Affordable Family Counseling: Improve Mental Health With Therapists

Over 1.8 million people are seeking the support of a marriage and family therapist at any given time. Discussing family challenges, conflicts, and goals with a compassionate professional can have several benefits. Some of these benefits may include increased connection, understanding, and communication. Still, some types of family therapy may be above-budget for many families, so finding affordable options can be essential. 

Understanding the resources available to you in your area and elsewhere can be valuable as you start your search for a family therapist. Many low-cost or free therapy options are available in the US for those who qualify. 

What is family counseling? 

Family counseling is a type of psychotherapy focused on individuals in a family group and led by a mental health professional. Depending on the client's needs, it might involve a couple, parents and children, siblings, in-laws, or extended family members. This form of counseling is often group-oriented and suitable for three or more individuals. However, family therapy can also be administered to two people such as a mother and daughter or two adult siblings. 

This type of counseling examines each family member's thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors and how these intersect to form the family dynamic. Instead of individual treatment, group treatments may focus on helping the family unit increase positive communication, learn effective interpersonal skills, and resolve conflict.

Reasons families may seek affordable family counseling

Affordable family counseling ensures that quality support is available regardless of your budget. Families may go to therapy for many reasons, but a few could include the following:

• Discussing the addition of a new family member through adoption or fostering 
• Coping with the loss of a family member 
• Deciding on a difficult matter like moving or divorcing
• Resolving conflict between a parent and child 
• Finding ways to support a child living with mental illness
• Discussing the mental health conditions and symptoms of a close family member such as a parent
• Discussing substance use and dependency challenges
• Exploring family roles
• Learning to cope with conflict
• Compromising 
• Telling difficult news to children or other family members

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Family therapy for all

There may be no "right" or “wrong” way to pursue family therapy. Many families benefit from talking to a professional, regardless of their challenges. You don't have to have a diagnosed mental illness to talk to a therapist. However, therapy with licensed mental health counselors can be an effective treatment method for those living with anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions. This type of therapy has also been associated with long-term mental and physical health.

How much does family therapy cost? 

Although prices can differ depending on your city and state, Forbes reports that traditional in-person therapy can cost around $100 to $200 per session for individuals.

Does insurance cover family therapy and marriage counseling? 

In some cases, family therapy is only covered by health insurance when medically necessary for the policyholder. For example, if the insurance plan is for a child experiencing severe mental illness, the insurance company may cover sessions for the child's parents to attend therapy with them. If a parent has a diagnosis, their child or spouse may also be allowed to attend therapy under the insurance plan. 

However, those without a diagnosis or those looking to discuss topics unrelated to a mental illness may be required to pay out of pocket.  For some people, the cost of regular family therapy is steep.

How many people are covered under session payment? 

If you're paying out of pocket for family therapy, all family members impacted by the topic of interest may attend therapy. However, your licensed therapist might have personal rules about how many people they can treat in a session. Often, family therapy is structured around a treatment plan for two to four people. Some family therapists may accept groups larger than this. 

If your therapy is covered by an insurance plan, it may be up to the discretion of your insurance company whether all family members can attend therapy. It may be advisable to contact your insurance provider to discuss the terms of your agreement and find in-network therapists. 

How to find affordable family counseling and mental health care?

If you can’t afford the out-of-pocket costs associated with family counseling, you're not alone. There are several therapy options you can investigate to find affordable therapy for you and your family, including the following: 

Look for a sliding scale provider for affordable counseling

One option for low-cost therapy is finding a sliding-scale provider. Some mental health professionals offer a continuum for payment, allowing those with a lower income to pay the lower end of their session fees. Depending on their regular hourly rate, the sliding scale amount may be around 10% to 30% of the regular price. Consider emailing or contacting potential therapists by phone to discuss your situation. 

Find group family therapy

Group therapy involves a group of clients led by a therapist. These individuals are usually unrelated and often don't know each other. However, you may be able to find a group therapy session designed for families. 

In these sessions, you can come together alongside other families to gain specific therapeutic insight or lessons from a therapeutic modality. Group therapy is often cheaper for clients because multiple people pay the therapist, allowing them to meet their pay rate faster. In these cases, group therapy might cost one-half or one-third the cost of an individual session. 

Go to a local mental health care clinic with therapists

Public mental health clinics may charge a sliding rate or offer cheaper counseling services. Not all clinics offer family therapy, though. Consider checking with local clinics and seeing what rates they generally charge for services. Some clinics offer comprehensive services, which might include medication management with a psychiatrist, case management, and referral to community resources alongside therapy. Others may offer one or more of these health services. 

Try a non-profit organization partnering with volunteers

Although it might not be available in every state, free therapy from non-profits might be a temporary option for some families. Some non-profit organizations offer therapy on a short-term basis while families are experiencing housing or financial insecurity. Therapists who work for a non-profit are often volunteers, giving some of their time to people who cannot afford therapy. These mental health services could offer short-term counseling as you search for more long-term support. 

Consider an employee or student plan for affordable counseling

Some employers and universities offer free or low-cost therapy to those working or studying under them. These plans might be a temporary option and may not include family therapy. However, consider checking with your organization to learn more. 

Check with your insurance company for marriage counseling coverage

Although your health insurance company might not pay for the entire cost of counseling, consider checking the co-pay amounts in your policy. You might find that the co-pay is lower than other low-cost therapy services in your area. 

Work with a psychology intern 

Psychology students working towards their master's degree in counseling or social work are required to complete an internship and supervised practice before becoming fully licensed. Some of these clinicians in training or student interns may offer a lower rate as they gain more experience with clients during their internship. 

Student interns have achieved a bachelor's degree and are often at the end of their master's program. Therefore, they have advanced educational backgrounds in counseling and psychology. They may be able to offer therapy from $30 to $100 per session, depending on your area. 

Consider affordable online therapy with licensed therapists

Some people face other barriers to therapy besides finances. Distance, availability and flexibility may also determine whether therapy is obtainable for an individual, couple, or family. In these cases, online therapy sessions might offer a solution. 

Studies have found internet interventions like online therapy to be a promising therapeutic approach for families of individuals living with a severe mental illness. Other studies have found that online family therapy, in particular, can reduce waitlist time for families and enhance engagement in the therapeutic process in a way that in-person therapy cannot.