Whether you’ve been diagnosed with depression, an anxiety disorder or simply want to talk to a professional about the issues that are bothering you, therapy can be a valuable tool for gaining control over your mental health and improving your life.
According to the American Psychological Association, it may require anywhere from 15 to 30 or more sessions for many people to experience noticeable benefits from therapy.
Because taking part in therapy is usually a long-term commitment, the total cost of treatment is a common concern.
The cost of therapy can vary based on a number of factors, from your location to your insurance coverage and the type of mental health professionals you choose to work with.
Below, we’ve explained how much therapy costs, as well as the numerous factors that affect the price of therapy. We’ve also shared some methods that you can use to make accessing therapy more affordable.
How Much Does Therapy Cost?
Since therapists and other mental health providers are free to set their own pricing, there isn’t a precise cost of therapy throughout the country.
In general, pricing for therapy can vary pretty wildly — from under $100 per hour to literally hundreds of dollars per hour — for their services.
In large cities such as New York City or Los Angeles, it’s far from uncommon to pay more than $200 per session for a therapist’s time and expertise.
Several factors affect the cost of therapy, including:
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The therapist’s training and background. Becoming an experienced therapist is a costly, demanding process. Like other professionals, highly trained therapists charge significant fees due to the amount of time and effort they’ve invested into developing their skills.
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Demand for the therapist. Well-known, in-demand therapists may need to charge more for their services.
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Specialized skills and qualifications. Therapists who specialize in certain mental health conditions or types of therapy may be more expensive.
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Your location. As we mentioned above, it’s common to pay more for a therapy session in NYC and other large cities. These areas tend to have high costs of living, meaning it’s often more expensive to run a private therapy practice.
An easy way to get a general feel for local therapy pricing is to contact several therapists in your area, then compare their per-session fees.
Does Insurance Cover Therapy?
Many health insurance companies provide mental health coverage for some services, including therapy.
In fact, under the Affordable Care Act, all health insurance plans purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace are required to give coverage for mental and behavioral health services such as psychotherapy and counseling.
If you have employer-sponsored health insurance, you can find out about your plan’s coverage for mental health services by contacting your company’s human resources (HR) office.
Your insurance provider may pay for the entire cost of therapy or require a copay for each visit you make to a therapist.
Most health insurance providers have certain requirements that you’ll need to follow in order to use your coverage.
For example, you may receive a mental health diagnosis before you’re able to access coverage for therapy, or have a referral from a healthcare provider.
You may also need to visit a therapist within your health insurance provider’s network of mental health providers (referred to as an “in-network” provider).
If you have health insurance, you can contact your insurance company directly to find out more about your level of coverage and any specific requirements you’ll need to follow to access your plan benefits.
How to Make Therapy More Affordable
If you don’t have insurance that covers therapy, there are still several things that you can do to make accessing therapy more affordable.
Visit a Sliding Scale Therapist
Some therapists offer “sliding scale” pricing — a pricing system that adjusts the cost of therapy based on your income.
If you have a limited income, visiting a sliding scale therapist can make accessing therapy a far more affordable option.
You can find sliding scale therapists locally by searching for “sliding scale therapy” followed by the name of your city or region.
In order to qualify for sliding scale fees, you may need to show proof that you have a limited income, financial responsibilities or dependents.
Some therapists may request a W-2 form, tax return or other document showing your income.
Sliding scale pricing can vary from one therapist to another, making it best to check with several therapists to make sure you’re eligible for an acceptable rate.
Use Your Employee Benefits
Some employers offer Employee Assistance Programs that include therapy and other services to help you maintain your mental health.
If you have a mental health issue or other problem that’s affecting your workplace performance, your employer may provide therapy or counseling.
You can find out more about these benefits by contacting your company’s HR department.
(Related: Common Causes of Social Anxiety)
Contact Your State or City Health Services
Many state and municipal governments offer free or low-cost mental health services for people in need.
These services are often provided by student psychologists and other mental health providers, usually in a community clinic setting. They may also be provided by hospitals, medical centers and other facilities.
While you may still need to pay for this type of therapy, it’s usually less expensive than talking to a private practice therapist.
You can find local mental health services by contacting your city or state’s health department, or by contacting your local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) organization.
Contact Your College or University
If you’re a college or university student, you may be able to access free or low-cost therapy via your campus’s health center.
Many campuses provide one-on-one access to therapists, counselors and other mental health providers, as well as support groups and other mental health services. You can find out about these services by contacting your campus’s health services center.
Try Group Therapy
Group therapy (or online group therapy) involves meeting with a therapist as part of a group, usually of between five and 15 people.
Taking part in therapy as part of a group can feel unusual at first, but it can also provide unique benefits that aren’t always available with other forms of therapy.
For example, you may find that discussing things as part of a group helps you to put your unique issues in perspective.
Since group therapy involves one therapist and a group of people, it’s generally more affordable than individual therapy.
Talk to a Licensed Therapist Online
Finally, one of the easiest, most convenient ways to access therapy at a lower price is to take part in online therapy.
Online therapy gives you the same access to a therapist as in-person treatment, only it takes place online via chat or video.
Instead of traveling to see your therapist, you can talk from the comfort of your living room, bedroom or any other private, comfortable space.
This type of therapy can be particularly cost effective if you live in a large, expensive city such as NYC or LA.
We offer individual therapy, support groups and a large range of other online mental health services.
(Related :5 Ways to Quiet Your Mind)
Paying For Therapy
Therapy ranges in price from $75 to $200 or more for each session, with factors such as your location and choice of therapist affecting the total amount you’ll need to pay.
If you have health insurance, your provider may offer coverage for therapy that helps to lower your cost per session.
If you don’t have health insurance, you may be able to reduce the cost of therapy by working with a sliding scale therapist, consulting your campus’s mental health services, taking part in group therapy, or by taking part in therapy online.
You can also use tools such as our online mental health resources and content to start taking control over your mental health and making progress on your own.
This article originally appeared on Forhers.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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30 Etiquette Blunders You Should Never Make
Social etiquette is one of those things that people tend to roll their eyes at these days. Nobody wants to be prim and proper anymore but, unfortunately, as we’ve let go of the etiquette rules that had run their course, we’ve also stopped following the rules that made the world a little bit easier to live in. From not putting our phones on speak in public to using turn signals on the road, sometimes it feels like politesse is dead.
But let’s be honest — manners and etiquette don’t have to die a lonely, neglected death. In fact, the internet is praising an American Airlines pilot who was recently captured on video reminding the passengers on his flight of this fact, stating, “You people should treat people the way you want to be treated, but I have to say it every single flight because people don’t. They’re selfish and rude and we won’t have it.” So, heed his advice and start making things a little easier on yourself, your loved ones and the rest of your fellow humans by incorporating some more courtesy, respect and etiquette into your life.
Editor’s note: We regularly update these types of stories to ensure accuracy. This slide show was updated February 2024
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How many times have you been at dinner with someone and, in the middle of the conversation, they took out their phone? It’s probably happened more times than you care to admit and you’ve probably even done this yourself. However, a small but important part of etiquette is to keep the phone out of sight all night. Enjoy dinner with your loved ones (or even by yourself) sans distractions, and it will make life a little happier.
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Someone cuts you off on the road, a waiter takes forever to refill your glass of water and the cashier seems distracted and taking forever to ring you through. Yes, all of these things can add up to real annoyances during your day but you’ll be doing yourself (and others) a favor if you just give people a break. You never know what someone else is dealing with on a particular day, but if you approach them with kindness and compassion, that’s much better.
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Nobody says “please” and “thank you” anymore, but you can bring it back. It’s one of those small little etiquette lessons that can pay off big in the long run. Even if you don’t do it right now, start putting more of this language into your vocabulary and you’ll soon find people are saying it back.
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Every invitation you’ve ever gotten probably comes with an RSVP but many people these days are foregoing actually responding and just showing up. Here’s the problem: That creates a lot of stress for the host when they don’t know if 2 or 20 people are showing up. So do everyone a favor and always, always make sure you check off the “yes” or “no” box… and respond in a timely manner.
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Courtesy tends to stay at home when people bring their stinky food and suspicious leftovers to work. The truth is that having stinky foods at the office creates a disturbance for all and we’d like you to quit now. It’s totally fine to eat what you want to eat but just remember to be courteous and not have your worst smelling foods out all the time.
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Sending an email back to that coworker who is driving you crazy at the moment might only take a moment but it’ll end up costing you much longer in the long run. Instead, it’s a much smarter and more etiquette-friendly strategy if you pause, breathe and wait until you’ve calmed down a bit before answering an email, text or phone call that has you on edge.
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Nobody brings food over anymore when someone you know is grieving or when there’s a new neighbor on the block. It’s one of those sad etiquette memories that would make the world a brighter place if we all started doing it again. Next time you know someone who could use a welcome hand or a little cheering up, why not bring food over as a lovely gesture?
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We have our phones on our hips pretty much 24/7, which is why most people have long forgotten the etiquette lesson about not taking phone calls in the middle of a crowded place. You could be in line or something or in the middle of a restaurant and, all of a sudden, you’re involved in someone else’s phone conversation. Instead, do us all a favor and step outside when you get a phone call. It will make you feel better because nobody will be listening nearby.
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As we’ve all been driving more and more, people have started to forget the basic courtesies (and laws) of the road. One of the biggest culprits here is using your turning signal. It’s not unusual to be driving and all of a sudden have to slam on your break because the person in front of you forgot to signal and all of a sudden they’ve slowed down to turn. Don’t be that guy. Use your turn signal!
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These days, our overworking culture has most people showing up to work even when they’re rocking a fever or coughing up a lung. Basic etiquette doesn’t even enter into the equation but the truth of the matter is that the best thing you can do for yourself (and for others) is to stay home when you’re sick. This badly needs to come back into popularity because getting others at your office sick does no one any favors.
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Just as it’s really easy for a lot of people to pull out their phones during dinner, it’s really easy to do the same pretty much anytime you’re actually engaged in a conversation. It’s fact, you could say it has become an epidemic of rudeness where nobody ever looks at each other anymore. Well, you can stop that easily by making sure that you are looking at whoever you are talking to directly in their eyes whenever you are one-on-one with a co-worker, friend or family member.
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Here’s the basic etiquette rule of elevators and public transportation: Step aside and let the people getting off to do that before you try to get on. Unfortunately, many of us ignore this rule in our rush to just get on that bus or elevator as if the thing could actually leave without us on there. It won’t. Stop worrying and start stepping aside to let people through without being pushy.
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Somewhere along the way, we forgot to hold the door open for others. When you are entering a new establishment, it doesn’t take that much extra work to hold the door for the person behind you. It’s a small courtesy but one that can definitely pay off in the long run as they get inspired to hold the door for the person behind them and on and on.
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A huge mistake that some people make in terms of etiquette is to ask a woman who has just gotten married about her baby plans. Even worse, if she’s not drinking or if she puts on a bit of weight or if she’s just crossing your path, the person asks again. Well, don’t. It’s simply not polite to assume that a person is planning on having children or, much worse, that she’s actually pregnant. If she wants to share that information with you, she will. Otherwise, just stay out of it.
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Sometimes, going to the grocery can be a hassle for those of us who are on the shorter side. It’s a pain to reach for higher shelves and it can be an even bigger pain to see those struggling get no help from anyone surround them. Thankfully, you can change all of that. A basic etiquette rule is about lending a small lending hand whenever you see someone having a bit of a hard time. Pay it forward and you’ll feel pretty good about yourself.
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Other than weddings, nobody seems to send handwritten notes anymore. However, it was once a standard etiquette rule to send handwritten notes to your friends and relatives. This was especially true for invitations and thank you cards. The good thing is that you can easily bring this back by starting a tradition yourself where you send handwritten notes to your loved ones no matter what the occasion.
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Whenever you step foot into the gym, you probably see at least one person who very obviously uses an exercise machine and then walks away the minute they’re done. That’s right, without wiping down the machine. It’s a major etiquette no-no but one that needs to be brought back a.s.a.p. because nobody wants someone else’s germs on them. Let’s do it.
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Just as a lot of people aren’t wiping down their machines at the gym, they’re also often leaving bathrooms without washing their hands. The problem with this is that you are taking the germs from the bathroom back out into the world and possibly getting yourself or others around you sick, too. Instead, never ever leave the bathroom before you thoroughly wash those hands and rid them of germs.
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Nobody wants to be barged in on and yet everyone forgets to knock these days. Whether you are at home walking in on your partner’s office or at the office needing a minute with your boss, remember to knock. It’s a small etiquette rule that just reminds you and the people around you that there’s respect here.
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Lateness has somehow become an epidemic in our culture and it’s not getting any better these days. Etiquette is all about respecting other people, though, and that includes respecting their time. One of the things that you are saying to someone when you are late is that you do not respect their time, only your own, so if you continue this, it can ruin relationships. Instead, stop being late and you can bring a little more courtesy back into your life.
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Grief is a difficult, complicated emotion. If you’ve never experienced it, and even sometimes if you have, you may not know how to deal with someone in your life who is grieving. Yes, you can bring over food but even something as small as saying “I’m sorry” can be a comfort. Don’t be afraid to reach out and instead go ahead and call your friend that’s going through a hard time and just let them know you love them.
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Checking your phone at dinner is nowhere near as bad as the worst cell phone crime of all: Checking your phone at the movies. Back before the cell phone days, this was never an etiquette problem. But these days, it’s almost impossible to go to the movies without at least one jerk looking at their phone mid-movie. This needs to stop immediately because checking your phone at the movies lights up brightly, no matter how well you think you are hiding that thing inside of your jacket. Just stop it, period.
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When you are grocery shopping, there are a few things that you should keep in mind in order to keep up with etiquette rules that we have long forgotten but should definitely bring back. First of all, you should never, ever leave your shopping cart stopped in the middle of the aisle so that others cannot get through. Secondly, make it easy by walking on the right side of the aisle so that others can walk by easier. And last but not least, take those extra two minutes to take your cart back into its cart area. Don’t just leave it loosey-goosey in the parking lot.
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When you get invited to a party, it’s easy to get really excited and want to bring a friend. And that’s okay…. just as long as you do not forget to contact the host about bringing a plus one. These days, that old etiquette rule seems to have fallen by the wayside as people forget to R.S.V.P. +1 and instead just bring their friend or new partner along. But it’s always a much better idea to let the host know so that they can plan accordingly instead of freak out because 20 people brought a surprise plus one.
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In our rush to eat and get back to whatever activity we were doing before, we often forget that a basic etiquette rule is to wait to eat until everyone at the table has been served. This is an easy one to forget but also an easy one to correct. It lets your friends and loved ones know that you respect them just a little bit more if you wait a few minutes until everyone at the table has food in front of them. It won’t really cost you anything extra, so go ahead and take the more courteous route.
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Many cities and states now have laws about this but it shouldn’t take a law to remind you to always clean up after your dog. Dogs are pretty awesome and many people love them, but nobody loves it when you don’t clean up after your dog and they, ahem, step in it. Literally. So go ahead and curb your pup, always, because you’ll be doing society a nice little favor.
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Wearing headphones in public is totally okay but it can get a bit tricky when you are wearing headphones and all of a sudden hear a lot of noise coming from someone else’s headphones. Talk about awkward! One basic rule of etiquette is to make sure that your volume is turned down enough so that you are not disturbing anyone around you. After all, you’re signifying that you don’t want to be disturbed by wearing headphones and those near you should get the same courtesy.
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Littering is nobody’s friend but yet people still do it. This can be just as true outside as it is when you are in somebody’s home. Don’t get yourself fall into this big etiquette no-no and instead make sure that you are always cleaning up after yourself. Whether you are putting the dishes in the dishwasher after having dinner at a friend’s place or making sure that you find a recycling bin for that soda you just finished drinking, it’s the least you can do since you created the mess in the first place.
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In this age of social media, this etiquette rule is actually a new but standard one that everyone should know. If you are a big fan of Facebook and never miss an Instagram picture, that’s really cool. But you know what’s not cool? Putting up a photo of your cousin’s baby when your cousin isn’t on social media and really doesn’t want her kids there either. So a good rule of thumb is to ask anyone before posting about them on social media. It’s a small courtesy but you will appreciate it when you can say “yes” or “no” to someone else’s post, too.
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If you’re about to cough or sneeze, do you take care of it in your elbow? Probably not. This might be the last etiquette rule on this list but it is definitely not the least important. It’s one of those things that can really help you with keeping your germs away from other people. If you sneeze into your hands, then you are probably spreading it around. Instead, sneeze into your elbow and then find a tissue as soon as you can. You’ll appreciate it once you start seeing others do the same.
This article originally appeared on TheDelite and was syndicated by MediaFeed.
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