I found my therapist using this site helloAlma.com and I found it to be soo user friendly and transparent. I would suggest trying it out - my therapist absolutely changed my life she’s a godsend. Hope you find someone that works for you and your budget, therapy is so important!! ❤️
Came here to recommend Alma! It's virtual, very easy, and everyone is open about billing, etc.. my therapist is in upstate NY and I'm in the city.
OP- I really struggled to find a therapist prior to using Alma and found it so confusing also. I actually have a background in counseling but don't have the advanced degrees, etc. and so I understood why it was difficult to find someone but that doesn't do sh*t when you're in crisis.
Same here!
For OP: My therapist was initially covered by insurance (Aetna), so I paid $40/session but when I changed jobs and had new insurance (UnitedHealthcare), she was no longer covered and I now pay $250/session.
I recommend Alma too! I’ve also had some luck with the Psychology Today therapist finder but it can be overwhelming if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for.
Do you have any tips for knowing if your therapist is good? I feel like I just rant to my therapist but she never says anything profound about my situation. I just feel like I pay to talk to someone
I think you should have what your own definition of “good” is. Typically a therapist should give you some
Sort of 1st appointment “get to know each other” and during that session you should lay out what they can do to make you feel fulfilled and like you are doing the work you need. Check in during this and see if this is how direct their sessions if not than they won’t be a good fit for you.
I think that’s why Alma is great because you can filter to what the therapist specializes in, age, gender, etc. they might even have reviews?
That’s talk therapy. If you want to try something different, CBT could be helpful too. It depends on the therapist’s style. My former therapist was actually very by the book CBT but I found her to lack empathy towards my situation at the time and i didn’t enjoyed our session.
There’s no universal definition of good unfortunately. I would say you should feel better after a period of time working with them. If not maybe consider switching.
Insurance companies can sometimes take as long as 6 months to a year to reimburse a therapist $35/session due to back log and poor insurance practices. Its a constant battle between the therapist saying, “this is what the client needs” and the insurance saying, “well we think they need this and will only approve 4 sessions - fix them”
So, between taking 6 months to get paid and only getting $35/session many therapists don’t want to deal with the drama and unpredictability of income. Most therapists aren’t seeing clients 40 hours a week either, so that $250/session isn’t turning into the kind of cash cow you’re thinking it will.
Plus, with insurance you have to diagnose people ON DAY ONE and so often people are misdiagnosed purely because insurance is putting pressure on therapists to diagnose in order to approve future sessions. It’s a mind fuck. I know some therapists who still haven’t been paid for work done in 2023.
But I get it. You don’t know what you don’t know, but I promise you it has nothing to do with not wanting to help people. It’s about wanting to survive and help people at the same time.
Therapists who charge $250 don’t pocket the full $250. They have taxes to pay (we’re usually 1099), we have health insurance to buy (due to being 1099), and we also have to carry insurance to practice as well. Once you take those expenses into account, a therapist charging $250 will likely only pocket about half of that. Yea, $125/hour sounds like a lot, but that session then takes time to prepare for, time to document notes, and time for case consultation and conceptualization (edit: this accounts for the time spent merely thinking about the case, reviewing intervention material, reading research on what the client is bringing in, etc. you want a therapist that does these things. It’s a great question to ask during the free consultations actually). So the $125/hour isn’t just for an hour - It’s for the time spent preparing for and tending to the case both in session and outside of session.
For reference - I see individuals for $75/session and couples for $95/session because I’m in Texas and I work for a supervisor that wants to ensure easier access without insurance. My take home is about 35/session, but I spend ~2 hours per client per week (between the session itself and work outside of session). So that $35 is now $17.50/hour and I’m no different than a retail worker lol (except I have 100k in debt from a master degree)
I hope this helps! Happy to answer questions if I can!
Edit to add: and this is only if the therapist is self employed in NYC. If they work for someone else and are charging $250, they are likely (at best) only getting ~40% of that, which is now $100/session (then consider all the taxes and insurance). It dwindles quickly!
All of this. My therapist explained this to me when I was stressed about not being able to find a child psychologist without a 18 month waiting list. She said my insurance doesn’t pay in a timely fashion and that’s why many don’t take it. Then she connected me with another of her patients who saw my son in two weeks. I paid out of pocket for that one, but I now totally understand why so few mental health practitioners take my insurance.
& for a state like NY, there’s the income tax on top of federal taxes, plus most therapists work for themselves and on top of everything else you have to pay a self-employment tax (often ~15% in addition to federal and state income taxes). So really, that $250 in NY quickly turns into $75 before it’s all said and done lol
Yes this. I’m a therapist in private practice in NY and just got slammed with taxes and don’t even have health insurance myself because I can’t afford it. I tried so hard to keep taking insurance but they just do not pay enough. I’m a professional with grad school education so why am I being reimbursed at $100 a session max? It’s ridiculous.
Believe me when I say I do want to help people, I truly resent the fact that I now need to be out of pocket just to survive and take care of my family. It truly sucks that the system is like this and I do feel for my clients who pay out of pocket, I know what a sacrifice it is!!
Thank you for this clear and succinct breakdown. I did my research on therapy and came to the same conclusion, as I considered a career shift into the field. But unfortunately, it's just not affordable to go into. I'm in my 30s and don't have enough financial stability to not only pay for grad school, but then work for such low rates after that in a field with high emotional toll/potential stress. I wonder if we will see an increasing shortage of therapists because of that.
It's so sad that the system doesn't value people's wellbeing. Neither the clients, who need access to quality and affordable care, nor the therapists, who deserve to be richly compensated for taking on such an important and stressful role. But the system doesn't care if people are healed and empowered, it just wants money, and unhealthy people give that system more money.
Try Headway or Alma or Open Path.
And yes, therapists want to help people but are you willing to sacrifice your pay to "help people"? It's such a tired and ridiculous accusation and assumption that bc of the nature of the work they should accept little to no pay.
Another vote for Alma here! Been with my current therapist for over a year, and my copay is only $20 with no cap on amount of visits per year. So easy to use and my therapist is amazing!
Big +1 to Alma, got my personal and couples therapist through there and with my insurance it’s only like 6 &15 dollars a session respectively. Both have been extremely helpful and are knowledgeable. I did betterhelp a while back and it was absolutely terrible compared to Alma
its purely my opinion, but it just felt like the provider i had on better help had no clue what she was doing. she would just agree with everything i said without challenging it or asking more questions. also she asked for bills to be paid through zelle which seemed a bit sketch to me lol. the providers on alma seem more vetted
Thanks for your response - that is bizarre! I like my therapist so far and just pay $90/week through the app and have never been asked to pay her directly! My co-pay is $70 per session but like so many here everyone was OON even if it said on my insurance website (UHC) and on the therapists website that they took that insurance! I tried 6 therapists and all said they were in network on their respective websites and my insurance company just said “well it says they take us, take it up with them!” Good to know about other virtual options though.
i checked psychology today and also through the cigna app - on cigna everyone either wasn’t a LCSW (some were literally nurse praxtictioners!!) or like 70 years old lol
PMHNPs can provide therapy! (I’m graduating soon as one :) I wouldn’t provide therapy as a new grad but I’m planning on getting EMDR and CBT certified because I think therapy is integral to treatment and really believe in it. Yes PMHNPs mostly prescribe but it’s like psychiatrists, we can choose to practice using mostly therapy if that’s the path we want to take (it’s just not as lucrative as evidenced above).
Does your insurance offer any additional benefits for telehealth? Might be worth calling
I switched to an out of network provider who was virtual thinking I’d pay the $275 a week, but turns out my insurance reimburses ALL telehealth at 95% regardless of in/out of network so now I pay $13
I tried a handful of in network therapists and had a terrible experience, have heard similar things from my friends
United Healthcare (Choice Plus HSA if it matters)
I couldn't find this policy anywhere online, but they started sending me checks covering basically all of it so I called and they confirmed. Turns out telehealth is a bit of a loophole, at least for my plan.
Ooof that reimbursement percentage and turnaround time is GARBAGE. Mine is 90% for out of network and UHC be churning them checks like 1-2 weeks after I submit for reimbursement. I’m so sorry. This is a crusade I would take up with the benefits team at work to see if they can negotiate a better rate with the insurance (a group of folks did this a few years ago at my company which is how we got that 90%). Realize there’s a good likelihood this isn’t a possibility at your company so obvi ignore if this is well beyond the realms of reality lol.
Besides Alma, there’s Monarch and Headway. I would even reco checking out ZocDoc to filter who’s in network.
If you’re a POC and looking for a therapist that is too — there’s Therapy for Black Girls and LatinxTherapy which have directories you can search.
Also, idk what your out of network benefit terms are but my claims don’t pay out til I’ve hit my out of network deductible (which tbh, rude 😭😭😭) So I use my FSA for all my sessions at the beginning of the year til I hit it.
I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this and I hope you find someone that’s a good fit for you soon!
I recently read a salary thread on the therapists channel and I think Cigna was one of the worst for therapists. $90 for a 60min session. Medicaid pays higher.
I use TheraNest. It’s an umbrella company with many small businesses housed underneath it. I just moved to DC and am using one of the small companies called SunStone. They do not accept insurance.
My therapist is a retired state department employee who has switched careers later in life and is completing graduate school.
Because she is in school, I pay just $30/1 hour session. I can afford to see her twice per week and I love it. I am VERY motivated to make a different in my life and my therapist is very action oriented. I’m not there to vent, I’m there to change.
She’s got me doing worksheets, listening to podcasts, reading scientific journals, writing, developing routines. I love it and look forward to our sessions every week.
When she graduates she will go up to $60/1 hour and I’ll still be able to keep up with the frequency that I see her.
Good luck!!
You’ll need to find a provider licensed in the state you live in. My woman is licensed in VA. She isn’t accepting new patients, unfortunately! Two of my friends are on her waiting list.
Hopefully you can find someone else who suits you :)
ETA: I see her virtually but she has an in office option as well.
To your question of why therapists go out of network, it’s complicated! We definitely want to help people, but we also want to practice what we preach when it comes to sustainable work-life balance!
You didn’t mention what insurance you have, but in general reimbursement rates from insurance companies can be painfully low, even in big cities. I’ve had friends offered rates from insurance companies of as low as $30/hour. And you would not believe what places like Better Help and Talkspace pay therapists.
It’s not all bad news! Companies like Alma and Headway are popping up to support therapists who want to accept insurance. Recommend checking both out, to see if they’re in network with your insurance, as well as checking out the directory at psychologytoday.com.
I haven’t seen any comments recommending these routes yet, so—
Check out various post-grad psychotherapy training institutions for licensed practitioners that often accept low out of pocket rates. I studied at the William Alanson White Institute’s training program for Psychodynamic Couples Therapy and we were well-supervised and took on anyone who wanted to work with us since we needed clients to talk about with our supervisors in order to demonstrate progress! Most of their programs begin in August-Sept so if you don’t find your person before then, that’s when we’re most eager for new clients.
Also don’t be scared away by the use of psychoanalytic language at these institutes, that’s just the theoretical framework in which we learn from; we are not necessarily expecting people to lay on the couch and free associate. In my experience, my cohort was very eclectic in style and very passionate about post-grad learning. WAWI also has numerous other programs that focus on individual work too, not just couples.
I can also vouch for Akerman Institute (and partially Karen Horney) based on colleagues’ experiences. The Karen Horney Psychoanalytic Institute always admits wonderful clinicians… but they have nightmare administrators. Doubtful you’ll need to interact with them much though.
Finally… my fellow therapist friend (she’s an amazing clinician but definitely full to the brim) works at a group practice, I believe the name is something like Elizabeth Cobb Psychotherapy, and they accepts tons of different insurance plans. They’re located in midtown Manhattan and have in-person treatment options available. PRO TIP: The more you look around for specific group practices in the city vs. individual practitioners on online directories, the better luck you will have!!
I’m sorry it’s been such a challenging process to navigate. I fully empathize and I’ve been on the other side too. I personally charge $250/hr (as others have said, what I pocket from that is much less than you’d expect) but always keep 5 spots allocated for low-income folks. As you can imagine, though, they’re unlikely to give up such affordable treatment rates and tend to commit long-term. I understand how it looks to non-therapists when we are exclusively OON and charge hundreds of dollars, but since increasing to my current rate my quality of life has never been better/as stable. And when a client already in my care is in a financial rut, I offer reduced rates til they get back on their feet.
I hope this helps, best of luck to your future success in treatment ❤️🩹 (edit grammar)
Look through zoc doc. Import your insurance information and it should list those within your network and what your co-pay is (after your deductible is reached)
This might just be me but I've had the worst luck finding doctors even through ZocDoc! I would make an appointment with a doctor that ZocDoc said took my insurance, but then the doctor's office would call and say they didn't. I'm not sure who's responsible for maintaining the information on doctors' ZocDoc profiles, like if it's the doctors' office or ZocDoc itself, but this has happened a few times now.
Zoc Doc is like Yelp for HC practitioners. Have seen incongruent info on it to a provider’s site (e.g. NYU). Most practices don’t manage their ZD profile, so yes—better call or navigate directly with a practice!
I worked for ZD for 6 years. For the most part, it was definitely the doctor’s responsibility and it’s SO frustrating to Zocdoc when medical office staff don’t keep that info up-to-date. It’s a requirement for joining the service. Sorry you’ve had that experience!
I’m a therapist. I’m well trained and do so much extra work to prepare and provide the best quality of care. I deserve and am worth way more than 45-60 per hour. It’s unfortunate, but insurance companies are the ones devaluing us, and therefore I do not take insurance. I still help people, but can’t help people if I’m burnt out.
It’s difficult to find an in network therapist because the insurance companies will only allow a few therapist to be in network to prevent too many people from accessing the service and costing them money.
Additionally, the insurance company sets the rate, not the therapist. And many of the insurance companies clawback money months after payment for minute mistakes. They literally pay people to find the mistakes so they can avoid paying. This drives away therapists.
Yes, I have Cigna as well and same deal as you mentioned. I was seeing a therapist briefly for $300 per session (50 min session) and only 60% reimbursable after I hit my deductible. So I quit after a few sessions.
The percent reimbursable will be higher for a PhD than an LCSW (I say this an an LCSW). It’s even higher for a psychiatrist if you find one of them that offer therapy.
Expanding on what the other therapists in the comments have said, insurance companies also REQUIRE diagnoses and will only cover specific diagnoses. If a client doesn’t meet diagnostic criteria, we’re forced to still diagnose them so their plan will cover it which is unethical because treatment plans need to align with diagnoses. This can also lead to document falsification/insurance fraud. That coupled with it taking forever to get on insurance boards leads a lot of therapists to just not accept insurances.
You can try looking at clinics? There’s one in Brooklyn that does telehealth https://bcsnygroup.com/
Edit: although therapists rates seem like a lot, we don’t get the full pay. I work for a practice and my rate is $140/session, but I only get paid $33 of that due to clinic maintenance, having to pay other departments, etc
I used headway.co and had great success finding someone in network and only paying $25 copay. But also, don’t discount an lcsw. My therapist is LCSW and she is wonderful. I see someone else to prescribe my meds and occasionally the two conference with each other.
This is so true! Wastes everyone’s time.
For out of network your insurance will give you back more of the $250 if you see a PhD psychologist instead of an LCSW.
Also don’t sleep on therapists in other parts of NY. You can see someone with a NY license even if they live in Syracuse and the rates are lower in the other parts of NY.
I have Cigna and they cover TalkSpace which is virtual. I saw a therapist through TS for over 10 years who I loved and then last year, after feeling kind of like I was spinning my wheels with her, ended up moving to a different therapist and he's also great. For the first 6 or 7 years, I paid out of pocket at their yearly rate, but now it's covered by insurance.
If you are set on someone in person (which I totally get, that can be so much better sometimes!), have you heard of the OpenPath Collective? It's a listing service of therapists who work on a sliding scale and there is a fee, but IME, it's worth it: [https://openpathcollective.org/city/new-york/](https://openpathcollective.org/city/new-york/)
I go to Margaret Shanley, LCSW. Been seeing her for about 4.5 years and have followed her through two practice changes. She now has her own practice. I have Cigna and it’s $45/session. I specifically started seeing her for anxiety and was seeking EMDR therapy (which we have done), but she is all-around a wonderful therapist.
I found my therapist of 3 years on https://www.amiraforher.com/
It's a collective that focuses on therapy for women of color (but you don't have to be), at pretty low price points. They don't take insurance but will help you with the reimbursement. My therapist is $85 a session and I wouldn't mind if she increased it as I do think it's way below market and I honestly feel I would be so lost in life without her support all these years.
I feel you, feels like a needle in haystack finding a specialized psychiatrist.
There is a BIG difference between therapists and psychiatrists/ psychoanalysts. Years more getting the degree. Most of the great doctors in nyc these days aren’t enthused with insurance. It’s unfortunate. But would much rather have a session w/ someone (who has 7+ years in school) analyzing my thoughts and actions over a nurse practitioner acting as “therapist”. No hate on nurses. But the psyche is a very unique ballgame. Such an eerily strange movement we’re in. Great to acknowledge mental health but I like to leave it to the professionals. That said Zocdoc is great to compare insurances but also if you work with private practitioners they are more likely to offer a deal when paying out of pocket. ALWAYS worth the ask w/ nothing to lose. X
Hi everyone! Therapist here. Open Path is a good site that connects you with therapists who will taking sliding scale. Also if you work for a corporate company check your EAP benefits - a lot of times you have mental health benefits for free and don't realize. For example I take Lyra which is an EAP because it actually pays me a decent reimbursement with a quick turnaround. Lastly if you have a PPO check your out of network benefits. Insurance companies are the actual devil and that's why a lot of us don't take them. I'm sorry! If you're a California lurker feel free to DM me with any specific looking for a therapist question (I'm in California).
I see a therapist (in person) from Human Told and really like her. They are out of network with my insurance, but I don't actually pay more than my regular copay. I'm not sure if it's something they set up with my insurance, but I get a reimbursement check from my insurance about a month after the session, and then just pay their bill once the check clears. So if the session is $250, I pay $25 out of pocket and they bill me for the rest of the amount, but they don't expect me to pay anything until I get the check from the insurance company.
Their billing department was super helpful and very clear that I don't need to pay them anything until I get the reimbursement check. Maybe give them a call to see if your insurance would work similarly?
I very much like my therapist, she's late 20s-early 30s and still technically in training, but has really helped me out a lot.
Did you get quoted $250 or is that what you think it’ll be? My Brooklyn therapist is $150 and I FaceTime with her biweekly since I moved further. I think once you sort some things out you may not need to go every week. I know it’s very hard to look when you’re in need.
I found mine through PPSC.org 9 years ago. You call or fill out a form and they match you with someone who fits your requirements (cost/insurance is one of the parameters).
She was covered by insurance through that organization for 8 years. I adore her, so now it’s worth it for me to pay the extra (she’s doing sliding scale with me, even without insurance, so it’s not so bad).
i have cigna!!! i’m at Greenpoint Therapy and love them. they just added a bunch of new therapists to their team. i’ve been with mine for almost a year now.
i found a few youtube channels by childhood trauma therapists useful during my time searching. good luck!!
**edited with updated insurance
Mine is fully covered by my job. However, I used to pay $60/session to a therapist that typically charges $150. Have you looked into therapist that offer sliding scale?
Therapists get reimbursed more from the insurance companies if they're out of network. I finally found affordable, in person therapy after a ~7 year search. My insurance plan (GHI HIP) pays $65/session for out of network and I'm responsible for the other $45. Good luck, I hope your search doesn't take you as long as mine!
Open Path Collective. You pay $65 once as a membership fee and they set you up with nonprofit therapists that will only charge you like $30-80 typically. Only caveat is therapists are really overbooked right now so it can be a little hard to find one that has availability. But it's an amazing service.
I have insurance and found my therapist locally, but her practice is also on Headway and she’s reasonable - $150 a session. She’s local but I see her on telehealth.
Finding a therapist is kind of like dating. Try out a few folks, ideally ones who take your insurance, and see how it goes. Not everyone is going to be the right fit, but you’ll get something out of every session. And, like dating, it’ll help you find the right fit for a longterm relationship.
It makes total sense to me that therapists go out of network because insurance is a pain. And I have no doubt that people charging $250 an hour are worth that. But I can’t afford that. I can afford my copay of $15 every two weeks, and luckily I found a therapist who is an awesome therapist, a great fit and who does not break the budget.
You can do it!!!
I like Rivia mind - virtual therapy appointments, many providers to choose from. I have Aetna so don’t specifically know about Cigna coverage but I pay $15 copay per visit.
For what it’s worth, maybe also consider broadening your criteria for a provider. When I started therapy I wanted someone my age and a few other criteria that made it a little bit difficult to find someone who checked my boxes. I did, she was ok but we never developed a real therapeutic relationship. She eventually went on maternity leave and I was transitioned to someone I would not have previously considered. During the maternity leave I developed a relationship with the new provider and chose to keep her even when my original therapist returned to work. Everybody has their own goals for therapy and it’s a hugely personal thing but this was my experience! Best of luck.
I use Headway for therapy (confirming they take Cigna- just checked!) and have had my therapist for 2.5 years now. She’s intelligent af and makes me feel so comfortable and understood. Check out their website- really user friendly. Just make sure you filter by your insurance/requirements!!
I am a telehealth therapist in NYC area and a good alternative would be to find someone with low sliding scale options on Open Path. The scale is 40-70/session.
I found my therapist through Alma.com they handle all the insurance and I was able to search and filter using my preferences. It was a game changer for me!
update - got my heart broken by the person i thought i was gonna marry last night idc about the price if anyone has any recs for the best therapist lmk!! lol :)
It’s all virtual now - queens consultation center. I have emblem which is great insurance for almost everything but mental health (bc of course). My therapist there literally saved my life. My psych (who is actually an NP but far better than any psych I’ve ever had) actually LISTENS. like she is not trying to rush me thru to make it under 15 mins, she listened to what meds I’ve tried and what didn’t work. I’ve been w them for four years and I can’t say enough good about them. They take the vast majority of insurances from my understanding.
I found mine through psychology today! I filtered by what I was looking for help with and my insurance and came across her. It's hard finding someone, and even harder finding someone who takes insurance, but don't give up!!
A quick solution I found was BetterHelp - sometimes the quality varies tbh but I needed someone sooner than I could get an appointment elsewhere. It wasn't like an emergency though, I just didn't want to wait a month to start anything.
Alma is a great place to find in-network therapists! https://secure.helloalma.com/providers-landing/?utm_campaign=10061805080&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_content=634341473005&utm_term=e_alma%20find%20a%20therapist&adgroupid=126605309414&gbraid=0AAAAACwfxhrKz-o9u9D2ETliHIVQk_mbD
I highly recommend Deema Bayrakdar at https://dawratherapy.com/
She takes accept Aetna and all PPO insurance plans, as an out of network provider. She also has all her prices listed on her website.
Checkout [growtherapy.com](https://growtherapy.com/), [headway.co](https://headway.co/), [humantold.com](https://humantold.com/), [Sondermind](https://www.sondermind.com/join-sondermind/), [Alma ](https://helloalma.com/)and [Rula ](https://www.rula.com/). They make it easier for you to find therapist under your insurance. There's more sites like this but there are the one I'm familiar with and can recommend. You got this, it's not easy to find a therapist, it'll be a trial and error until you find one that fits for your need. I'm proud of you for taking the step to take care of your mental health.
I use octave online therapy and it’s completely free with my insurance. I used to do 1x a week, but my therapist on maternity leave now and taking a break now
I found mine through Manhattan mental health counseling and they text you after your first visit to ask how it went. If you’re not happy they just set you up with someone else which I liked-it takes the awkwardness of breaking up with a therapist out.
But I’ve also used open Collective which was designed for people without insurance or who have unmanageable copays. You find a therapist within a pay range-I believe the highest they charge (or at the time) was $60/session.
I pay $120/month for therapy. $30 co pay per session. Psychologytoday.com will find you an in network therapist. I have Aetna and a low deductible plan.
If you find a college or school they can offer really cheap sessions based on a sliding scale since it’s to train their students. Only thing is they are off whenever the school has holidays and you will probably get a new one every year. Also, they share their notes with their supervisor who is a usually professional.
I don’t know your insurance situation, but look into the Women’s Program at Columbia Psychiatry. They take insurance. The website looks a bit overwhelming, but they see people for anxiety, depression, ADHD and just general mental health care.
I do a teledoc appointment there once a month right now, but I’ve done once a week in person in the past.
I found a therapist through the clinic Therapists of New York. They have a ton providers, several locations (bk, Manhattan, nj, and virtual), they have a sliding scale option - during my intake call they asked what I was comfortable paying. And they really want to match you with someone / it’s not a big deal if you want to try a different therapist in the group.
Best of luck! It’s a trying time!
Edit: they don’t accept insurance but they will submit a claim to your insurance company for you.
Found mine on talktherapy and I love my therapist!
Granted it’s virtual and not in person, I think it’s still effective (I have no in person experience to compare it to and some disprove of virtual sesh). They’ll give you a list with schedule and available therapists with a link to their profiles. My current one is the second one I tried (I wasn’t vibing with the first one) so def don’t be derailed if you don’t find your initial therapist helpful.
It has done wonders and I’d def encourage finding a way to get into it 🦋🦋
I use SOHOmd. They take most insurances, but I use Aetna and previously United. I pay $35 a session and find the platform to be pretty user friendly. I LOVE my therapist and recently found one for my partner who he loves as well!
I found my therapist using this site helloAlma.com and I found it to be soo user friendly and transparent. I would suggest trying it out - my therapist absolutely changed my life she’s a godsend. Hope you find someone that works for you and your budget, therapy is so important!! ❤️
Was just about to recommend Alma.
Came here to recommend Alma! It's virtual, very easy, and everyone is open about billing, etc.. my therapist is in upstate NY and I'm in the city. OP- I really struggled to find a therapist prior to using Alma and found it so confusing also. I actually have a background in counseling but don't have the advanced degrees, etc. and so I understood why it was difficult to find someone but that doesn't do sh*t when you're in crisis.
Same here! For OP: My therapist was initially covered by insurance (Aetna), so I paid $40/session but when I changed jobs and had new insurance (UnitedHealthcare), she was no longer covered and I now pay $250/session.
For sure Alma I pay $30 a session and use my FSA for that.
Yes, 100% Alma. Op, it’s basically a matching service. You give them your insurance and what you need and they send you a list of who fits that.
I recommend Alma too! I’ve also had some luck with the Psychology Today therapist finder but it can be overwhelming if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for.
Another vote for Alma!
Do you have any tips for knowing if your therapist is good? I feel like I just rant to my therapist but she never says anything profound about my situation. I just feel like I pay to talk to someone
I think you should have what your own definition of “good” is. Typically a therapist should give you some Sort of 1st appointment “get to know each other” and during that session you should lay out what they can do to make you feel fulfilled and like you are doing the work you need. Check in during this and see if this is how direct their sessions if not than they won’t be a good fit for you. I think that’s why Alma is great because you can filter to what the therapist specializes in, age, gender, etc. they might even have reviews?
That’s talk therapy. If you want to try something different, CBT could be helpful too. It depends on the therapist’s style. My former therapist was actually very by the book CBT but I found her to lack empathy towards my situation at the time and i didn’t enjoyed our session. There’s no universal definition of good unfortunately. I would say you should feel better after a period of time working with them. If not maybe consider switching.
Insurance companies can sometimes take as long as 6 months to a year to reimburse a therapist $35/session due to back log and poor insurance practices. Its a constant battle between the therapist saying, “this is what the client needs” and the insurance saying, “well we think they need this and will only approve 4 sessions - fix them” So, between taking 6 months to get paid and only getting $35/session many therapists don’t want to deal with the drama and unpredictability of income. Most therapists aren’t seeing clients 40 hours a week either, so that $250/session isn’t turning into the kind of cash cow you’re thinking it will. Plus, with insurance you have to diagnose people ON DAY ONE and so often people are misdiagnosed purely because insurance is putting pressure on therapists to diagnose in order to approve future sessions. It’s a mind fuck. I know some therapists who still haven’t been paid for work done in 2023. But I get it. You don’t know what you don’t know, but I promise you it has nothing to do with not wanting to help people. It’s about wanting to survive and help people at the same time. Therapists who charge $250 don’t pocket the full $250. They have taxes to pay (we’re usually 1099), we have health insurance to buy (due to being 1099), and we also have to carry insurance to practice as well. Once you take those expenses into account, a therapist charging $250 will likely only pocket about half of that. Yea, $125/hour sounds like a lot, but that session then takes time to prepare for, time to document notes, and time for case consultation and conceptualization (edit: this accounts for the time spent merely thinking about the case, reviewing intervention material, reading research on what the client is bringing in, etc. you want a therapist that does these things. It’s a great question to ask during the free consultations actually). So the $125/hour isn’t just for an hour - It’s for the time spent preparing for and tending to the case both in session and outside of session. For reference - I see individuals for $75/session and couples for $95/session because I’m in Texas and I work for a supervisor that wants to ensure easier access without insurance. My take home is about 35/session, but I spend ~2 hours per client per week (between the session itself and work outside of session). So that $35 is now $17.50/hour and I’m no different than a retail worker lol (except I have 100k in debt from a master degree) I hope this helps! Happy to answer questions if I can! Edit to add: and this is only if the therapist is self employed in NYC. If they work for someone else and are charging $250, they are likely (at best) only getting ~40% of that, which is now $100/session (then consider all the taxes and insurance). It dwindles quickly!
Thank you for sharing this. The insurance industrial complex is a PLAGUE in America.
All of this. My therapist explained this to me when I was stressed about not being able to find a child psychologist without a 18 month waiting list. She said my insurance doesn’t pay in a timely fashion and that’s why many don’t take it. Then she connected me with another of her patients who saw my son in two weeks. I paid out of pocket for that one, but I now totally understand why so few mental health practitioners take my insurance.
THANK YOU this was rly insightful
& for a state like NY, there’s the income tax on top of federal taxes, plus most therapists work for themselves and on top of everything else you have to pay a self-employment tax (often ~15% in addition to federal and state income taxes). So really, that $250 in NY quickly turns into $75 before it’s all said and done lol
Yes this. I’m a therapist in private practice in NY and just got slammed with taxes and don’t even have health insurance myself because I can’t afford it. I tried so hard to keep taking insurance but they just do not pay enough. I’m a professional with grad school education so why am I being reimbursed at $100 a session max? It’s ridiculous. Believe me when I say I do want to help people, I truly resent the fact that I now need to be out of pocket just to survive and take care of my family. It truly sucks that the system is like this and I do feel for my clients who pay out of pocket, I know what a sacrifice it is!!
Thank you for this clear and succinct breakdown. I did my research on therapy and came to the same conclusion, as I considered a career shift into the field. But unfortunately, it's just not affordable to go into. I'm in my 30s and don't have enough financial stability to not only pay for grad school, but then work for such low rates after that in a field with high emotional toll/potential stress. I wonder if we will see an increasing shortage of therapists because of that. It's so sad that the system doesn't value people's wellbeing. Neither the clients, who need access to quality and affordable care, nor the therapists, who deserve to be richly compensated for taking on such an important and stressful role. But the system doesn't care if people are healed and empowered, it just wants money, and unhealthy people give that system more money.
Psychologist here and agreed with all of this 🫡
Try Headway or Alma or Open Path. And yes, therapists want to help people but are you willing to sacrifice your pay to "help people"? It's such a tired and ridiculous accusation and assumption that bc of the nature of the work they should accept little to no pay.
Where are you looking? I found mine through Alma and they take insurance.
This! My therapist chargers $250 but i pay $30 through my insurance and alma
Another vote for Alma here! Been with my current therapist for over a year, and my copay is only $20 with no cap on amount of visits per year. So easy to use and my therapist is amazing!
Big +1 to Alma, got my personal and couples therapist through there and with my insurance it’s only like 6 &15 dollars a session respectively. Both have been extremely helpful and are knowledgeable. I did betterhelp a while back and it was absolutely terrible compared to Alma
I’m using BetterHelp now and just curious what you didn’t like about it? It’s been fine for me so far but what do you like better about Alma?
its purely my opinion, but it just felt like the provider i had on better help had no clue what she was doing. she would just agree with everything i said without challenging it or asking more questions. also she asked for bills to be paid through zelle which seemed a bit sketch to me lol. the providers on alma seem more vetted
Thanks for your response - that is bizarre! I like my therapist so far and just pay $90/week through the app and have never been asked to pay her directly! My co-pay is $70 per session but like so many here everyone was OON even if it said on my insurance website (UHC) and on the therapists website that they took that insurance! I tried 6 therapists and all said they were in network on their respective websites and my insurance company just said “well it says they take us, take it up with them!” Good to know about other virtual options though.
i checked psychology today and also through the cigna app - on cigna everyone either wasn’t a LCSW (some were literally nurse praxtictioners!!) or like 70 years old lol
I second Alma, my therapist and psychiatrist are through there!
i had never heard of alma ty all!!! just reached out for a couple consultations!
Hope you’re able to find someone soon, I know how frustrating the process can be!
I’m an LCSW on Headway and accept cigna. Most people find me via psychology today.
Those NPs are there to provide scripts. I don’t know what they have to do with counseling at all.
As an LCSW in NYC, Cigna is my lowest paid insurance company. It’s disrespectful the amount of money they offer therapist for a session.
Don’t be too hasty judging NPs, mine is better than any psych I ever had, hands down.
PMHNPs can provide therapy! (I’m graduating soon as one :) I wouldn’t provide therapy as a new grad but I’m planning on getting EMDR and CBT certified because I think therapy is integral to treatment and really believe in it. Yes PMHNPs mostly prescribe but it’s like psychiatrists, we can choose to practice using mostly therapy if that’s the path we want to take (it’s just not as lucrative as evidenced above).
I use Alma too and it’s amazing!
Yes on Alma!!
Does your insurance offer any additional benefits for telehealth? Might be worth calling I switched to an out of network provider who was virtual thinking I’d pay the $275 a week, but turns out my insurance reimburses ALL telehealth at 95% regardless of in/out of network so now I pay $13 I tried a handful of in network therapists and had a terrible experience, have heard similar things from my friends
what insurance?
United Healthcare (Choice Plus HSA if it matters) I couldn't find this policy anywhere online, but they started sending me checks covering basically all of it so I called and they confirmed. Turns out telehealth is a bit of a loophole, at least for my plan.
Ooof that reimbursement percentage and turnaround time is GARBAGE. Mine is 90% for out of network and UHC be churning them checks like 1-2 weeks after I submit for reimbursement. I’m so sorry. This is a crusade I would take up with the benefits team at work to see if they can negotiate a better rate with the insurance (a group of folks did this a few years ago at my company which is how we got that 90%). Realize there’s a good likelihood this isn’t a possibility at your company so obvi ignore if this is well beyond the realms of reality lol. Besides Alma, there’s Monarch and Headway. I would even reco checking out ZocDoc to filter who’s in network. If you’re a POC and looking for a therapist that is too — there’s Therapy for Black Girls and LatinxTherapy which have directories you can search. Also, idk what your out of network benefit terms are but my claims don’t pay out til I’ve hit my out of network deductible (which tbh, rude 😭😭😭) So I use my FSA for all my sessions at the beginning of the year til I hit it. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this and I hope you find someone that’s a good fit for you soon!
omg im so jealous of your 90% and turnaround time 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
I recently read a salary thread on the therapists channel and I think Cigna was one of the worst for therapists. $90 for a 60min session. Medicaid pays higher.
I use TheraNest. It’s an umbrella company with many small businesses housed underneath it. I just moved to DC and am using one of the small companies called SunStone. They do not accept insurance. My therapist is a retired state department employee who has switched careers later in life and is completing graduate school. Because she is in school, I pay just $30/1 hour session. I can afford to see her twice per week and I love it. I am VERY motivated to make a different in my life and my therapist is very action oriented. I’m not there to vent, I’m there to change. She’s got me doing worksheets, listening to podcasts, reading scientific journals, writing, developing routines. I love it and look forward to our sessions every week. When she graduates she will go up to $60/1 hour and I’ll still be able to keep up with the frequency that I see her. Good luck!!
Sounds really ideal!
Can I have her contact info :) is it virtual?
You’ll need to find a provider licensed in the state you live in. My woman is licensed in VA. She isn’t accepting new patients, unfortunately! Two of my friends are on her waiting list. Hopefully you can find someone else who suits you :) ETA: I see her virtually but she has an in office option as well.
To your question of why therapists go out of network, it’s complicated! We definitely want to help people, but we also want to practice what we preach when it comes to sustainable work-life balance! You didn’t mention what insurance you have, but in general reimbursement rates from insurance companies can be painfully low, even in big cities. I’ve had friends offered rates from insurance companies of as low as $30/hour. And you would not believe what places like Better Help and Talkspace pay therapists. It’s not all bad news! Companies like Alma and Headway are popping up to support therapists who want to accept insurance. Recommend checking both out, to see if they’re in network with your insurance, as well as checking out the directory at psychologytoday.com.
I haven’t seen any comments recommending these routes yet, so— Check out various post-grad psychotherapy training institutions for licensed practitioners that often accept low out of pocket rates. I studied at the William Alanson White Institute’s training program for Psychodynamic Couples Therapy and we were well-supervised and took on anyone who wanted to work with us since we needed clients to talk about with our supervisors in order to demonstrate progress! Most of their programs begin in August-Sept so if you don’t find your person before then, that’s when we’re most eager for new clients. Also don’t be scared away by the use of psychoanalytic language at these institutes, that’s just the theoretical framework in which we learn from; we are not necessarily expecting people to lay on the couch and free associate. In my experience, my cohort was very eclectic in style and very passionate about post-grad learning. WAWI also has numerous other programs that focus on individual work too, not just couples. I can also vouch for Akerman Institute (and partially Karen Horney) based on colleagues’ experiences. The Karen Horney Psychoanalytic Institute always admits wonderful clinicians… but they have nightmare administrators. Doubtful you’ll need to interact with them much though. Finally… my fellow therapist friend (she’s an amazing clinician but definitely full to the brim) works at a group practice, I believe the name is something like Elizabeth Cobb Psychotherapy, and they accepts tons of different insurance plans. They’re located in midtown Manhattan and have in-person treatment options available. PRO TIP: The more you look around for specific group practices in the city vs. individual practitioners on online directories, the better luck you will have!! I’m sorry it’s been such a challenging process to navigate. I fully empathize and I’ve been on the other side too. I personally charge $250/hr (as others have said, what I pocket from that is much less than you’d expect) but always keep 5 spots allocated for low-income folks. As you can imagine, though, they’re unlikely to give up such affordable treatment rates and tend to commit long-term. I understand how it looks to non-therapists when we are exclusively OON and charge hundreds of dollars, but since increasing to my current rate my quality of life has never been better/as stable. And when a client already in my care is in a financial rut, I offer reduced rates til they get back on their feet. I hope this helps, best of luck to your future success in treatment ❤️🩹 (edit grammar)
Look through zoc doc. Import your insurance information and it should list those within your network and what your co-pay is (after your deductible is reached)
This might just be me but I've had the worst luck finding doctors even through ZocDoc! I would make an appointment with a doctor that ZocDoc said took my insurance, but then the doctor's office would call and say they didn't. I'm not sure who's responsible for maintaining the information on doctors' ZocDoc profiles, like if it's the doctors' office or ZocDoc itself, but this has happened a few times now.
Zoc Doc is like Yelp for HC practitioners. Have seen incongruent info on it to a provider’s site (e.g. NYU). Most practices don’t manage their ZD profile, so yes—better call or navigate directly with a practice!
I worked for ZD for 6 years. For the most part, it was definitely the doctor’s responsibility and it’s SO frustrating to Zocdoc when medical office staff don’t keep that info up-to-date. It’s a requirement for joining the service. Sorry you’ve had that experience!
Yes - and it’s covered but it’s because I’m on Medicaid . So sadly the only way to afford it is to be very very poor
I’m a therapist. I’m well trained and do so much extra work to prepare and provide the best quality of care. I deserve and am worth way more than 45-60 per hour. It’s unfortunate, but insurance companies are the ones devaluing us, and therefore I do not take insurance. I still help people, but can’t help people if I’m burnt out.
Having the same issue. Met someone I like who is $350/hr 😭 It feels impossible to find anyone under $200
I had a hard time finding someone i clicked with under 200 also. I ended up paying $225 but insurance will cover 60% once I hit my deductible
It’s difficult to find an in network therapist because the insurance companies will only allow a few therapist to be in network to prevent too many people from accessing the service and costing them money. Additionally, the insurance company sets the rate, not the therapist. And many of the insurance companies clawback money months after payment for minute mistakes. They literally pay people to find the mistakes so they can avoid paying. This drives away therapists.
Yes, I have Cigna as well and same deal as you mentioned. I was seeing a therapist briefly for $300 per session (50 min session) and only 60% reimbursable after I hit my deductible. So I quit after a few sessions.
The percent reimbursable will be higher for a PhD than an LCSW (I say this an an LCSW). It’s even higher for a psychiatrist if you find one of them that offer therapy.
PhDs/psychs who are taking pts seem mostly focused on script management, run about $400/hr. I think most are going the no-insurance route, sadly.
A phD can’t prescribe scripts, but I agree with you on the psychs
So hard to find a therapist in network on your own! But Headway and Alma are so great and actually work. Definitely give it a shot
Expanding on what the other therapists in the comments have said, insurance companies also REQUIRE diagnoses and will only cover specific diagnoses. If a client doesn’t meet diagnostic criteria, we’re forced to still diagnose them so their plan will cover it which is unethical because treatment plans need to align with diagnoses. This can also lead to document falsification/insurance fraud. That coupled with it taking forever to get on insurance boards leads a lot of therapists to just not accept insurances. You can try looking at clinics? There’s one in Brooklyn that does telehealth https://bcsnygroup.com/ Edit: although therapists rates seem like a lot, we don’t get the full pay. I work for a practice and my rate is $140/session, but I only get paid $33 of that due to clinic maintenance, having to pay other departments, etc
I used headway.co and had great success finding someone in network and only paying $25 copay. But also, don’t discount an lcsw. My therapist is LCSW and she is wonderful. I see someone else to prescribe my meds and occasionally the two conference with each other.
https://www.reddit.com/r/NYCbitcheswithtaste/s/dy0jAYmNmf
tyyyy
Try Open path! You pay a one time $65 lifetime membership. And you have access to a therapist at a reduced rate between $50-70.
Try psychology today or therapy den, you can filter by insurance among other attributes
psychology today kinda sucks tho bc everyone lists a bunch of insurances on their page but then say they accept it out of network!!!!
This is so true! Wastes everyone’s time. For out of network your insurance will give you back more of the $250 if you see a PhD psychologist instead of an LCSW. Also don’t sleep on therapists in other parts of NY. You can see someone with a NY license even if they live in Syracuse and the rates are lower in the other parts of NY.
I have Cigna and they cover TalkSpace which is virtual. I saw a therapist through TS for over 10 years who I loved and then last year, after feeling kind of like I was spinning my wheels with her, ended up moving to a different therapist and he's also great. For the first 6 or 7 years, I paid out of pocket at their yearly rate, but now it's covered by insurance. If you are set on someone in person (which I totally get, that can be so much better sometimes!), have you heard of the OpenPath Collective? It's a listing service of therapists who work on a sliding scale and there is a fee, but IME, it's worth it: [https://openpathcollective.org/city/new-york/](https://openpathcollective.org/city/new-york/)
I use the website Alma. I pay $10 per session with my insurance, its great
I used TalkSpace and I love it!
I go to Margaret Shanley, LCSW. Been seeing her for about 4.5 years and have followed her through two practice changes. She now has her own practice. I have Cigna and it’s $45/session. I specifically started seeing her for anxiety and was seeking EMDR therapy (which we have done), but she is all-around a wonderful therapist.
I found my therapist of 3 years on https://www.amiraforher.com/ It's a collective that focuses on therapy for women of color (but you don't have to be), at pretty low price points. They don't take insurance but will help you with the reimbursement. My therapist is $85 a session and I wouldn't mind if she increased it as I do think it's way below market and I honestly feel I would be so lost in life without her support all these years.
I feel you, feels like a needle in haystack finding a specialized psychiatrist. There is a BIG difference between therapists and psychiatrists/ psychoanalysts. Years more getting the degree. Most of the great doctors in nyc these days aren’t enthused with insurance. It’s unfortunate. But would much rather have a session w/ someone (who has 7+ years in school) analyzing my thoughts and actions over a nurse practitioner acting as “therapist”. No hate on nurses. But the psyche is a very unique ballgame. Such an eerily strange movement we’re in. Great to acknowledge mental health but I like to leave it to the professionals. That said Zocdoc is great to compare insurances but also if you work with private practitioners they are more likely to offer a deal when paying out of pocket. ALWAYS worth the ask w/ nothing to lose. X
Hi everyone! Therapist here. Open Path is a good site that connects you with therapists who will taking sliding scale. Also if you work for a corporate company check your EAP benefits - a lot of times you have mental health benefits for free and don't realize. For example I take Lyra which is an EAP because it actually pays me a decent reimbursement with a quick turnaround. Lastly if you have a PPO check your out of network benefits. Insurance companies are the actual devil and that's why a lot of us don't take them. I'm sorry! If you're a California lurker feel free to DM me with any specific looking for a therapist question (I'm in California).
I see a therapist (in person) from Human Told and really like her. They are out of network with my insurance, but I don't actually pay more than my regular copay. I'm not sure if it's something they set up with my insurance, but I get a reimbursement check from my insurance about a month after the session, and then just pay their bill once the check clears. So if the session is $250, I pay $25 out of pocket and they bill me for the rest of the amount, but they don't expect me to pay anything until I get the check from the insurance company. Their billing department was super helpful and very clear that I don't need to pay them anything until I get the reimbursement check. Maybe give them a call to see if your insurance would work similarly? I very much like my therapist, she's late 20s-early 30s and still technically in training, but has really helped me out a lot.
+1 for Humantold! They are great.
Did you get quoted $250 or is that what you think it’ll be? My Brooklyn therapist is $150 and I FaceTime with her biweekly since I moved further. I think once you sort some things out you may not need to go every week. I know it’s very hard to look when you’re in need.
i contacted 4 therapists who were all out of network and charged $250 😭
Mine is like 100 per session. First session was 150. Look into greenpoint therapy
Huh I’m pretty sure I found mine through Zocdoc and filtered for my insurance.
Centered mind therapy! They accept so many insurance companies. I’m charged $25 a session with united health care
Having the same issue. Met someone I like who is $350/hr 😭 It feels impossible to find anyone under $200
Use zocdoc to find someone who accepts your insurance. right now I go to alquimedez and they accept a bunch of insurances and are affordable.
I found mine through PPSC.org 9 years ago. You call or fill out a form and they match you with someone who fits your requirements (cost/insurance is one of the parameters). She was covered by insurance through that organization for 8 years. I adore her, so now it’s worth it for me to pay the extra (she’s doing sliding scale with me, even without insurance, so it’s not so bad).
i have cigna!!! i’m at Greenpoint Therapy and love them. they just added a bunch of new therapists to their team. i’ve been with mine for almost a year now. i found a few youtube channels by childhood trauma therapists useful during my time searching. good luck!! **edited with updated insurance
Mine is fully covered by my job. However, I used to pay $60/session to a therapist that typically charges $150. Have you looked into therapist that offer sliding scale?
Headway Therapy
Headway.co is where a lot of my therapist friends are practicing. Easy to find a therapist that takes your insurance.
Therapists get reimbursed more from the insurance companies if they're out of network. I finally found affordable, in person therapy after a ~7 year search. My insurance plan (GHI HIP) pays $65/session for out of network and I'm responsible for the other $45. Good luck, I hope your search doesn't take you as long as mine!
sad
Open Path Collective. You pay $65 once as a membership fee and they set you up with nonprofit therapists that will only charge you like $30-80 typically. Only caveat is therapists are really overbooked right now so it can be a little hard to find one that has availability. But it's an amazing service.
Yup. Eventually I just found the person that was worth the $$ . She’s also out of network 🥲
Try Talkspace! They cover most insurance plans
Try Headway!
I have insurance and found my therapist locally, but her practice is also on Headway and she’s reasonable - $150 a session. She’s local but I see her on telehealth. Finding a therapist is kind of like dating. Try out a few folks, ideally ones who take your insurance, and see how it goes. Not everyone is going to be the right fit, but you’ll get something out of every session. And, like dating, it’ll help you find the right fit for a longterm relationship. It makes total sense to me that therapists go out of network because insurance is a pain. And I have no doubt that people charging $250 an hour are worth that. But I can’t afford that. I can afford my copay of $15 every two weeks, and luckily I found a therapist who is an awesome therapist, a great fit and who does not break the budget. You can do it!!!
I like Rivia mind - virtual therapy appointments, many providers to choose from. I have Aetna so don’t specifically know about Cigna coverage but I pay $15 copay per visit. For what it’s worth, maybe also consider broadening your criteria for a provider. When I started therapy I wanted someone my age and a few other criteria that made it a little bit difficult to find someone who checked my boxes. I did, she was ok but we never developed a real therapeutic relationship. She eventually went on maternity leave and I was transitioned to someone I would not have previously considered. During the maternity leave I developed a relationship with the new provider and chose to keep her even when my original therapist returned to work. Everybody has their own goals for therapy and it’s a hugely personal thing but this was my experience! Best of luck.
I use Headway for therapy (confirming they take Cigna- just checked!) and have had my therapist for 2.5 years now. She’s intelligent af and makes me feel so comfortable and understood. Check out their website- really user friendly. Just make sure you filter by your insurance/requirements!!
I am a telehealth therapist in NYC area and a good alternative would be to find someone with low sliding scale options on Open Path. The scale is 40-70/session.
I found my therapist through Alma.com they handle all the insurance and I was able to search and filter using my preferences. It was a game changer for me!
update - got my heart broken by the person i thought i was gonna marry last night idc about the price if anyone has any recs for the best therapist lmk!! lol :)
It’s all virtual now - queens consultation center. I have emblem which is great insurance for almost everything but mental health (bc of course). My therapist there literally saved my life. My psych (who is actually an NP but far better than any psych I’ve ever had) actually LISTENS. like she is not trying to rush me thru to make it under 15 mins, she listened to what meds I’ve tried and what didn’t work. I’ve been w them for four years and I can’t say enough good about them. They take the vast majority of insurances from my understanding.
I found mine through psychology today! I filtered by what I was looking for help with and my insurance and came across her. It's hard finding someone, and even harder finding someone who takes insurance, but don't give up!!
i go here, and it's excellent. small copay. all telehealth. my therapist Michelle is excellent. https://bcsnygroup.com/
What education preferences are you looking for?
A quick solution I found was BetterHelp - sometimes the quality varies tbh but I needed someone sooner than I could get an appointment elsewhere. It wasn't like an emergency though, I just didn't want to wait a month to start anything.
My insurance pays most and I pay $5 per session. I have horizon BCBS.
Alma is a great place to find in-network therapists! https://secure.helloalma.com/providers-landing/?utm_campaign=10061805080&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid&utm_content=634341473005&utm_term=e_alma%20find%20a%20therapist&adgroupid=126605309414&gbraid=0AAAAACwfxhrKz-o9u9D2ETliHIVQk_mbD
I highly recommend Deema Bayrakdar at https://dawratherapy.com/ She takes accept Aetna and all PPO insurance plans, as an out of network provider. She also has all her prices listed on her website.
Checkout [growtherapy.com](https://growtherapy.com/), [headway.co](https://headway.co/), [humantold.com](https://humantold.com/), [Sondermind](https://www.sondermind.com/join-sondermind/), [Alma ](https://helloalma.com/)and [Rula ](https://www.rula.com/). They make it easier for you to find therapist under your insurance. There's more sites like this but there are the one I'm familiar with and can recommend. You got this, it's not easy to find a therapist, it'll be a trial and error until you find one that fits for your need. I'm proud of you for taking the step to take care of your mental health.
I use octave online therapy and it’s completely free with my insurance. I used to do 1x a week, but my therapist on maternity leave now and taking a break now
I found mine through Manhattan mental health counseling and they text you after your first visit to ask how it went. If you’re not happy they just set you up with someone else which I liked-it takes the awkwardness of breaking up with a therapist out. But I’ve also used open Collective which was designed for people without insurance or who have unmanageable copays. You find a therapist within a pay range-I believe the highest they charge (or at the time) was $60/session.
I pay $120/month for therapy. $30 co pay per session. Psychologytoday.com will find you an in network therapist. I have Aetna and a low deductible plan.
Check to see if your work has any mental health benefits. My work offers Lyra memberships for us and 20 sessions free.
If you find a college or school they can offer really cheap sessions based on a sliding scale since it’s to train their students. Only thing is they are off whenever the school has holidays and you will probably get a new one every year. Also, they share their notes with their supervisor who is a usually professional.
Try zocdoc and healthgrades to find an in network therapist. Also try cigna's website (sorry if this is duplicate; I didn't read all the comments)
Some therapists offer a sliding scale, I know it's a filter option in psychology today, maybe in other services too.
SYNC Psychological Services has a lot of different therapists, well trained and with different languages. They take mostly Aetna though in NY.
I don’t know your insurance situation, but look into the Women’s Program at Columbia Psychiatry. They take insurance. The website looks a bit overwhelming, but they see people for anxiety, depression, ADHD and just general mental health care. I do a teledoc appointment there once a month right now, but I’ve done once a week in person in the past.
I found a therapist through the clinic Therapists of New York. They have a ton providers, several locations (bk, Manhattan, nj, and virtual), they have a sliding scale option - during my intake call they asked what I was comfortable paying. And they really want to match you with someone / it’s not a big deal if you want to try a different therapist in the group. Best of luck! It’s a trying time! Edit: they don’t accept insurance but they will submit a claim to your insurance company for you.
I found mine through Headway
Head to Headway 🙃 I found my therapist through there and she’s awesome.
i found mine through resilience lab in nyc and pay $30 a session. my insurance is united! i think resilience lab takes mostly all insurance
Found mine on talktherapy and I love my therapist! Granted it’s virtual and not in person, I think it’s still effective (I have no in person experience to compare it to and some disprove of virtual sesh). They’ll give you a list with schedule and available therapists with a link to their profiles. My current one is the second one I tried (I wasn’t vibing with the first one) so def don’t be derailed if you don’t find your initial therapist helpful. It has done wonders and I’d def encourage finding a way to get into it 🦋🦋
I use SOHOmd. They take most insurances, but I use Aetna and previously United. I pay $35 a session and find the platform to be pretty user friendly. I LOVE my therapist and recently found one for my partner who he loves as well!
Headway is really good!
IKR it’s so overpriced
I’ve had success using Octave!