Your Son Needs Therapy. Find Out How to Afford Help!
My Son Needs Therapy! How Can I Afford That?!?
Raising Sons: Your Health Insurance Could be a Resource
Does your son need therapy? I can’t tell you the number of times I hear a single parent mom say “my son needs therapy, I think he’s in trouble but I can’t afford to get help.”
This assumption can be costly. Here are the steps to take before you assume you can’t afford therapy for your son:
- Call your insurance company and simply ask “do I have behavioral and/or mental health coverage?”
- What is my co-pay?
- Have I met my deductible?
- What is the limit?
Your next step is to research and find a Licensed Professional Counselor, preferably one that has experience treating adolescent boys. As an example my clients request authorization to see Clayton Lessor, LPC.
In my practice I conduct an evaluation and assessment on the first visit and determine a treatment plan. One of the options is The Quest Project® which addresses behavioral issues with adolescent boys ages 11-19 in a group setting. I strongly encourage you, if you are that parent struggling with a son you believe may need therapy, to make the CALL!
Society has placed a stigma on behavioral/mental health issues. The tendency is to hope they’ll go away or get better on their own. Frankly, sometimes they do however the risk you take by not addressing the issues with a professional can cause damage to your son for a lifetime. As I have shared in my previous blogs and my book, this road often leads to addiction, dropping out of school and even incarceration.
I rarely see a situation where there is not insurance coverage, and since plans vary it’s impossible for me to give you a guide. Make the call and ask the questions. Then make an appointment with a licensed professional counselor for an evaluation and assessment.
In my practice if the client does not have insurance we will work out a payment plan on a sliding scale. The goal is to get the help needed as quickly as possible. Make the call-the money you spend may be the most important investment you can make!