Can I afford counselling?

This article was written by Palmeira Practice counsellor, Shelley Holland.

So, you want to see a therapist, but you’ve got an inner voice telling you that you can't afford it. Your bank balance seems to be saying no, absolutely not, there's no way you can justify this right now. How do you get past evidence that feels so compelling?

Money worries are real. Job insecurity, reduced hours, rising costs, these things that can limit what's possible for people. There’s also a well-established link between periods of financial pressure and higher rates of depression, loneliness, and even suicidal feelings. If money feels tight for you right now, you're far from alone in that.

What does money actually mean to you?

Take a moment to consider what money represents in your life, beyond simply paying your way.

For most of us, money carries far more emotional weight than just having a practical function. Many people use it to feel better, or to fill a gap that isn't really about money at all. Do you recognise yourself in browsing online shops when you're lonely or bored? Treating yourself when you're feeling low? Or the opposite, worrying about spending anything at all, even when there's plenty sitting in savings?

Money and your upbringing

We all grew up in families with their own particular relationship to money. In some households, keeping up a certain lifestyle mattered more than staying out of debt. In others, never owing anything mattered more than buying what was actually needed.

We all grew up with different attitudes towards money. Our upbringing affects how we view our finances, and ultimately what we feel we can and can't afford.

What was it like in yours? Did you grow up with a sense of plenty, or a sense that everything, money, food, even love, was scarce and could run out? If it was the latter, you may well have enough for your needs now, but the old anxiety that it might all disappear can still create real, overwhelming feelings that push you toward being far more risk-averse than your circumstances actually require. And that can get in the way of things you genuinely need, whether that's the roof getting fixed, a worn-out pair of shoes replaced, or reaching out for support.

So, can you afford counselling?

Only you can really untangle how much of "I can't afford it" comes from the numbers in your bank account, and how much comes from a feeling that there's no money, even when there is. It's worth asking yourself which one is really at play. This isn't about whether you're "good" or "bad" with money, it's usually more about your relationship with it.

Whatever the reason, there are ways to access support at a lower cost, or at no cost at all. Routes worth checking include counselling through your employer, school, college or university, a referral via your GP, and local charities offering reduced-cost or sliding-scale counselling. What's actually available changes over time, so rather than list specifics here that may go out of date, you'll find additional information about some local and national free and low-cost services here on the Palmeira Practice’s dedicated page.

It's worth knowing that free and low-cost routes usually come with a waiting list, and sessions are often limited in number. Private counselling, by contrast, typically has no waiting list and no cap on sessions, which makes it easier to work on longer-standing or more deep-rooted issues at a pace that actually suits the work.

If weekly sessions feel like too much of a stretch

Talk to your counsellor or psychotherapist directly about cost, it's a completely reasonable conversation to have. Sometimes a shorter, more intensive block of weekly sessions works better, and is more affordable in the long run, than trying to stretch sessions out further apart over a longer period. Being honest about what's realistic for you gives your therapist the chance to work with you on something sustainable.

Group therapy is another option worth considering, groups of around eight people meeting weekly with a group psychotherapist, and it's often one of the more affordable ways to access ongoing therapeutic support.

If cost is the thing standing between you and getting support, it's worth having that conversation rather than assuming the door is closed.

Find out more from Shelley Holland.