How to Find a (Good) Therapist If You Don’t Have Insurance
Approximately 31 million Americans are currently uninsured, and it is estimated that one in four Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. How are the uninsured among them supposed to find a therapist who is not only accessible but helpful ? Actually there are several ways.
How much does therapy usually cost?
The average cost of therapy can vary greatly depending on where you live. Therapists can charge anywhere from $65 to $200 per session , but in more expensive cities like New York or Los Angeles, therapy can cost upwards of $200 per session. Those with health insurance don’t go unscathed. Finding a therapist that works with your insurance can be tricky, and doubly so when you might have a high deductible. According to Diana Liao, a licensed mental health consultant, an off-chain deductible can range from $750 to $3,000 at the bottom, but can go as high as $10,000 in some plans.
Another thing to keep in mind is the amount of your copay. While some co-payments can be as low as $15 per session, others can be as high as $60 . When you start seeing a therapist, you should see them once a week for at least 40 minutes each time , which can add up quickly.
Fortunately, there are ways to get around these exorbitant prices.
Clinics and therapists with a sliding scale
Therapists and sliding scale clinics are mental health professionals who adjust their hourly rates to make therapy sessions more affordable for clients. There are a number of mental health directories such as Open Path that allow you to search for sliding scale therapists in your area. Open path is distributed nationwide and has listings of mental health professionals in every state that range from $30 to $60 per session for individuals. In addition, each therapist on Open Path adds a background, background, and years of experience, so you can be sure you’re only referring to mental health professionals who resonate with you and best meet your individual needs. Another nationwide catalog is available at FindTreatment.gov . Rates there are determined by your income, but there is also a free service option.
In addition to these directories, you can also look at Psychology Today , where therapists advertise their practices. “Many do not accept insurance, but are willing to discuss sliding scale work with you,” explained Ben Tavares, a Philadelphia-based psychotherapist. “I have never spoken to any other therapist who has anything negative to say about someone who is just trying to explore managed pay.”
Spend some time researching these databases. You take control of your mental health, even when money may not be enough. This is important and a good therapist will understand this.
Community College and University Programs for Mental Health Professionals
Many colleges offer clinician internship programs at a reduced cost per session, much like how you can get a cheap haircut at a beauty school. These programs are often open to the public and can cost as little as $1. Sometimes they have a website that you can visit, such as NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis . But these programs aren’t always easy to find online, so the best way to find out if your local university has one is to call and ask.
Employee Assistance Programs
Some employers offer mental health services through employee assistance programs (EAP) . EAPs are workplace intervention programs and mental health services designed to help employees deal with personal problems.
According to the International Association of Employee Assistance Professionals , over 97% of companies with more than 5,000 employees have an EAP. However, this percentage decreases with the number of employees your company may have, so if you work for a small company, this may not be available to you. Your Human Resources department or employee handbook will be able to provide information about whether you qualify for EAP benefits.
The bottom line when looking for a psychotherapist without insurance
While there are many therapy options available, it’s also important to ask yourself a few questions before you begin your journey to better mental health.
“Knowing what you want to work on and what kind of therapy you enjoy will help you make more informed therapist choices,” Tavares said.
There are many different types of therapy, and most mental health professionals do not use one approach. Check out some of the more common types here . Many therapists will list what type of therapy they use in their bio, but this is only useful if you’ve done research on what type might be best for you.
Most importantly, remember that you will likely need more than a few sessions to see results. If you’ve struggled with your mental health for years, “it’s unlikely that these issues … will be resolved in five sessions of time-limited therapy,” Tavares said. Therapy sessions can be uncomfortable, but it’s important to be open and honest with your therapist to make sure you get the best out of them. “Generally speaking, therapy can be considered an exercise in honesty.”
If you can do this at an affordable cost, that’s one less stress factor that will affect your ability to commit and open up during sessions.