Low-cost psychologists: low-cost therapists, a new and worrying fad

The tendency to offer psychological support in exchange for almost nothing? a danger for the profession?

Anxiety, stress, substance abuse, affective disorders or problems of development or social adjustment are increasingly present in our society. In today's world there are many people who need specialized psychological care and, as a professional activity, this care is a reward for the professional, such care involves a remuneration for those who practice it..

However, some of the people who need these services do not have enough resources to afford the fees of a private professional, which is why the demand for low cost psychologists has appeared.

Low-cost psychologists: explaining the concept

As is well known, psychology is a scientific discipline whose object of study is the human psyche. Psychologists dedicate their professional activity to working with individuals, groups and diverse organizations, having trained for years and polished their skills and competencies in order to offer the best possible service.

There are many professionals who work in the public sector, but the characteristics of the public sector mean that many professionals decide to establish themselves and create or join private psychological clinics and institutes.

Going to a private psychology center usually implies a more personal treatment, differentiated and with a greater availability.In addition, it is more frequent to find other approaches that are different 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) that in the long run may be difficult for many people to afford.

Thus, it is possible that many people who would need psychological care on a more continuous and specific basis than in the public health care system (if such public health care exists in the territory in question) may not be able to assume the costs involved. Awareness of this fact has given rise to the birth of associations and professionals offering low-cost psychological intervention.. They are known as "low cost psychologists".

Psychology within the reach of any pocket

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, noting 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 legality and the possibility of providing low-cost therapy, according to the code of ethics, it should be taken into account that the remuneration demanded by the professional should not imply that the profession is devalued or that there is unfair competition. However, it is possible and legal to it is possible and legal to carry out a psychological intervention of these characteristics, and even exceptionally free of charge, if the clients need it.if the clients need it and are unable to pay for it.

In order to use this type of associations and low cost psychologists, it is required to present the documentation that proves the socioeconomic status of the person in question, so that the remuneration can be fixed according to his/her possibilities while preventing the abusive use of this type of services.

The situation in Spain

Although it is not so frequent in Spain, since there are psychology professionals within the Social Security system, it is a growing trend in other South American countries. However, due to the economic problems associated with the crisis and the difficulty of access to public services because of the poor relationship between supply and demand (the demand for psychologists exceeds supply to a large extent), the high level of demand for psychologists has started to increase. its high level of demand, similar associations have begun to emerge in our borders..

Although the low price may suggest otherwise, the professionals who offer this type of therapy are still qualified psychologists and psychologists, requiring sufficient accreditation to take care of patients and clients who come to them, otherwise they would be acting fraudulently and punishable by law.

In Spain, in the case of clinical psychology, it is necessary at least to be in possession of the title and accreditation of general health psychologist or specialist in clinical psychology, in addition to being a member of the Official College of Psychologists.

Advantages and disadvantages of offering therapy at low prices

As in almost everything, in low-cost psychology there are lights and shadows.

The good thing about this charging policy

The main advantage of this type of intervention is obvious: low cost psychology makes it possible to provide counseling and therapy to those who cannot afford to use other types of services.. This can bring relief to a large number of people who would otherwise not be able to receive specialized care.

The low cost can also induce a reduction in the level of dropout from therapy, which is sometimes due to decreases in clients' purchasing power (layoffs, for example).

Similarly, greater accessibility by a large number of people can help to ensure that seeing a psychologist is no longer a socially stigmatized subject, given that part of the population still has the idea that consulting a psychologist is only for people with serious mental disorders.

The downside of low-cost psychology

But although going to a low cost center can be a great help and benefit for the person who goes to it, it is necessary to take into account that it may involve some risks and / or drawbacks with respect to other types of professionals.

One of the main risks is that the center or association in question is real. Although there are centers and institutions of low cost psychologists of proven effectiveness, in the age of Internet it is easy to find cases of supposed professionals who have neither the training nor the legal capacity to practice psychology, and there is a risk that they may be underpaid.There is a risk that under supposedly attention-grabbing offers there may be hidden situations of fraud.

In this sense, it is necessary to document and collect information about the center and the professionals offering therapy to verify that they are who they say they are. Psychological professionals must be accredited as such and registered in order to be able to practice.

The risk of denigrating the profession

Another risk comes from the fact that, although low-cost therapy is possible, it should only be provided on the assumption that it does not denigrate the profession or incur the risk of denigrating the profession, this should only occur on the assumption that it does not denigrate the profession or engage in unfair competition with other professionals.. It should be borne in mind that too low a price may undervalue the training, effort, skill and dedication required to successfully carry out a treatment or therapy.

Thus, it is necessary to bear in mind that this type of low-cost therapy should be dedicated to situations in which clients in need of intervention do not have sufficient resources.

Finally, another disadvantage of this type of low-cost psychology is that, despite the quality of the service, it is possible that certain treatment or evaluation modalities cannot be carried out. This is due to the limitations of the lack of budget, and is that the resources available to a center greatly limits the type of services it can offer.