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Your mental health is important. And with millions of people worldwide affected by some form of depression (not counting other psychiatric disorders), you shouldn’t feel alone if you need any type of mental health treatment. Chances are you even know others in the same boat.

Treatment may sound expensive. Even if you budget for healthcare, you probably don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on a therapist’s weekly co-pay. Fortunately, healthcare providers are waking up to the necessity of providing diverse low-cost options for psychiatric help.

You can find a provider that meets your needs — at a price you can afford.

How much does therapy cost?

A lot of variables can affect the cost of therapy. For an hour-long session, the typical range in the U.S. — without insurance coverage — is $65 on the low end to $250 on the high end. Most patients will pay between $100 and $200 per hour.

If you have insurance coverage, you’ll likely pay a smaller fee per appointment in the form of a co-pay, but these ranges also vary widely.

Online therapy platforms can offer a cheaper alternative. BetterHelp, for instance, charges prices in a general range of $60 to $90 per week for a weekly hour-long session.

Group therapy can also sometimes be a lower-cost option, starting at just $50 to $75 per hour. (And regardless of cost, many people appreciate the community support that group therapy provides.)

Factors that affect the cost of therapy

• Insurance — If you have health insurance that covers the provider you want to see, you won’t pay the sticker price. Instead, the insurance picks up a portion of the cost of each session, and you pay the remainder, known as a co-pay. Without insurance, you’ll pay the full amount.
• Location — You’ll pay more to see a therapist in high-cost cities (no surprise). Fortunately, large metropolitan areas may also have more therapy options in general, including affordable ones.
• Your therapist’s training and level of education — Professionals with more experience and expertise can charge higher prices.
• The type of practice — Therapists with private practices tend to charge more than therapists who are part of larger mental health clinics.
• Length and duration of therapy session — Many therapists charge by the hour, which means the longer the session is, the more you’ll pay. Others charge flat rates per session. Similarly, a once-weekly-for-four-weeks program will of course be cheaper than once a week for six months.

Costs of different types of providers

Many healthcare services fall under the “therapy” umbrella, but not all are priced equally. Each service will fall within a slightly different price range depending on the provider’s credentials.

• Psychiatrists are the most expensive. As official medical doctors, these providers can both offer therapy and prescribe medication, if medication is part of your treatment plan. Their rates can go from $100-$200 per hour. About half of psychiatrists in the U.S. accept insurance.
• Psychologists are licensed to provide therapy but not medication. Their ranges are more modest, in the $70-$150 neighborhood. Psychologists provide long-term therapy that can address a range of issues, including depression and anxiety, but again, that’s without any medication such as anti-depressants.
• Counselors tend to offer lower prices compared to psychologists. In general, counselors focus on short-term problem-solving centered on specific issues, like anxiety or addiction. Fees may be as low as $50-$80 per session.

Where to find free or affordable therapy

Thankfully, you don’t need to fork over a bunch of cash just to get the help you need. Here are some free or more affordable therapy options:

Get immediate help in a crisis

Crisis hotlines are always available — and free — if you need to talk immediately.

The U.S. has a free, 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis prevention hotline: just call 988 (similar to 911). If you’re considering self-harm or having suicidal thoughts, give them a call to speak with trained counselors.

Go through your insurance

Most insurance plans will cover some form of mental health treatment. Any plan purchased through Healthcare.gov, for instance, covers mental health and substance abuse — and can’t deny coverage based on a pre-existing condition. Medicaid and Medicare, in most cases, will offer mental health coverage.

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, passed in 2008, requires certain health plans to provide mental healthcare at a comparable level to physical healthcare. This includes financial requirements. For instance, you can’t have a higher co-pay for a psychiatrist visit than for a visit to your primary care physician.

Call the insurance company and ask for a list of professionals who accept your plan. They may also have a list on their website. Therapy coverage in particular varies from plan to plan, so it’s important to know the details.

It’s also worth noting that the 2008 legislation only covers patients with clinically diagnosed mental health conditions. If you don’t have a diagnosed condition and still want to see a therapist, your plan may or may not offer coverage.

If your insurance doesn’t cover the service you want, learn what they do cover — a plan that doesn’t include a therapist, for example, might cover a social worker.

Community healthcare resources

Some free and sliding-scale clinics cater specifically to the uninsured. To find a provider with a sliding scale fee — that is, a fee based on your level of income — this list of free clinics is a good place to start.

Training clinics at universities, where graduate students study to become psychologists, usually have sliding scales. If you live near any research universities — and if you’re in a city or large metropolitan area, you probably do — see if they offer this service. The students train under licensed practitioners, and your care’s always supervised.

Community mental health centers are another option. Often, the services are free or at a nominal cost for those below a certain income level. You can use an online locator through SAMHSA or HRSA to find community centers in your area.

You’ll want to have income information on hand, such as pay stubs. Check to see what other info you’ll need to provide. Community health centers often have long wait times, whether the clinic’s walk-in or appointment-based, so plan accordingly.

Therapy groups

Many practitioners offer group therapy at a lower cost than individual therapy. The National Alliance for Mental Health has group programs, and the American Group Psychotherapy Association can help you find a certified group psychoanalyst.

Online support groups like the forums at Psych Central provide a low-cost option you can access quickly. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance has a directory of both in-person and online groups. And this comprehensive list includes support groups designed around specific needs, such as eating disorders, anxiety, and alcoholism. Online groups can come in handy if transportation is an obstacle, too. Look for a group that has an impartial professional moderator.

Online databases

You can also search for an individual therapist online by location, specialty, insurance, or other identifiers. Some directories to get you started include the American Psychological Association, Psychology Today, Good Therapy, and Zencare.

Providers with specific specialties

Most healthcare professionals are trained to treat depression and anxiety, but other needs may require more specific therapy networks.

Here are some low-cost options for other mental health concerns:

Race- and sexuality-conscious providers

It may be important to you to have a therapist who shares your background or culture, or is aware of the unique challenges and joys that come with your identity. Some databases and support groups include:

Online therapy apps and resources

These days (especially post-pandemic), many individual and group therapists offer both in-person and online appointments (though not all do). There are also an increasing number of fully online therapy platforms, where you don’t even have to leave the couch.

Their prices tend to be cheaper than in-person services at the same level, but this also depends on the specific service and how many sessions you want. Some of these providers accept insurance, while others don’t; however, platforms that don’t take insurance may have lower out-of-pocket prices.

A few of the best-known online therapy apps include:

Some online resources offer free chat sessions with psychologists. Online group therapy can help here as well. You may not be seeing someone in person, but you can speak to a professional who understands your concerns, and to others who are dealing with similar issues.

Read more: How online mental health services can save you money

How to choose a therapist

Picking a therapist is a little like dating; it might take a while to find the right fit, and interpersonal rapport is essential. Most importantly, you want someone you feel comfortable talking to and someone you can trust.

Here’s how to vet who’s right for you:

Read therapist bios online

Almost all therapists and clinics will have websites where you can learn more about their credentials and expertise. At a minimum, they’ll usually indicate what type of practitioner they are (social worker, psychiatrist, etc.), and what formal credentials and education they have. You may also want to read online reviews of the practice, if those are available.

Many therapists have more detailed bios that list their areas of specialty and provide information about the demographics they usually work with. Maybe you’re looking for someone who specializes in working with people with disabilities, for example, or has experience counseling non-traditional families. If you have a specific issue you want to address (like substance abuse or social anxiety), you can look for a therapist who advertises this specialty.

Understand your goals for therapy

Sometimes it’s easy to pinpoint what you want to get out of therapy; for instance, if you want medication and talk therapy from the same provider, you’ll look for a psychiatrist.

Other times, your goals may be vaguer. If this is the case, a good therapist will work together with you to identify goals. It’s also possible (and expected) that your goals will change over time.

Ask interview-style questions

The introductory session is a chance for you and the therapist to learn more about each other. Some questions that will give you more insight include:

• What’s your approach to therapy?
• How do you find it best to solve problems?
• What kinds of therapy do you practice?
• Do you have experience working with people in situations like mine?
• What activities do you like to do in your sessions?

Get a referral

If you have a doctor or primary care physician, they may be able to refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist if you ask. Even better, they may find someone who takes your insurance.

Work around scheduling issues

Ideally, your therapist’s availability will match your availability. In the real world, syncing your schedules might be more difficult. However, if there is a well-qualified provider you really seem to click with, it’s worth seeing how flexible they can be in their schedule.

Let providers know your availability, even if it conflicts with their hours. You may have options. If childcare’s an issue, let them know that too and find out what they recommend.

If the provider can’t accommodate you, and you’re not able to compromise, ask for referrals to similar low-cost providers. Psychiatric appointments often recur weekly or monthly, so it’s important to find a time commitment that works for you. You’re more likely to keep appointments, avoid cancellation fees, and have successful treatment.

Know the different styles of therapy

There are several common approaches to individual counseling, and one approach may work better than another for each person. Most therapists use a combination of styles, but some of them specialize in one or more.

The most frequent styles you’ll encounter include:

• Psychoanalysis — The in-depth discussion of feelings, emotions, and relationships that most people think of when they picture therapy
• Behavioral therapy — An action-oriented approach that focuses on replacing negative or destructive behaviors with helpful, positive behaviors
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) — A style that emphasizes changing your thought patterns and beliefs in order to change your actions
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) — A style that teaches emotional regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and other skills
• Eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) — An approach that focuses on the pairing of eye movements with troubling thoughts and memories to help you process these thoughts and recover
• Trauma-focused therapy — An approach that addresses the impact of traumatic events in your life
• Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) — A style that emphasizes challenging irrational and unhelpful beliefs and working towards more healthy beliefs and actions
• Holistic or integrative therapy — A style that blends different approaches and tailors treatment to your needs
• Person-centered or client-centered therapy — An approach that allows you to take the lead and discover solutions on your own, while the therapist listens and provides guidance as necessary

Try at least six sessions

By six sessions, you should have a good sense of whether your therapist’s approach fits your needs. (Six sessions is also the minimum amount of time insurance companies in the U.S. give therapists to make a diagnosis.) If not, it’s fine to choose to work with someone else — the goal is to find what’s best for you.

How to pay for therapy

Usually, you’ll pay either per hour or per session. Since the typical therapy session lasts an hour, this often works out to roughly the same amount. However, the payment plan may be different.

For example, online therapy services generally charge per session. You’ll pay a monthly fee that covers a certain number of sessions up front (say, two or four sessions a month).

Paying with insurance

Your therapist may submit claims to the insurance company, or you may submit these claims yourself. Typically, you’ll review how billing will work in your first session.

After your therapy sessions, your insurance plan will bill you directly for the co-pay amount you’re responsible for. If you’re unclear on what this amount is and when you’re expected to pay it — usually the first of every month, but each plan is different — contact your insurance provider.

Depending on your plan, your insurance company may limit the number of therapy sessions they’ll cover in a year. Or they may want periodic re-evaluations to make sure you still have a diagnosed mental health condition.

Paying without insurance

If you don’t have insurance or your preferred provider is “out of network” (meaning they don’t accept your insurance plan), you’re responsible for paying the therapist directly.

But this doesn’t always mean you’re on the hook for the full fee. Sliding scale plans are common, especially at clinics. With sliding scale plans, you pay a certain amount or percentage of the full price based on your income. You’ll need to submit some financial information, but you can save a lot of money. Providers don’t always advertise the sliding scale plans they offer, so it’s worth it to ask.

And if you have coverage but you’re working with an out-of-network provider, you can use a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to cover the fee. Mental health expenses qualify under most HSA and FSA plans.

Read more: How to pick a health savings account

Summary

I know all of this information might be overwhelming. If you’re already anxious, the last thing you want is a long to-do list.

But these tips should make life easier:

• If you’re anxious about cost, don’t be shy about asking up front. Just because payment options aren’t immediately available on a website doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
• Don’t be afraid to have healthcare providers walk you through the treatment process, repeatedly if necessary. That’s their job!
• Take the time to find a therapist you’re comfortable with. It’s worth it.
• Friends may be willing to help with some of the details — a ride to a clinic if you need one, a coffee date after a stressful appointment, or childcare in a pinch. You don’t know until you ask.
• Prioritizing self-care is not selfish. You’ll be a better employee, friend, partner, or parent if you’re healthy in mind and body.
• Disclosing your condition to an employer is totally up to you. Learn the company’s policy on sick days and personal days if you haven’t already, and provide proper advance notice for any appointments during work hours. Ultimately, your health is your business, not anyone else’s.

Read more:

Source: moneyunder30.com