Free tool
Write your rate increase letter
Raising your fee is normal, healthy practice management. Writing the letter is where most therapists stall — usually somewhere in the third apologetic paragraph. The letter your clients actually need is short: the change and the date, one honest sentence about why, what stays the same, and a real invitation to talk about it.
Fill in the fields below and the letter drafts itself as you type. It keeps a [Client name] placeholder so you can personalize each copy, and it adjusts the wording for your notice period, your reason for the change, and how the client pays. Copy it as a letter or an email, or download it as a PDF.
Completely private: everything runs in your browser — nothing you type is sent or stored anywhere.
1 · Your details
2 · Your letter
Replace [Client name] with each client's name before you send it.
A starting draft, not legal advice — check it against your informed-consent paperwork before you send it.
Read the full guide: how to write a rate increase letter, and if you're still deciding on the number itself, how to set your therapy rates.
Common questions
How much notice should I give before raising my therapy rates?
60 to 90 days is the professional norm. It gives clients time to plan, budget, and bring their reactions into session instead of getting surprised by a new charge. 30 days is a floor, not a target, and some state rules or informed-consent documents require more.
How much should I raise my fee?
Most therapists raise fees 5 to 10 percent every year or two. Small, regular increases are easier on everyone than one large correction after years of holding still. Work backward from what your practice actually costs to run, not from what feels apologetic.
Do I need to update Good Faith Estimates after a rate change?
Yes. Under the No Surprises Act, uninsured and self-pay clients need a Good Faith Estimate that reflects your current fee. After a rate change takes effect, refresh the GFE for every affected client.
Should I raise rates for every client at the same time?
You can, but you do not have to. Many therapists raise rates for new clients first and give existing clients a longer runway. One firm rule: do not raise rates on a client who is in acute crisis. Wait until they are stable, then give full notice.
What about clients who use in-network insurance?
This letter is for self-pay and out-of-network clients. In-network rates are set by your payer contract, not by a letter — raising them means renegotiating with the payer, which is a separate process. In-network clients pay their contracted copay or coinsurance either way, so their costs do not change when your self-pay fee does.
This is a starting template, not legal or ethical advice — check your informed-consent documents, payer contracts, and state rules before sending.
Using it in your practice
Start drafting once you've settled on the new number, ideally a few months before it takes effect. Bring the change up in session with each client first, then send the letter as written confirmation. Leave room in the following session for the client's reaction, which can be useful clinical material and not only an administrative moment.
After you send it, update your fee schedule, your informed-consent or financial policy, and any Good Faith Estimates for self-pay clients so everything shows the same number on the same date. Keep a copy of each letter in the chart. If you have admin staff, let them know the effective date so nobody quotes the old fee to a new inquiry.
Put a fee review on your calendar every year or two, even if you decide to hold steady. Deciding on purpose makes the next letter easier to write.
What it does not do
- The draft is a starting point, not legal advice. Your informed-consent paperwork, state rules, or board guidance may require specific notice terms.
- It does not apply to in-network fees, which are set by your payer contracts.
- Replace the [Client name] placeholder yourself after copying. Don't type client names into a public web tool.
- Clients on a sliding scale or a negotiated fee may need an individual conversation rather than a form letter.
Read the guides
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