My Facebook feed is full of offers of programs, courses, and coaches promising to make my practice profitable. We definitely need these things, right? We are Christ-followers that live lives of abundance. It is actually from our sense of abundance that we can serve and give well. If your practice is not profitable, it will be much more stressful for you to think about giving things away for free. 

There seems to be a fine line that we walk as therapists and Christians between what we give away and what we keep for ourselves. Most of us did not enter the field because we thought we’d make a lot of money, because let’s face it, most of us could make more money doing something else. We do it because we can’t imagine doing other things with the same sense of urgency and fulfillment. Many of us have a difficult time charging our clients what we are really worth, considering the investment of time, money, education, and liability that we have put forth. 

In another article, we will explore how your mindset towards money will impact your work as a faith-integrated therapist. Today, we are looking at how to use your therapy skills and services to offer access to mental health care for the good of the Kingdom. 

Pro Bono Services

“Pro bono” means that you are working without the expectation of payment for your services. Many therapists offer a pro bono slot in their weekly caseload. In order to make that possible, a therapist has to ensure that she is making a sufficient living with the other paying clients on her caseload. Offering pro bono services when you are struggling to make ends meet will create a stressful, even resentful, situation for you. So how do you know if you are in a place to offer pro bono services, and how do you decide who should receive them? 

Because there are many ways for our communities to receive mental health care, I suggest looking at what only you can provide. Perhaps you’re the only Christian therapist who sees teenagers in your community, or you specialize in infertility with a faith perspective. In cases where therapists are scarce or your specialization is unique, it would be best for you to offer your pro bono spot to someone who can be helped specifically by you and not just any therapist. Don’t feel obligated to provide free services to the first person who calls and can’t afford you. Make sure it’s a specific fit or special connection.

One way that Christian therapists can narrow down who they will see pro bono is by partnering with a local church or other ministry. Meet with a pastor* or leader to let them know specifically the type of person you most effectively help, and then allow them to refer someone into your pro bono spot when it becomes available. Since pastors are often on the front lines when it comes to emotional and relational problems, a pastor in your community can act as a screening tool, helping you find specific people that need your particular skill set and approach to counseling. 

*Unless you belong to a very large church, or you live in a remote place, I do not suggest asking your own pastor about this. You will have much better boundaries and confidentiality if you serve Christians from other churches rather than your own.

Subsidized Services

Over the years working in the Christian counseling field, I have been aware of several churches that have specific funds in their budgets to go towards mental health care for people on their staff or in their congregations. One church in my community has such a fund, and they have a special arrangement with a handful of therapists who understand that particular clients will be referred to them and payment will be covered or subsidized by the church. The church or para-church ministry that provides the funding will want to know that you are counseling their people with appropriate faith-integrated methods. Participating in a course like my Faith Integration for Therapists e-course (https://soulgritresources.com/courses/) will show them that you take faith-based counseling seriously and that they can trust your approach. 

Arrangements can be made with churches so that the clients referred by them will receive a special rate, or alternatively, the church can pay a portion of your fee so that it is more affordable to the client. Some churches are willing to pay your full fee or an agreed upon reduced fee, as long as it is for a specific duration of time. It would be wise to have a brief “contract” so that clients understand how their sessions are being paid, for how long, and when the arrangement will be reevaluated. 

Access Networks

Certain communities have non-profit organizations that raise funding for mental health care for people who wouldn’t otherwise have access. I know of a non-profit in a neighboring city that raises money into a foundation that pays therapists privately for counseling services rendered. It operates like a scholarship, so that the client must apply for the funding and the therapist is paid directly from the fund. A bit of Google research will show you whether such an organization exists in your community or state. And if one doesn’t, you may be called to start one!

There are also organizations such as Open Path Collective (openpathcollective.org), which is a non-profit that connects clients and therapists for low-fee ($30-$60) sessions. While this organization is not Christian, it does have a broad network, and joining as a therapist willing to donate a certain number of hours may help connect you with Christian clients in need.

Aside from local organizations that can support face-to-face counseling, there are also many online options to consider, such as FaithfulCounseling.com or freechristiancounseling.online, which provides low-cost, online counseling internationally. While the per-session income for an organization like this might not be as much as you might earn in an agency or in private practice, it could be a way for you to connect with Christian clients looking for affordable counseling. 

Having Boundaries Around Free Therapy

In this article I have shared several ways that you can donate your time and skill by increasing access to therapy for those in need. Some research suggests that when clients pay, even minimally (think $5) for their sessions, they will take it more seriously and will be more invested. However you decide to proceed in serving with your professional time and skill, it is wise to reflect on what boundaries you would like to have in place. For example, decide ahead of time how many pro bono or low-fee clients you can handle at a time. Reevaluate it from time to time as your business and family situations change. When taking on a free or reduced-fee client, make sure you discuss (and put in writing) ahead of time how long the arrangement will last and how and when it will be reevaluated. Be honest with pastors and leaders about what you can handle and when their referrals are too much for you. 

And finally, let me release you from thinking that you have to serve the Kingdom of God this way. You may be an excellent therapist, but that doesn’t mean that’s the way you want to use your time and talents for God’s glory. You might like having the time to sing on the worship team, host a Bible study in your home, or teach a kids’ class. Spend some time with God asking him to show you specifically how you can serve, and if it is through your therapy practice, do it with excellence for His Glory!