Regular therapy is unaffordable for many people. On average, therapy sessions in the US cost between $100 and $200.1 Even if you have insurance, copay fees can still be high, especially for specialist mental health appointments.1
If you don’t have insurance or your provider doesn’t cover mental health appointments, it might seem like affordable mental health care doesn’t exist. However, with a little digging, there are several low-cost therapy options hiding in plain sight.2
This article will explore the options that exist for mental health care on a budget, including online therapy, non-profit organizations, sliding-scale clinics, and more.
8 Ways to Find Affordable Mental Health Care
If you’re interested in finding low-cost therapy options, the following suggestions could help you find the support you need.
1. Community Health Centers (CHCs)
There are nearly 1,400 federally funded community health centers (CHCs) across the US serving people regardless of their insurance or income status.3
More than 75% of CHCs offer low-cost counseling services for adults as well as mental health screenings and substance abuse treatment programs. Plus, they provide prescription services, including counseling about medication and offering affordable generic medications.4,5
In addition to CHCs, states across the US also offer certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs). These specialized centers are designed to provide more integrated care for those with mental health and substance use disorders. You’ll find that they offer:6
- Crisis services
- Counseling services
- Psychiatric rehabilitation
- Screening, diagnosis, and risk assessment
- Person-centered and family-centered treatment plans
- Peer support
- And other services
To find these low-cost community-based mental health care centers, you could search “community mental health services near me” or “community health centers” with the name of your state.
2. Group Therapy Options
Group therapy can cost a third of the price of individual therapy sessions, making this a great option for mental health care on a low income.2
As it sounds, group therapy takes place in a group of people, with the total number of people usually being around ten. The facilitator (or facilitators) will be specialized group therapists who can offer insights and reflections about the group’s dynamics, patterns, and interactions. They’ll enable group members to learn from one another, be listened to, and be kept on track.
Group therapy often allows people with similar experiences to meet and share their perspectives, enabling learning from how others have coped. Furthermore, group therapy can illuminate relationship dynamics that may be showing up for someone in their normal life. These can then be reflected upon and repaired in the safe group setting.
So, despite it not being individually-focused, group therapy can be a healing option for those on a lower budget.
3. Sliding-Scale Therapy Clinics
Sliding-scale services allow you to pay what you can afford within a given range. It might be based on income, but many providers won’t ask you to disclose your exact earnings.
Sliding scale therapy options near you may not advertise themselves as “low-cost.” While some therapy providers are explicit about offering budget-friendly counseling (sometimes only for specific demographic groups), others don’t.
Some individual therapists will also allow you to pay along a sliding scale, whether or not you have insurance.1 So, it’s always worth asking clinics and individual practitioners outright whether this is an option they offer.
4. Online Therapy Providers
Since the pandemic, online therapy has skyrocketed in popularity, giving people wide access to therapists across the US and the world from the comfort of their homes. This might be an affordable option, depending on the provider.
Online therapy is typically over video call, but it can also take place over the telephone, email, or via text. Bear in mind, however, that online therapists may not accept clients with more “severe” mental health conditions. This might be because they perceive these conditions to be harder to treat, and keeping these clients safe could be more difficult within the limitations of online work.7
Online therapy isn’t necessarily low-cost all the time, but there are affordable teletherapy options. For example, services such as Better Help and Talkspace range from $45 to $70 per session.2 As before, you may have to directly enquire with online therapists and services to find out more about their low-cost options.
5. Non-Profit Organizations
Another affordable option is therapy provided by non-profit organizations. These companies are formed with the explicit intention to deliver cheaper mental health services. Open Path is a nationwide organization, providing care to clients across the US and Canada, with fees ranging from $40 to $70 per session.2
Other non-profit organizations include the Pro Bono Counseling Project (connecting you with volunteer licensed professionals), The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth), and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (for addiction and mental health care). Though therapy with these organizations may be limited to a handful of sessions, it can be very cheap or free in some cases.
6. Low-Cost Trainee Therapy Options
When therapists are training, they usually offer services at a reduced rate, given that they’re less experienced and still learning. This doesn’t mean that their services will be less effective; many trainees will be extra careful in their work and can be a great fit for your needs.2
So, if there’s a university or college with a therapy training program near you, it’s worth enquiring about their low-cost options.2
7. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Another way to access affordable therapy near you could be through your employer. Some companies provide a benefit known as an “employee assistance program” (EAP), and it’s worth investigating if yours does. You might be eligible for a limited number of free therapy sessions, assessments, or referrals to more specialized services.8
EAPs address a wide range of mental health issues, including grief, substance use, mental health conditions, and family problems, to name a few.8 If you want to pursue this option, ask your manager or HR team member about the program and how it works for your specific company. Some will vary in their confidentiality policies and the types of issues they treat.
8. Free Emergency Hotlines
If your mental health has taken a quick downturn and you feel the need for urgent support, you might feel out of options if you’re not currently receiving therapy because of cost. In these situations, you can still access emergency professional support via crisis hotlines.
Hotlines like the 998 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provide immediate, free, and confidential mental health support. While a hotline isn’t long-term affordable mental health care, it can be the first step to long-term treatment.
When you call a mental health hotline, you’ll likely be assessed for risk and be put in touch with someone who can listen to how you’re feeling. This person will be trained to descalate strong feelings that may be frightening for you and assess the risk of your current situation.
After that, emergency hotlines can help determine what kind of follow-up support you might need and put you in touch with the relevant services. As they’ll have a long list of the services available to you, they can point out those that are free or low-cost.
Mission Connection offers flexible outpatient care for adults needing more than weekly therapy. Our in-person and telehealth programs include individual, group, and experiential therapy, along with psychiatric care and medication management.
We treat anxiety, depression, trauma, and bipolar disorder using evidence-based approaches like CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and trauma-focused therapies. Designed to fit into daily life, our services provide consistent support without requiring residential care.
Mission Connection: Flexible Mental Health Care
At Mission Connection, we understand how the cost of mental health treatment can be concerning for some people and their families. That’s why we offer a range of payment options, sliding scale fees, and insurance plans, striving to do what’s possible for your financial and insurance circumstances.
We’re committed to helping you explore how your treatment can be financially possible. Reach out to our team today. They can help you navigate the costs of therapy by providing guidance on insurance and our flexible payment plans.
References
- Lauretta, A. (2021, October 19). How Much Does Therapy Cost? Forbes Health. https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/how-much-does-therapy-cost/
- Mental Health America (n.d.). I can’t afford therapy! https://screening.mhanational.org/content/i-cant-afford-therapy/
- National Association of Community Health Centers (2023). The United States Health Center Fact Sheet. What are Community Health Centers? https://www.hcadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/CHCFactSheet_US_2023.pdf
- Williams, N. (2024, April 16). Which Service Do Most Community Health Centers Provide? https://www.chcfl.org/which-service-do-most-community-health-centers-provide/
- Bruckner, T. A., Singh, P., Snowden, L. R., Yoon, J., & Chakravarthy, B. (2019). Rapid Growth of Mental Health Services at Community Health Centers. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 46(5), 670–677. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-019-00947-w
- Silverman, K. (2024, July 10). A Model for Compassionate and Accessible Mental Health and Substance Use Care: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. Center for Health Care Strategies. https://www.chcs.org/a-model-for-compassionate-and-accessible-mental-health-and-substance-use-care-certified-community-behavioral-health-clinics/
- Novotney, A. (2017). A growing wave of online therapy. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/02/online-therapy
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management. (2024). What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)? https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/work-life-faq/employee-assistance-program-eap/what-is-an-employee-assistance-program-eap/
