With rising inflation and economic uncertainty, unfortunately, some couples are skipping therapy to save money. There is a good article in the Wall Street Journal discussing this difficult situation. My bottom line is that therapists need to work with clients that are having a difficult economic time. Economic stress merely compounds so many other issues. Here are a few major points made by this article. 

• U.S. inflation has been rising at the fastest rate in four decades. Many are putting off therapy sessions or forgoing them altogether. 

• Nearly a third of American adults in therapy say they have had to cancel a session because they couldn’t afford it and nearly half say they would have to quit if their out-of-pocket costs increased. 

• Healthcare spending was down 7% in July from September of the year prior. 

• People are experiencing more stress, there’s an exacerbation of chronic illness, they are having sleeplessness, they’re using more substances. 

• Many therapy providers say they are largely unaffected by inflation-driven dropouts thanks to wait lists that have amassed throughout the pandemic. 

“Some Americans Skip Therapy to Save Money.” Wall Street Journal (8.25.22).