Popular search: How much does relationship counseling cost?

By tracking the website analytics we've come to learn that a popular question people are asking is how much couples counseling costs? We hope to give you a better understanding of therapy fees as well as what a "typical" therapeutic experience looks like.

Let's start with insurance:

1. For a provider to accept your insurance they must be on your particular insurance's panel of accepted and verified providers. Insurance companies require that the clinician is fully licensed. There are a few exceptions to this which would allow associate level clinicians to accept your insurance at a larger practice (however, that is very much a rare exception).

2. Find out what your insurance company will cover. This goes for in network and out of network. When you call your insurance company to find out about what they will pay for based on your specific plan be sure to ask about therapy as "Behavioral Health" This is the term frequently used by insurance companies to describe mental health counseling. Your insurance card may even have a number to call for mental health or behavioral health info.

3. It is a good idea to check out of network reimbursement percentages and deductibles as well. This is because clinicians that accept insurance receive a higher number of client inquiries than the clinicians that are working on a self pay model only.

4. Calling and booking... For this you'll want to click the button below and follow that to another blog post, "How to Find a Therapist: A Guide to Seeking Professional Support"

5. Just know that if you decide to go the insurance route your options may be more limited. You'll likely find mental health practitioners that operate on a self pay model only are more available and flexible.

How to find a Therapist

What impacts the fees for therapy?:

1. Location: Costs can vary significantly based on where therapy is provided. In urban areas, the rates may be higher. According to the Therapy Group of NYC, fees can range from $100 to $250 per session in cities like New York Therapy Group of NYC, 2021.

2. Therapist's Qualifications and Experience: A licensed mental health professional with specialized training, such as in Relational Life Therapy or Gottman Method, may charge more. According to GoodTherapy, the average cost of therapy ranges from $65 to $250 per hour, depending on the experience and credentials of the therapist GoodTherapy, 2020.

3. Type of Therapy: Couples or family therapy, may cost more than individual therapy. A 2019 survey conducted by Thervo showed that couples therapy might range from $75 to $200 per session Thervo, 2019.

4. Length and Frequency of Sessions: Most therapy sessions last between 45-60 minutes, and the costs are typically on a per-session basis. Some therapists might offer packages or sliding-scale fees based on income, which can affect the overall cost APA, 2021. Most

5. Insurance: Some insurance plans cover part or all of the costs of therapy. The American Psychological Association recommends checking with your insurance provider to understand the coverage and any copayments APA, 2021.

6. Online Therapy: Online platforms may offer different pricing models, potentially providing more affordable options. Talkspace, for example, offers plans starting at $65 per week Talkspace, 2021.

7. Community Resources: Some community mental health centers may provide therapy at a reduced cost or on a sliding scale based on income. At CCG we have never turned a client away because of the rate. Many practices will respond similarly to us, especially if your financial situation would otherwise prevent you from accessing help you need.

What does the therapeutic journey look like?:

1. Initial Intensive Phase: For some types of therapy, especially when addressing acute issues, clients may attend sessions more frequently, such as once or twice a week. According to the American Psychoanalytic Association, this can sometimes even include several times a week for psychoanalytic therapy APsaA, 2019.

2. Standard Frequency: Many therapists recommend weekly sessions, especially at the beginning of therapy. This allows for building rapport and addressing issues more consistently. A 2016 study published in "Psychotherapy" supported the effectiveness of weekly sessions for many clients Zilcha-Mano, S., et al., 2016.

3. Bi-Weekly or Monthly: As progress is made, some individuals may reduce the frequency to bi-weekly or even monthly sessions. This can be part of a maintenance or step-down approach GoodTherapy, 2019.

4. Couples and Family Therapy: The frequency for couples or family therapy, including the Relational Life Therapy and Gottman Method may vary depending on the issues being addressed. Some therapists may suggest weekly sessions, while others may have a different schedule.

5. Intensive Short-Term Therapies: Models like Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) might be conducted more frequently in a short time frame to address specific behavioral changes. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) notes that CBT often consists of 12 to 16 sessions NIMH, 2021.

6. Group Therapy: Group therapy sessions may follow different schedules, with some being weekly and others less frequent APA, 2019.

It's important to note that the number of sessions is rarely predefined before therapy starts. For individual or couples therapy you'll work with your therapist on average for 8-16 sessions. Many therapy models teach us to think of therapy in terms of months, not years or weeks. Many people choose to stay in therapy after their core challenges have been resolved on a monthly basis.