How much does therapy cost in Kuala Lumpur?

In Malaysia, the professional fee guideline published by the Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology for a session with a clinical psychologist in private practice is RM150 to RM450 an hour.

My own fee is TBC.

Why fees differ

The cost of seeking mental healthcare depends on where you go, who you seek help from and what kind of services you receive.

• Fees differ with experience and expertise. A clinical psychologist, a counsellor and a psychiatrist are trained differently and charge differently; which one you need is a separate question.
• Seeing someone who prescribes medication as part of your care will usually cost more, because of the medication involved.
• Private practitioners usually charge more than public services, but are more likely to be able to see you sooner, and you will usually see the same person for follow-up sessions.
• Therapy, assessments and medication are priced differently. An assessment usually costs more than a therapy session, because it involves testing and a written report.
• Session length varies between practices, so when comparing fees, compare sessions of the same length.

If cost is a barrier

For those who are not able to afford private fees, there are other options:

• Government hospitals provide inpatient and outpatient mental health care at subsidised rates.
• University clinics and training centres offer sessions with therapists in training, supervised by experienced clinicians, at a much lower fee.
• Some non-profit organisations provide counselling free or at a small fee.

I would rather you got help somewhere than nowhere. If the fee is the obstacle, say so when you contact me and I will point you toward something that fits.

How many sessions you may need

Many people also want to know how many sessions they will need, since that decides the total cost. The length of time varies for each individual: it depends on the difficulty you are bringing, how consistently you can attend and how well the approach suits you. More on what affects it.

Ultimately, the aim is for clients to build resilience and learn the skills to better cope with whatever challenges arise in the future.

When you are ready to make an appointment or have an inquiry, please contact me.

Last updated: TBC