How do I find affordable therapy in NYC?
Affordable therapy in NYC is available through insurance-covered providers, income-based sliding scale clinics, community health centers, training clinics, and even free options like treatment studies and school counseling.
The most common ways to find low-cost or free mental health services in New York City include:
- Using your insurance benefits for in-network providers
- Asking about sliding scale fees, fee waivers, or pro bono sessions
- Visiting Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
- Trying training clinics at universities like Columbia, NYU, or Hunter
- Enrolling in a treatment study at research hospitals
- Using school or college counseling services
To view these options and find services by type, price, insurance, and identity-specific support, use the Healwise directory.
Start with your insurance
If you have health insurance, it’s usually the best place to start. Many NYC-based therapists and clinics accept a range of insurance plans, and your insurer may even offer a searchable directory of in-network providers.
Before attending your first appointment, you’ll want to make sure you know:
- Your co-pay: The amount you will have to pay for therapy at every session. Copays vary but are often between $5 to $30 a session.
- Your deductible: The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance starts to pay. For example, with a $2,000 deductible, you would pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself. After you pay your deductible, you usually pay only a copay for covered services.
You can find this information on your insurance card or by calling your provider and asking: “What are my therapy benefits in NYC, including co-pay and deductible?” “Which mental health clinics or therapists in Manhattan/Brooklyn/Queens/Harlem/etc. are in-network?”
How much does therapy cost without insurance in NYC?
Many clinics and therapists reduce costs through slidingscale pricing, fee waivers, or pro bono sessions, and some even offertransportation support.
Options to ask about include:
- Sliding scale: The therapist or clinic charges you for therapy appointments using a payment scale based on your income. If you make less, the cost of therapy is lower. For example, if you make $25,000 annually you may be charged $15 per appointment and if you make $40,000 annually you may be charged $20 per appointment. Therapists and clinics usually ask for proof of income to obtain a sliding scale rate. Learn more in our guide to sliding scale fees for therapy.
- Fee waiver: The therapist or clinic offers therapy for free or at reduced cost based on your financial need or life circumstances. Fee waivers are usually available at agencies working to make therapy more affordable for specific groups of people, such as domestic violence survivors or individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Pro bono: A therapist may offer therapy to a percentage of their clients at lower cost or for free, based on financial need. When available, pro bono therapy is usually offered by individual therapists within a private practice setting.
- Transportation assistance: The therapist or clinic offers transportation support (such as ride sharing), if you can’t afford or do not have transportation to your appointment.
Use the Healwise directory to search NYC mental health providers who offer sliding scale rates or other affordability options.
Can my doctor help me find low-cost therapy in NYC?
Yes. Reach out to your primary care doctor to talk about your mental health. If you visit a NYC-based primary care clinic or community health center, ask if they offer integrated behavioral health therapy services within the same clinic. These services are often covered by insurance and more affordable.
Don’t hesitate to tell your doctor: “I’d like help finding a therapist in NYC who fits my budget.” They may be able to refer you to trusted providers or low-cost mental health services in their network.
If your primary care clinic is part of a hospital system (e.g., Mount Sinai, NYU Langone), your doctor may also be able to refer you to a therapist or clinic within this system who accepts your insurance or offers low-cost mental health services. Your child’s pediatrician can also help if you are looking for services for your child.
Explore school-based services
If you’re looking for therapy for your child, many NYC public schools offer on-site counseling or therapy. Ask the school social worker what’s available.
When available, this can be a great option for your child because then you don’t have to worry about transportation and services are usually free. Sometimes schools only offer supportive counseling (e.g., resolving peer conflict) and not therapy (e.g., depression treatment). The social worker or counselor can let you know if your child needs therapy and may be able to give you referrals for affordable options in the community.
If you’re a college student, you can receive therapy services at reduced or no cost through your school’s college counseling center. You may not know it, but you actually pay for these services through your student fees, so it’s great to take advantage of it! Most college counseling centers use a brief therapy model (6 to 8 sessions).
For college students, CUNY and other NYC colleges typically offer free or low-cost therapy through their counseling centers. These are services you’ve likely already paid for via student fees.
Visit Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) in NYC
FQHCs are community-based clinics where healthcare providers are not allowed to turn anyone away based on insurance or ability to pay.
At FQHCs:
- Fees are adjusted by income.
- Locations are available across NYC, including Manhattan, Harlem, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Brooklyn.
Use the HRSA FQHC Finder to locate one near you.
Consider training clinics
Therapy students at NYC-based universities (like Columbia, NYU, or Hunter) offer sessions at reduced cost through training clinics. You’ll receive high-quality care, supervised by licensed professionals.
Search programs in counseling, social work, or psychology and call to ask: “Do you have a mental health clinic open to the public?”
Join a treatment study
NYC is home to major research hospitals and psychology programs. Participating in a treatment study often means free therapy and even financial compensation. You’ll also get access to cutting-edge approaches.
For this reason, therapy in these studies is free and you get paid for your participation. Another plus is that treatment studies offer cutting-edge treatments. In other words, study participants get the highest quality evidence-based treatments before they’re available to the general public.
Examples of NYC’s major hospitals that often run treatment studies include:
You can find additional treatment studies in Healwise’s platform.
How do I avoid surprise costs?
Always confirm session fees, discounts, and no-showpolicies before starting therapy to avoid unexpected bills.
Ask providers:
• How much does each session cost?
• Do you offer a sliding scale or any discounts?
• What happens if I miss an appointment?
Providers should always be transparent and willing to help you understand your financial responsibilities upfront.
Don't give up
Affordable therapy does exist in New York City. Stay persistent and try multiple paths.
- Lean on friends, family, or peer support groups
- Use a warmline for immediate support (See our guide to warmlines)
- Search the Healwise directory to compare cost, insurance, identity-specific support, and more
FAQs: Affordable Therapy in NYC
Q: How much does therapy cost in NYC?
A: On average, private therapy sessions can cost $150–$250+ in New York City. With sliding scale or Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) options, costs can drop to free or low cost per session.
Q: Can I find free therapy in NYC?
A: Yes. Options include community mental health agencies, FQHCs, training clinics, and treatment studies at NYC hospitals.
Q: Where can college students get therapy in NYC?
A: CUNY, NYU, and Columbia, for example, offer free or reduced-cost counseling through student fees and training clinics. Check with your college to see if free therapy is available.
Q: Does insurance cover therapy in NYC?
A: Most plans cover therapy but may require co-pays or deductibles. Always confirm with your insurer and provider before scheduling.
Q: What’s the cheapest therapy option in NYC without insurance?
A: The most affordable therapy in New York City without insurance is usually available at FQHCs and university training clinics, where costs are based on income.
Other no-insurance options in NYC include:
- Treatment studies at hospitals like Mount Sinai or Weill Cornell, where participants receive free therapy and sometimes financial compensation.
- Community mental health agencies that offer sliding scale or fee waivers for individuals experiencing financial hardship.
- Peer support and warmline services, which are free and available by phone or online for immediate support.
For the lowest-cost options, start by searching the Healwise directory for providers with sliding scale or no-insurance availability, or use the HRSA tool to locate an FQHC near your neighborhood.
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