How to Find Affordable Therapy When You're Broke

How to Find Affordable Therapy When You're Broke

Friends are great for keeping your head straight, but sometimes problems and situations require more professional guidance than unloading over wine can provide. But we all know that good help doesn't come cheap - or does it?

“People typically only think of expensive, private therapy, but there are so many ways to get help when you're struggling with difficult situations and emotions,” says Theresa Nguyen, LCSW, vice president of policy and programs at the nonprofit Mental Health America.

It's true that visiting a psychologist can definitely create a black hole in your budget. But there are actually a hell of a lot of affordable therapy options to get treatment for as low as $50, $25, even free. “Money should never be the only factor that stops someone from getting help,” Nguyen adds. (And if you're not convinced you even need one, read this: Why Everyone Should Try Therapy at Least Once)

Here are nine ways to find affordable therapy so you can talk things through with someone more qualified than your friends.

Call your insurance company.

If you have insurance, there's some good news for finding affordable therapy. With the passage of the Mental Health Parity Act in 2008, every insurance plan — including those under the ACA — includes mental health coverage, and it should be the same copay as your other medical appointments, Nguyen says. Only problem: There are far fewer therapists in-network than out-of-network, meaning the professionals your insurance covers will be fully booked for months. But it's definitely worth calling the providers who only charge this additional payment.

If you want immediate help, contact out-of-network doctors who accept your insurance. You have to reach your deductible before your insurance company will cover anything, and even then you'll probably still be responsible for almost half the cost. But who knows – that could be enough of a discount to get your bank account on board. If not, read on. (Much more, right here: How to Decode Your Health Insurance to Find Affordable Mental Health Care)

Find out about cash prizes.

If you want to see a real therapist as quickly as possible, you're probably looking for a professional who is out of network or doesn't carry insurance at all (like about 30 percent of psychologists). It's definitely worth pointing out your limited income and asking if there are cheaper treatment options or alternative payment plans, says Nguyen. If you pay cash, you'll get a big discount, but remember that psychologists set their own prices, says Nguyen. This means that if he or she is in high demand, his or her cash plan may not be the cheapest treatment option on the market. (

How to find the best therapist for you

Ask about sliding scales.

Another affordable therapy option if you are financially limited is to consider a sliding scale. Not every therapist has one, but some charge, for example, $20 an hour and balance that with other clients who can pay more, Nguyen explains. Typically, you can filter by this option when searching for a therapist in a database. If you don't want or can't go through the trouble of finding someone with a sliding scale yourself, consider joining the Open Path Psychotherapy Collective. You pay a one-time subscription fee of $50 to be matched with a therapist in your area who only charges between $30 and $50 per session.

Check out college services.

If you're an undergraduate or graduate student, your university likely offers mental health services, and you would want to talk to someone who understands your community and your life, Nguyen says. And this is a great way to get cheap therapy - most of the time it's free.

Work with a pre-licensed professional.

Enroll with someone directly from school rather than an official LCSW or Ph.D. can work to your financial advantage. Pre-licensed professional training under the supervision of a licensed psychologist and potentially lower fees for clients. That doesn't necessarily speak to the quality of their work, Nguyen adds. “The feeling of being able to have a relationship with a person is more important than their degree.” It's definitely a good, affordable therapy option, but you should still research this person just like you would anywhere else, she adds.

Call a warm line.

"A warm line is a completely free, over-the-phone way to chat with someone when you need two or three conversations but don't need regular therapy sessions," says Nguyen. The lines are typically run by the local government and are staffed by people who are not licensed clinicians but have essentially been trained in how to listen compassionately to provide clarity. Check out this database to find your local number.

Contact a digital therapist.

Technology has made it even easier to find affordable therapy – cheap online therapy is pretty easy to get these days. "The beauty of a telemedicine app is that you have much more control over finding someone you like. It can be scary parting with a therapist face-to-face, but the apps allow you to try out different listeners and therapists and find one that offers you the support you need," adds Nguyen. Plus, they're usually much cheaper than in-person therapy. (

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Digital therapy apps run the gamut of who you are connected to. Some, like Talkspace or BetterHelp, match you with a licensed counselor who you can text or video chat with at any time, any day, for a flat monthly fee. Others, like Happy, are “compassionate listening” services that connect you with someone trained to give you a sympathetic ear if you typically pay by the minute. (

The best apps for therapy and mental health

Find a digital support group.

Whatever you're struggling with, chances are good that someone else is going through the same thing—that's the basis of support groups on Facebook and apps like Huddle, which is essentially a modern-day chat room space for people struggling with anxiety, body image issues, postpartum depression, and just about anything else you can think of. “There's something for everyone, and suddenly you're connecting with people who really empathize and become a great support system,” Nguyen says. This probably isn't the best affordable therapy option if you need someone to work through a really complex issue with you, but if you have questions that you're dying to know but don't necessarily need answered right away, digital support groups can be great. Plus, they're free!

Choose group therapy instead of individual therapy.

Private or public group therapy is like the mental health version of AA and is often free, says Nguyen. These are typically peer support groups that are hosted in a variety of ways - sometimes local mental health organizations hold group meetings open to anyone, often addressing topics like depression or sexual assault; For example, some healthcare companies host group stress management sessions in their office. Contact your local Mental Health America office who can direct you to support groups in your area. (Read next: How to Know When It's OK to Stop Therapy)