The cost is one of the biggest things that prevent people from seeking the professional help they need to improve their mental health. If you’ve never had therapy before, you may be worried that you just can’t afford it and you’re going to be stuck living with your problems permanently. But if you do a little research, you may just discover that DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) is more affordable than you imagined and is something you can work into your budget.
How many sessions do you need?
Most therapists charge by set times, usually 45-60 minutes per session. So the easiest way to determine how much DBT will cost is to work out how much time you’ll need. Dialectical behavioral therapy is usually set out like this:
- One-to-one sessions with a therapist (1 hour per week)
- DBT group workshops (2.5 hours per week)
- Phone sessions with a therapist (as needed)
This works out to a minimum of 3.5 hours of therapy each week, not taking into consideration the time you might spend receiving over-the-phone therapy for emergencies.
Dialectical behavioral therapy isn’t something that’s going to solve all your problems in a couple of weeks. To be able to successfully manage your symptoms and improve the quality of your life, you’ll need to regularly attend sessions for 6-12 months.
This works out to a total of 91 hours for six months of therapy and 182 hours for 12 months of therapy.
What determines the price?
There’s no fixed rate for DBT — hourly prices vary widely according to a number of determining factors. These include:
- Which state you’re based in
- Whether you choose a large practice or a solo practitioner
- Whether you opt for in-person or online therapy
- Whether you receive treatment in a hospital or privately
- If your insurance covers DBT
DTC Cost Fee estimates
This is how much you can expect to pay per each part of DBT:
One-to-one sessions with a therapist
With insurance – $20 to $40
Without insurance – $60-$250
DBT group workshops
With insurance – $20 to $40
Without insurance – $45-$80
Phone sessions with a therapist
With insurance – $20 to $40
Without insurance – $60-$250
Examples
To keep things simple, let’s say each week you need:
- 1 hour of one-to-one therapy with a therapist
- 2.5 hours of group therapy
- 1 hour of phone therapy
Cheapest with insurance for six months: $2,340
Cheapest with insurance for 12 months: $4,680
Most expensive with insurance for six months: $4,680
Most expensive with insurance for 12 months: $9,360
Cheapest without insurance for six months: $6,045
Cheapest without insurance for 12 months: $12,090
Most expensive without insurance for six months: $18,200
Most expensive without insurance for 12 months: $36,400
These prices are just to give you a guide as to how much you can expect to pay for DBT. As explained above, fees will vary depending on where in the country you’re based, the type of clinic you choose, and the kind of therapy you opt for.
How to lower the cost
If you’re not sure if you can afford dialectical behavioral therapy, there are a number of ways you can save on sessions without having to compromise your mental health.
- Pay for all your sessions up front: Some clinics offer a discount if you pay for a full six or 12 months of therapy in advance.
- Ask about sliding scale fees: Some practices determine their prices according to your household income and your family size. It’s worth asking if your chosen clinic offers sliding scale fees before committing.
- Don’t miss a single session: Most clinics will charge you the rate you’ve agreed to if you book a session and fail to turn up. Attending all your sessions won’t save you money, but it will ensure you get value for money.
- Practice your skills at home: You’ll get the best results from dialectical behavioral therapy when you practice the skills you learn in your one-to-one sessions in the real world. Again, this won’t directly save you money, but it will make sure you get the best possible value for money from your sessions and speed up your improvement.
Free DBT
In some instances, dialectical behavioral therapy doesn’t have to cost you anything at all. At Cyti Psychological, we accept several different insurance policies which could lower the cost to as little as $0. Even if you don’t have insurance or your policy doesn’t cover online therapy, we can still help you. A single session with one of our DBT specialists without any kind of coverage costs just $179. That’s a tiny price to pay for the opportunity to look after and improve your mental health.
