Lately, we’ve been discussing appropriate pricing for social workers in private practice, particularly for those with varying levels of experience. We’ve noticed that many practitioners entering private practice with only a year of clinical experience are charging $150 per session. To us, this seems excessive­ especially for those who are still early in their careers and developing their skills.

At Carter’s, we take pride in offering accessible and affordable services. Our goal is to ensure that high­ quality mental health support remains within reach for those who need it. In fact, we have Master of Social Work (MSW) practitioners charging rates lower than some Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) practitioners because we prioritize affordability and accessibility over profit. Many of our therapists have been in the field for over 10 years and bring extensive experience to their practice.

Through discussions with other professionals, we believe there should be guidelines for pricing with counselling. However, there are currently no formal pricing guidelines-only industry trends based on other practices. Ultimately, when seeking therapy, clients are paying for experience and expertise. While new social workers are still growing and learning, more seasoned professionals bring years of knowledge, making pricing an important factor for both accessibility and value.

This is why we offer a sliding scale for counselling, ranging from $50 to $170 per session. This allows clients to choose what fits their budget while also selecting the level of specialization they need.

Follow along next week as we dive deeper into the value of private practice and what collaboration means to us!