How to Find Affordable Therapy Without Insurance + 9 Great Options

Have you been considering going to therapy? You’ve made a huge step toward better mental wellness and it is no small feat. Whether you’re struggling with a certain issue or need help managing ongoing mental health symptoms, therapy can be helpful. But it can also be costly. 

Having health insurance can bring therapy costs down — but what if you don’t have this kind of coverage? Are affordable options available? Yes! In fact, there are several options to explore when you want therapy but are uninsured. 

We’ll go over these below to help you understand your options better and find one that works best for your needs. But first, we’ll discuss therapy costs for those without health insurance. 

How much is therapy without insurance?

Overall, therapy costs depend on several factors — with or without insurance. However, rates for therapy sessions without insurance tend to be higher, on average, than rates with insurance.

 At SonderMind, we offer self-pay rates to help keep therapy costs affordable for individuals who aren’t using insurance. The type of session, length of session, and your state of residence are a few factors that affect how much you can expect to pay. 

Based on SonderMind’s self-pay rates, for example, you might pay around $100 for an initial intake session in Missouri and under $50 for 30-minute sessions. But in New Hampshire, your intake cost might be closer to $200, with 45-minute sessions costing around $100 each. 

What factors affect the cost of therapy?

Therapy costs vary so much based on different factors. These include the following:

• Session type: Intake sessions may cost more than regular sessions, since they’re usually longer. During these sessions, your therapist gathers a lot of information about you and your reasons for seeking therapy. 
• Session length: Talk therapy or psychotherapy sessions can range from 30 minutes to an hour — or even longer. Shorter sessions often cost less than longer ones. 
• Location: Therapy costs in states or areas with higher costs of living may be higher than locations with a lower cost of living. 
• Type of therapy: Rates for couples therapy tend to be higher than rates for individual therapy. Group therapy or family therapy may also vary. Specialized therapy treatment may have higher costs, such as treatment for complex mental health disorders. 
• Provider qualifications: Therapists with certain credentials or more extensive education and training might have higher rates.

8 ways to find affordable therapy 

Where — and how — can you find therapy that fits your budget, especially when you’re not using insurance? You might have more options than you realize. From online platforms to local resources, we’ll go over several ways to look for affordable therapy that meets your needs. 

Online therapy platforms 

Did you know that you can get the help you need without leaving home? Online therapy platforms, such as SonderMind, offer virtual sessions that may be more convenient — and affordable — for you. 

These online platforms provide more accessible ways to attend therapy. You might meet with your therapist via video chat. Or you might have other options to connect, such as via phone calls, real-time chats, or even texting. 

These platforms offer a lot of flexibility in terms of scheduling — and they can be more cost-effective. You don’t have to spend money on transportation or ask for time off from work to attend sessions. 

Some platforms connect you with a mental health professional based on your needs. Others give you a list of online therapists to choose from. Services on these platforms vary. Some offer both talk therapy and psychiatry services, like medication management. Others only offer talk therapy. 

Depending on your needs, you can also look for online therapy platforms that offer couples therapy, family therapy, or other mental health services. 

Online directories and resources 

Do you prefer doing your own search for affordable therapy? Online mental health directories and resources make it easier to do so. You can use these to narrow down your options and find a suitable therapist with rates that fit your budget. 

The American Psychological Association (APA), Psychology Today, the Society of Clinical Psychology (SCP), and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) all offer online directories for finding a therapist. You can select several filters that help you find mental health professionals in your area. But how do you make the best use of these resources?

• Determine the type of help you need, such as individual therapy, couples therapy, or group therapy.
• Consider why you’re seeking therapy, such as for chronic depression or anxiety treatment or to work through particular issues in your life. 
• Using the available filters, look for therapists who are accepting new patients and offer telehealth or online sessions. 
• If available, use filters to find affordable providers, such as filters for payment assistance and sliding scales. 
• Narrow your search down with other filters to get the right help, such as APA’s filters for treatment methods, age group specialization, or provider gender identity — depending on your needs. 

When you get a list of providers, look over their practice areas, credentials, treatment methods, and other relevant info. 

If you don’t have insurance — or you’re not using your coverage — you don’t have to worry about finding a provider who takes your plan. However, you may need to contact providers directly to get specific info on their therapy rates without insurance. You can then choose a therapist who offers rates that fall within your budget. 

Mental health or non-profit organizations 

Did you know that only 47% of adults in the U.S. with mental health problems received treatment in 2021, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)? And there was an average delay of 11 years between the onset of mental health symptoms and treatment for them? 

Mental health and non-profit organizations are working on improving access to care to ensure that more individuals get the help they need — without lengthy delays. With affordability being a common barrier, some organizations offer low-cost or free services. Others help individuals find affordable mental health services. 

Some of these include the following:

• Anxiety and Depression Association of America: Offers an online tool for finding providers who have sliding scales or other affordable payment options 
• National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics: Offers access to clinics offering low-cost therapy or free mental healthcare 
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Offers a search tool to find providers offering sliding scale fees and payment assistance 
• Child Mind Institute: Offers mental health treatment for children with financial aid options available 
• Open Path Psychotherapy Collective: Offers a membership that gives you access to low-cost mental health providers 
• Health Resources and Services Administration: Offers an online tool for finding providers who offer free or low-cost services 
• National Alliance on Mental Health: Offers mental health resources and tools to help individuals locate mental health professionals who provide affordable care 
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Offers free or low-cost services for veterans at VA facilities 

Community health clinics 

Affordable therapy options might be right in your backyard! Community health clinics in some areas offer low-cost or free therapy or other mental health services, such as addiction treatment or trauma-informed care via federal funding. 

The Health Resources and Services Administration online database offers a convenient way to search for community mental health clinics near you that provide these services. 

What if you don’t see any in your area? Contact your state’s Department of Health and Human Services or your county’s health department. These departments can assist you with finding the closest community health clinics that offer affordable mental healthcare. 

Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

You may be able to go through your employer to find mental health services that are low-cost or free. Some companies offer employee assistance programs to make it easier for employees to receive care and improve their mental well-being. 

Not sure if your employer offers this option? Your HR department can let you know if EAP benefits are available to you. If so, they may include a certain number of therapy or counseling sessions that you can do at no charge or at a reduced rate. 

EAP benefits vary by employer. Most include individual therapy. Some also include couples therapy, treatment for specific mental health issues, and other treatment options. Check for details on your EAP to see if it includes in-person sessions, online therapy — or both. Your HR department can also help you access these benefits.

For students: University health centers 

Are you a college student? If so, your school might have affordable therapy options to explore. University health centers often include behavioral or mental health services. These services may cover a wide range of mental health issues that affect students, from homesickness and test anxiety to depression, substance use problems, and eating disorders. 

Get in touch with your campus health center to see what kinds of mental health services are available — and find out if they’re free or low cost. 

Mental health and crisis hotlines 

In some cases, help can’t wait until the next therapy appointment. That’s when mental health and crisis hotlines come in handy. These hotlines provide immediate assistance 24/7 at no cost to you. They’re designed to ensure that individuals receive prompt care and support when dealing with a crisis. 

Several hotlines are available for different mental health problems, including addiction, eating disorders, grief, domestic violence, and abuse. Some examples of mental health and crisis helplines include:

• Crisis Text Line (741741): Connects you with a trained crisis counselor via text
• Suicide Hotline (1-800-784-2433) and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255): Provides immediate help and support over the phone with trained professionals 
• National Youth Crisis Hotline (1-800-448-4663): Provides adolescents and teens with confidential support and guidance for a wide range of issues

Support groups 

Affordable therapy options don’t always involve meeting with a therapist one-on-one. In fact, support groups may offer a cost-effective approach for you. These groups can be a valuable source of social and emotional support as you navigate mental health struggles. 

Support groups help you connect with others who are experiencing the same — or similar — issues as you. For example, you might benefit from being part of a bereavement support group if you’ve lost a loved one. Or you might find an anxiety support group helpful if you struggle with anxiety. 

In many cases, support groups provide services for free. Check out this list of resources for finding peer support groups that fit your needs. 

Access affordable therapy without insurance with SonderMind

As you can see, you have many options available for accessing affordable therapy when you’re not using insurance. From free services at community health centers and campuses to low-cost or sliding-scale options with individual therapists, you can get the help you need without breaking the bank! 

At SonderMind, we provide convenient and quick ways to find help, along with affordable rates for those who are uninsured. If you’re eager to get started on your therapeutic journey and need budget-friendly self-pay rates, turn to SonderMind.

Connect with a SonderMind therapist today and take your first steps on the path to improved mental wellness.