Are you considering therapy but worried about the cost? You’re not alone. At TCP, we believe everyone deserves quality mental health care, regardless of their financial situation. That’s why we’ve created a sliding scale fee system that meets you where you are financially. With sessions starting at just $30 (compared to the typical $150-$175 in Philly), we’re making therapy accessible for everyone who needs it.
What Is a Sliding Scale Fee System?
When you hear “sliding scale,” it simply means that the cost of your therapy sessions is based on what you can afford. At TCP, our sessions start as low as $30—about one-fifth of what therapy typically costs in Philadelphia. We designed our system this way because we know that standard rates of $150-$175 per session put therapy out of reach for many people who really need it.
Why Affordability in Therapy Matters
We know that financial stress and mental health challenges often go hand in hand. Consider this reality: in a city with a 21.7% poverty rate like Philadelphia, paying $150+ per therapy session just isn’t possible for many people. At minimum wage, that would be nearly 10% of your monthly income for just one weekly session.
Studies consistently show that people with lower incomes report poorer mental health outcomes—yet they’re often the ones who can’t access care due to cost. It creates a frustrating cycle that’s hard to break out of on your own.
That’s especially true for communities already facing other challenges—including women, transgender individuals, people of color, and those living in poverty. We believe therapy should be available to you regardless of your income level.
How Our Mission Connects to Affordability
At TCP, making therapy affordable is central to who we are. Our mission is to nurture individual well-being by providing high-quality, affordable psychotherapeutic services to women, transgender, and gender-expansive communities.
We recognize the unique financial challenges many of our clients face:
- Women often earn less than men, with the gap even wider for women of color
- Transgender and gender-expansive people frequently encounter employment discrimination and economic barriers
- Having multiple marginalized identities can compound these financial challenges
Our approach acknowledges that many of the communities we serve experience trauma and mental health challenges as a direct result of systemic oppression, including economic marginalization. Making therapy affordable isn’t just practical—it’s a matter of justice and care.
What Difference Does Affordable Therapy Make?
When you don’t have to stress about how to pay for therapy, you can focus on what matters: your healing and growth. We see the difference our sliding scale makes every day:
- You’re more likely to attend regularly: Our clients have a 92% attendance rate, much higher than the 50% average at other community mental health centers.
- You can stick with therapy long enough for real change: Over half our clients attend at least 16 sessions, and 45% attend more than 21 sessions—enough time to work through deeper issues, not just manage symptoms.
As one client told us (details changed for privacy): “Before finding TCP, I had given up on therapy. It always felt like something I couldn’t afford, especially quality care that respected all parts of my identity. The sliding scale made it possible for me to commit to my mental health without constantly worrying about whether I could make my next appointment.”
Benefits Beyond Your Individual Therapy
When therapy becomes financially accessible, the benefits extend beyond your personal growth. Improved mental health often leads to:
- Stronger relationships with partners, family, and friends
- Better performance and satisfaction at work or school
- Lower overall healthcare costs
- More energy for community involvement and connection
By removing financial barriers to therapy, we’re helping build a healthier, more resilient community in Philadelphia.
Coming Soon: Even More Accessibility Through Medicaid
We’re always looking for ways to make therapy more accessible. That’s why we’re in the process of becoming a Medicaid provider. This will make it even easier for eligible clients to receive care with minimal out-of-pocket costs.
With these changes, we’ll be able to maintain our sliding scale while expanding our services to reach even more people who need support.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’ve been putting off therapy because of financial concerns, we encourage you to reach out. We’re committed to finding a fee that works for your budget while providing the high-quality, affirming care you deserve.
There’s no complicated application process—just an honest conversation about what you can afford. Your mental health matters, and financial constraints shouldn’t stand in the way of getting the support you need.