How Much Does a Therapist Cost in Houston?
You know that therapy is an investment in your mental health—but how much do therapy sessions actually cost? And why does therapy cost so much? Is it really worth it?
As a licensed therapist with more than a decade of experience providing counseling services, I understand how confusing and overwhelming it can be to start (and pay for) therapy. I also understand how invaluable therapy can be for people struggling with mental health issues, relationship challenges, life stressors, and more, so I want to make sure that as many people as possible can access the care they need.
That's why I created this blog post. Hopefully, the information here can act as a resource to help you understand how much therapy costs in Houston, the factors that go into the price of therapy, and your payment options.
Let's dive in.
Average costs of therapy in Houston, TX
On average, therapy costs between $60-$300 in Houston, TX.
However, each therapist sets their own rates, so the cost of mental health services can vary widely based on factors that we'll discuss later in this post.
While you'll need to inquire directly with each potential therapist to understand their rates, learning about the average cost of therapy in Houston can still help you get an estimate of what you might pay.
Here, we've compiled the average rates of 25 local licensed therapists in each specialty.
| Type of Therapy | Average Cost per Therapy Session |
|---|---|
| Anxiety therapy | $135 |
| Couples therapy | $156 |
| Depression therapy | $140 |
| Grief therapy | $138 |
| Substance abuse therapy | $141 |
| Trauma therapy | $152 |
Remember, these figures are based on averages. They aren't meant to represent the rates of any one particular therapist or therapy group. You can find more information about our rates here at Whitmire Counseling and Supervision by visiting our FAQ page.
Factors influencing the cost of therapy
The price of therapy services may seem arbitrary, but there are actually several factors that go into each therapist's rates. Here's a look at some of the main ones.
Therapist's experience
Typically, more experienced therapists will charge higher rates. Therapist associates (highly trained post-graduate therapists who are working toward licensure) often charge less than licensed counselors, and therapist interns (graduate students who receive supervision from multiple licensed therapists) usually charge even less.
Specialized training
All therapists (including therapist associates and interns) complete rigorous coursework, training, and supervised practice. From here, some therapists choose to pursue additional training for specialized forms of therapy, like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR).
These trainings require additional time and resources, and fewer therapists offer these specialized kinds of therapy, so those who do often charge more.
Type of service
The type of therapy service you receive can also dictate the cost. For example, couples counseling may cost more than individual therapy since the therapist is doing intensive work with two people at the same time.
Group therapy sessions may cost less than couples or individual therapy since group members receive less individualized care.
Location
Like other services, location may also influence the cost of therapy. Typically, therapists in major cities charge more than therapists in rural locations. However, with the rise of online therapy sessions, this isn't always the case.
Paying for therapy in Houston
How exactly does paying for therapy work? Here, I break down some of your main options for covering the cost of therapy services.
Private pay
Private pay, or paying out of pocket, gives you the most freedom and flexibility when it comes to your care. There's no referral or diagnosis needed, and your insurance company doesn't get to dictate whether services are covered due to "medical necessity."
Instead, you have full authority over which therapist you work with, the frequency of sessions, the amount of time you spend in treatment, and more.
Insurance coverage
Many people opt to use their insurance benefits to pay for therapy. In-network providers are those who are directly paneled with your insurance plan and submit claims on your behalf. You may still have to pay a co-pay or deductible out of pocket depending on your specific health insurance plan.
Even if your provider doesn't accept insurance, you may still be able to use your out-of-network benefits to help pay for therapy. In this case, you'll pay upfront for your sessions and get reimbursed from your insurance company.
Low-cost therapy services
Some community mental health clinics or local organizations may offer free or low-cost therapy services depending on your demographic, socioeconomic status, and more. Additionally, some mental healthcare providers offer sliding scale fees to help make therapy more affordable.
Depending on your financial situation, a therapist associate's or therapy intern's rates may be more affordable than what an experienced therapist charges.
FAQs about the cost of therapy in Houston
-
Unless your therapist offers sliding scale fees, the cost of therapy is technically the same whether you have insurance or not. What you pay out of pocket, however, can vary depending on your specific insurance plan, which type of benefits you use, and whether you have insurance at all.
If you don't have insurance and can't afford average therapy rates, I recommend looking into low-cost therapy options and/or inquiring with local therapists about sliding scale fees.
-
No; $100 per session is below the average cost of therapy in Houston. While some therapists (particularly associates or interns) may charge $100 or less, most experienced therapists charge more than $100 per session.
-
According to this blog post from Simple Practice (an electronic health record platform that many therapists use), Florida had the lowest median therapy session cost of $70 based on data from 2017.
Remember, the median is different than the average. The median refers to a middle point, so half of the therapists in Florida who use Simple Practice charged more than this, and half of the therapists charged less.
Final thoughts on therapy costs
It can feel daunting to invest your resources into yourself, especially if you've never been to therapy before or haven't had a positive experience in the past. These feelings are completely valid.
At the same time, it's important to consider the cost of not going to therapy. Mental health concerns may get worse, your relationship may deteriorate further, or you might continue to struggle with grief and low self-esteem.
Ultimately, it's up to you to decide whether the cost of therapy is worth it. With that said, I've seen the personal growth and change that's possible in my 15+ years of experience as a therapist. I want that for you, too.
If you're interested in learning more about how therapy can help you, I invite you to reach out and request more information. We'd be happy to support you on your journey.
