How to Fund a Therapist

When seeking help it can be hard to know where to begin, so we’ve written a step by step process on what are the funding options available for therapy in New Zealand.

Consider your funding options

1. Employment Support

Increasingly workplaces are offering fully funded therapy for their employees, so check with the appropriate colleague or manager about your options. Some employers provide funded therapy through Clearhead, if that is the case, you can just book an appointment with one of our therapist and it will be free for you. You just need to enter your employee details in the booking form for us to determine if your employer has a therapy scheme with Clearhead. You will get an email confirmation from us after your appointment request has been accepted by the therapist.

2. General Practitioner

One option is to talk to your General Practitioner about PHO funding. Your PHO may be able to offer up to 6 fully funded sessions with a Clinical Psychologist. They may recommend specific therapists, but we suggest comparing the recommendations to other options to ensure you find the right fit. You can easily search for therapists based on their specialty, price, availability, etc. on Clearhead's Find a Therapist section.

3. Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)

ACC can fully fund counselling and therapy sessions if you’ve experienced sexual violence. If you need counselling after a physical injury then they can help pay for up to ten sessions. You can easily search for ACC therapists on Clearhead's Find a Therapist section. More info: https://www.acc.co.nz/im-injured/support-recovery/counselling-therapy

4. Disability Allowance, Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ)

Another option is to apply for the Disability Allowance through WINZ, which will need to be signed off by your GP and therapist. This partially funds the costs of a therapist (maximum of $64.29 per week). You can receive this funding for 10 sessions and then reapply, so it is a good  option if you need longer-term support. More info: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/disability-allowance.html

5. Student Support

Your tertiary provider may offer free or subsidised counselling, so check in with the appropriate staff member about your options.

6. Charitable Agency

A local charity may be able to offer funding for counselling, so it could be useful to research the charitable organisations in your area and enquire if funding is available.

7. Self-Funded

If you, or a generous support person, has enough money then private therapy will be easily accessible for you. It ranges from around $70-200 per 1-hour session. Therapists with more training and experience tend to charge more, which means highly trained professionals like Clinical Psychologists generally start at about $150 per session. You can easily search for therapists close to you on Clearhead's Find a Therapist section.