Is therapy expensive? What are the costs of therapy?
The cost of a therapist can vary based on:
- How often you'd like to meet with your therapist impacts cost
- Additional psychiatric or mental health assessments can add to overall therapy costs
- Your health care insurance company and what is covered impacts therapy cost
- Your location and the location of your therapist impacts cost of therapy
- Individual preferences (therapy rates can be higher for more specialized therapists) impacts cost
Online therapy services in the mental health industry have platforms like BetterHelp that can be $65 to $90 per week (pricing dependent on location, billed every four weeks). This can make costs of therapy and paying for therapy more affordable.
In comparison, in-person therapy costs can be an average of $100 to $200 per session and may involve sliding scale fees. Your location could also play a role. Living in Los Angeles or New York could impact the affordability of your session, as the cost of living in these cities is often higher.
With insurance, your payment for in-person therapy may be less than without. You might have co-pays or not have to expect to pay anything at all. However, not all health insurance plans offer these options, and some might require that you see specific therapists. A free therapist might be an option under your insurance.
The following are questions you might have related to online counseling or online therapy:
Due to reductions in overhead expenses, such as rent for an office space, online treatment rates often may be less expensive than paying for therapy in-person.
What does BetterHelp cost?
What does therapy cost at BetterHelp? Therapy costs with an online platform like BetterHelp are $65 to $90 per week (billed every four weeks) but the rate may be higher based on individual preferences, location, and therapy availability.
What is a therapy session? How can I afford it with my budget?
A therapy session is a safe space where a client meets with a therapist or counselor to resolve unwanted behaviors, work through adverse experiences, understand relationship conflicts, and manage one's emotions, feelings, and beliefs. In a session with a therapist, you might work through symptoms causing difficulties in your life through a specific therapeutic modality. Depending on your insurance coverage, it can help bring down the average cost of a therapist. Not all therapists accept insurance but they may offer a sliding scale payment plan.
What are some types of therapy?
1. Talk therapy
Talk therapy refers to psychotherapy sessions offered by a licensed counselor, clinical social worker, or therapist. It can involve talking to a therapist in an individual, group, or couples setting about life challenges, mental health, and personal growth. A few forms of talk counseling include the following:
- Cognitive-behavioral (CBT) therapy
- Dialectical behavior (DBT) therapy
- Acceptance and commitment (ACT) therapy
- Person-centered therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
2. Sex therapy
Sex therapy is a type of psychotherapy focused on addressing sexual challenges, whether personally or within a relationship. The rate per session of in-person sex therapists can range between $75 to $200. Online sex therapy can be more affordable, costing from $50 to $ 90 every session. Common topics discussed with a sex therapist can include:
- Sexual dysfunction in therapy
- Sexual desire in therapy
- Reigniting sexual attraction in a relationship in therapy
- Sexuality and identity in therapy
- Traumatic experiences in therapy
- Body positivity (effects of social media) and confidence in therapy
3. Art therapy
Art therapy is an alternative therapeutic modality focused on helping clients achieve treatment goals through creating art, learning the creative process, and applying psychological theory. Depending on the therapists, a one-on-one sessions can range between $100 to $200. The benefits may include:
- Art therapy can reduce stress
- Art therapy can increase ability to cope with challenges that many have difficulty putting into words
- Art therapy can improve confidence and self-esteem
- There tends to be a release of challenging emotions during the therapy session
- This can result to a deeper understanding of one’s thoughts in the therapy session
- This can serve as a visual representation of one’s challenges within therapy
4. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often referred to as the “gold standard” of psychotherapy. For example, if you are experiencing mental illness (like depression and anxiety), this therapeutic modality combines cognitive techniques like cognitive restructuring with behavioral therapy to change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. Standard techniques in CBT include:
- Exposure and desensitization in therapy
- Progressive muscle relaxation in therapy
- Deep breathing exercises in therapy
- Mindfulness and meditation in therapy
- Roleplaying in therapy
- Activities and worksheets in therapy
- Imagery and visualization in therapy
How can insurance cover costs or therapy payments?
The cost of a therapist using insurance can depend on your:
- Insurance provider policy and if your therapist accepts it
- Deductibles
- Therapist rates or cost
- Mental health or illness diagnosis can impact therapy costs
- The years of experience a mental health provider has
- Location
Below are a few of some psychotherapy codes that your psychologist or therapist might use when dealing with insurance in the US. Contact your insurance provider to further understand CPT codes and what kinds of therapeutic services are covered.
CPT Code | Psychotherapy Codes Descriptors |
90832 | Psychotherapy, 30 minutes with patient |
90834 | Psychotherapy, 45 minutes with patient |
90837 | Psychotherapy, 60 minutes with patient |
90849 | Multiple-family group psychotherapy |
90853 | Group psychotherapy (other than of a multiple-family group) |
90846 | Family psychotherapy (without the patient present), 50 minutes |
Does free counseling exist?
Therapy is a professional service offered by therapists who have spent years receiving education and clinical supervision to provide clients with ethical, empathetic, and relevant care. Because of therapists' education and experience, their rates can range from $100 to $200 on average for a single session. However, low-cost options, crisis support, and temporary volunteer therapists may be available to those who cannot afford this cost. The variety of therapist services can depend on what the therapists choose to offer.
What are sliding scale rates for in-person therapy?
Many therapists may provide sliding scale rates to accommodate clients with varying financial situations. Some therapists offer free or low-cost services to make their services accessible to all. By reaching out to local clinics or mental health centers, you may be able to access free or low-cost therapist options. You can call 211 to receive up-to-date recommendations on these resources. If you’re in crisis, you can call or text the 988 Lifeline anytime for free short-term crisis peer support. For long-term support, consider looking into sliding scale therapists, online therapists, support groups, or local low-cost clinics.
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