How Much Does Therapy Cost Without Insurance?

 
Cost of therapy without insurance

By Kym Everett, CPC, CPMA

Octave VP of Revenue Operations

If you are looking to start therapy, you’re not alone. Mental health awareness campaigns have been a consistent feature of the health industry in the twenty-first century. More people than ever are hoping to begin their therapy journeys, especially through therapy.

It may surprise you, then, that the societal mental health crisis in the United States has gotten worse during this time. Unexpected factors like political upheaval and the impact of the pandemic have played their part. However, one major reason so many people are still struggling is a lack of access to mental healthcare.

In certain areas, this is due to the low availability of therapists. This is particularly true in rural areas, and extends to regions where there is a stigma around attending therapy or even becoming a therapist. In other areas, it is the high demand for therapy that can make it difficult to get an appointment.

But throughout the country, it is the cost of mental healthcare that has been the biggest barrier to access to therapy. Therapy can be expensive and most attendees are able to cover fees due to their insurance coverage.

Considering this, you might be wondering what you can do if you don’t have coverage. How much does therapy cost without insurance? Are there alternative options if you can’t afford it?

In this article, we’ll discuss the factors that impact the cost of therapy without insurance, including the specialization of the therapist, the type of therapy, and your location. We’ll go further into how to navigate the cost in ways that don’t involve insurance, as well as potential alternatives to therapy.

What Factors Determine How Much Therapy Costs?

The average cost of therapy without insurance ranges from $100 per hour to $250 per hour, depending on the state you live in. However, therapy can cost less than the average or, in some cases, significantly more. What factors influence the cost of a therapy session?

The Therapist

The therapist you choose can be a major determinant of the cost of your therapy without insurance. This is not simply due to the open market allowing individual practitioners to set their own rates. It involves their credentials, experience, and their level of renown as well.

There are multiple routes to become licensed as a therapist. After completing a bachelor’s degree, each therapist will have gone on to attain a masters degree. However, the types of masters degrees differ, with their specific areas of study offering routes to become a:

  • licensed professional counselor (LPC): focusing on therapy in general with the capability of treating a range of issues

  • licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT): specializing in psychology and therapy in the context of relationships

  • licensed clinical social worker (LCSW): with expertise in how societal systems influence the individual

Once they have their masters degree, the therapist will go on to complete thousands of hours of supervised therapy in internships before gaining their professional license. LPCs and LCSWs generally charge lower rates than other types of therapists as they are not specialists in one particular issue. LMFTs, on the other hand, charge more, both due to their specialization as well as the additional workload of treating multiple clients in a session.

Clinical psychologists continue to study after completing their masters degree, pursuing a doctorate in psychology (PsyD) or in philosophy of psychology (PhD). With their advanced qualifications, clinical psychologists usually charge more.

The amount of experience a therapist has can also impact their fees. After all, therapists with a lot of experience have proven their effectiveness in the field over and over again. This is one of the reasons younger therapists sometimes charge less – they have not yet built as strong a reputation and potential clients may not be willing to pay higher fees.

Some therapists even go on to gain renown in the field, whether among peers or the general public. Due to their status, they are in high demand and sometimes charge hundreds of dollars more per hour than the average.

The Type of Therapy

Many different types of therapy have been developed over the decades and proven effective. Some of the most common types of therapy include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic therapy. Most therapists use a combination of such therapies, determining the best approach for each and every client they see.

There are some less common types of therapy that require special training and can therefore be more expensive. For example, psychoanalysis requires a therapist specifically trained with this approach, usually when doing a doctorate.

Geographic Location

The cost of therapy can differ greatly depending on the state you live in. Not all Americans share the same attitudes towards therapy. While many see it in an extremely positive light, many others are still influenced by old stigmas. Often, specific attitudes are shared by residents in specific locations.

Residents of metro areas are more likely to seek out therapy and speak openly about it. In these locations, there is a high demand for therapy, leading to higher fees. In contrast, residents of small towns and rural areas may be inclined to view therapy as a sign of weakness and therefore taboo. The demand for therapy in these areas is low, and fees usually reflect that.

Of course, the cost-of-living in a location plays into the cost of therapy as it does with any other service. Therefore, the cheapest locations for therapy are those where prices are generally low and there is a low demand for therapy.

 Insurance

When a person with insurance sees a therapist who accepts insurance, their out-of-pocket costs are much lower. Therapy charged at $250 might therefore cost the person as little as $35 a session, depending on their plan and other relevant factors.

Without insurance, therapy therefore becomes much more of a financial burden, making it unaffordable for some.

Average Cost of Therapy Without Insurance

The average cost of therapy without insurance ranges from $100 to $250 depending where in the U.S. you are. This is not to say that therapy will cost you the average amount in your state. In the same way that there are therapists who charge more than average for their services, there are therapists who charge less.

It is natural to assume that more expensive therapists are necessarily better than cheaper therapists, but it is certainly not always the case. There are many excellent therapists charging low fees, whether they are doing so while still building their reputations, in order to provide an option for people who cannot afford high prices, or for a range of other reasons.

Still, affording therapy without insurance can be tough even with a therapist with cheaper fees. Let’s take a look at the possible ways you can get help if you don’t have insurance and therapy seems unaffordable.

Are There Affordable Therapy Options Without Insurance?

Therapy is a crucial healthcare intervention and, in an ideal world, everyone would have access to it no matter their financial circumstances. However, because it is so important, there are individuals and organizations that make it possible to get help without insurance.

If you’re looking for therapy services but do not have insurance and cannot afford the full rates, consider the following options:

Negotiate your rate

Negotiation does not come naturally to everyone. It can feel intimidating to ask a professional if they can lower their rates for you. You may wonder what reasons they could possibly have to agree to sacrifice in order to help you.

However, the reality is that therapists understand that not everyone is in a position to afford their services. In fact, many therapists have a sliding scale fee structure specifically for this purpose. These structures are calculated to give them the opportunity to offer lower rates to clients who cannot afford the full price. They are not a sacrifice but rather part of the service the therapist is offering.

While not all therapists have sliding scale pricing, there is no harm in asking. The worst they can say is a polite no, in which case they will be happy to discuss alternative options with you or recommend therapists who can accommodate you.

It is also common for therapists to assign a certain number of pro-bono slots every month as part of a commitment to provide help to those who need it. Yes, therapy is a profession, but it is one that is often seen by its practitioners as a calling and they take all opportunities to improve access to it.

Consider nonprofits

There are many nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping people get the healthcare they need, whether physical or mental. Some of these nonprofits focus specifically on getting mental health services to those who cannot afford them. They may have volunteer therapists who will see clients pro-bono or at a low rate, or provide financial assistance that goes towards paying for a person’s therapy.

Here are some nonprofits you can get in touch with for assistance with getting access to therapy without insurance:

Access local resources and university clinics

Check for nonprofits and community organizations in your area who can help, either with free therapy or by finding the best options available to you.

In addition, many university clinics offer free counseling provided by therapists in training. These counselors are graduate students supervised by experienced licensed therapists and clinical psychologists.

How Does Insurance Help The Cost of Therapy?

Therapy without insurance can be very expensive. Insurance can help with the cost of therapy by paying the majority of the fee for a session. In general, this amounts to 60% to 90% of the total cost. At Octave, clients with insurance pay, on average, $35 per session out-of–pocket.

Traditionally, insurance has been difficult to navigate for both therapists and clients. This has even led to many therapists not accepting insurance due to the hours of draining paperwork they would need to complete. All therapists at Octave accept insurance, with Octave doing the heavy legwork of processing insurance claims.

Octave also provides assistance to clients with insurance claims. This ensures that you do not get lost in the terminology and Ts & Cs while trying to understand what your insurance covers.

Click to find out more about how Octave helps you process your insurance claims.

Therapy Without Insurance FAQs

  • Is $100 a lot to pay for therapy?

    • Therapy sessions can cost, on average, as much as $250, so $100 is on the lower end of the spectrum. Still, it is a significant outlay for most Americans. And, with regular therapy sessions, the sum total can add up quickly. This makes insurance a necessity for many people seeking therapy, as insurance can lower the cost to, on average, $35.

  • Is paying for therapy worth it?

    • Yes, therapy is an important and even lifesaving healthcare intervention and its value cannot be fully measured in dollars. Therapy has helped many millions of people in the U.S. and globally. Not only is it an effective treatment for mental health issues, but can help people with work stress, relationships, and other day-to-day problems as well. Often, it helps bring people closer to finding meaning and fulfillment in their lives.

  • How much does therapy cost?

    • Therapy costs, on average, $100 to $250 an hour. The figure differs significantly from one state to the next. Without insurance, you will generally have to pay the full price. With insurance, as much as 90% of the cost may be covered.

  • Why does therapy cost so much?

    • Therapy is a valuable service, provided by an expert in the field who has five or more years of education and thousands of hours of experience. In addition, there are significant overhead costs that a therapist must pay, especially one in private practice. These include not just rent, but also continued education costs, membership fees to associations and directories, licensing fees, liability insurance, marketing, and more.

  • How much is a 60 minute therapy session?

    • A 50 to 60 minute therapy session will cost approximately $100 to $250, according to the therapist’s hourly rates. In certain circumstances – especially initial sessions and couples therapy – therapy sessions may last longer than an hour. The additional time is charged at a lower rate. Some therapists may agree to shorter therapy sessions to lessen the cost for people who are not able to pay full price.

 
Getting StartedOlivia Gaynor