Pricing & Value

The rate increase question looks different depending on who is paying and through what structure. A practitioner who sees only private-pay clients has full control over the rate…

Practitioners who use sliding scale pricing often find that the rate increase question fractures into multiple questions. It’s not “what is my new rate?” — it’s “what is…

Referrals are not neutral. They come from specific people in specific contexts, and the clients they send reflect those contexts. A practitioner whose rates change will, over time,…

The first rate increase is different from every subsequent one. Not because it’s harder mechanically — the communication process is the same, the logistics are the same —…

Practitioners who work with trauma-sensitive or high-vulnerability client populations often carry an additional layer of hesitation around rate increases: the concern that a change in fees could destabilize…

Not all rate increases are the same kind of thing. A modest adjustment — moving from $150 to $175 — and a significant jump — moving from $150…

The conventional advice for setting rates is to look at what others in your field charge. The problem with this advice for a rate increase is that it…

The written communication is the easy part. The conversation that follows — when a client calls, sends a concerned email, or raises the rate change in a session…

The most persuasive thing a practitioner can say about their rate is not “I have fifteen years of experience” or “I’m certified in six modalities.” It’s “here is…

A generalist faces a ceiling on rates that a specialist doesn’t. This is not about credentials or training level — it’s about how clients evaluate what they’re buying.