Dr. Masoumeh Hatami, a psychologist and mental health specialist, has addressed the existing challenges regarding the costs of counseling and therapy in a television program. She emphasizes that due to rising costs, many people can no longer afford counseling services, and this issue requires serious attention.
Psychological Service Fees and Economic Challenges
Dr. Hatami explains that every year in Ordibehesht, the Psychology Organization sets its service fees. These fees vary depending on the educational levels of psychologists, and for every 5 years of experience, the fee increases by 5 percent. Typically, the cost of counseling for 45 minutes is 1,200,000 Tomans, and this amount can rise to 1,600,000 Tomans if the counseling time is extended.
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She also points out that the cost of counseling is not merely about paying for an hour of conversation. Behind each counseling session, there is specialized and scientific training, and counselors have studied and trained for years to provide their services. Therefore, Dr. Hatami believes that counseling costs cannot be easily reduced, and attention must be paid to the quality of services.
Economic Problems and Their Impact on Mental Health
Dr. Hatami asserts that we must recognize that not only have counseling costs increased, but the economic situation is such that many people are unable to afford these expenses. She emphasizes that mental health should not be considered a luxury good and that access to it must be available to all people. Prevention and early intervention in mental health issues should be accessible to everyone.
Hatami states that if someone is experiencing anxiety or stress, timely and swift intervention can lead to more effective treatment and reduced costs. Thus, she believes that solutions must be found to organize this situation so that both people can benefit from counseling services and psychologists can be in a favorable economic condition.
The Necessity of Designing a Multi-Layered Financing System
In conclusion, Dr. Hatami presents her solution for addressing these issues and emphasizes the need for designing a multi-layered financing system for mental health services. She suggests that the government should take mental health insurance seriously and cover these services under insurance to create better conditions for both people and psychologists.
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