I think I need therapy but cannot afford 200 dollars per session. What are my options?

You have several lower-cost therapy options besides paying $200 per session. The most practical starting points are sliding-scale therapists, Open Path Collective, community mental health clinics, university training clinics, and employee assistance programs (EAPs) if you have a job that offers them.[1][2][3][6]

Here are the main options, roughly from most common to least:

• Sliding-scale private therapists: Some therapists lower their fee based on income, and many will discount if you ask directly.[2][5][8]
• Open Path Psychotherapy Collective: This nonprofit connects people to vetted therapists for about $40–70 per session plus a one-time membership fee.[1][6]
• Community mental health clinics / nonprofit clinics: These often offer free or low-cost care based on income or local funding.[2][3][6]
• University training clinics: Therapy is provided by supervised graduate trainees and is often much cheaper than private practice.[2][6][8]
• EAP through your employer: Many workplace programs include a limited number of free counseling sessions and referrals.[2][3][8]
• Group therapy or support groups: Professionally led groups can cost about $20–100, and peer-led groups may be free or very low cost.[2][6]
• Online therapy: Often cheaper than in-person care, and some platforms advertise lower starting prices than traditional therapy.[5][8][9]

If you’re trying to decide what to do first, a good order is:

1. Ask your current therapist whether they offer a sliding scale or can refer you to a lower-cost colleague.[2][8]
2. Check Open Path Collective if you need an individual therapist at a much lower rate.[1][6]
3. Search for community clinics or university clinics in your area.[2][3][6]
4. Ask your HR department about EAP benefits if you’re employed.[2][3][8]
5. Consider group therapy if you want professional support at the lowest price.[2][6]

If money is tight, it can also help to ask providers for a superbill if you have out-of-network insurance, because some plans reimburse part of the cost.[3] If you’re in immediate crisis, 988 offers free 24/7 crisis support.[2]

If you want, I can help you find the cheapest options near you if you tell me your country, state/province, and whether you have insurance.