How Much Does Therapy Cost in Denver, CO?

Our team at Birch Psychology knows that going to therapy can be a life-changing experience. Therapy is something that everyone can benefit from, and for many, it is a necessary medical service.

Insurance and Therapy Services

While mental health care can offer you various benefits, insurance providers see mental health benefits differently than a medical service or item, so there is a difference in costs.

With behavioral health services, terms such as in network with insurance versus out of network reimbursement, good faith estimate, and sliding scale are utilized when discussing provider fees. The overall costs of therapy services is often something that can be difficult to discern.

It is important to understand your total expected cost while you are thinking about starting therapy so that you can make preparations suiting your financial needs. Finding an insurance provider that offers behavioral health coverage, then finding a practice that will accept insurance, and then finding the right therapist, can be challenging!

Out of Network vs In Network

Many therapists in Denver utilize a system of out of network partnerships with an insurance company. When doing this, providers need to give an estimate of the bill for services once the duration or scope of treatment is planned. This will be an estimate explaining how much medical care will cost.

Below, we will discuss what the average cost of mental health services are here at Birch and in Denver as a whole, why medical items and services can differ in costs, what a good faith estimate entails, as well as how much your medical care insurance covers.

What is a Good Faith Estimate?

You will typically receive a good faith estimate if your health care provider accepts cash instead of insurance for both emergency items or services and non emergency items such as a therapy session.

Providing a Good Faith Estimate became law in Denver in 2022. With this law, health care providers need to act in good faith when providing estimates for services.

An insurance company will often do so via an explanation of benefits, but a health care provider who does not work with insurance would instead provide this estimate before you schedule long term or intensive services.

What to do with a Good Faith Estimate

At a hospital or primary care office, you will receive a good faith estimate explaining how much your medical care will cost- including related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. Make sure to save this- as with this estimate you can dispute fees with the Colorado division of insurance if the good faith estimate is lower than the amount paid.

When your health care provider gives you a bill for medical items and services, you can reference your faith estimate in writing to determine if the amount you were charged follows legal guidelines- and if it doesn't- call the Colorado division of insurance to dispute.

Ask your health care provider about a good faith estimate visit!

What is the Average Cost of Therapy in Denver?

The average cost of therapy with a psychologist typically ranges from $150 to $250 per session, with some charging more based on factors like location, experience, and specialty.

It's essential to note that costs can vary widely depending on various factors, so it's always a good idea to inquire directly with the psychologist or their practice for accurate pricing information.

Session Type and Duration

The cost of different types of therapy services often vary for a number of reasons. The costs of a single therapy session are often equal, but the duration of the therapeutic process is a large factor behind the overall cost throughout treatment.

Therapists often charge differently for family therapy, group therapy, and individual counseling services. Mental health services will usually charge per session, and you will likely be seen at a certain frequency for a certain duration.

Therapist Credentials and Experience

At Birch Psychology and other group practices, the counseling fees often directly correspond to the education level of and amount of experience a mental health service provider has.

A student will often offer pro bono, sliding scale, and reduced fee slots to patients in order to complete their training while under supervision. This allows the practice to offer flexible financial options for counseling services through the utilization of an other provider.

Masters and doctoral level therapists also keep space on their caseloads for sliding scale and insurance services, but charge a higher rate out of pocket per session.

Therapist Education Levels

Most therapists with doctoral degrees have spent much more time in school, and have done much more work to achieve that degree, often focusing closely on a specific therapeutic focus or population, making them experts in certain areas.

Related to level of education attainment, experience plays a big role in how much therapists charge for their services. On average, mental health care providers with years (and sometimes decades) of experience will charge more for their services due to their extensive understanding of certain mental illnesses and/or types of therapy.

Is paying for therapy worth it?

At Birch Psychology, we offer a free consultation to discuss your financial needs to help you find the best therapist for you! We offer benefits such as sliding scale, and always provide a good faith estimate which includes related costs during a treatment planning session.

Our Denver therapists are here to help you and your loved ones reach your full potential.

At Birch Psychology, we don't want the cost of therapy to deter you from seeking out help. We are more than happy to work with you and your family on finding a therapist who is a good fit, both financially and relationally.

All of our providers accept cash, and over 75% of our clinicians are credentialed with Medicaid insurance. All of our providers offer therapy at a reduced fee for sliding scale eligible families.

If you are interested in seeking help and finding the right therapist for your family; don't let cost keep you from getting the care you deserve.