst will have a sense of your strengths and struggles; this may enable them to refer to someone who is a, "good fit".

Of course, if the evaluation suggests that psychoanalysis is not the best path, then, they have helped you to avoid an unnecessary treatment. And, they may be able to help you find a psychotherapy that will be useful to you.

The downside is twofold. First, you will likely feel a connection to the evaluating psychoanalyst, having to switch horses midstream may be disappointing. Second, there's the matter of cost. People vary in their feelings about this. Some, particularly those whose difficulties have eluded the efforts of previous psychotherapeutic efforts find it useful to get a comprehensive evaluation from a seasoned, clinician. In this way, they can clarify the sort of treatment that they actually need. Others prefer to start with the clinician who they will ultimately end up seeing.

2. Call an experienced psychoanalyst and ask them to provide you with a referral to someone who will see you at a reduced fee.

If you are among those who prefer to start with the clinician who you will ultimately see, here's one way to get a referral to a psychoanalyst who will see you on a sliding scale basis. Call an experienced clinician, explain that you would like to be seen for a reduced fee, and ask if they could refer you with someone who is available to do that. Often senior people are engaged in teaching roles and are well networked. Thus, such a person may be able to refer you to a colleague with these sorts of openings.

The advantages to this approach are twofold. First, if you get a referral, if psychoanalysis makes sense to you and your psychoanalyst, then, you can enter into treatment without having to switch psychoanalysts. Also, you will not have to absorb the cost of a full fee evaluation. The downside, of course, is that they will have to take their best shot at making a referral without any signficant information about you.

3. Call an experienced psychoanalyst and ask if they will see you for a reduced fee.

Many psychoanalysts will reduce their fees under special circumstances. Thus, another possibility is to call the psychoanalyst whom you would like to see, and ask if they will see you in analysis on a reduced fee basis. The upside of this is that you may be able to enter treatment with a skilled person at a fee that you can afford. The downside is that many psychoanalysts will say, "no". Although intellectually you may recognize that this isn't personal, at a time when you are already feeling low, it can be hurtful. You may have to make several calls before getting the desired, "yes".

4. Call a psychoanalytic institute and ask if they can refer you to a psychoanalyst who will see you at a reduced fee.

Psychoanalytic institutes frequently offer low-fee psychoanalysis through their clinics. The American Psychoanalytic Association has a list of institutes on their web page. Call an institute in the city in which you live and ask if they offer psychoanalysis for a reduced fee. Often candidates, in psychoanalytic training, offer psychoanalysis for a reduced fee. If you do not live in a major city, call the institute nearest to you. They may have analysts and/or analysts-in-training in your city.

Should I seek a psychoanalysis with a psychoanalytic candidate.

Disclaimer

The site does not provide psychological or work-life advice to any specific individual. Rather, the content is intended to be for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns regarding a psychological or work-life difficulty, seek professional evaluation. Do not disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of anything that you have read on this web site.