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The work of psychologists is in demand today more than ever. In a difficult situation, many of us prefer to turn to a specialist to calm down and streamline our thoughts. How will prices for psychotherapy change in the near future? Experts answer.
The times when turning to a psychologist was considered something to be ashamed of seems to have sunk into oblivion forever. On the contrary, today working with a specialist has become an effective way to resolve and process not only internal experiences and conflicts, but also our relationships with other people.
The average cost of a consultation with a psychologist in Moscow varies today from 1600 to 3500 rubles per hour, but can reach 5000-6000 rubles per appointment. In St. Petersburg, the average cost is slightly lower — about from 1300 to 3000 rubles per hour. In other regions of Russia, we are talking about the amount of 1000–2500 rubles per hour.
What is the cost of a consultation?
“In order to determine how justified the cost of the services of a particular specialist, it is important to pay attention to his education, work experience, the availability of additional places for advanced training (including abroad) and whether he is a member of any psychological association,” explains psychologist Alina Galantseva. “Typically, education and advanced training costs a lot of money, which affects the cost of expert advice.”
In addition, according to her, professional psychologists have to make a lot of forced but necessary expenses.
The «price tag» of a specialist is influenced by …
Supervision. When older and more experienced professionals give a professional assessment of the work of a psychologist, which, in turn, significantly increases its level.
Personal therapy. Only the specialist who works out his personal psychological problems in a timely and regular manner will be most effective in the role of a consultant. Otherwise, if he takes a client with the same problem as him, he will be at least biased due to the unconscious transfer of internal experiences to the process of counseling the client.
Cabinet rental. Now many specialists have the opportunity to provide assistance not only in person, but also remotely. But it happens that the client’s situation or home atmosphere does not allow him to be properly immersed in psychological work. For example, a young mother is distracted by small children, and it is embarrassing for a man to talk about family problems when his wife is at home. In this case, the client chooses the face-to-face consultation option, which also increases the cost of the service.
Expert fame. This factor takes place because a well-known specialist has a constant stream of clients. And so that he can physically help a large number of people, he raises the cost of the service. In this way, those who cannot afford to pay for a consultation are naturally weeded out. In addition, the very fact of fame and popularity can spur a psychologist to raise the price for a consultation — no one has canceled ambitions.
A specific and narrow area of work of a psychologist, which is in demand in the market. For example, there are specialists working with the psychological causes of infertility. In large cities of Russia, this area is in great demand, and narrowly specialized specialists may not be enough for everyone.
Yesterday Today Tomorrow
Today, many of us have heightened anxiety, a fear of uncertainty. According to the law of the market, demand affects the price, says personal finance expert Anastasia Veselko. Therefore, some specialists who specialize in panic conditions have increased the cost of consultations. So, in tense times of crisis, the cost of services rises by an average of 500-1000 rubles per hour.
On the other hand, according to Alina Galantseva, there is another trend. Many high-class specialists with vast experience and knowledge sincerely strive to help as many people as possible and go to work for free psychological help lines for the population or launch projects in which participation costs symbolic money, or even completely free.
Forecasts for the future are still vague. “On the one hand, prices may rise because in such unstable and uncertain times, the demand for consultations increases. People are looking for help to calm down and find inner support,” says personal finance expert Anastasia Veselko. “On the other hand, it is expected that economic sanctions will lead to a decrease in income for the population, and even those who would like to undergo therapy will not be able to afford it.
Still, the services of a psychologist are not products and not payment for light, water or school for a child. There is an assumption that prices will remain at about the same level as now, even despite the rise in price of goods in stores. Psychologists will try to make sure that clients can still afford to come for a consultation. Although from the point of view of inflation, it turns out that psychotherapists themselves lose by starting to sell their services cheaper.