What Does Therapy Cost in Pennsylvania?

Therapy costs can vary widely across Pennsylvania. Read on to learn what factors drive pricing and what you might anticipate paying.

If you're thinking about starting therapy in Pennsylvania, the cost of therapy is something important to consider. The cost of therapy can vary widely dependent on a number of factors, including your location, if you are using health insurance or not, if you're looking for specialized treatment, the experience of your therapist, and more. In this post, I break down some factors and give reasonable estimates.

Location

Therapy typically costs more in higher cost of living areas (aka, cities) vs suburban or rural areas. A therapy session in Pittsburgh, PA might cost an average of $150, whereas in Greensburg, PA, an average cost may be $130.

Type of Therapy

Almost always, therapy for individuals is going to be less than couples therapy or family therapy. Multiple individuals in therapy is extremely challenging for the therapist to navigate, and requires specialized skills, thereby increasing the cost.

Therapist Degree/Credentials

Therapists with a PhD or PsyD or other doctorate-level degree types often charge higher rates than their Master's level colleagues. Both can provide excellent care; don't assume Doctorate level providers are preferable to a Master's level provider.

Specializations

If you are looking for specialized therapy, such as EMDR therapy, brainspotting, etc., this too increases the cost of therapy, as these certifications are expensive to obtain and to maintain.

Experience of the Therapist

Typically, an Intern or therapist that is not fully licensed is less expensive than a licensed therapist with experience. In fact, seeing an Intern (who is supervised by a licensed therapist) can be a great way to receive therapy and save money.

Health Insurance

This is likely the biggest factor in determining the cost of therapy. If you have health insurance, it is recommended that you call your insurance to inquire about what is covered, if you have a deductible, if you have a co-payment, etc. If it is important to you to use your insurance benefits, this is something you will definitely want to ask when searching for a therapist.

I would estimate that with insurance benefits, clients can anticipating paying about $60 or less per session, although this varies wildly by insurance plan (and does not include a deductible). Frequently, your insurance card will list your copayment amount on the card, too.

Length of Session

Some therapists, especially for couples or specific types of therapy, utilize longer sessions (90 minutes, 2 hours, or even weekend intensives!) Longer sessions incur a higher cost.

A Note on Sliding Scales

Some therapists may offer a "Sliding Scale", which is a reduced fee for services. If you are paying privately for your services ask the therapists you interview if they offer a sliding scale.

Quick Summary: Average Cost of Therapy in PA

Without insurance: $120–$150 per session (average)

With insurance: $0–$60 per session (varies by plan)

Couples/family therapy: Typically higher than individual therapy, $150-220

Group Therapy: $15-$40/sessions (both with or without insurance)

Ready to Start Therapy in Pennsylvania?

If you’re looking for affordable therapy in Greensburg, PA or online therapy anywhere in Pennsylvania, Caring Conversations Therapeutic Services, LLC is here to help.

Call or text us at 724-201-9815 to get started 😊

In-person therapy in Greensburg

Virtual sessions across PA

Most major insurance plans accepted

Free consultations available

This blog is written and maintained by non-clinical staff. Therefore, the contents should be taken as psycheducation only and not as medical advice or as a replacement for therapy. If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please call 911. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis that is not life threatening, call 988.