How to Find Affordable Therapy: 9 Ways to Get Low Cost Mental Health Services

1. Know What Your Insurance Covers

A great place to start when looking for affordable mental health care is with your insurance. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires that most insurance plans offer coverage for mental health and addiction treatments similar to the coverage offered for other health conditions.¹ As a result, many insurance plans cover mental health treatment such as therapy.

If you have insurance, using your coverage can make mental health care significantly more affordable. It’s important to first understand what your insurance plan covers can vary widely from company to company and plan to plan. Depending on your coverage, you may pay as little as your co-pay. In some cases you may even pay nothing.

To understand your coverage, look at the summary plan description and/or the summary of benefits and coverage documents provided by your insurance company. These documents, which are provided at the time of enrollment and can be requested at any time, lay out your coverage in plain language. If you have questions about your coverage, check with your HR representative (if your insurance is provided through your employer) or your insurance company’s website or call center.

How Much Is a Therapy Session With Insurance?

The cost of therapy with insurance can vary depending on a lot of factors, such as the type of insurance you have, the type of therapy/provider you are seeing, and your location. On average, a copay for therapy services can be anywhere from $20-$65, if the therapist is in-network. If you have a high-deductible plan, you may have to pay the therapist’s full rate at first, which can range from $100-$200, then drop down a significant amount if you hit your deductible. You may also be able to use a health savings account to use for your copay, which may vary by insurance provider. It is important to contact your insurance to ensure you are utilizing your insurance plan in the most efficient way.

2. Ask Therapists If They Offer Sliding Scale Therapy

Sliding scale therapy is a fee structure where the therapist or agency provides services at varying rates depending on the person’s financial situation. Therapists in private practice, group practice, and agency settings may all offer sliding scale fees. However, not every therapist or organization will, due either to ethical or practical considerations.

How a sliding scale fee is determined depends on the therapist/organization offering it. Some therapists reserve spots in their schedule for specific fees while others will use a formula to calculate a client’s fee. A therapist may request financial documents to help them determine the fee you will be charged while others use an honor system. Organizations that provide sliding scale services will likely request financial documents.

When looking for a therapist who offers sliding scale fees, check out their online directory profiles and website as it will often be noted in the section about their fees. Many organizations that offer sliding scale fees will also note that on their website or provide that information when you call to inquire about services.

3. Look Into Community Mental Health Resources

Community mental health centers are organizations that offer mental health services at a reduced (or free) rate. They often receive substantial funding from federal, state, and/or county sources which allows them to provide services at a lower cost for people who would otherwise be unable to.

Each community mental health center may offer a different range of services. While some may only provide individual therapy, others provide individual, group and family therapy, psychiatry services, and addiction/substance misuse treatment. As these organizations are often local and based in specific counties, you may need to show your county or city residency in order to access services. As many of them offer services on a sliding-scale basis, you will also likely need to provide financial information during the intake process.

Due to the high demand for mental health services, you may not be able to be seen right away. In this case, you may be put on a waitlist. If you would like to get started sooner, many community mental health centers are able to provide referrals to providers in your area who offer reduced or sliding scale fees.

4. Check With Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Your employer may offer an employee assistance program (EAP) which allows you to access mental health care for free. While there may be limits to the number of sessions provided (many offer 10 free sessions per issue, per year), it is an excellent resource to access when you have a mental health issue you want to address. If you need longer-term treatment, the therapist you work with through your EAP may be able to continue to see you through your insurance coverage or private pay, or they can provide appropriate referrals.

Although this benefit is provided by your company, the care you receive is confidential. What you share with a therapist providing services through an EAP will not be shared with your boss, colleagues, or other company employees.

To learn more about your access to an EAP, look through your benefits statement. Your company’s internal website may provide information on how to access EAP services. An HR representative will also be able to help navigate accessing EAP services if you have additional questions or concerns about the process. Most EAPs can be accessed through a website or phone number, where you can be matched with a provider and schedule an appointment.

5. Utilize Support Groups & Group Therapy

Support groups are often a free or low-cost option that can be a valuable resource when dealing with a range of issues. Support groups are different from group therapy. Group therapy is led by a therapist or team of therapists, and typically follows a set protocol for addressing a specific mental health issue.

In contrast, support groups may or may not be led by a mental health professional. They are typically organized by a focus that may or may not be directly related to mental health. Some examples include those caring for a family member with Alzeheimer’s or dementia, those diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and those recovering from addiction.

Many local organizations such as community mental health clinics, senior centers, and religious organizations host support groups for various topics. Check out the websites of organizations in your area to see what they offer. Virtual support groups are also available and can be accessed no matter where you live. Try searching “support group for [insert topic]” such as “support group for parent of child with Autism” or “support group for cancer diagnosis.”

Mental Health America provides an extensive list of support groups across the country that address a wide range of topics. The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers support groups for those experiencing a mental health condition as well as groups for family members of those with a mental health condition.

6. Ask What Resources Are Available at Local Universities

Many universities offer services at lower rates than therapists in private practices. In some cases, mental health services may only be available to students enrolled at the university. If you are a student, check with your university’s website for information on available mental health services. They are often available for free or at a steeply discounted rate.

Outside of services for students, many universities offer discounted services to the general public. This is particularly common at universities that offer master’s or doctorate degree programs in counseling. As part of their training, students working towards their master’s degree provide therapy services. These students work under the supervision of licensed and experienced therapists, ensuring that the services they provide are high quality.

To find out what resources are available in your area, reach out to local universities and ask if they have a graduate training program or clinic that offers low-cost counseling to the general public.

7. Look Into Affordable Online Therapy

A number of online therapy options have been developed in the last few years that aim to increase people’s access to mental health services. Because the providers who offer services through these platforms ostensibly don’t have the same overhead as providers who work in person, the cost is lower. BetterHelp is one provider of video-based therapy and Talkspace is its primary competitor. You can read more about these online therapy services in our BetterHelp review and Talkspace Review.

When considering a therapy app or online counseling platform, make sure to research exactly what is provided and consider whether or not that will meet your needs. While the cost may be much lower on some therapy apps, you may be limited to messaging or have difficulty finding a provider on that platform that is the right fit for you. There are tradeoffs you make when choosing between online therapy and traditional therapy. For example, online therapy is not often covered under insurance plans so you may need to pay out of pocket.

When NOT to Use a Therapy App

Therapy apps are not an appropriate form of care for people with significant symptoms of mental health issues such as psychosis, those in crisis, and most children.

8. Find an Online Support Group

There are a number of online support groups that you can join. Support groups are not the same as therapy groups or individual therapy, but having a community of supportive people going through a similar circumstance can still be very impactful and healing. Often these groups are very low cost or even free.

9. Call a Warm Line

There are multiple support phone lines you can call that are city-wide, state-wide and national. Warm lines are peer support lines staffed by volunteers offering emotional support who are in recovery themselves. Warm lines differ from hotlines as warm lines take an early intervention approach to alleviating struggle, while hotlines are more often used to manage crises that already exist. Warm lines are not a replacement for therapy, but a free service you can use during a difficult time.

How Can I Find a Low Cost Psychiatrist?

Low cost psychiatrists may be a challenge to find versus low cost therapists, however it is possible. Many of the low cost therapists in your area may know of low cost psychiatrists. They may work in an outpatient community mental health organization or a local city clinic. It is important to ask your network and local clinics what options may be available in the area.

What Is a Reasonable Cost for Therapy With Insurance?

Therapy with insurance shouldn’t be super expensive, but sometimes it still can be. With insurance, prices can range from $20-$70 dollars depending on your coverage. That number may change if you hit a deductible or if the practice offers some kind of discount.

How Much Does Therapy Cost Without Insurance?

Therapy without insurance can range from $100-$250 a session. Some places may offer a sliding scale if you don’t have insurance, however that may still be around $70 or more.

How Do I Get Completely Free Therapy?

To obtain free therapy, that may depend on a lot of factors such as your location, income, current insurance benefits, and other medical issues which may make therapy a required part of treatment. It is important to talk to your doctors and insurance to learn about your coverage plan.

Final Thoughts on Finding Affordable Therapy

Therapy can be hard to access and a challenge for those who may not have the means, but it isn’t impossible to get the mental health you deserve. There are a lot of options and resources you do have, so it is important to check out each avenue to see what may be a good option for you.