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Where terms like premium, copayment, deductible and out-of-pocket maximum can make what should be a simple process even more cumbersome and that's if you have insurance. For those who do not, regular doctor's appointments or a sudden illness can lead to extreme financial hardship, making treatment, let alone a service such as therapy, seem inaccessible. Fortunately, there are free and low-cost options available to anyone who needs treatment. Receive personalized treatment from the comfort of your home with Cerebral.
Take Your Free Mental Health Assessment Today. Therapy is “a way to help people with a wide variety of mental illnesses and emotional difficulties,” according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA). There are several types of therapy that vary by diagnosis and treatment modalities, but in essence, therapy is treatment for the types of mental illnesses, from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to help the person improve their daily functioning that can be seen hampered by his illness. If you have health insurance, you may have a copay for visits to the therapist.
If your therapist is considered “out of network,” you may have to pay out of pocket, which means you will have to pay the full fee. Some therapists also allow their patients to pay on a sliding scale, with or without insurance. If you find a therapist who has a sliding scale payment plan, you will often use your income information to determine the cost of your sessions. Ultimately, your hourly rate may vary from therapist to therapist, but the cost is calculated taking into account your financial means and needs.
While the cost of therapy cannot be fixed with a single figure, know that the price does not have to prohibit you from seeking support. Organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offer free helplines that provide mental health support from volunteers. Free and low-income services also exist, and federally funded health care facilities often have income-based therapy options, and college students specifically can access free mental health and counseling services at their college or university, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Insurance companies aren't required to provide mental health benefits, but many large group plans do provide some coverage, according to the APA.
In the meantime, if you have health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), plans must include mental health benefits. Medicaid also includes mental health coverage. See your specific plan's description of covered services to determine if it includes mental health benefits, as well as to understand their in-network and out-of-network costs. While seeking therapy is a personal decision, certain factors may indicate that you need help.
For example, if your problems or thoughts are negatively affecting relationships, work or school, or are leading to unhealthy coping behaviors, you should consider therapy, says Sanam Hafeez, neuropsychologist and director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P, C. Factors that may inform your choice of therapist include cost, experience, service offerings, and accessibility. But the most important consideration is your comfort level, says Teralyn Sell, PhD. Make sure a therapist is right for you by reviewing your specializations, having a trial session, and relying on your gut instinct, she adds.
If you don't know where to start, Hafeez recommends seeking a referral from your primary care doctor or from a trusted friend or family member who may have had success with a therapist in the past. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common types of psychotherapy and the one that usually comes to mind when a person thinks about mental health treatment. Within CBT, therapists often specialize in several areas of treatment, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Other types of therapy include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which is often used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by rewiring the brain with a sequence of rapid eye movements, group therapy, and more.
The frequency of sessions varies depending on individual needs and sometimes insurance coverage (your insurance company may limit the number of visits per year if it is not considered medically necessary). Your therapist will likely recommend a session frequency based on your particular concerns and goals. If you have health insurance, Hafeez recommends starting with your provider's website, as they can provide a directory of therapists who accept your insurance. In addition, resources such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) helpline can help you target local centers, groups and organizations that offer therapy based on your specific needs.
You may also be interested in the online therapy services of our featured partners Online therapy platforms connect you to licensed providers, which may include psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and professional counselors with license. Discover our best options and the best online therapy that suits your needs and preferences. The information provided in Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. Your health and well-being is unique to you, and the products and services we review may not be appropriate for your circumstances.
We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, consult a medical professional. Forbes Health adheres to strict standards of editorial integrity. As far as we know, all content is accurate on the date of publication, although it is possible that the offers contained herein will no longer be available.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers. Ashley Lauretta is a journalist and lives in Austin, Texas. His signatures can be found in WIRED, the Atlantic, SELF, ELLE, elemental, ESPNW, Men's Journal and more. You don't have permission to access this resource.
When therapist Angela Essary worked as a community mental health counselor, she booked 12 sessions a day, but she only saw five of those people. Going through some profiles of GoodTherapy therapists in your area will give you a general idea of the cost of private pay therapy. If money may be an issue for you, flexible scheduling might be exactly what you need to get the support you deserve from a potential therapist to start feeling better. Virtual counselors may have lower prices for doing business, which can affect their fees considerably, making therapy affordable for many more people so they can choose the therapist who is best able to help them.
For a therapist to do their best work for their clients, it is better for the client to have the therapist also talk to a therapist or supervisor (who is also a licensed therapist or mental health provider) to make sure they are doing everything in their power to provide as much support as possible. Therapists need to keep up with developments in their field just as doctors need training in new technologies and medical treatments. Keep in mind that therapy prices, even with the assistance of your insurance company and mental health coverage plan, aren't always lower than working directly with a therapist at BetterHelp. Fees will depend on who you choose as a therapist, especially when it comes to their qualifications and experience.
So how much does therapy cost? The average cost can be difficult to estimate unless you know what you want and what comes with health insurance plans like yours or other benefits, such as employee assistance for mental health coverage, if you have a mental illness or a mental health diagnosis. It is the same for a therapist that all licensed therapists have completed their undergraduate and graduate studies, with a master's or doctoral degree, plus thousands of working hours to sit for their licensing exam and participate in graduate training on specific counseling theories such as CBT or DBT, etc. Another factor to consider may be the number of sessions you will be using during the year, as this can also affect the cost of working with a therapist. If you don't have insurance, you can expect to pay the standard rate set by your local therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist.
Some therapists choose not to accept insurance and instead only offer pay for service (also known as private pay). Please don't act holier than yourself just because someone has decided to buy something nice for themselves while you wait for therapists and insurance to do their jobs. In addition, if you have health insurance, it may be cheaper for you to pay your therapist out of pocket with a sliding scale rate than to use your health insurance. .
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