5 Tips to Find Affordable Therapy
Congratulations! You’ve begun your quest for affordable therapy. There may be some challenges along the road: the doom scroll through therapists that charge hundreds of dollars, the tangled hell of health insurance plans and policies, the dreaded therapist-breakup (“it’s just not working for me”).
But at the end of the tunnel, there you are: receiving the mental health support you deserve, talking to someone you trust — all at a price you’re comfortable with.
Here’s some tips on how to find an affordable therapist.
Ask your insurance provider
Calling a help desk or a member services number can feel a little pointless. “Won’t I have to wait on hold? Even if I do reach someone, I’ll just be redirected!”
That may be true some of the time, but keep in mind: health insurance is something that you pay for. Whether it’s through Medicaid, your employer’s insurance plan or directly out your own pocket, you are paying for a service — and you deserve to get it!
Even if the person who is on the other line can’t answer your question, most of the time they’ll have a good idea of where to go next. Most people want to help! Here are some questions that might help as you try to find an ally in your quest for an affordable therapist:
- What kind of coverage do I have to see mental health professionals?
- Is there a co-pay for therapy visits?
- Are there resources for finding therapists in-network?
- Does my plan cover visits to a therapist out-of-network?
Also pro tip: if you’re having trouble getting a representative to talk to, try pressing 0 or saying “representative.” Sometimes this skips the maze of options and gets you straight through to a real live person.
Sliding Scale Therapy
Many professionals offer a flexible rate in order to make therapy more accessible. Here are three websites that can help you find a therapist within your zip code at an affordable range. I went to all three sites and found therapists offering appointments starting at $30.
Psychology Today lets you choose your price range and your health insurance. I found therapists near me offering between $45 to $80 per session.
Good Therapy allows you to search for therapists within your network and for therapists who offer a free consultation. This is a nice option if you want to get to know your therapist before committing to a paid session. I found options here between $85 and $170 (a little steep, price wise).
Open Path Collective asked for a zip code and a radius and that’s it! I found therapists who offered $30–60 per session (now we’re talking!)
Remember, if a therapist offers their price on a scale, then they are OK with you choosing the cheapest price. They wouldn’t list it if they weren’t serious about it.
Local Counseling Resources
Your local community may be a gold-mine of affordable options. Sometimes community centers, hospitals, and places of worship offer counseling or therapy for free. Don’t worry, even if you are not religiously affiliated, many counselors are open to plain old counseling — no strings (or priestly vestments) attached. And if they try to convince you to become a minister or something, you can always stop going.
If you don’t know where to start, call 211! It’s a government phone number (like 911 but not for emergencies) that provides “a shortcut through what can be a bewildering maze of health and human service agency phone numbers.”
Online Therapy
Nowadays, many people are seeking help through online therapy services. There are a lot of options out there (here’s a list of the top 10), but most services offer visits anywhere from $40-$80. The obvious con of Online Therapy is that you’re not seeing your therapist in-person. That being said, there’s a lot of plus sides:
- Online services find a therapist for you. All you need to do is take an assessment and they pair you with someone who they think will be a good fit. And if it’s not the right person for you, you don’t have to worry about it because…
- It’s really easy to find a new therapist! Just request someone new. There’s no awkward break-up conversation with your therapist; you can request someone else by pressing a button (and probably doing a survey… but only if you want!)
- You can do therapy via video, text, or call. We all have different ways of expressing ourselves. Online therapy gives you options. Maybe you find that video calls are a lot of pressure, but you can really speak your mind over the phone. Or through text! Whatever works for you — online therapists want to make it easy for you to say what you need to say.
- Most services allow you to send in thoughts during the week. Often, you can send your therapist video memos, voicemails, journals, etc. Whenever you get an idea that you think might be helpful to your mental health — you can pass it on right to your therapist. This can be a great way to keep track of thoughts, break-throughs, and problem moments that you might want to talk through during your next session.
Clinician in Training
Most universities offer therapy sessions with grad students for a reduced rate. No, they won’t be licensed, but they will be supervised by someone who is. This can also be a great option because you will be working with someone who is new to the field and eager to provide quality service.
Searching for an affordable therapist may be the last thing you want to do if you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or just need someone to talk to. But don’t lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel.
The worst case scenario is that you spend a lot of time looking for someone who isn’t a good fit, and you have to pay $100 dollars for a couple sessions that are just awful. That might happen! And it might suck. But the best case might be worth it: finding someone who you really gel with, who doesn’t cost too much, and who helps you work through all the real crap you’re going through.
