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Therapy is available in various forms, including online or in-person. The cost of therapy varies depending on the type of therapy, therapist credentials, the platform, and whether insurance covers any costs.
Therapy involves speaking with a trained professional, known as a therapist, about certain issues. The therapist can help develop ways of coping with the issue, identify triggers and feelings, and challenge thoughts and behaviors.
There are various different types of therapy, including:
couples therapy
teen therapy
family therapy
group therapy
A person can see a therapist face-to-face in the therapist’s office. Alternatively, many companies offer online therapy, enabling a person to talk with a therapist from home via live chats, messages, video calls, or phone calls.
If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:
Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
Listen to the person without judgment.
Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.
Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects if it’s safe to do so.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 988. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
The cost of therapy varies depending on various factors, such as the type of therapy, therapist, and the service provider. However, a person should generally expect to pay between $100 to $250 per session without insurance.
Prices may differ depending on whether a person receives online or in-person therapy. The average costs for these different platforms are:
Online therapy: around $50 to $200 per session
In-person therapy: around $100 to $350 per session
Online therapy may be slightly cheaper than in-person therapy as online therapists do not necessarily need to cover overhead office costs, such as utility bills and rent payments. Research published in 2020 states that online therapy can reduce the cost of treatment without affecting outcomes.
For those participating in online therapy, a monthly subscription payment may be necessary rather than paying per session. Different packages and options are often available in online therapy, including text therapy, unlimited messaging, video therapy, and phone therapy.
Multiple factors may influence the cost of a therapy session. This includes:
Online or in-person: In-person therapy may be more expensive as the therapist may also need to cover costs such as rent for office space and utility bills.
Location: In-person therapists based in larger cities may need to charge higher fees due to the higher cost of living.
Type of therapy: Some therapists with certain areas of specialty may charge extra. Additionally, if a person receives psychiatry sessions where they can obtain medications, the session may cost more.
Individual therapist: Each therapist may charge different fees. For example, a psychiatrist with several years of experience may charge more than a social worker or recently qualified therapist.
Session length: Some therapists may offer 30-minute sessions, whereas others can offer sessions for up to 90 minutes. This session length will influence the cost.
Insurance coverage: Some providers may cover the full or partial cost of therapy sessions. A person should check with their insurance provider and the service provider to find out if this is possible.
In some cases, insurance can cover the cost of therapy. According to the Affordable Care Act, mental health services, including therapy, are essential health benefits. Most plans must cover these services.
However, some insurance providers may not yet cover online therapy. Additionally, some service providers, particularly those operating online, may not accept insurance as payment, only accept it for a certain number of sessions, or still require a copay payment.
A person should check with their insurance provider to see whether they have coverage for therapy and in what capacity.
Therapy can be expensive. For some individuals, finding a service they can afford may be challenging. Alternatively, there are some low cost and free therapy options available. We list some examples of these below.
Talkspace works with various major insurance providers and accepts many of these plans as payment. The company also accepts FSA/HSA plans.
• starting at $69 per week for messaging therapy • starting at $99 a week for messaging and video therapy • starting at $109 per week for messaging, video, and workshop therapy.
• individual therapy • couples therapy • workshops • psychiatry • teen therapy • LGBTQIA+ therapy • therapy for veterans
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A person may wish to initially contact their health insurance provider to find out what their plan does and does not cover. For example, a person should learn whether their plan covers online and in-person therapy.
Additionally, a person may wish to try free therapy services to see if this works for them before trying a paid-for service.
A person can also ask therapists if they have a sliding scale or any financial aid for therapy sessions.
Below, we answer some frequently asked questions about how much therapy costs.
On average, $100 would likely be one of the cheapest options for an in-person therapy session. Some therapists may charge more than this per session.
The effectiveness of therapy will vary between individuals. A person should ensure that they are happy with the therapist assigned to them if they are paying for their therapy. The ability to work with the therapist will most likely be a big factor in whether therapy is worth it.
The cost of therapy per session depends on various factors, including the therapist, service provider, geographical location, in-person or online, type of therapy, session length, and insurance coverage.
However, a person should typically expect to pay between $100 to $250 per session without insurance. This cost may be slightly cheaper for online therapy. Some in-person therapy sessions may cost more than this.
Therapy can come with a higher price point as a result of a variety of factors. The main reason being that licensed therapists are highly specialized and usually have a PhD or master’s degree.
Additionally, therapists, particularly those providing in-person services, have various overhead expenses to cover. This may include rent on office space, utility bills, licensing and insurance fees, and professional association fees. Some therapists may also need to employ other individuals to manage the administration and scheduling of appointments.
On average, a person should expect to pay between $100 to $250 per session for a therapy session. However, sometimes this can be more or less than these estimates. Online therapy can be cheaper than in-person therapy due to reduced overhead costs.
In some cases, insurance may cover some or all the cost of a therapy session. However, there may be a limit to the number of sessions a person can access with insurance.
A person may wish to try some free options or access online services to reduce the cost of therapy.
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