Healing Within Your Means: How to Find Low-Cost Therapy Options

In the United States, therapy can cost upwards of $200 per session, putting it out of reach for those without comprehensive insurance or financial flexibility. It can be daunting and difficult to find low-cost options, but they are out there! If you have been putting off therapy because of the cost, there are more affordable options than you might realize. From community programs to pre-licensed professionals, there are ways to find help that fits your budget. The following outline should give you a good place to start looking for low-cost therapy options.

1. Community Mental Health Centers

Community mental health centers exist in nearly every county in the U.S. and are often funded by state or local governments to serve people regardless of their ability to pay. These centers typically offer therapy, crisis support, and psychiatric care. Some offer free counseling services and others may have a sliding scale fee structure, meaning they adjust the cost of sessions based on your income.

To look for a community mental health center, you can search the internet for community mental health centers in your area or narrow your search to community mental health centers for specific populations. For example, you might search for “LGBTQ+ community mental health centers in “xyz city” or “Asian community mental health centers in xyz county.”

While searching, make sure to take note of or ask whether there is a maximum income to receive services, whether there is a limit to how many counseling sessions you can receive, and what the wait time is for counseling services.

2. University Counseling Centers and Training Clinics

Universities that have psychology, counseling, or social work programs often operate training clinics, where graduate students provide therapy under the close supervision of licensed clinicians. These sessions are typically offered at low cost. Not every counseling center offers services to non-students, but many do. Like community mental health centers, university counseling centers may have a limit to how many counseling sessions you can receive, a maximum income, and a wait time for services.

The idea of having a graduate student therapist may be a deterrent for some, but graduate student therapists bring up-to-date knowledge and are closely supervised.

3. Group Therapy and Support Groups

Group therapy is often overlooked but can be an affordable and effective alternative to individual therapy. Many groups charge significantly less than individual therapy, even at full cost, and often also offer sliding scale options. Some community organizations and hospitals even offer free group counseling options! Unfortunately, these groups may be harder to find, as they are often buried in the organization or hospital’s website. Try searching “free or low-cost therapy groups in xyz city or county”and xyz hospital near you plus “community programs,” “wellness programs,” “behavioral health,” “support groups,” and “patient support services.” If you can’t find much information online, you can call the hospital’s main phone number and ask to speak to the behavioral health department, community outreach office, or social work department. Once connected, you can ask if they offer any low-cost group therapy or support groups for your specific concern. Some common groups are depression and anxiety support, LGBTQ+, new parent and postpartum groups, substance use recovery, and grief and loss. Some groups are led by licensed therapists (group therapy), while others are peer-based (support groups). Both can provide valuable emotional support and community connection.

If you are seeking groups for LGBTQ+ individuals or specific racial or cultural communities, it may take some extra calling around. Many organizations and hospitals have removed identity-specific language from their websites due to funding restrictions, but the groups often still exist.

4. Open Path Collective

Open Path Collective is an online non-profit therapy platform that connects clients to licensed and graduate student therapists who agree to see Open Path Collective members for $40-70 per session. In order to join Open Path Collective, you have to pay an initial one-time fee of $65.

This is a good option for individuals who earn too much to qualify for community mental health and university counseling centers but still find full-price therapy unaffordable.

5. Search Specifically for Interns and Pre-Licensed Professionals

Another way to find cost-effective therapy options is to search for interns, pre-licensed professionals, or graduate student trainees. These clinicians are completing their training and work under the supervision of fully-licensed therapists at lower rates. You can find interns in a variety of different places. In addition to Open Path Collective, you can search Psychology

Today using the “price” filter. Selecting the lowest price option will likely yield results that are mainly listed as “pre-licensed professionals.” You can also try searching local counseling practice websites and TherapyDen.

6. Ask for a Sliding Scale

When you contact a therapist, don’t hesitate to ask if they offer a sliding scale. This means they adjust their rates based on income or financial need. Sliding scale spots are often limited and may be full for a particular therapist, even if they offer it as an option, so it may take a few tries. Therapists in private practice (who work for themselves) are more likely to offer sliding scale options.

7. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)

If you are employed, check whether your workplace offers an Employee Assistance Program, EAPs often include 3-8 free counseling sessions with a licensed therapist. While EAP therapy is typically short-term, it can help you address specific challenges like workplace stress, grief, or life transitions. It can also be a bridge to longer-term therapy. You can ask the therapist if they offer a sliding scale after your EAP sessions, are in-network with your insurance, or if they can refer you to an affordable provider.

8. Insurance Options and “Out-of-Network” Savings

If you have health insurance, check whether your plan covers out-of-network mental health services. Many plans reimburse a portion of out-of-network therapy costs. In this case, even if your provider doesn’t accept your insurance directly, you might be able to get partial reimbursement by submitting a “superbill.” This is a document that your therapist can provide on a regular basis detailing session dates, fees, and diagnostic codes, which you would submit to your insurance company. Because the therapist is not in-network, they won’t submit the claims for you.

Therapy is one of the most meaningful investments you can make in yourself, and it should not be reserved for individuals who can afford full fees. While finding low-cost mental health care can take a bit more effort, I hope these options make it easier for you to access quality counseling on nearly any budget.

By Jess Miller-Suchet, MHC-Intern