Close

Therapy is helping people—butuncertainty around continuing to be able to affordit creates anxiety and has led some to discontinue treatment, a 2022 Verywell Mind survey of 1000 American adults in therapy found.

How Much Does Therapy Cost?

Research shows that individuals with conditions like depression, anxiety, addiction, and more can benefit from speaking with a therapist.It’s part of a common course of treatment for mental health issues, alongside medication and lifestyle changes. If left untreated or under-treated, mental health conditions can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life.

At a time when there is already plenty for people to be stressed about, this survey reveals the alarming implications of how the costs of therapy can actually increase stress for some people.

What Are People Paying for Therapy?

Of those surveyed, a majority (62%) reported needing to pay at least some out-of-pocket costs for their treatment. On average, those costs totaled $178 per month, even though most (71%) say their insurance covers at least some of the cost, and a third (36%) are getting help from Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to contribute to the costs of therapy.

Thirty-eight percent said they required financial help from someone else to be able to afford therapy.

That cost burden means Americans are worried about being able to continue care. Nearly half (49%) said they were worried about paying for treatment long-term, and a similar proportion (48%) said that they would have to stop attending sessions if out-of-pocket costs increased.

And for some, costs have already affected their ability to attend therapy sessions. A third have canceled sessions due to out-of-pocket costs, 39% have reduced the frequency of sessions to reduce costs, and 31% temporarily stopped going to save money for other, larger expenses.

For many, discontinuing treatment wasn’t temporary. Over one in three of Americans surveyed who are no longer in therapy said they discontinued treatment because of cost-related reasons, including theirinsurance coverage changing, EAP benefits running out, or sessions simply being too expensive.

A third said they stopped because they met their mental health goals—again pointing to therapy as something that can be very beneficial, at least for those who can afford it.

Many view these cost barriers as fixed: only a third (36%) have negotiated their fee with providers, and only half (54%) were aware of “sliding scale” fees, where providers can adjust how much they charge based on a patients’ income and financial situation.

Secondary Costs Are Also a Factor

The cost of individual sessions isn’t the only financial barrier that therapy poses. Transportation, childcare, and other methods of self-care that Americans may pair with therapy all add up.

Despite the expansion oftelehealth and remote therapy,69% of those surveyed get their treatment outside of the home, and roughly half drive themselves to their appointments. While they are away, about a third have to pay for childcare or elder care. Those who spend on childcare to attend therapy reported an average monthly cost of $100 on top of what they’re already spending for the treatment itself.

Typical challenges finding providers and navigating limited appointment availability were also reported in the survey, with half saying they have faced challenges getting appointments,finding a provider, or finding a provider in-network.

Despite those challenges, 80% of Americans in therapy surveyed believe it’s a good investment. Ninety-one percent are satisfied with the quality of care they are receiving, and nearly 80% think therapy plays a major role in helping them achieve their mental health goals.

The survey findings suggest that financial assistance, such as wider insurance coverage and employee benefits, as well as openness to sliding scale models, are needed to expand access to what many view as highly beneficial care. Telehealth also provides an opportunity to break down some cost barriers those with children or who live far from potential providers.

Americans are increasingly open to discussing their mental health and seeking help from a therapist—now we just need to make sure they have the opportunity.

Methodology

From March 24 to April 2, 2022, Verywell surveyed 1,000 American adults who have talked to a therapist or mental health professional regularly over the last three months or more. The survey population was nationally representative of gender, race/ethnicity, and region using the Census’s American Community Survey estimates as a benchmark.

How to Save Money on Therapy

1 SourceVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hofmann SG, Asnaani A, Vonk IJ, Sawyer AT, Fang A.The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses.Cognit Ther Res. 2012;36(5):427-440. doi:10.1007/s10608-012-9476-1

1 Source

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hofmann SG, Asnaani A, Vonk IJ, Sawyer AT, Fang A.The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses.Cognit Ther Res. 2012;36(5):427-440. doi:10.1007/s10608-012-9476-1

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Hofmann SG, Asnaani A, Vonk IJ, Sawyer AT, Fang A.The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses.Cognit Ther Res. 2012;36(5):427-440. doi:10.1007/s10608-012-9476-1

Hannah Owens, LMSW

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?