A single therapy session in the United States costs between $122 and $227 on average, depending on where you live. But “outpatient mental health” covers a wide range of services, from weekly talk therapy to psychiatric visits to intensive programs that meet several days a week. Your actual cost depends on the type of care, your provider’s credentials, whether you use insurance, and your location.
Individual Therapy Sessions
For a standard 45- to 60-minute session with a therapist, the national average falls roughly between $120 and $180 out of pocket. That range shifts significantly by state. Missouri, Louisiana, and South Carolina sit at the low end, averaging $122 to $123 per session. North Dakota tops the list at $227, followed by Alaska at $212 and South Dakota at $192. High cost-of-living cities like Washington, D.C. ($189) and New York ($176) land where you’d expect, but some less obvious states like Arkansas ($184) and Mississippi ($179) also run above average, likely reflecting a shortage of providers rather than a high cost of living.
Your provider’s credentials also affect pricing. Psychologists with doctoral degrees generally charge $75 to $100 more per hour than master’s-level therapists like licensed clinical social workers or licensed professional counselors, particularly in high-cost areas. That gap narrows when providers accept insurance, since reimbursement rates are more standardized. In private-pay settings, though, doctoral-level clinicians often set rates of $250 to $300 per session, while master’s-level therapists typically charge less.
Psychiatry Visits
Seeing a psychiatrist costs more than seeing a therapist, especially for the first appointment. An initial psychiatric evaluation, which usually runs 60 to 90 minutes and includes a diagnostic assessment, typically costs $200 to $300 out of pocket. Some online platforms charge $299 or more for this first visit.
Follow-up appointments for medication management are shorter (usually 15 to 30 minutes) and less expensive, generally running $100 to $200 per visit. Through online psychiatry services, follow-ups typically fall between $129 and $175. Most people on psychiatric medication see their prescriber every one to three months once stabilized, so the ongoing cost is lower than weekly therapy.
Online Therapy Platforms
Teletherapy has introduced a different pricing model. Subscription-based platforms charge $65 to $100 per week for individual therapy, which works out to roughly $260 to $400 per month. That typically includes one live session per week plus messaging access to your therapist between sessions. Messaging-only plans, which skip live video sessions, run $50 to $70 per week.
If you prefer a pay-per-session model with an online therapist, expect $100 to $180 per session. Couples therapy through online platforms costs more: about $109 per week on subscription plans, or $150 to $250 per session through pay-per-session providers. Teen therapy falls in a similar range, $70 to $100 weekly on platforms or $120 to $200 per session in private practice.
One thing to watch for with subscription platforms: psychiatric services are usually treated as an add-on. You’d pay your regular therapy subscription plus separate fees for psychiatric evaluations and medication visits, plus whatever your medications cost at the pharmacy.
Group Therapy
Group therapy sessions typically cost one-half to one-third the price of individual therapy. While an individual session might run $150 or more, group sessions often cost $40 to $50 per session. Groups usually meet weekly and include 6 to 12 people with a shared focus, such as anxiety, grief, or substance use. For someone who needs ongoing support but finds weekly individual therapy too expensive, group therapy can be a practical alternative or supplement.
Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs
When weekly therapy isn’t enough but you don’t need to be hospitalized, intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP) fill the gap. These are structured programs that meet multiple days per week for several hours at a time.
IOPs typically require 9 to 19 hours of treatment per week for adults, spread across three to four days. PHPs are more intensive, running a minimum of four hours per day, five days per week. Based on 2024 Medicare-based rates, daily reimbursement for IOP sits around $207 and PHP around $215 per day. Private-pay costs are often higher. A full course of IOP usually lasts four to eight weeks, meaning total costs can reach several thousand dollars. Insurance coverage for these programs varies widely, so verifying your benefits before enrolling is important.
What You’ll Pay With Insurance
If you have health insurance and see an in-network therapist, your out-of-pocket cost drops to a copay, typically $15 to $50 per session. The exact amount depends on your plan. Some plans require you to meet a deductible first, meaning you pay the full negotiated rate until you’ve spent a certain amount out of pocket for the year. After that, your copay or coinsurance kicks in.
Out-of-network providers cost more. Your plan may reimburse a percentage of the session fee, but you’ll typically pay the difference between what the provider charges and what your insurer considers “usual and customary.” That gap can be substantial.
Sliding Scale and Low-Cost Options
Many therapists and community mental health centers offer sliding scale fees based on your income and family size. These scales are typically tied to the federal poverty guidelines. At one large behavioral health system, for example, individuals earning at or below the federal poverty level (roughly $1,041 per month for a single person) pay a flat $5 per session. At 200% of the poverty level, about $2,082 per month for a single person, the fee rises to 50% of the standard rate. Above that threshold, you’d pay the full fee.
Community mental health centers, training clinics at universities, and some nonprofit organizations offer sessions in the $20 to $60 range. These options often involve therapists who are completing supervised training hours, which means they’re fully educated but building clinical experience.
Your Right to a Cost Estimate
If you’re uninsured or paying out of pocket, federal law requires mental health providers to give you a good faith estimate of expected charges before treatment. Under the No Surprises Act, if you schedule an appointment at least three business days in advance, your provider must send you a written estimate within one business day. If you schedule 10 or more business days out, they have three business days to get you that estimate. You can also request one at any time, and the provider must respond within three business days. This estimate should cover the total expected cost of your care, not just a single session, so you can plan ahead and avoid unexpected bills.