Understanding the Financial Dynamics of Therapy
Why Discussing Income is Crucial for Therapists
Therapists are taught to avoid talking about money, but that silence is costing us.
Discover why valuing your service, your therapists’ income, and your business is essential for long-term sustainability.
The Importance of Income Transparency in Therapy
During our training, we’re often told:
“Don’t talk about money.”
“Offer low-cost therapy if you’re ethical.”
But here’s the uncomfortable truth ➔
Therapists’ income matters.
Our service is valuable, built on thousands of pounds of training, emotional labour, supervision, and professional growth.
And yet, many therapists walk around feeling guilty for simply wanting to make a living.
That guilt is not just personal, it’s systemic.
If we don’t hold our worth, who will?
How Much Money Do Therapists Make, And Why It’s Often Not Enough
Understanding the Financial Challenges in Therapy
How much money do therapists make?
The answer varies, but it’s often less than it should be.
Why?
Because we were trained to believe that charging fairly is somehow “wrong.”
The costs pile up behind the scenes:
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CPD courses
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Insurance and legal compliance
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Website hosting, admin, marketing
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Emotional toll of session work
Without recognising these hidden investments, how much money does a therapist make?
Too often: not enough to live sustainably.
And yet, we hesitate to raise fees, fearing judgment from clients and peers alike.
This cycle leads to burnout, resentment, and high turnover rates in the profession.
Unseen Financial Burdens
The True Cost of Being a Therapist
Becoming a therapist isn’t just about heart and compassion — it’s also about sustained investment.
Every therapist is running a small business alongside doing deep emotional work.
Here’s just a sample of the hidden costs:
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Training fees (often £8,000–£15,000+)
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Regular therapy (£50–£80 per session)
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Clinical supervision (£60–£100 per session)
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Marketing and website management
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Room rental or online platform costs
So, when you ask how much money a therapist makes, the real question is ➔ after costs, how sustainable is it?
Without open conversations about money, therapists continue to subsidise the profession with their wellbeing, and that’s not okay.
When Therapy Feels Like Charity Work
There’s a damaging narrative in our industry:
If you love your work, you shouldn’t care about getting paid.
We’re encouraged to offer sliding scales, free sessions, and community contributions, all while being expected to cover ever-rising personal costs.
It feels like a betrayal of our values to ask for fair pay.
But let’s be clear ➔
Therapists’ income enables therapists to continue helping.
Sustainability isn’t selfish, it’s essential.
We are professionals, not volunteers.
Compassion doesn’t replace rent, utilities, or groceries.
Challenging the Free Therapy Myth
Why Charging Fair Fees is Essential
Income Variability Among Therapists
The Impact of Specialization on Earnings
Therapists, Counsellors, and Income Differences
It’s interesting to compare across sectors.
When researching what type of massage therapist makes the most money, the answer is clear:
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Sports massage specialists
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Clinical rehabilitation therapists
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Advanced treatment providers
Why do they earn more? ➔ Because specialist skills and additional investment raise their value.
The same principle applies to counsellors and psychotherapists:
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Trauma specialists
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Eating disorder therapists
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Neurodivergent support providers
Your specialist training deserves to be reflected in your fees.
Whether you’re a massage therapist or a psychotherapist, your service is valuable, life-changing, and deserves fair financial recognition.
Reclaiming Professional Value
The Importance of Fair Rates
Charging fairly is not about greed ➔ it’s about respect.
Respect for your work.
Respect for your training.
Respect for your clients, when you’re well-supported, you can support them better, too.
When we accept low pay as usual, we teach the world that therapeutic work isn’t valuable.
When we raise our standards and our fees, we help professionalise and protect the field.
Therapists’ income must match therapists’ value.
It’s time to stand in that truth without shame.
Income and Self-Worth
A Final Thought on Value
You can be deeply compassionate and want financial security.
You can offer life-changing work and set sustainable fees.
You can change lives and build a life you don’t need rescuing from.
Talking about money in therapy isn’t just about numbers ➔
It’s about self-worth.
It’s about power.
It’s about survival.
Let’s talk about the uncomfortable.
Because if we don’t value our own work, how can we expect anyone else to?
You deserve to thrive, not just survive.
Becky Stone
I’m Becky Stone, a qualified eating disorder therapist in Canterbury, UK.
I work with teens and adults navigating body image struggles, eating disorders, and neurodivergent challenges.
With lived experience and professional training, I offer a warm, non-judgmental space for recovery and growth.
Take the Next Step in Your Healing Journey
It’s time to choose therapy honouring your growth, goals, and worth.
I offer specialised support for eating disorders, body image challenges, and neurodivergent experiences, designed to rebuild trust not just in food, but in yourself.
Your healing journey deserves to be rooted in empowerment, not shame.
Let’s take the next step, together.
