How much does therapy cost?

If you’d like to start therapy but are worried about the price, you’re far from the only one. A 2024 Gallup poll identifies affordability as the biggest barrier preventing Americans from getting the treatment they need for mental or emotional health conditions. Between confusing insurance terms, wildly different therapy rates, and a lack of transparent pricing, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you start looking for a provider.

You don’t need to have it all figured out to get started, though. Understanding what affects the cost of therapy and what your options are can make the whole process feel a lot more manageable.

How much is a therapy session on average?

Most therapy sessions cost between $100 and $200 each without insurance. On average, you’re looking at about $143 for a standard one-hour session. Your actual cost depends on where you live (therapy in New York City costs more than in Missouri, for example) and who you see. Psychiatrists generally charge the most, followed by psychologists, with licensed therapists and counselors typically charging less.

Whether you have insurance also makes a big difference in what you’ll pay out of pocket. Let’s break down both cases.

Therapy cost with insurance

Insurance can help lower what you pay for therapy, but figuring out your actual costs isn’t always straightforward. Many plans use copays, deductibles, coinsurance, or some combination. As a result, what you owe can change from session to session. 

Here’s a quick primer on what these terms mean: 

Copays vs. deductibles vs. coinsurance

These determine how much you’ll pay at each appointment:

• Copays are a fixed amount you pay per session (often around $20 to $50). This stays the same each time.
• Deductibles are what you pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. If your deductible is $1,000, you’ll pay full price per session until you hit that amount. Then your copay or coinsurance starts.
• Coinsurance is a percentage you pay after meeting your deductible. If your plan has 20% coinsurance and sessions cost $150, you’d pay $30 per session once your deductible is met.
  

Some plans just charge a copay without requiring a deductible. For others, you’ll need to hit the deductible before copays or coinsurance kick in.

Session limits and reauthorization

Some insurance plans limit how many therapy sessions they’ll cover in a year. For example, your plan may cover 20 sessions total. Once you hit that number, you’ll pay the full cost for any additional appointments.

Other plans don’t have hard limits, but require reauthorization after a certain number of visits. This means your therapist needs to check in with your insurance company and explain why you still need treatment before they’ll approve more sessions. You haven’t run out of coverage, but your insurance wants to make sure you still need therapy.

In-network vs. out-of-network 

Your insurance works with specific providers who are considered in-network and have agreed to discounted rates. Seeing an in-network provider usually means lower costs for you. If you see someone out-of-network, your insurance might cover less or nothing at all, leaving you with higher bills.

Therapy cost without insurance

Some people choose to pay for therapy out of pocket, even when they have insurance. Cash-pay offers simplicity and control that insurance sometimes can’t match.

Most self-pay sessions run between $100 and $200 per visit, depending on where you live, your provider’s experience, and session length. What you see is what you pay, with no surprise bills, no confusing insurance statements, and no math involving deductibles and coinsurance.

Cash-pay also gives you more control with:

• No network restrictions. You can see any therapist you want, not just providers within your plan’s network. 
• No session limits. There’s no insurance company telling you when to stop treatment or requiring prior authorization to continue.
• Upfront pricing. You know exactly what you’ll pay every time.
  

Here at QuickMD, we offer therapy with licensed counselors to support recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) as part of a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program. Sessions are only $19 with no insurance required. 

Online therapy vs in-person therapy costs

Studies show that both online and in-person therapy are similarly effective for conditions like depression and anxiety, and substance use recovery. The best choice usually comes down to your preferences, schedule, and budget.

• In-person therapy means traveling to an office and meeting face-to-face with your therapist. Some people prefer this for the dedicated space, the routine of leaving home, and the in-person connection. The tradeoffs are commute time and travel costs like gas, parking, and public transit. Depending on where you live, it may take longer to find a provider with availability nearby.
• Online therapy lets you do sessions from home or wherever you’re comfortable. This eliminates travel costs and commute time. Appointments can fit more easily into a lunch break or between other commitments. You can also work with therapists outside your immediate area. This often means shorter wait times and more options to choose from. For people with mobility challenges or unreliable transportation, online therapy can make treatment more accessible. 
  

Both work well. The question is what fits your life and your budget.

Why therapy costs vary so much

If you’ve looked up therapy prices online, they might seem like they’re all over the place. That’s because there’s no standard rate, and what you’ll pay depends on several factors:

• Provider credentials: Licensed counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists have different levels of training, which affects their rates.
• Where you live: Therapy costs more in areas where providers are in short supply, such as in some rural regions, or where demand is very high, like major cities.
• Session length: Most sessions run about an hour, but some are shorter or longer depending on what you need.
• In-person vs. online: In-person therapy may cost more because therapists pay for office space. Online therapy can be less expensive since there’s no physical office and no commute.
  

Because all these factors come into play, you’ll see a wide range of prices. A higher price doesn’t always mean better care, and a lower price doesn’t mean lower quality. 

How much does a therapist cost by provider type?

The term therapist is pretty broad and covers different types of mental health professionals, including licensed therapists and counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists. They all have different areas of specialization and training, which affects what they’re able to do and how much they charge. That said, a higher price doesn’t automatically mean better care or a better fit for your needs.

Here’s a quick comparison of costs and what each provider offers:

Licensed therapists and counselors

Licensed therapists and counselors have master’s degrees and typically charge less than psychologists or psychiatrists. They might work as clinical social workers, professional counselors, or marriage and family therapists, depending on their training and where they practice.

Most people start with this type of provider because they’re more widely available and focus on practical approaches to managing everyday challenges. They specialize in talk therapy and teaching coping skills that you can use right away, making them a good fit if you’re looking for ongoing support.

Psychologists

Psychologists are licensed professionals with doctoral degrees in psychology and typically charge more than master’s level therapists. What sets them apart is their ability to do testing and evaluations for things like ADHD, learning disorders, autism, or trauma. This can be helpful if you’re not sure what’s going on, need a formal diagnosis for school or work accommodations, or if you’ve tried therapy before but it didn’t quite help. Not everyone needs this level of assessment, but it’s there if you do.

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are licensed doctors who went to medical school and then specialized in mental health. This specialization is why they typically charge the highest rates of any mental health provider. Because of their training, they can prescribe medication while most therapists can’t.

Appointments are usually shorter than traditional therapy sessions and focus on medication management rather than weekly talk therapy. If therapy alone hasn’t been enough, a psychiatrist can help figure out whether medication might work for you. Many people see both a psychiatrist for medication and a therapist for ongoing talk therapy.

Ways to make therapy more affordable

If you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t cover what you need, you still have options for getting help. Here are a few practical ways to lower therapy costs.

Ask about sliding-scale fees

Some therapists adjust their fees based on what you can afford, working out a rate with you that fits your budget. Not every therapist advertises this, but many are open to it. It’s worth asking, especially if you’ve found someone you’d like to work with.

Look into community programs

Community mental health clinics, nonprofit organizations, and teaching hospitals often offer free or low-cost counseling. You might wait a bit longer for an appointment, but the care is professional, and these programs exist specifically to help people who need affordable options.

Check what your employer offers

Some employers offer free therapy sessions through employee assistance programs (EAPs). It’s usually just a few sessions, but they can get you started with therapy or help during a rough patch. Check with your HR department about what’s available. Many people don’t realize how much their company covers.

Try online therapy

Online therapy can often cost less than traditional in‑person sessions, especially on platforms that use weekly or monthly subscriptions. You may also find it easier to get an appointment quickly, since you’re not limited to therapists in your immediate area.

When therapy is worth the cost

Many people find therapy becomes worthwhile when they need steady support to work through what they’re dealing with. It’s not about fixing everything or reaching some perfect outcome. It’s about having a place to figure things out, learn ways to cope, and feel less alone in the process.

Therapy can help you:

• Understand patterns in your thoughts or behaviors that may trip you up.
• Develop practical tools for managing anxiety, stress, or feeling down in the dumps.
• Work through difficult emotions without feeling overwhelmed by them.
• Get clarity when you’re stuck on a tough decision or dealing with a complicated relationship.
• Process grief, trauma, or major life changes with support.
  

The cost feels more worthwhile when you’re actively struggling and need someone who can help you through it. If you need support while in recovery from substance use disorder, we offer online counseling with licensed therapists who can provide that support.

Getting therapy without long waits or high costs with QuickMD

Finding affordable therapy can feel complicated, especially when you’re dealing with waitlists, limited local options, and confusing insurance coverage. That’s where telemedicine helps. Online therapy typically costs less because therapists don’t have office expenses like rent, wait times are often shorter, and you can work with licensed providers outside your immediate area.

Here at QuickMD, if you’re dealing with substance use disorder and need to talk to someone, we offer online counseling with licensed therapists and clear, upfront pricing. We keep costs low at $19 per session. No insurance required. No judgment ever. Telemedicine appointments are flexible and happen wherever you’re comfortable, so you don’t have to rearrange your schedule or commute.