PaySec + TherapyNotes: Eliminate Processing Fees on Every Client Session Payment
How mental health professionals using TherapyNotes are integrating PaySec to stop losing 2.95% of every client payment to processing fees.
TherapyNotes is purpose-built for behavioral health — therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and counselors who need documentation, scheduling, billing, and a client portal in one HIPAA-compliant platform. With the demand for mental health services at an all-time high and caseloads growing across the profession, behavioral health practitioners are busier than ever. The platform handles the complexity of mental health billing, including insurance claims, superbills, and client payments.
But TherapyNotes' integrated payment processing charges 2.95% + $0.30 on every credit card transaction. When you're collecting payments from 20-40+ clients per week, that compounds into thousands annually — money that could go toward clinical supervision, continuing education, or simply staying viable as a practice.
PaySec eliminates that cost.
How Network Offset Pricing Works with TherapyNotes
Network Offset Pricing (NOP) presents clients with two transparent payment options when they pay for a session. Whether paying through a card on file after the session, settling a balance through the client portal, or paying a no-show fee, the client sees both an ACH/bank transfer price and a card price. The card price includes a small offset that covers the cost of card processing.
For example, on a $175 therapy session:
- ACH/bank transfer: $175.00
- Credit/debit card: $182.00
The client chooses their preferred method. Either way, you receive the full $175. NOP is legal in all 50 states, fully compliant with Visa and Mastercard rules, and PaySec requires no contracts or volume minimums. HIPAA compliance is built in, with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) included with every healthcare merchant account. Approval typically takes 3-5 business days.
TherapyNotes Payment Costs
| Caseload | Sessions/Week | Session Rate | Monthly Collections | Annual Processing Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time | 15 | $140 | $8,400 | $3,274 |
| Full-time | 28 | $150 | $16,800 | $6,481 |
| Busy solo | 35 | $175 | $24,500 | $9,405 |
| Group practice (4) | 100 | $160 | $64,000 | $24,456 |
A full-time therapist loses over $6,400/year — that's 43 sessions worth of income going to processing instead of to you.
How PaySec Works with TherapyNotes
Card on File / Autopay
Most TherapyNotes practitioners collect payment via card on file after each session:
- Client card stored securely (per existing TherapyNotes workflow)
- Session charge processes through PaySec with NOP
- Client pays card price: $156.62 for a $150 session
- Or client switches to ACH and pays exactly $150
- Payment posts to TherapyNotes billing record
Client Portal Payments
When clients pay through the TherapyNotes client portal:
- Balance displayed with payment options
- ACH/Bank Transfer: exact balance amount
- Card: balance + NOP offset
- Client chooses and pays
- Account updated in TherapyNotes immediately
No-Show / Late Cancellation Fees
For practices charging no-show or late cancellation fees:
- Fee charged via card on file with NOP applied
- $100 no-show fee → $104 card charge
- Or client pays exact $100 via ACH
- Policy documented in client agreement at intake
Mental Health Practice Considerations
The Therapeutic Frame
Therapists think carefully about how money intersects with the therapeutic relationship. With PaySec:
- Pricing is established at intake — no surprises mid-treatment
- Written policy included in informed consent
- ACH option means many clients pay the exact session rate
- No financial "disruption" during sessions — payment processes silently after
Sliding Scale Practices
For therapists offering sliding scale fees:
- NOP applies proportionally regardless of fee amount
- $80 sliding scale session → $83.20 card (small absolute amount)
- Lower-fee clients can choose ACH to pay exact sliding scale rate
- No administrative difference in how sliding scale is handled
Group Practice Billing
Group practice owners using TherapyNotes:
| Metric | Before PaySec | After PaySec |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly collections | $64,000 | $64,000 |
| Processing fees | $2,038/mo | $0/mo |
| Annual overhead reduction | — | $24,456 |
| Impact on clinician pay | Fees reduce available funds | Full collections available |
Behavioral Health Vertical Savings
| Practice Type | Avg Monthly Collections | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Individual therapy (solo) | $18,000 | $6,948 |
| Couples/family (solo) | $20,000 | $7,716 |
| Group practice (3 clinicians) | $48,000 | $18,384 |
| Psychiatric practice | $35,000 | $13,440 |
| Substance abuse counseling | $25,000 | $9,600 |
TherapyNotes Features Unaffected
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Scheduling | No change |
| Progress notes | No change |
| Treatment plans | No change |
| Insurance billing | No change |
| Superbills | No change |
| Client portal | Payment options updated |
| Telehealth | No change |
| Appointment reminders | No change |
| Wiley Treatment Planners | No change |
Who Benefits Most?
While any TherapyNotes practitioner collecting client payments will save with PaySec, certain practice profiles see the most significant impact:
- Group practice owners managing 3-10+ clinicians where aggregate session payments generate the highest processing fee totals
- Full-caseload solo practitioners seeing 25-35+ clients per week where weekly processing fees add up to hundreds of dollars monthly
- Psychiatric practices with higher per-session rates ($200-$400+) where the absolute dollar amount of each processing fee is larger
- Cash-pay and out-of-network practices where 100% of session fees are collected directly from clients rather than through insurance
- Practices offering intensive outpatient or group therapy with frequent billing across multiple sessions per client per week
If your TherapyNotes practice collects more than $10,000/month in client payments, the annual savings with PaySec will be meaningful. For group practices collecting $50,000+/month, the savings often exceed $20,000 annually.
Getting Started
- Apply for PaySec healthcare merchant account
- Connect to your TherapyNotes account
- Configure client payment preferences
- Send notification to current clients about new payment options
- Next session payments process at zero cost
Transition takes under 30 minutes. PaySec provides a client communication template appropriate for therapeutic settings. There are no contracts, no volume minimums, and PCI Level 1 security with full HIPAA compliance (BAA included) comes standard with every account.
PaySec + TherapyNotes: purpose-built for mental health professionals who deserve to keep every dollar their clinical skills earn.