Mental Health Shouldn’t Be A Financial Decision
How Our Scholarship Fund Redefines Access
Cost is one of the most commonly cited reasons individuals seeking services have not previously been able to access mental health care. Across New York City, access to psychotherapy is increasingly polarized. Private-pay therapy often costs $200 or more per session, placing it out of reach for many people. At the same time, community mental health clinics, while working heroically to meet rising demand and playing a critical role in the mental health safety net, often face staffing shortages and long waitlists. Droste Mental Health Services was founded to bridge this gap. We believe mental health care should be both clinically excellent and financially accessible.
“Mental health care in New York is increasingly divided between private-pay therapy that many people cannot afford and safety-net clinics that are under immense pressure to meet demand. Droste was built to offer something different; a place where people can receive high-quality therapy in a dignified setting while paying what they can afford.”
Droste has responded to this issue: our Scholarship Fund allows clients to receive treatment in a comfortable setting with trained clinicians while paying fees aligned with their financial realities. Droste serves clients across a wide range of income levels. Some clients pay the full market rate, while others receive support through the Scholarship Fund or one of Droste’s other programs. Regardless of what someone pays, every client receives the same level of care and attention. Clients receiving care through the Scholarship Fund are assigned a reduced copay based on income and demonstrated financial need rather than paying a standard fee.
In 2025, Droste waived $274,443 in therapy fees, allowing 136 New Yorkers to receive 2,223 therapy sessions they would otherwise have been unable to afford.
Another important element of Droste’s model is client choice. Whenever possible, clients are matched with clinicians whose expertise, therapeutic approach, and lived experience align with their needs and preferences. “Therapy is most effective when people feel respected, heard, and able to participate actively in their treatment,” says Strole. “Our goal is to make that kind of care accessible to people who might otherwise assume therapy simply isn’t an option for them.” Therapy works best when there is a strong therapeutic relationship, and our goal is to give clients the same level of thoughtful care and collaboration they would expect in a traditional private practice.
The Scholarship Fund exists because of the generosity of donors and foundation partners committed to strengthening mental health access across New York City. Donations to the Scholarship Fund allow Droste to close the gap between what clients can afford and the true cost of therapy.
Demand for this fund has increased steadily as economic pressures continue to impact working families, young adults, and caregivers across New York City, making each gift in support of the Scholarship Fund increasingly valuable. While sliding-scale therapy cannot meet every level of need, the Scholarship Fund significantly expands access for individuals and families who might otherwise have no viable path to ongoing psychotherapy.