Concessions for clients on low income

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Permalink Reply by Jackie Spencer on January 14, 2010 at 8:18am

Hello Jean,

I do have a fee that I aim to make, but if a client is coming in for a series of sessions and agrees to spend one hour a week in my office I let them set a price according to their budget. They must pay, but not so much it hurts them. My practice is very small and it is more a priority to get my name out there, teach people about hypnosis and earn referrals.

Interestingly enough, no one has yet subtracted more than $15 from my asking price. Even if they did, it would be more than I would make not doing the session and I feel good helping someone who might otherwise have turned away.

J.

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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig on January 14, 2010 at 9:48am

I don't advertise it, but in some cases, I will do sliding scale or even pro bono work. (The one exception is smoking cessation. If someone can afford cigarettes, they can afford my services.)

I also do a monthly group session for a pretty low price per person. I consider it good advertising, and it gives people with lower incomes access to my help.

James

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Permalink Reply by Michael Zappellini on January 14, 2010 at 3:07pm

Hi Jean,
I do pro bono work, sometimes if someone cannot afford me I give them the opportunity to pay in different installment but I never change my fee for anybody because that wouldn't be fair to anyone else and also because that's what I think I am worth.
My 2 cents
Remember we are a good community keep up the good work with heart and ethics.
Cheers

Michael Z.

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Permalink Reply by John Keith on January 15, 2010 at 12:32am

I haven't done so yet, mainly because I advertise my rate and when a client contacts me, they already know what it's going to cost, hence they must be happy to pay it or they wouldn't have booked. However...I have been thinking of offering my services free of charge in certain circumstances. I'd rather work for free than for a 'discounted' price. At a discount, I feel that I am de-valueing myself, whereas by working free, I hold the same 'value' but the client can 'afford' the therapy.

As Geoff Ronning said on another thread, this is a business and so many hypnotherapists don't run their business as a 'business'. If you make a good living, you can afford to help the people who need it but can't afford it.

John K.

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Permalink Reply by Henxy on January 15, 2010 at 12:38am

John Keith said:

At a discount, I feel that I am de-valueing myself, whereas by working free, I hold the same 'value' but the client can 'afford' the therapy.

Wow. That's an interesting perspective. I'm trying to get my head around it!

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Permalink Reply by John Keith on January 15, 2010 at 12:44am

I'm worth what I charge, for example $100. If I charge less, I'm agreeing to work for $50 or $20 so in effect, I am devalued but if I do it free of charge, the client gets a $100 session for nothing. I guess it's a wealthy mind-set!

John K.

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Permalink Reply by Henxy on January 15, 2010 at 1:28am

I understood what you meant, just not how you meant it!
To me, if your usual fee is $100, and you charge $50 or whatever, the client still gets the £$00 session. Maybe i'm thinking in too much of a girly way- but the 'sale effect' of paying less for something than its original charge, yet still not getting total charity is exhilarating. I'm sure there'd be people who were suspicious if a shop gave away its merchandise, instead of discounting it after Christmas.
Thanks for sharing!

John Keith said:

I'm worth what I charge, for example $100. If I charge less, I'm agreeing to work for $50 or $20 so in effect, I am devalued but if I do it free of charge, the client gets a $100 session for nothing. I guess it's a wealthy mind-set!

John K.

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Permalink Reply by John Keith on January 15, 2010 at 3:31am

I suppose it's just a 'previous experience' thing from being in business in other industries. BTW, I used $ as many on here are in the US but I'm in Cambridgeshire England so I could have used £'s instead. Many times, the moment people find out that they can get X at half price, they have the attitude that if you can do it for that once, you can do it for that price all the time. If you won't, they 'shop around' and eventually find someone who will 'match your price'. This results in price-cutting and fees being lower than they should be. One example is driving instructors (of which I am still registered as one). At one time, driving lessons were the same price as a driving test, now the test is £62 but the average one hour lesson is only £23. Instructors did concessionary rates for students, unemployed, etc and fell victim to the aforementioned scenario. The value of instruction is now seen as being around £23 and you can still find instructors who will work for £18 a lesson!

Just my opinion though

John K.

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Permalink Reply by John Keith on January 15, 2010 at 8:27am

I guess that's another issue, Adrian. You charge £70 per session, with a 30% discount whereas I charge £50 a session with only a 10% reduction for longer term work. You charge £150 for your 2 hr smoking cessation session and I charge £50 because I give all new clients 30 mins free, then it's £50 an hour. I guess if I charged everyone more, I could afford to give the students, tax credits, low incomes a 'discount' and charge them what I charge now. That's certainly something I will think about. Like I said in my profile 'always learning'.

John K.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Sandland on January 15, 2010 at 8:47am

I almost never offer discounts, though I do like to have one client that I work with free of charge at all times. I don't advertise that obviously, but if a client falls on hard times they need my help more than ever. I have a thriving practice and it's fun to give back.

I don't offer discounts or package deals, though I know many people who recommend doing that. I should mention that my practice is based on referral based work, not advertising or walk in off the streets (though I get those every now and then too). If someone can't afford my price I am happy to refer them to a less expensive practitioner in my area.

I don't like the idea of negotiating a price with a client, because that business transaction has is so far from a therapeutic interaction I feel it can negatively impact the dynamic.

just my 2 cents,
Scott

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Permalink Reply by Henxy on January 16, 2010 at 5:08am

John Keith said:

BTW, I used $ as many on here are in the US but I'm in Cambridgeshire England so I could have used £'s instead.

Pah- Never apologise for using the £! It's a wonderful currency!

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