If you are thinking about starting therapy, you may find yourself wondering, “How much does therapy cost without insurance?”. If you do not have insurance, you may be assuming it is going to cost you an arm and a leg. You may be surprised.
In this article, I am going to talk about how much therapy cost without insurance. I will also give you some things to consider if you are trying to make it work.
What Is the Average Cost of Therapy Per Session?
As you can imagine, there can be a pretty wide range of session fees from therapist to therapist. This price per session can change based on eh setting of care.
Usually, private practice therapists will have the lowest out-of-pocket costs for clients who are looking to not use insurance (self-pay). I am a licensed clinical professional counselor in Maine, so that is where these numbers come from. If you are in a different state, session rates can vary. For a private practice clinician, the average cost of individual therapy in Maine is $100-$200 a session. The average cost of couples therapy in Maine is $150-$250 per 90-minute session.
It is not uncommon for cash-based therapists to be on the lower end of that range. So as I discuss further in this article, self-pay therapy can sometimes be more affordable, depending on your deductible or financial situation.
How Much Does Therapy Cost Without Insurance Per Month?
The nice part of seeing a therapist is that you have some flexibility when meeting with your counselor. For the people I work with, the common frequency of their appointments is weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
This means that if you were seeking therapy weekly, you could expect therapy to cost $400-$800 a month. Seeing your provider biweekly, you could expect counseling to cost $200 to $400 monthly. Seeing a therapist monthly, the cost per month would be $100-$200 a month.
*The average monthly cost of self-pay therapy in Maine is based on session frequency and length.*
Why is Therapy So Expensive?
One of the questions that I get asked often is, “Why is therapy so expensive?” To this, there are two things to remember:
The first thing to remember is the amount of education therapists need to go through. Therapists have gone through many hours of training, sifted through many pages of texts, and reviewed countless psychological studies/counseling modalities. Finding the right therapist can help you fast-track your recovery.
The second thing to think about is the monetary value of your recovery. If you are focusing on monetary value, how much is repairing your relationship worth to you? How much is self-acceptance worth? What about the value of feeling more understood and fulfilled in life?
Basically, therapy is expensive because of its importance and the value it provides. If the cost of therapy is a barrier to treatment, do not worry! There are some options to consider. Keep reading!
Affordable Therapy: Find Local Support Groups or Group Therapy
One of the ways you can get access to therapy at a cheaper rate is by finding a local support group or even a provider to provide group therapy. Group therapy typically costs between $25-$75 per group. They also tend to go for 90 minutes instead of individual therapy’s 60-minute sessions.
A great place to start is by googling “Support groups for ___” or “Group therapy for ___” and see what comes up. You can also always reach out to providers in your area for suggestions. Part of our job as therapists is to know some of the support groups that are available in the community.
Sometimes, local non-profits will have online therapy or online groups that are super affordable. The National Alliance on Mental Illness or “NAMI” also has some great supportive groups.
Tips For Paying For Therapy: Make Therapy Work In Your Budget
Tip 1: Ask To Meet Biweekly Or Even Monthly
As I talk about above, you do not need to see a therapist weekly. Actually, it is typically common for clients to start weekly for a month or two, then transition to biweekly.
Do not be afraid to communicate to the therapist you want to work with your budget and see if they are willing to have biweekly or monthly therapy sessions in order to bring the cost of therapy down.
You can also ask to do shorter sessions. Most therapists will bill different amounts for 30-minute, 45-minute, and 60-minute sessions. Communicate your needs, as therapists want to be able to help when possible.
Tip 2: Ask the Therapist If They Have a Sliding Scale
One of the things therapists will do to help clients afford treatment is to have a sliding-scale fee. Not all therapists have one, but it can be a good idea to ask.
Typically, therapists do not advertise if they use a sliding scale. So it will be important for you to ask. Also, keep in mind that a sliding scale typically looks at your ability to pay for services.
Some therapists I work with have a limited number of “slots” that they reserve for sliding-scale clients. I feel like a broken record, but it does not hurt to ask. The worst-case scenario is they say they do not have one, or that you do not qualify.
*Link to article about sliding scales*
Tip 3: Budget for Counseling Like You Would a Car Payment, Rent, or Your Mortgage
One of the best ways to make therapy work for you is to include it in your budget like you would your mortgage or car payment. Set aside money from every paycheck for your therapy.
The nice part about doing it this way is that therapy counts as a medical expense and can be written off. Make sure you talk to your accountant first, though!
Take the costs listed above and start planning today on how you can make that number work at some point in the future. Some people may need to save up for a bit, but that is okay. At the end of the day, you are worth every cent of that.
Tip 4: Ask Your Insurance if They Cover Out-of-Network Providers
If you find a therapist that you want to work with, but they are not in-network with your health insurance, call and ask your insurance if they cover out-of-network providers. To make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed choice, make sure you ask these questions to your insurance companies:
“Do I have out-of-network coverage for mental health services?”
“What is my deductible?”
“How much is left until I meet my deductible?”
“How many sessions annually are covered by my policy?”
Depending on the amount left until your deductible is met, it may be best for you financially to pay out of pocket for therapy or use a sliding scale.
Final Thoughts
Therapy can be expensive, so you must have as much information as possible when starting to plan for the cost of mental health treatment, whether it’s the therapy cost without insurance or not. There are things you can do to make sure you can afford therapy for yourself. Remember, you are truly worth every cent. Sometimes it is hard to put a price on growth.
If you want to learn about therapy or want to begin, I would love to hear from you.
If you live in Maine, go ahead and give me a call, and I will see what I can do. I will make sure I take the time to answer each of your questions. I want to make sure you are as informed as possible in this process.
Until next time,
