So you’re interested in a music therapy program for your organization. What will it cost?

If you’re a business looking to contract with a music therapist, there are a few things to consider that will influence the overall cost. Because each organization has unique needs, circumstances, and location, there is no static rate. But we can give you a pretty good idea of the number you’d be looking at for your investment here so you can be well informed when you call for your quote.

Factors to consider when calculating rates include session length, type of service, quantity of service, scheduling, and commute/travel time. Here’s a little info on each.

#1 Session Length

The best place to start when figuring out initial investment is with session length. Longer sessions cost more, but you will get more bang for your buck as the time increases. For example, a 45 minute group generally starts around $90 (aka $120/hour), while a 90 minute group may start around $150 (aka $100/hour).

This table illustrates the base rates for each session length. Each of these rates may increase or decrease based on the criteria outlined below, including quantity of services, scheduling (back to back vs. spread out), commute and travel,

Group Music Therapy

Individual Music Therapy

#2 Type of Service (Group vs. Individual)

As shown in the tables above, different costs are associated with the type of service provided. Groups will enable you to reach more of your patients simultaneously, so they will give you more bang for your buck. However in some cases groups may be less effective for some patients who need 1:1 attention. In those cases, we recommend individual services.

Rates for group sessions are more per hour but less per patient. If you’re wondering what’s best for your patients we are happy to help you look at options.

#3 Quantity of Services

The nice thing about contracting with a music therapist is that you can dip your toe in to see if you like the water without immersing yourself right off the bat. Most people want to get a taste of what they’re getting before they really jump in, and starting with one or two groups is a great way to do that.

But of course the quantity of sessions will affect the cost. The more back to back sessions you schedule, the lower the per session rate will be. But take note that in order for the cost to decrease based on quantity, the sessions must be scheduled back to back, which leads us to the next point: scheduling.

#4 Scheduling

Basic rule here is that two or more back to back groups will cost less than if each group is scheduled at different times throughout the week. If a therapist invests time and mileage to get to your facility multiple times during the week then the base rates will apply with no quantity discount.

So if possible, we highly recommend scheduling multiple sessions while the therapist is already with you. It will directly reduce your cost and deliver more value over time.

#5 Commute and Travel Time

As can be expected, the farther you are from the contracting company, the more the services will cost. At Harmony, or commute calculator applies for facilities who are outside a 20 mile radius from our central office in Midvale, Utah. If you’re curious what that looks like for you, just let us know and we will calculate your rate.

Other Options

After considering all of these factors, there still may be other options available for your particular business. For example, some companies contract for an hourly rate that covers sessions as well as time for charting and prep. In these cases we are generally spending more time at the facility (such as a 6-8 hour day), and only charge per hour as opposed to per session. We calculate these rates with each individual facility based on their unique criteria.

If you want to find out what kind of investment music therapy would be for your company, call us to get a quote! We’ll talk with you about the factors listed above and get back with you with a rate proposal.

Then you can get started with the exciting process of including music therapy in your program!

Call Now! 801-718-7637

[email protected]

To get more info on the cost of therapy, I highly recommend the following article from Choosing Therapy: https://harmonymusictherapy.com//www.choosingtherapy.com/cost-of-therapy/