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Mental health issues are prevalent around the world. To help them deal with mental health issues and process trauma, people go to therapy. However, in the United States, how much does therapy cost without insurance?
Therapy can cost anywhere from $60-$300 per session without insurance. Therapists and psychiatrists can choose their own rates based on their education, reputation, and the type of therapy being offered. The genre, location, and setting of therapy affect how much therapy will cost.
To help you understand how much therapy will cost without insurance, keep reading!
Average Costs of Therapy without Insurance
In general, therapy costs anywhere from $60-$300 per session. A normal rate to pay is about $80-$150. If you don’t have health insurance, that means you’ll be paying that out of pocket. We have found that on average, without insurance, people tend to pay about $80 per session for therapy.
Here is a table that shows an average of how much therapy costs without insurance.
| Type of Therapy | Cost without Insurance |
| Online Therapy | $0 – $100 |
| Personal Sessions | $80 – $150 |
| Group Therapy | $130 |
Different Kinds of Therapy
There are several different reasons one might need to go to therapy. One could be dealing with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), otherwise known as depression; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Alcoholism or addictive problems; Anxiety Disorder; Bipolar I or II Disorder; an eating disorder; marital or relationship problems; or they may be struggling because they know someone with one or more of these hardships who needs support. The type of therapy you need will affect how much each session will cost.
There are also many different kinds of outlets and approaches to therapy. There are group therapy options, one-on-one sessions, exposure therapy, animal therapy, and others. Some approaches are more expensive and some are more affordable. It is useful to compare the different therapeutic approaches to determine ideal options if you don’t have health insurance.
Some therapy practices require more training from professionals which, consequentially, alters the cost of sessions. An example of this is an approach called EMDR, which is used for patients who suffer from PTSD.
Below is a table with different kinds of therapy options.
| Type of Therapy | Effects of Therapy | Cost of Therapy Session |
| Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) | Helps shape attitude and perspective of life. | $100 to $500 |
| Family Therapy | Helps resolve familial conflicts. | $100 to $190 |
| Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) | Helps people with Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD) to process traumatic experiences. | $100 to $200 |
| Group Therapy | Helps people find support and work on healing similar issues. | $40 to $150 |
| Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) | Helps focus on emotions and gives them attention rather than suppressing them. | $60 to $90 |
| Interpersonal Therapy | Helps people with depression to work on relationships with others. | $60 to $175 |
| Mindfulness-based Therapy | Helps people live in the moment. | $300 to $650 |
| Creative Arts Therapy | Helps people express their feelings via the arts. | $60 to $90 |
| Play Therapy | Helps kids share their feelings as they play. | $100 to $400 |
| Psychodynamic Therapy | Helps people work through negative behaviors that stem from their past. | $100 to $200 |
| Speech Therapy | Helps people with speech-related impairments, disorders, and other communicative struggles. | $300 to $500 |
| Dialectal Therapy | Helps shape attitude while focusing on emotions and acceptance of feeling discomfort in situations at times. | $150 to $300 |
| Mentalization Therapy | Helps people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) to be aware of their own narrative and the feelings of others. | $100 and up |
| Animal-Assisted Therapy | Helps people work through emotions by spending time with trained animals. | $145 to $165 |
| Humanistic Therapy | Helps people focus on their overall well-being. | $125 to $130 |
| Exposure Therapy | Helps people face their fears. | $50 to $150 |
| Somatic Therapy | Helps people connect their minds to their bodies. | $1030 to $1525 |
Factors that Affect the Cost of Therapy
Therapists get to choose their own price rates. These usually vary based on their reputations, their level of education, and their specific niche in their practice. If a patient does not have insurance, they often work with their client to a degree and will negotiate or adjust the price subjective to their needs. They will take into account the client’s income, the severity of their mental health condition, and their living situation. Personal relationships with the therapist or connections to them can also make a difference in how much they charge.
Usually, the more well-known a therapist is and the better their reputation, the more each session costs.
Another thing that affects how much therapy costs is location. Therapy costs more in some areas than others. New York rates are higher than in most other places in the United States. Much of this is due to the cost of living.
If you are looking for therapy, the education level and type of professional you go to will have a great impact on how much your treatment will cost. Do you know the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist? A psychologist is a therapist and is qualified to help you with your mental health.
A psychiatrist can do the same thing, but has more education in the medical field and is qualified to give prescriptions to treat your mental disorders. Psychiatrists are usually more expensive. They also may not be as specialized in treating mental health, as they spend much of their time working with medicine rather than mental health improvement techniques. Counselors are also qualified therapists, however, they have less education than psychologists.
Ways to Get Cheap or Free Therapy
Many patients will need to pay more money for therapy if they do not have applicable health insurance. However, therapy can still be a very plausible option for those who don’t even qualify for coverage! Even if you don’t qualify for insurance, there are other ways to reduce the amount of the final medical bill. As mentioned above, prices can be negotiated and discussed directly with various therapists. Therapists usually work with their clients based on their specific living situations and financial circumstances.
Training Clinics
Training clinics are where health practitioners can practice working with people before moving on to official clinics or counseling psychologist centers. This is an ideal choice for those who want to save money on their therapy sessions since training clinics are often located conveniently nearby or are a part of universities.
Patients can schedule therapy sessions with graduate students that are supervised by a licensed psychologist. These training clinics often operate on a sliding price scale that can go as low as $0, and they can be found online by searching “training clinics in (city name)”.
Local Community Mental Health Centers
Community mental health centers can be located using the Department of Human Services on a patient’s local government website. These services can also be found through private nonprofit organizations. The YMCA organization offers low-cost or sliding-scale behavior health and family services for both adults and children.
Support Groups
There are some pros and cons to attending support groups that help people with their mental health. Although going to a support group may not provide the personalized care and total anonymity of one-on-one therapy sessions, support groups can offer a source of low-cost and accessible therapy.
Organizations such as DBSA, ADAA, AA, and NA offer free community support groups in person or online. If patients lose their health insurance, they can ask their previous health provider if support group therapy is offered at a discounted or free price by their organization.
Contact Your Employer
Another way to reduce therapy costs is by contacting your employer and seeing if they offer benefits or employee assistance. Many workplaces have policies and other benefits of some sort that help those who are employed and live with mental health challenges. Many companies, workplaces, and employers are obliged to provide these benefits according to governmental laws. They may be able to help cover part, if not all, of your therapy treatment!
Local Colleges and Universities
Most local colleges and universities offer therapy as well. Students are almost always eligible to get free therapy, as it is often included in their educational fees. If you aren’t a student but have a diagnosis, you can go to the school and see if you can book a therapy session. The people who work there are certified professionals with the goal of helping all patients. It is worth it to go in and ask for help at the very least. They might even be able to offer free or discounted services for those who qualify!
Government-issued Departments
Government-issued departments also offer discounted or free therapy. There is a movement to provide more widespread help for those who struggle with mental health. Locating and visiting one of these establishments could be beneficial if you don’t have insurance.
Other Organizations
There are more alternative cheap and free therapy options. Many organizations offer free therapy for the uninsured. There are support groups and programs like 12 Step programs and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) that help those overcoming addictions. There are many online therapy options available at reduced and even free costs as well.
However, keep in mind that there are risks to using discounted or free therapy treatments. They may not be as effective as more expensive therapy sessions. Some free therapy treatments could even be counterproductive. With this in mind, if you apply, you could still significantly cut back on the costs of therapy sessions.
Free and Lower Cost Mental Health Help Organizations
Use the following websites and phone numbers to contact relevant health organizations and price compare offered therapist services. For instance, the Health Resources & Services Administration, also known as HRSA, offers therapists that are affordable and carry sliding-free payment options on the HRSA official website. Another organization, the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, also called ADAA, can be contacted through its official website. If ideal therapy services are not found on HRSA or on ADAA, try out 211 on their official website. 211 can even be called by dialing 2-1-1 to reach a receptionist at the organization.
For those who suffer from addictive tendencies or mental troubles, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration may be an ideal choice. This organization, often shortened to SAMHSA, can be contacted through this website or called at 1-800-662-4357.
Finally, for all people who are struggling with depressive episodes or bipolar disorder, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance can prove to be a good and affordable fit. Reach DBSA at their website or by calling 1-800-826-3632.
Types of Therapy and How to Find Them
Private Practice Sessions
There are many places a person can go for treatment! The most expensive kind of therapy is likely that of private practice. This is when a client meets one-on-one with a therapist. You can find private-practicing professionals via referrals, search engine searches, or word-of-mouth.
Private practice therapy sessions typically cost $100 to $200 per session.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is guided by a professional and is likely the second-most expensive type of therapy. These groups can be found via referrals, internet searches, word-of-mouth, and an invitation from a group member.
Online Therapy
Probably one of, if not the cheapest option, is online therapy. One can hear about this via advertisements, online searches, referrals, and word-of-mouth.
Other Forms of Therapy
A person can also go to universities, apply to be part of therapeutic studies, and also go to local state department clinics to get therapy. These can be located with quick searches, via word-of-mouth, and through referrals from doctors or friends. If you are part of a therapeutic study, you likely won’t have to pay for each session. You may even be paid for your participation.
Overall, therapy can be expensive if you don’t have insurance or your health insurance won’t pay for it. However, the cost is worth it in the end, as each session will help you improve your mental health so you can live a long, fulfilling life. If you can’t afford therapy, there are things that you can do to help make it more affordable.
No Insurance?
When it comes to your healthcare, most people think that their only options are to pay for expensive Health Insurance or try out your luck being uninsured.
The great news is that you have a third option; You can join a Health Share plan that is affordable and meets your needs! Health Sharing programs are one of the most effective and affordable alternatives to Health Insurance. You can even have a Mental Wellness program like LifeWorks added to your Health Share plan.
If you don’t know what a Health Share is, you can start here to learn how it works and why it’s a great alternative to health insurance. If you are looking for affordable healthcare, I highly recommend checking out my article about the Best Health Share Plans.
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