So you’re in the market for a therapist. You’ve decided you’re going to invest in some mental health support (look at you!), and you’ve mustered the courage to find a perfect stranger to bare your soul to. And now you’re asking yourself the same question many of us have asked in your position: Wait, how much does therapy cost?
For various reasons, the cost of therapy is so much more confusing and less straightforward than the cost of a typical doctor’s visit. And since mental health care has remained more stigmatized than other types of medical care, it’s no surprise that people don’t talk much about what they spend on weekly therapy sessions. Plus, there’s the fact that many therapists don’t take insurance, mostly because getting reimbursed by the insurance companies is a huge headache for them. (Relatable!)
So it makes sense if you feel totally in the dark when it comes to the price of therapy. Here, we asked therapists to answer some of the most common questions, like how much therapy actually costs (and why), how it works if you go through insurance, and your best options if you’re on a budget.
OK, what's the ballpark range for a therapy visit?
Honestly, it depends. A huge factor is whether or not you’ll be using insurance, and whether or not your therapist even takes insurance. We’ll get to that in a bit, but first, let’s talk about the cost of therapy without insurance.
The cash pay rate for a typical 45- to 50-minute session with a therapist in private practice (meaning they work for themselves or in a group practice vs. somewhere like a hospital or nonprofit) is super variable. “It’s going to be a pretty wide range,” says Akua K. Boateng, PhD, an individual and couples therapist and founder of Boateng Consulting.
Like, really wide: According to our experts, a session can run you anywhere from $75 to $500. Most sessions in most parts of the country will fall somewhere in the lower-middle range, around $100 to $200. One recent study looking at data from over 175,000 private practice therapists across all 50 states found the average cash pay rate for a typical session was about $143.
What are some factors that might affect the cost?
Believe it or not, those all-over-the-place therapy prices aren't totally made up. “The main factor that influences the cost of therapy tends to be the license of the provider,” explains Terri Bacow, PhD, clinical instructor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, adjunct instructor at the New York University department of applied psychology, and author of Goodbye, Anxiety: A Guided Journal for Overcoming Worry. “The more training, the more money,” adds Dr. Boateng.
The largest and most wallet-friendly category of therapists are those with a master’s degree, Dr. Boateng says. That includes licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), licensed professional counselors (LPC), licensed mental health counselors (LMHC), and licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT).
Next up are psychologists with doctoral degrees in psychology, like those with a PhD or PsyD after their name. The providers who tend to fall on the higher end of that price spectrum are psychiatrists who offer therapy in addition to medication management, Dr. Bacow says. (They’ll have MD after their name.)
The other major factor is where you live. “Therapy prices tend to reflect the cost of living in the area where the provider treats clients,” Dr. Bacow explains. So in more expensive towns and cities (like Los Angeles, Boston, or Miami), therapy is generally going to be considerably more expensive than in more affordable areas. The cash price for a therapy session in NYC, for instance, can run you about $250, according to Dr. Bacow.
Then there’s how many years of experience your therapist has under their belt. It’s not uncommon for somebody who’s spent decades in the business to charge more than a newbie, Dr. Boateng says. (Seems fair, TBH.) Some therapists also charge more if they offer a specialized type of therapy they’re trained and certified in, Dr. Boateng adds, and/or longer-than-average sessions. A session of EMDR therapy, for example, which usually lasts 60 to 90 minutes, will typically set you back more.
What if it's covered by insurance?
Thankfully, health insurance can make therapy much more affordable for many of us. (Phew!) The exact rate and how that works depends on your plan. So to get specific numbers, you’ll want to look at your benefits documents or call your insurance to have someone walk you through the details. But let’s run through the basics.
Many insurance plans require you to meet a deductible before your coverage kicks in—meaning you have to spend a certain amount of your own money on health care before they start to help out, Dr. Bacow says. (Until then, you’re on the hook for the whole bill for a session.) Once your deductible is hit, you then only pay the coinsurance (a set percentage of the session bill) or a copay (a flat upfront fee). Coinsurance is typically anywhere from 10% to 50%, says Dr. Bacow. So if a session costs $150 and your coinsurance is 10%, you’ll only have to pay $15. But if a session is $300 and your coinsurance is 40%, you’ll owe $120.
That said, some insurance plans cover therapy visits similar to other specialist visits (like seeing a dermatologist) and just charge you a copay for each visit—regardless of whether or not you’ve met your deductible. Your copay in this case may be anywhere from $15 to $60, Dr. Boateng says.
So how do you find therapists who actually accept your insurance? You can use your insurance company’s online directory, call to ask for a list of in-network providers near you, or use online therapist directories that let you filter by insurer, like Alma, Headway, or Psychology Today. (Always double-check to make sure the info you find online is up to date. We suggest calling or emailing an office directly to confirm.) Some therapists also list which insurances they accept on their website.
Finally, some insurance plans include some coverage for out-of-network therapists. This works a lot like in-network benefits, Dr. Boateng says, where you have to meet a separate out-of-network deductible first before the price comes down to a set rate. The only catch is, you pay your therapist upfront, Dr. Boateng explains. Then you submit a reimbursement claim to your insurance, and they’ll pay you back for the amount of coverage they owe.
How does "sliding scale" therapy work?
Many therapists reserve some spots for clients who can’t afford their full fee. Instead, they’ll charge you a reduced rate based on factors like your income, Dr. Boateng says. Every therapist determines their own criteria for who qualifies for a sliding scale rate, as well as how many spots they set aside for this and how much of a rate reduction they offer. While it varies, most therapists who do sliding scale will hold anywhere from two to 10 spots, Dr. Bacow says, or about 20 to 30% of their client load.
Therapists often advertise whether they offer a sliding scale online, but sometimes you have to ask. Dr. Boateng recommends reaching out and saying something like, “I’m looking for a therapist and I’m on a budget. Do you offer sliding scale pricing?” You can also filter for sliding-scale providers (or by session price) on many therapist directories.
What should I do if I'm on a budget?
If some of these numbers are giving you serious sticker shock, you’re not out of luck. “There are so many great options for people on a budget,” Dr. Boateng says.
1. Be upfront.
Don’t be afraid to get in touch with someone you really want to work with but aren’t sure you can afford, Dr. Boateng says. The worst-case scenario is they’ll say no—and most likely give you some useful info. Many therapists who don't accept insurance or operate on a sliding scale can refer you to more budget-friendly options in your area, Dr. Bacow says.
2. See a therapist-in-training.
Graduate programs often have clinics where students training to become therapists see clients at a low or sliding-scale fee, Dr. Bacow says. She recommends looking online to see if a nearby university has a grad program in counseling or social work with a connected outpatient clinic, or if a local med school has a psychiatry training program.
Another option is to see a pre-licensed professional. After graduating, therapists have to do at least a couple years of supervised training before they get their full license. (And psychiatrists have to do a fellowship before getting their MD.) They’ll offer lower-cost sessions (often in the $45 to $75 range) or a sliding scale, Dr. Boateng says. You can usually find pre-licensed providers in online directories by filtering for therapists in a lower price range.
If the idea of pouring your heart out to someone who’s not an Official Therapist yet feels sketchy, keep in mind that students and pre-licensed providers are always working under the guidance of a licensed supervisor, Dr. Boateng says. (Supervision usually means the trainee either regularly meets with their supervisor to discuss and get feedback on their sessions, or they audio or video-record sessions—with the client’s consent—to be reviewed with their supervisor, Dr. Bacow explains.) So as long as you’re comfortable with the arrangement, you could wind up finding someone who’s an excellent fit at a fraction of the cost.
3. Consider group therapy.
Group therapy isn’t a replacement for one-on-one, but being in a room of people who can relate to your experience can be pretty dang healing. Therapy groups are generally based on affinity, Dr. Boateng explains, so you’ll see groups for depression, anxiety, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, etc. “Some groups are $20, $30, and meet every other week,” Dr. Boateng says. “So it's very affordable.” You can search for group therapy in online directories, Dr. Boateng says, or by googling for an affinity group in your area.
4. Use your student or employer benefits.
If you’re in school, take advantage of the fact that many universities offer their students free or super affordable sessions (like $15 to $20). You might see a student-in-training, pre-licensed professional, or fully licensed therapist, according to Dr. Boateng. (Sometimes it’s capped at a certain number of sessions.) Get in touch with student services or your university counseling center to find out more.
If you’re working, most full-time jobs include an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in their benefits, Dr. Boateng says. You’ll usually be able to get around six to eight free sessions through your EAP, so this can be a great option for short-term therapy in a pinch.
5. Go to a community health center.
Community mental health centers provide free or very low-cost therapy to people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it. Sometimes there’s an income limit, meaning you have to make below a certain amount in order to qualify for services, Dr. Boateng explains. One big plus is that these centers often offer multiple services—like individual therapy, group therapy, and medication management. “They're a great resource,” Dr. Boateng says. To find one, google something like “community mental health center near me” or use this Health Resources & Services Administration search engine.
6. Look into therapy funds and affordable therapy collectives.
There are organizations that offer full or partial therapy grants to certain underserved communities, Dr. Boateng says. The Loveland Therapy Fund, for example, gives Black women and nonbinary people up to 12 vouchers for free therapy. (The BIPOC Therapy Fund has a great list of funds to check out.)
Another excellent resource is the Open Path Collective, a nonprofit network of therapists that offer sessions for $30 to $70 (plus a one-time $65 membership fee) to people who can’t afford market rates (and have an annual household income under $100,000).
Wondermind does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a replacement for medical advice. Always consult a qualified health or mental health professional with any questions or concerns about your mental health.
