Mental Health Therapy Cost With and Without Insurance in 2024

Mental health therapy treats various mental health concerns and behavioral issues via communicating and skill-building with a qualified mental health professional. The cost of seeing a therapist depends on the number of sessions you book, your location, and more. On average, a therapy session costs between $138-$300 for an hour-long session for those who do not have health insurance. 

First, understand the lingos:

• Talk therapy, mental health therapy, behavioral health therapy, and psychotherapy refer to the same thing
• Self-pay price, out-of-pocket price, and cash price are often similar amount
• Psychiatrists prescribe medications, psychologists or therapists provide therapy only, you can use both

Why Is Talk Therapy So Expensive?

In the past few years, because of the pandemic and the rise in loneliness across the nation, the demand for talk therapy has outstripped the supply of therapists. And, because of the nature of the repeatability of therapy, many therapists find themselves unable to take on new patients. 

Insurance reimbursements for mental health therapy had been high up until now with many carriers reducing coverage. For those who pay out of pocket, a $150 session twice a month could translate to a $3600 annual cost. 

One great solution is digital therapy. With the advancement of AIs trained on modern psychotherapy frameworks, solutions like such can help you solve daily struggles at a much lower cost. 

Average Cost of Mental Health Therapy in 2024

If you do not have health insurance or have a high deductible, the cost of seeing a therapist can vary based on where you reside. For example, if you visit a therapist in New York or Los Angeles, the average rate for therapists can be about $250 per hour. Below is a table that shows the median therapy session rates for those without health insurance within different states.

Understand CPT Codes

CPT code is the standardized way for clinicians to bill or get reimbursed. Each type of visit or procedure is coded into a CPT code, it then will determine the charge amount. For behavioral and mental health therapy, the length and the nature of the visit often determine which CPT code is used. 

The Cost of Mental Health Therapy at Different Clinics

The table below summarizes costs for 50-minute to hour-long individual therapy sessions in specific clinics throughout the United States.