Therapy costs $50 to $250 per session if not covered by insurance, depending on your location. Prices are on the high end of the range in major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and New York. The average cost of therapy with insurance is $20 to $50 per session for the copay.

Online therapy membership plans cost $40 to $70 per week and typically include 24-hour support through texting, phone, video, or online chat.

Therapists are licensed psychologists or counselors but are not medical doctors, and in most states in the U.S. they are not allowed to prescribe medication. Only five states allow licensed psychologists to prescribe medication—Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, and New Mexico—and psychologists in these states must complete additional psychopharmacology training and certification.

In the rest of the U.S., only a medical doctor can prescribe medication. Psychiatrists attend medical school and can prescribe medication, but they typically do not provide talk therapy or counseling services.

A licensed therapist can give a mental health diagnosis in all states except Indiana and Maine. However, the therapist must refer clients to a psychiatrist or other medical doctor if the condition requires medication. Consult a therapist near you if you have concerns about ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, or other mental health conditions.

You can use your HSA or FSA for therapy if you have a billable diagnosis—such as depression or bipolar disorder—and the therapy is deemed medically necessary. You can't use your HSA or FSA for marriage or family counseling, grief counseling, or therapy for stress management.

You can see your therapist while traveling only if your therapist is licensed or legally permitted to practice in the state you're physically located in at the time of the session. Not all states allow interstate therapy practice. Check with your therapist before you leave to confirm they can provide telehealth services across state lines.

Most therapists recommend starting with one session per week. After your first session, your therapist will work with you to decide on a schedule that will most benefit you. Some issues require only a few sessions, while others require more extensive treatment.

When seeking therapy or mental health care, follow these tips to help you find the right therapist for you:

First consider the type of therapy you'd prefer. Common therapy styles and modalities include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Humanistic therapy
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy

Choose therapists who specialize in treating your condition. Then:

• Ask for recommendations from your medical provider.
• Read reviews on Thervo and Google.
• Confirm the therapist is licensed to practice in your area.
• Meet with the therapist for an initial session to make sure their personality and treatment style is a good fit for you.

Ask these questions to help you find a therapist who is the best fit for you:

• How long have you been practicing, and what are your certifications?
• What therapy style or modalities do you practice?
• What is your philosophy as a therapist?
• What does a typical therapy session look like?
• Are you more directive or guiding as a counselor?
• Do you give homework or reading assignments?
• How do you determine success in therapy?
• What is your success rate in treating past clients with this issue?
• Will you see me if I run into problems between sessions?