Five Ways to Pay for Therapy and Counseling

Are you looking to start working with a therapist but concerned about how you are going to afford it?  Then this blogpost is for you.  Outlined below are five of the most common ways that you can find a therapist that fits your budget.  Seeing a therapist doesn’t have to be expensive or outside of your reach.  By doing research, you should be able to find a skilled therapist who specializes in what you need and meets your budget.

1.  Use your insurance

If you want to use your insurance for mental health coverage, call your insurance company and get information about using your insurance in and out of network.  By going in-network, your insurance company will provide you with a list of approved providers and the cost is usually a copay.  If you have a deductible, you may want to check with the insurance company to see how much the deductible is and when they will start covering psychotherapy.

By using out of network benefits, you will have more flexibility to choose a therapist that is right for you.  Usually, this person needs to be licensed but again check with your insurance company because this varies.  The clinician will then provide you with a superbill (similar to a receipt) to provide to your insurance company for reimbursement. Reimbursement will depend on your policy, deductible and the allowable amount from the insurance company.

2. Find a seasoned therapist and pay their full fee

If you can’t find someone in-network or want to work with a specific therapist, find the best in your area and pay their fee.  Seasoned therapist usually charge between $100-250 an hour but their fee is quite worth it when you start to see results.  One of the best places to find a therapist is Psychology Today.

3. Use your Flex Spending Account

If your employer offers a Flex Spending Account, take advantage of the tax benefit and use your funds for therapy. Therapy is a covered service and can be accepted by therapists.

4. Locate someone who offers a sliding scale

If finances are a concern for you or you have a high deductible for your insurance plan, try finding a therapist who offers a sliding scale.  There is a company out there that has done the legwork for you.  The company is called Open Path Collective . You can enroll for their services and find a therapist that offers counseling for $30-50 per session. This is an affordable way to receive therapy from an experienced therapist.

5. Check with your local mental health counseling agency

If you need free or very low-cost services, most towns, cities and counties have mental health agencies that are designed to help the local community.  By doing a Google search with the keyword “low cost counseling in your town” and you can usually find what you are looking for.  Many of these agencies are very reputable and can link with your all types of services you may need.

President Obama saw the need for an increase in mental health services being provided to Americans. The Mental Health Parity Act has increased coverage, therefore people should have more access to mental health services than ever before.  

Amanda Patterson, LMHC, CAP , Mental Health Counselor of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counseling Association,  decided to become a therapist while attending Nova Southeastern University. She saw the need to help people achieve the life they wanted to live, while creating a life of her own. She completed her master’s in Mental Health Counseling and started a career in the juvenile justice arena. Amanda has been a therapist for ten years and has a private practice in Wellington, Florida, specializing in depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and substance abuse in teenagers and young adults. Amanda is a believer in holistic treatment and she practices veganism, meditation and yoga in her life. Find out more about her practice here.

To schedule an appointment, call or text Amanda at 954-378-5381 or email her at amanda@amandapattersonlmhc.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *