Reaching out for therapy takes courage. Research on mental health help-seeking behavior consistently shows that many people spend weeks — sometimes months — thinking about making that first call before they actually do it. When they finally do — often in the evening, often on a weekend — and they reach a voicemail, most don't call back.
The 69% Problem
69% of therapy inquiry calls come in after 5pm or on weekends. Think about why: people are dealing with work stress, relationship strain, anxiety, and depression. They're busy — and distracted — during the day. The emotional bandwidth to reach out tends to open up in the evening, when the day's noise has quieted.
- Average therapy session rate: $150–$200/session
- Average session frequency for ongoing clients: weekly or bi-weekly
- Average duration of ongoing therapy for clients who stay: 6–18 months
- Annual client value (weekly sessions at $175): $9,100
- After-hours inquiry rate: 69%
“A therapy client who stays for 12 months of weekly sessions represents $8,000–$9,000 in practice revenue. More importantly, they're a person who got help. Missing that initial 8pm call costs your practice and potentially costs them access to care they needed.”