This is a follow on post from an article I wrote on 4th November 2015.
So you find a new centre for therapy on your kid. They look professional, they have what look like nice equipment and facilities. in fact you are trying to contain yourself with the excitement and potential tgat they might be able to help your kid improve on their disabilities. Then they tell you their charges which are ridiculous! They want 500 rm for an assessment, (about 150 USD).
When a company asks you to pay 500 for them to look at your kid its time to run.. I know what’s wrong with my kid I don’t need to pay someone 500 bucks to tell me something I already know.
If these clinics were more reasonable with their fees then kids might get better faster. Instead parents are stuck trying to do what sessions they can afford and what’s worse is it can take a new therapist weeks of sessions before they even build up trust with the kid.
And then what if their therapy is useless without results? Parents and child lose out not the centre or the therapist, everyone gets paid and they just trot along onto the next bunch of desperado parents..
Dont be fooled into believing you need an assessment for every therapy you take on, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, ABA therapy. Although this is how 80% of private therapist clinics work. There are some out there who genuinely don’t just want your money. In Fact there are even some out there that won’t charge you the earth for an assessment.
I mean what is really so different from an hours session to an assessment anyway? Do they use special equipment?
Do they hire in additional people to conduct it?
Do these therapists take additional time?
This depends on the centre but most don’t take longer than a normal session. If they do then maybe it’s justified but even then, why can’t they just give you a bit of extra time out of good faith?
Why do we bear the brunt of this additional cost?
If they really care about helping your child then money should be the last thing on their mind.
Sure everyone has to make a good profit but if you want to make millions then go and be a banker! Not a therapist!
I hope there are many therapists reading this post as I would love to hear your comments. But be prepared as I will not go easy on you if you try to justify why you charge 500rm in Malaysia for an assessment. And if you don’t – well your in the club of nice, honest, decent people who really want to make a difference in this world.
Peace to everyone:)
