Dec 30, 2022
Saying yes to counseling or therapy for your mental health can be a significant step toward developing a happier version of yourself. Mental health therapy may help modify self-destructive behaviors and routines, resolve difficult emotions, strengthen relationships, and much more.
The availability of affordable health care can be a genuine worry for many of us. Beyond that, even understanding the healthcare industry’s billing jargon can be downright daunting. Things like premiums, copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums may complicate what should be a simple process. Trying to make sense of all of these terms, unfortunately, can often be enough of a barrier to prevent people from pursuing the appropriate help for their mental health.
Let’s try to debunk some of the myths commonly surrounding the question of "how much does therapy cost"?
But first, let’s establish an understanding of the basics.
What is Mental Health Therapy?
According to the American Psychiatric Association , therapy is "a method of assisting persons with a wide range of mental diseases and emotional challenges" (APA). The process of consulting with a licensed therapist to resolve dysfunctional behaviors, attitudes, feelings, interpersonal concerns, and bodily responses is known as therapy.
There is a widespread notion that therapy is solely for people diagnosed with a mental health disorder. But the truth is, anyone can benefit from working closely with a therapist or counselor. Therapy involves several different forms of treatment and is delivered by the licensed therapist using various methodologies. The important thing is that the client works with the therapist and can recognize progress and constructive development over time. Therapy or counseling can help with:
- Talking through your emotional ups and downs
- Resolving disagreements
- Recovering from trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, and more
- Enhancing your interpersonal skills
- Dealing with parenthood
With the basics covered, let’s talk about the cost of counseling.
How Much Does a Therapy Session Cost?
The typical cost of psychotherapy in the United States without insurance ranges from $100 to $200 per session (depending on the state, license level of the therapist, and other factors). Fortunately, insurance plans must cover mental health services under the Affordable Care Act. Furthermore, plans cannot apply different standards to mental health clients or finance mental health treatment at a reduced rate. This is good news! Almost without question - if you have insurance, you have mental healthcare treatment coverage.
For most people with insurance, a copay is between $20-$50 per session.
Factors Influencing The Cost of Therapy
Therapy's cost, the therapist's skills, certifications, or licenses, the service offered, and accessibility are all factors that may influence your choice of therapy. To understand how much a session of therapy costs, let’s analyze some of these factors in greater detail.
1. Duration of Your Therapy Session
Time is one of the most evident elements influencing the cost of mental health therapy. Sessions are typically 45 minutes to an hour, and different codes regulate the amount of time a therapist may spend with you, as well as the cost of the session. Your session time will usually be affected by the issues you’re working on, how often you attend counseling, and other factors.
Some insurances will only cover a set number of sessions, usually 12 or 20. Your therapist will be able to tell you if this is the case and come up with a treatment plan that will get you the help you need within that time frame.
2. Insurance for Therapy
Under the Affordable Care Act, all insurance plans must cover mental health care. This means that most people with insurance have some therapy coverage and may also be required to meet additional criteria, such as having a mental health diagnosis or receiving a treatment referral. At times people may choose to pay for their therapy out of pocket. However, when using insurance to pay for therapy, people usually have a lower out of pocket rate, such as a copay or coinsurance.
With insurnace, therapy is usually only $20-$50/session.
3. Your Therapist's Experience
Therapy can be more expensive if the therapist is an expert in a specific field and holds extensive experience. Find the right therapist to help you with customized treatment options and an affordable plan. The treatment or the therapist's specialization can also influence the cost. Highly specialized or difficult treatment processes may be more expensive.
For example, Psychologists, who hold a Doctorate, or Psychiatrists, who can prescribe medication, will be more expensive than a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), who holds a Masters and a license.
On the other hand, if you're looking for more affordable therapy, you can ask practices if they have any interns or pre-licensed therapists. These are individuals who are still in the processing of getting their therapy license and are therefore being supervised by a licensed therapist. They don't have as much experience and therefore can be cheaper. You'll still be getting quality services! They are supervised by much more experienced therapists.
4. In-Person or Online Therapy
Online counseling may be more cost-effective than in-person therapy. You can communicate from the comfort of your home or workplace with online therapy. Find the best online therapy for your unique needs today and start your journey to a renewed you. In the case of in-person therapy, therapists in metropolitans may charge some extra dollars due to the commercial cost involved.
Low-Cost Therapy Options You May Consider for Mental Health Treatment
If outpatient private practice therapy is a bit beyond your budget, there are often options that can help you still get the mental healthcare you need.. Here are some affordable therapy options for you to consider:
- Try Online therapy: Online therapy can be an excellent option for various reasons, including convenience and accessibility. Some online therapists charge flat weekly or monthly fees. Though you may be limited in how long you can spend with your therapist or how often you can see them if you participate with certain subscription-based companies.
- Contact your local public health department: Your local health department can refer you to a community treatment provider or other low-cost or no-cost services.
- Check if your work has an EAP: Employee Asssitance Programs (EAP) offer free or reduced rate mental health services to help support their employees mental health.
- Look for an online Nonprofit Organization: There are plenty of nonprofits that offer free resources, including sometimes free therapy, for specific mental health issues.
- Join a Self-Help Groups: Social media is a great place to connect with others who are going through similiar things as you. Groups on Facebook, Reddit, Discord, and the like offer a place for community.
- Reach out to a Crisis Text Line: If you need immediate, non-life threatening support, reach out to one of these text lines:
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- The Trevor Project: Text START to 678-678
- Suicide and Crisis line: Text anything to 988
Note: If you are in immediate harm, call 911.
Do You Need Mental Health Therapy?
Sometimes it can be tricky to know if you even need mental health therapy. First, let us say that everyone could benefit from therapy. Imagine our mental health existing on a scale from -10 to +10. People who are in the negative may be experiencing mental health issues like depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, or the like. People in the +10 may not have a diagnosable mental health conditions but still struggle with stress management, relationship issues, or goal setting. Therapy can help people all acros the -10 to +10 range. So whether you are struggling with your mental health or want to take your life to the next level, a mental health therapist can help.
Insurance will cover mental health therapy for issues such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma and PTSD
- Grief and Loss
- ADHD
- OCD
- Substance Abuse
- Life transitions
- Eating Disorders
- Bipolar
- Schizophrenia
- Anger Management
- Autism
- Panic Attacks
In addition, insurance will sometimes cover or partially cover:
- Couples counseling
- Marriage counseling
- Family therapy
- Life coaching
Neither of these are complete lists. If you are struggling with something not on this list, reach out to Lifebulb. We can check if your insurance will cover your sessions and set you up with a therapist who matches your needs.
Conclusion
Mental health providers often have varying price ranges, so do some research to find the right therapist for you and your budget. While mental health treatment costs aren’t usually prohibitively expensive, finding affordable mental health care to match your requirements is always possible.
Explore more about various mental health issues, treatments, and costs of therapy by reaching out to us. Call us or talk to us now!
