Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAverage CostCost ImpactsInsurance CoverageAffordable OptionsHow to Find a TherapistFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Average Cost

Cost Impacts

Insurance Coverage

Affordable Options

How to Find a Therapist

Frequently Asked Questions

Psychotherapy is the process of meeting with a therapist orcounselorto address thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that interfere with well-being and daily life.Psychotherapy can entail meeting with a mental health professional individually, in a group setting, or with loved ones (such as in couples therapy or family therapy) for regular sessions, usually weekly, for about an hour.

This article covers the cost of psychotherapy, health insurance coverage for psychotherapy, affordable psychotherapy options, and how to find the right therapist for you.

How to Find the Best Therapist for You

Average Cost of Therapy

The price of psychotherapy is usually about $100 to $200 a session. However, cost can vary depending on the level of training of the clinician, their discipline, and where in the country you are.

If you’re interested in online therapy without insurance, your fees will range from about $50 to $130 a session.The following are some rates from popular therapy sites:

Factors That Impact Cost

Factors that affect the cost of therapy include:

Does Insurance Cover Therapy?

Health insurance plans sold via Healthcare.gov, the government’s health insurance program, are required to provide mental health coverage. The amount you pay per session will vary based on your insurance deductible.

But regardless of insurance plan, there can be limitations on mental health coverage, including:

There are several ways to find a low-cost or no-cost therapist, including:

There are several ways to find the right therapist, including::

Some questions to ask a therapist might include:

Summary

Psychotherapy is the process of meeting with a mental health professional to address mental health concerns that are interfering with well-being, relationships, and life goals. The cost of a session of psychotherapy can vary considerably, but averages from $100 to $200, with a co-pay ranging from $10 to $50. Online therapy services can range from about $30 per therapy session to about $130 per session.

Location, insurance coverage, length of sessions, type of therapy, and therapist discipline, specialty, and experience can all affect the cost of therapy. Insurance is usually required to provide some mental health services, according to federal law. However, there can be limitations of coverage, such as deductibles, session limits, and exclusion of certain diagnoses.

A Word From Verywell

If you feel you need help with your mental health, you’re not alone. If your resources are limited, there are options to access low-or no-cost mental health care, including through community centers and support groups or via sliding-scale therapy and group therapy. It also never hurts to ask if a therapist you prefer provides discounts for patients in need. Your mental health and well-being are worth it.

Frequently Asked QuestionsPsychotherapy is expensive because of:Insurance coverage limitsMany mental health professionals not accepting insurance due to barriers to network entry and poor reimbursement from insurance companiesComplicated steps for therapists who want to enter insurance networksLow reimbursement ratesReimbursement barriers for online therapyShortage of mental health specialistsTherapists in private practice also face business expenses, from rent to insurance to marketing.In addition, student loan debt among mental health specialists can be high, averaging about $120,000 for those with a doctorate degree.Learn MoreMental Health Parity Rules for Health InsuranceThe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) clinic finder can help with finding federally funded clinics. Nonprofit centers, university clinics, online and in-person support groups, and therapists who take on some pro bono clients are other ways to get free or significantly reduced therapy.Hotlines like the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline(call 988) and theLGBT National Help Center hotline(888-843-4564) can help in emergencies and with finding information on free resources.Learn More8 Benefits of TherapyA therapist can provide a judgment-free zone where your mental health can be addressed privately and in a style and at a pace that works for you.Mental health care is health care, and finding a specialist for the mind is as important as finding one for the body.Learn More6 Ways to Improve Mental Health Without Therapy

Psychotherapy is expensive because of:Insurance coverage limitsMany mental health professionals not accepting insurance due to barriers to network entry and poor reimbursement from insurance companiesComplicated steps for therapists who want to enter insurance networksLow reimbursement ratesReimbursement barriers for online therapyShortage of mental health specialistsTherapists in private practice also face business expenses, from rent to insurance to marketing.In addition, student loan debt among mental health specialists can be high, averaging about $120,000 for those with a doctorate degree.Learn MoreMental Health Parity Rules for Health Insurance

Psychotherapy is expensive because of:Insurance coverage limitsMany mental health professionals not accepting insurance due to barriers to network entry and poor reimbursement from insurance companiesComplicated steps for therapists who want to enter insurance networksLow reimbursement ratesReimbursement barriers for online therapyShortage of mental health specialistsTherapists in private practice also face business expenses, from rent to insurance to marketing.In addition, student loan debt among mental health specialists can be high, averaging about $120,000 for those with a doctorate degree.

Psychotherapy is expensive because of:

Therapists in private practice also face business expenses, from rent to insurance to marketing.In addition, student loan debt among mental health specialists can be high, averaging about $120,000 for those with a doctorate degree.

Learn MoreMental Health Parity Rules for Health Insurance

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) clinic finder can help with finding federally funded clinics. Nonprofit centers, university clinics, online and in-person support groups, and therapists who take on some pro bono clients are other ways to get free or significantly reduced therapy.Hotlines like the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline(call 988) and theLGBT National Help Center hotline(888-843-4564) can help in emergencies and with finding information on free resources.Learn More8 Benefits of Therapy

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) clinic finder can help with finding federally funded clinics. Nonprofit centers, university clinics, online and in-person support groups, and therapists who take on some pro bono clients are other ways to get free or significantly reduced therapy.Hotlines like the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline(call 988) and theLGBT National Help Center hotline(888-843-4564) can help in emergencies and with finding information on free resources.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) clinic finder can help with finding federally funded clinics. Nonprofit centers, university clinics, online and in-person support groups, and therapists who take on some pro bono clients are other ways to get free or significantly reduced therapy.

Hotlines like the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline(call 988) and theLGBT National Help Center hotline(888-843-4564) can help in emergencies and with finding information on free resources.

Learn More8 Benefits of Therapy

A therapist can provide a judgment-free zone where your mental health can be addressed privately and in a style and at a pace that works for you.Mental health care is health care, and finding a specialist for the mind is as important as finding one for the body.Learn More6 Ways to Improve Mental Health Without Therapy

A therapist can provide a judgment-free zone where your mental health can be addressed privately and in a style and at a pace that works for you.Mental health care is health care, and finding a specialist for the mind is as important as finding one for the body.

Learn More6 Ways to Improve Mental Health Without Therapy

24 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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