What Is The Average Cost Of Therapy and Why?
Prices seem to keep skyrocketing these days, and it can be disheartening to see that talking to a therapist is an investment. So what does therapy typically cost and why and what are some ways I can pay for therapy? Read more to find out.
The average cost of therapy is $100-200 per session which may depend on your state and location - some therapists may charge well over $200 per session. Whether it’s from their website or asking them, it is very common and okay to find out the cost of therapy before starting sessions.
Why does therapy cost that much?
Licensed therapists are considered healthcare providers:
It takes close to a decade or more of education and experience in order to become licensed as a therapist
Therapists have to meet continued education requirements to stay licensed, and those continued trainings can be costly
Recurring fees such as for licensure, billing, bookkeeping, office, & staff
There are a lot of expenses for therapists who pay for HIPPA compliant systems to keep your information and communications secure
Client sessions are a fraction of therapist duties. There are paperwork requirements such as Diagnostic Assessments, treatment plans, and coordination of care as well as time spent in consultation meetings and with billing, scheduling, emails, phone calls, etc.
What impacts the cost of therapy
Here are some of the factors that can cause a session to be more expensive:
Type of therapy session - assessments such as first appointment sessions (can be known as initial sessions, DA’s or Diagnostic Assessments) can be more expensive because of the time involved for paperwork such as in writing the reports, finishing the assessments, and reviewing collateral information
Testing (such as for ADHD) or other specialized assessments (usually preformed by a psychologist with a PhD)
Medications - appointments with psychiatrists (usually preformed by a medical doctor) for medications
Specialties - some therapists attain extra training and experience to provide a specific type of therapy such as those focused on trauma or personality
Location - what state and area you live in can affect the cost of therapy
Time - for example, a 45 minute session will cost less than an hour long session
Ways to Pay for therapy
Use your HSA (Health Savings Account) or FSA (Flex Savings Account)
You can make weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly appointments
Put money aside for therapy -
if you want a weekly appointment, let’s say at $150; you could put aside $30 a work day for the appointment
If you want a bi-weekly appointment, you could put aside $15 each workday or $75 per week.
For a monthly appointment, you could put aside $7.50 a day or $37.50 a week
I hope this post shares some insight about the cost of therapy. Please know that it is definitely okay to ask about fees with your provider or potential provider and share your concerns regarding the cost. Depending on the provider, some accept a wide variety of insurance companies or have sliding fee scales (adjustment in the cost of therapy based on your income). The conversation may seem uncomfortable at first but know that it is very common and okay to ask.