Therapy session cost without insurance
The median cash price for Therapy session, 60 min is $236.13 across 947 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $100.54 and $507.30.
Therapy sessions are priced by type and length: an intake evaluation (90791), individual sessions of about 30, 45 or 60 minutes (90832, 90834, 90837), family and group sessions, and psychological testing. The biggest price factors are session length and setting, since a hospital-based clinic may add a facility fee. In a mental health crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day.
Collected Sep 25, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file
Therapy session prices by type
Individual codes are based on time with the clinician: 90832 is 16 to 37 minutes, 90834 is 38 to 52 and 90837 is 53 or more, so check how long your sessions actually run. The state table uses 90837, the 60-minute session, and group therapy (90853) is priced per person per session.
| Procedure | Hospitals | Most charge | Median | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric evaluation Mental health diagnostic evaluation (intake), without medical services · code 90791 | 980 | $100.56–$555.54 | $247.83 | $181.34median 1.4× |
| Therapy session, 30 min Psychotherapy session, 30 minutes · code 90832 | 965 | $58.56–$364.88 | $159.01 | $181.34median 0.9× |
| Therapy session, 45 min Psychotherapy session, 45 minutes · code 90834 | 956 | $77.10–$466.00 | $201.90 | $181.34median 1.1× |
| Therapy session, 60 min Psychotherapy session, 60 minutes · code 90837 | 947 | $100.54–$507.30 | $236.13 | $181.34median 1.3× |
| Family therapy, no patient Family therapy without the patient, 50 minutes · code 90846 | 755 | $78.10–$476.00 | $191.10 | $181.34median 1.1× |
| Family therapy session Family therapy with the patient, 50 minutes · code 90847 | 890 | $87.67–$590.66 | $204.75 | $181.34median 1.1× |
| Group therapy session Group psychotherapy session · code 90853 | 888 | $41.28–$368.43 | $109.20 | $103.79median 1.1× |
| Psychological testing, 1st hour Psychological testing evaluation by a psychologist or physician, first hour · code 96130 | 503 | $114.00–$673.40 | $288.42 | $220.60median 1.3× |
| Psychiatric evaluation Psychiatric evaluation with medical services · code 90792 | 777 | $106.03–$628.00 | $273.75 | $181.34median 1.5× |
| Crisis therapy Psychotherapy for crisis, first 60 minutes · code 90839 | 662 | $102.48–$593.60 | $254.59 | $181.34median 1.4× |
“Most charge” is the middle 80% of hospitals (10th to 90th percentile), so one mistyped line in a hospital file cannot stretch it. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price for the code. “Medicare” is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for the same service outside a hospital stay, including the patient's share (the hospital outpatient, lab or hospital clinic rate); “median 3×” means the median cash price is three times that rate.
Therapy session, 60 min: median by state
States with at least two hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its therapy session prices and cheapest hospitals.
- Mississippi$79.55
- Tennessee$81.78
- Louisiana$91.37
- North Carolina$122.21
- New Hampshire$146.52
- Alabama$157.30
- South Carolina$160.50
- Kansas$180.56
- Minnesota$183.20
- Illinois$189.00
- Montana$191.20
- Nevada$193.00
- Missouri$193.50
- Nebraska$196.42
- West Virginia$200.50
- Indiana$203.00
- New Jersey$205.45
- Vermont$205.79
- Arizona$205.87
- Maine$211.35
- Wisconsin$212.80
- Michigan$223.55
- Oklahoma$225.00
- Arkansas$239.25
- Oregon$239.25
- Virginia$240.55
- South Dakota$243.20
- Washington$243.35
- Pennsylvania$251.91
- Wyoming$252.00
- Iowa$261.14
- Texas$275.02
- New York$276.00
- Connecticut$281.50
- Massachusetts$281.59
- Colorado$294.45
- Ohio$313.30
- Maryland$320.45
- Alaska$353.00
- California$354.68
- Rhode Island$366.00
- Florida$390.12
- North Dakota$465.85
- Idaho$466.00
- Kentucky$559.78
- Georgia$628.00
Paying cash: what to do
- Ask for a Good Faith Estimate: under the No Surprises Act self-pay clients are entitled to one, and it can cover a planned series of sessions for up to 12 months.
- Ask about sliding-scale fees; community mental health centers, community health centers and university training clinics often set fees by income.
- Confirm the intake fee (90791) before the first visit, and ask whether a hospital-based clinic adds a facility fee to each session.
Questions
How much does therapy cost without insurance?
It depends on session length, the clinician's license and the setting, and therapists in private practice set their own cash rates, which may differ from the hospital prices in the table. Multiplying the per-session price by the planned number of sessions gives a better picture than a single visit.
Which code is a 'therapy hour'?
Many therapists bill a session of 53 minutes or more as 90837, while the common 45-minute session is 90834. Ask which code your therapist uses, since it sets the price.
Does paying cash keep therapy out of my insurance records?
If you pay yourself and no claim is submitted, your insurer does not receive a claim for those sessions. HIPAA also lets you ask a provider not to share information with your health plan about services you paid for in full.