Affordable, Accessible Teletherapy for Bay Area and California Residents
We believe that everyone deserves access to affordable therapy and counseling — especially now!
Beginning January 1, 2025, all Grateful Heart clinicians will be asked to follow our new standardized, sliding scale, tiered fee schedule. Standardized, sliding scale, tiered fee schedules are common practice for organizations like Grateful Heart, whose mission (in part) is to provide low-cost and affordable mental health services to the community. The sliding scale rate ensures that clinicians are able to work with a range of clients. The tiered system reflects the enhanced level of clinical skill we expect from associates as they attain experience hours towards licensure and gain additional training. The year of experience is counted from when the clinician became registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
| Clinician | Individual Client | Couples, Polycules, Families |
| Year 1 | $60 – 120 | $95 – 140 |
| Year 2 | $120 – 150 | $140 – 175 |
| Year 3 | $150 – 175 | $175 – 215 |
| Year 4+ or Licensed | Set by clinician | Set by clinician |
We also ask that each clinician reserve one spot for a very a low fee client ($50 or less)
The following descriptions can help you and your therapist decide where you fall within their sliding scale. The lower tiers describe less economic privilege.
Tier 1
I frequently stress about meeting basic needs* & don’t always achieve them. I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting basic needs & don’t always achieve them. I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs. I rent lower end properties or have unstable housing. I do not have a car or have limited access to a car and gas. I am unemployed, underemployed, or have been denied work due to incarceration history. I qualify for public aid including food stamps & healthcare. I am supporting children, elders, or other dependents. I have no access to savings. I have no or very limited expendable income**. I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them. I cannot afford a vacation or take time off without financial burden.
Tier 2
I may stress about meeting my basic needs* but still regularly achieve them. I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs. I have reliable daily transportation. I am employed. I have access to healthcare. I might have access to financial savings. I have some expendable income**. I am able to buy some new items and I thrift others. I can take time off either for sickness or leisure and am still able to pay next month’s bills. I can travel annually without financial burden.
Tier 3
I am comfortably able to meet all of my basic* needs. I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs. I own my home or property or I rent a higher-end property. I own or lease a car. I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs. I have reliable access to healthcare. I have access to financial savings, family wealth and/or resources in time of need. I have an expendable income**. I can always buy new items. I can afford multiple vacations or take time off for leisure.
*Basic needs include food, housing, and transportation
**Expendable income might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the movies or a concert, buy new clothes, books, and similar items each month
Adapted from The Green Bottle by Alexis J. Cunningfolk
If for any reason we cannot accommodate your budget or income, we will attempt to find you another therapist or provide you with referrals to reduced fee clinics. While we cannot guarantee to accommodate everyone, we will do our best to make counseling as affordable as possible. If you choose to submit the Therapist Referral Form through this website, we will ask you to specify the maximum you can afford to pay for therapy after your housing, healthcare and grocery costs and what resources you are considering when calculating this fee.
Payment
Payment for therapy is made at each session unless other arrangements are made with your therapist. Our therapists accept credit and debit cards via Square and IVY Pay.
Good Faith Estimate/No Surprises Act
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for medical services, including psychotherapy services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services.
You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.