Low-cost Psychologists: Low-cost Therapists, A New And Worrying Trend
Anxiety, stress, substance abuse, affective disorders or development or social adjustment problems are elements that are increasingly present in our society. In a world like today’s, many people require specialized psychological care and, as a professional activity, what is it? Such care represents remuneration for those who exercise it
However, some of the people who need these services do not have enough resources to pay the fees of a private professional, which is why the demand for low-cost psychologists has appeared.
As is already known, psychology is a scientific discipline whose object of study is the human psyche. Psychologists dedicate their professional activity to working with diverse people, groups and organizations, having trained for years and polished their skills and competencies in order to offer the best possible service.
There are many professionals who carry out their activity within the public sphere, but the characteristics of the public environment cause many professionals to decide to establish themselves and create or enter private psychological consultations and institutes.
Going to a private psychology center usually implies more personal treatment, differentiated and with a more continuous availability, in addition to being able to more frequently find other approaches that deviate from the most common methodologies. However, this type of consultation usually has a moderate cost (it must be taken into account that the professional must face multiple expenses in the management and maintenance of the consultation) which in the long run may become difficult to bear for many.
Thus, it is possible that many people who would require psychological care in a more continuous and specific way than in public care (if such public health exists in the territory in question) may not be able to assume the costs involved. The knowledge of this fact has caused the birth of some associations and professionals that offer low-cost psychological intervention They are known as “low cost psychologists.”
This type of low-cost psychology aims to serve as a bridge between the benefits of therapy and patients who cannot afford it. These are usually associations, NGOs and groups of professionals who, upon observing that many problems remain untreated due to lack of resources, decide to reduce the cost of their services, adjusting this aspect to the economic capacity of the subject.
Regarding the legality and possibility of performing low-cost therapy, according to the code of ethics, it must be taken into account that the remuneration demanded by the professional must not imply that the profession is devalued or that there is unfair competition. However, Yes, it is possible and legal to carry out a psychological intervention of these characteristics, and even exceptionally for free if clients need it and are unable to meet the expense.
To go to this type of low-cost associations and psychologists, it is necessary to present documentation that demonstrates the socioeconomic status of the aforementioned, so that the remuneration can be set according to their possibilities while preventing the abusive use of this type of services.
The situation in Spain
Although in Spain it is not so common since there are psychology professionals within Social Security, it is a growing trend in other South American countries. Despite this, due to the economic problems associated with the crisis and the difficulty of access to public services due to the poor relationship between supply and demand (the demand for psychologists greatly exceeding the supply) Due to its high level of demand, similar associations have begun to emerge on our borders
Although the low price may suggest otherwise, the professionals who offer this type of therapy continue to be qualified psychologists, requiring sufficient accreditation to take care of the patients and clients who come to them or else they would be acting fraudulently and punishable by law.
In Spain, in the case of clinical psychology, it is necessary to at least be in possession of the title and accreditation of a general health psychologist or specialist in clinical psychology, in addition to being registered in the Official College of Psychologists.
Advantages and disadvantages of offering therapy at a low price
As in almost everything, in low cost psychology there are lights and shadows.
The good thing about this collection policy
The main advantage of this type of intervention is evident: Low-cost psychology allows us to provide advice and therapy to those who cannot afford other types of services This can provide relief to a large number of people who would not otherwise be able to receive specialized care.
The low cost can also lead to a reduction in the level of abandonment of therapy, which is sometimes due to decreases in the purchasing power of clients (layoffs, for example).
In the same way, the greater accessibility by a large number of people helps to ensure that going to a psychologist stops being a socially stigmatized issue, given that the idea that going to a consultation is only appropriate for part of the population is still valid. of people with serious mental disorders.
The bad thing about low cost psychology
But although going to a low-cost center can be a great help and benefit for the person who goes there, it is necessary to keep in mind that it can pose some risks and/or inconveniences compared to other types of professionals.
One of the main risks is whether the center or association in question is real. Although there are low-cost psychologist centers and institutions of proven effectiveness, in the internet era It is easy to find cases of supposed professionals who have neither the training nor the legal capacity to practice psychology running the risk that scam situations could hide under supposed offers that attract attention.
In this sense, it is necessary to document and collect information about the center and the professionals who offer therapy to verify that they are who they say they are. Psychological professionals must be accredited as such and registered in order to practice.
The risk of denigrating the union
Another risk comes from the fact that, although low-cost therapy is possible, This should be given only under the assumption that it does not denigrate the profession or engage in unfair competition with other professionals It must be taken into account that a price that is too low can undervalue the training, effort, skill and dedication required to successfully carry out a treatment or therapy.
Thus, it is necessary to take into account that this type of low-cost therapies should be dedicated to situations in which clients who need an intervention do not have sufficient resources.
Finally, another drawback of this type of low-cost psychology refers to the fact that even though the service is of quality, it is possible that certain treatment or evaluation modalities cannot be carried out. This is due to the limitations inherent to the lack of budget, and the resources available to a center greatly limit the type of services it can offer.
