Open Path Collective offers some of the lowest-cost rates for individual, family, and couples therapy available today. Along with access to affordable in-person and online therapy, a one-time $65 membership fee includes access to wellness courses and exclusive discounts on partnered services. With membership, the cost of therapy ranges from $30–$70, available exclusively through cash pay.
Open Path Collective asks that, if your income is above a certain threshold or you have behavioral health benefits through your insurance plan, you use a different service so they can reserve resources for the underserved.
Open Path Collective at a Glance
Cost: $65 one-time fee; $30–$70 per session
Insurance: No
Medication: No
Location: US & Canada
Pros & Cons
Pros - Affordable therapy for individuals, couples, & families
- Directory has great filtering capabilities
- Many membership benefits (e.g., resources, discounts, wellness courses)
Cons - Does not accept insurance
- Does not offer psychiatry
- Requires you to contact therapist yourself
- Can have long wait times
Preview Open Path Collective
Open Path Collective provides affordable therapy options for individuals who are uninsured, have high deductibles or co-pays, or prefer cash-pay services. Serving individuals of all ages, as well as couples and families, Open Path is available across all 50 U.S. states and Canada. Since therapists may have specific preferences regarding age groups or types of therapy they offer, be sure to use the search filters to find the best match for your needs.
Once registration is completed, you will receive a Member ID in your inbox and can expect to pay $30–$70 to work with an Open Path therapist ($30 for student interns). Couples and family therapy can cost up to $80 per session, depending on what is agreed upon with your therapist.
Overall, Open Path Collective is an excellent resource for individuals with an annual household income of less than $100,000, seeking accessible therapy options. If you have health insurance that can cover therapy, you should instead check out our list of best online therapy options that take insurance.
While Open Path Collective specializes in connecting individuals with therapists, they do not offer any psychiatrists as part of their network. If you are looking for affordable medication management, I would recommend Talkiatry or Brightside Health.
Brightside - Therapy & Medication Using Your Insurance
Together, medication and therapy can help you feel like yourself, faster. Brightside Health develops personalized plans that are unique to you and offers 1 on 1 support from start to finish. United Healthcare, Anthem, Cigna, and Aetna insurance are accepted.
Detailed Review
Open Path Collective meets its goal to provide affordable therapy to those who are under- or uninsured in both the United States and Canada. There is a mandatory one-time lifetime membership cost of $65 that grants you access to a library of mental health videos, online wellness courses, and partner discounts. From there, session fees range from $30–$70 for individual psychotherapy and up to $80 for couples and family therapy.
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Lifetime Membership
Open Path Collective charges a one-time $65 lifetime membership fee, which helps cover administrative and hosting costs while supporting the growth of their therapist network. As a nonprofit, this fee plays a crucial role in sustaining Open Path’s services.
With your lifetime membership, you not only gain access to affordable psychotherapy but also enjoy exclusive member benefits, including:
- Discounts from partner companies offering resources for personal wellness, including Moodfit, Shakti Mats, New Harbinger Publications, The Gottman Institute.
- A free library of mental health videos from therapists on a variety of topics, including beginning therapy, trauma, and grief.
- Free access to Open Path’s online wellness education courses, which include 19 courses on a variety of topics such as Anger Management, Communication Skills, Relationships 101, and Parenting. Many of these courses fulfill court requirements, and certificates of completion can be purchased additional cost.
Therapy Through Open Path Collective
Open Path therapy begins by searching for a therapist in your area. Their directory offers a variety of filters, such as in-person or online sessions, specialties, and treatment modalities, making it easy to find a provider who fits your needs. Once you’ve chosen a therapist, you’ll need to become an Open Path member by paying a one-time $65 membership fee, which also grants you access to additional wellness benefits.
If you end up not finding good rapport with your first therapist, you can email [email protected] and request to change therapists. Open Path is constantly adding new clinicians to its network, so it’s worth checking in with them if you don’t feel like your first therapist was a good fit.
Wellness Education Courses
Open Path’s online wellness education courses are designed to equip individuals with practical tools to enhance their overall well-being. Covering a wide range of topics like stress, burnout, anger management, financial wellness, co-parenting, and relationships, these courses use evidence-based approaches and tested outcome measures, blending educational content with mindfulness practices to build psychological resilience.
For clinicians and practitioners, access to these wellness courses is available for a standalone fee of $79. If you’re a client using Open Path therapy, your one-time $65 lifetime membership includes access to all online courses at no additional cost.
Library of Resources
Along with online wellness education courses, your lifetime membership also grants access to a resource library featuring around 10 mini workshops, each under 30 minutes. These educational videos are led by skilled, experienced therapists and cover a range of mental health topics, such as grief, trauma, and starting therapy for the first time.
Couples & Family Therapy
Open Path also offers couples and family therapy, with session rates from $40–$80. Couples only need to pay a single membership fee, and families can access therapy through one membership shared on behalf of the family.
It’s important to note that not all therapists provide couples or family therapy, so be sure to use the directory’s filters to specifically search for providers offering these services.
How Much Does Open Path Collective Cost?
Open Path Collective charges a one-time $65 lifetime membership fee.
After paying the membership fee, users have access to therapy at the following rates:
- $40–$70 per session for individual therapy with a licensed therapist
- $30 per session for individual therapy with a student intern
- Up to $80 per session for couples and family therapy
Can I Get a Refund on My Membership Fee?
If you sign up for therapy with Open Path Collective and pay the $65 membership fee but end up not being able to find an appropriate therapist, you can receive a refund if you submit a request telling them what happened within 10 days of your initial payment.
User Reviews for Open Path Collective
Due to Open Path Collective not having an app, there are no reviews available on app stores such as Apple or Google Play stores; however, Open Path is one of the most highly recommended resources among therapists as a referral source for clients seeking low-cost, affordable therapy services.
Reviews from Trustpilot | 3.7 out of 5 stars | 1 written review
Positive: There is currently only one written review on Trustpilot, but it strongly emphasizes how life-saving Open Path has been in helping the reviewer find an affordable therapist tailored to their needs. The review also acknowledges the importance of the one-time $65 membership fee, noting that it plays a crucial role in helping Open Path Collective maintain its services.
Reviews from Reddit users
Positive: There have been many positive reviews from both clients and therapists who have used Open Path Collective. The majority of these reviews highlight the professionalism and high quality of the therapists available, as well as the affordability of long-term therapy, which would otherwise be out of reach with full private-pay rates.
Negative: Some users mentioned a few drawbacks, including confusion during the sign-up process and the need to reach out to therapists directly to check availability. Additionally, the availability of therapists listed in the Open Path directory to take on new clients is not always clear.
Alternatives & Competitors
For some, Open Path Collective won’t be the best option. Below, we outline several alternatives that may be a better match.
Brightside Health
Cost: $95–$349 monthly
Insurance: Yes
Therapy & Psychiatry: Both
Location: US
If you do have insurance—something Open Path Collective does not accept—then you may be better off with a company like Brightside Health. They accept a wide variety of insurance plans, and if you’re covered, your costs will likely be dramatically decreased. In addition, they excel at providing both therapy and psychiatry. Even if you don’t have insurance, if you’re looking for medication management, Brightside Health offers reasonable cash-pay rates.
Learn more in our full Brightside Health review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - Accepts many insurance plans
- Same-day care often available
- Bundled plans available at an affordable rate
Cons - Customer service can be slow to respond
- Both therapy and medication appointments are limited to 30 minutes
BetterHelp
Cost: $260–$400 monthly
Insurance: No
Therapy & Psychiatry: Therapy
Location: US & International
Because BetterHelp is such an enormous company with numerous therapists, you’ll likely be able to find a provider who can work around your schedule. This could be a limitation you run into using Open Path Collective, as its provider network is much smaller compared to BetterHelp.
If you can’t find someone with Open Path who suits your schedule, my advice is to try BetterHelp. While they have extremely limited insurance coverage so far, and cash-pay prices can get a little pricey, consider applying to receive financial aid, which, depending on our circumstances, could be anywhere between 10%–40% off.
Learn more in our BetterHelp review.
Pros & Cons
Pros - A large therapist network could lead to a better therapist match
- Financial aid available
- Extra resources like journaling and group sessions included in subscription cost
Cons - Extremely limited insurance acceptance
- Limited choice over your initial therapist
Why You Can Trust My Review
“I personally used Open Path Collective, giving me firsthand insight into the platform. I appreciated the wide selection of therapists and the ability to browse the directory before paying the $65 lifetime membership fee. The sign-up process was simple: complete a brief questionnaire, confirm your uninsured or high-deductible status, and receive your Member ID to contact a therapist directly.
While I liked the ease of getting started, the diverse therapist options, and the directory’s filtering features, there were some downsides. You can’t self-schedule appointments—you must call or email therapists—and there’s no option for insurance reimbursement via superbills. Plus, the platform doesn’t offer psychiatry or medication management services.
My experience gave me a balanced view of Open Path Collective’s strengths and limitations, and this review reflects my direct use of the platform. I have been recommending Open Path Collective to people looking for low-cost therapy for a long time, and would certainly do the same for any friends and family who met the requirements.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Open Path Collective Legit?
Yes, Open Path Collective is a legitimate resource that has been trusted by both therapists and clients.
Can Open Path Collective Prescribe Medication?
No, Open Path Collective does not list psychiatrists or any way to access medication management.
What States Does Open Path Collective Cover?
Open Path Collective is available in all 50 US States and Canada.
How Much Does Open Path Collective Cost?
There is a one-time lifetime membership fee of $65 to sign-up. Session rates can range from $30–$80 depending on working with a student intern, the rate set by your individual therapist, or couples and family therapy.
Can I Use Insurance for Open Path Collective?
No. One of the goals of Open Path is to completely bypass the insurance industry. Open Path is intended for people who are either uninsured or underinsured.
Can I use Medicaid for Open Path Collective?
If there are no available Medicaid providers in your area, you could use Open Path to meet your need for affordable mental health care. Please note that Open Path rates ($40–$70 per session for individual counseling) are much higher than Medicaid rates for psychotherapy. If there are available Medicaid providers in your area, Open Path Collective asks that you do not use Open Path.
Can I Use My HSA/FSA for Open Path Collective
While you may be able to pay for sessions with HSA/FSA cards, Open Path Collective does not provide superbills or any other support for insurance reimbursement. It is usually best to check your insurance benefits to see if this cost would be covered.
Does Open Path Collective Issue Refunds?
Services are charged based on the service provided at that time, therefore it is unlikely that refunds for sessions would be issued. However, if you cannot find a provider after you pay the cost of membership, you can cancel within 10 days of signing up and receive a refund.
Is Open Path Collective HIPAA-Compliant?
Open Path Collective keeps your information private and secure, however, it is important to note that Open Path Collective is solely a directory of therapists and each therapist has their own HIPAA and privacy policies.
History & News
Year Founded: 2012
Founders: Paul Fugelsang
Headquarters: Asheville, North Carolina
Open Path Collective was founded in 2012 and officially launched by Spring of 2013 by Paul Fugelsang with the purpose of bridging the gap between expensive traditional therapy and public assistance programs. The Open Path Collective’s mission is to provide affordable mental health care for individuals who cannot afford standard therapy rates but don’t qualify for free or low-cost services.
To date, Open Path Collective is excited to report that they have been able to match more than 140,000 clients across the country to affordable psychotherapeutic care. In addition, over 69,000 students have enrolled to take at least one of Open Path’s online wellness classes.
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
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Frequently Asked Questions. Open Path Collective. Retrieved from: https://openpathcollective.org/client/faq/
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About Us. Open Path Collective. Retrieved from: https://openpathcollective.org/open-path-staff/
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Rueger, Abigail. (December 2025). Brightside Health Review: Pros & Cons, Cost, & My Experience. ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/brightside-health-review/
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Rueger, Abigail. (December 2025). BetterHelp Review: Cost, Pros & Cons, & My Experience. ChoosingTherapy.com. Retrieved from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/betterhelp-review/
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Author: Lena Suarez-Angelino, LCSW (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated user reviews. Updated alternatives. Fact-checked and edited article for readability and clarity.
Author: Lena Suarez-Angelino, LCSW
Medical Reviewer: Kristen Fuller, MD
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