Have you thought to yourself, “I really need to start counseling.” The only thing that has been holding you back is, “How am I going to pay for it? ” I have listed some strategies below that may help you discover that counseling is in your budget.

1. Using your insurance

If you have medical insurance, then chances are you have mental health benefits. There are two things that you can do to get started with a therapist who takes your insurance. You can go to the insurance web site and look to see who is an in network provider. Or you can call the phone number on the back of your card and contact customer service. They can provide you with a list of therapists in your area who take your insurance. By using an in network therapist, you will be responsible for a co-pay. If you have a deductible, you may have to meet that before your insurance will cover your therapy sessions. If you decide to use an out of network therapist, the therapist can provide you with a “superbill.” A superbill is a receipt that shows how much you paid for your therapy session. You can submit the superbill to your insurance company for reimbursement. You can check with your insurance to make sure you have out of network benefits and how much of your money the insurance company with reimburse you for.

2. Find a therapist and pay their full fee

Maybe a friend has recommended a therapist and you find that they don’t take any insurance. Or you are looking for the best therapist that specializes in your particular problem. A seasoned therapist typically charges between $100-200 per hour. The upside of seeing a seasoned therapist is you may need fewer sessions to solve your issues and get better faster. www.psychologytoday.com lists all the therapists in your area. You can search by zip code, problem or method of therapy.

3. Use your Health Savings Account/Flex Spending Card

Most employers now offer a HSA account that you can use pre-tax dollars to pay for medical expenses. Counseling is a covered service that you can use your HSA card for.

4. Go to your local mental health clinic

Most areas have a mental health clinic designed to assist the local area with their mental health needs. They provide sliding scale and low fee counseling. This counseling is often provided by new therapists out of school looking to get experience.