A psychologist costs $100 to $250 per session if the treatment is not covered by insurance, depending on their experience, specialty, and location. Prices are on the high end of the range in major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and New York. With insurance, the average cost of a visit with a psychologist is $20 to $60 per session for the copay.

Online therapy costs $50 to $110 per week through websites offering membership plans or $85 to $135+ per session through an online provider network. Online therapy membership plans typically include support from a licensed psychologist, therapist, or mental health counselor via texting, online chat, or email. Plans priced at the higher end of the range also include one or two therapy sessions per week via video.

A psychologist is a licensed mental health professional who studies human behavior and uses an assortment of treatment methods to help people improve their lives. A psychologist can help you understand your emotions, cope with stressful situations, and strengthen your self-esteem. Psychologists guide you in making the necessary changes in your thinking and behavior to improve your mental and emotional health.

A psychologist can help you with a variety of short-term and long-term problems:

• Depression and mood disorders
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Stressful situations
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Eating disorders
• Gender or sexual identity concerns
• Self-esteem and body image concerns
• Marriage and relationship problems
• Grief or loss
• Anger management
• Addiction

Only five states allow licensed psychologists to prescribe medication—Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, and New Mexico. Psychologists in these states must complete additional psychopharmacology training and certification before being allowed to write prescriptions.

In the rest of the U.S., only a medical doctor can prescribe medication. Your psychologist may refer you to your general practitioner or a psychiatrist for a prescription if needed.

A psychologist is not a medical doctor but is trained in helping clients with mental health conditions. Psychologists cannot prescribe medication—except in Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, and New Mexico—but can diagnose issues like depression, anxiety, or phobias and provide talk therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or other treatments.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is authorized to prescribe medication. While psychiatrists will diagnose your condition and determine the proper treatment plan, they typically don't offer talk therapy and will refer you to a psychologist for those services instead.

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

When seeking a psychologist for mental health care, first consider the type of therapy you would prefer. Common methods include:

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

Once you've decided which therapy method you'd like to pursue, follow these tips to find the best psychologist for you:

• Choose psychologists who specialize in your area of concern.
• Identify at least three potential psychologists to choose from.
• Ask for recommendations from your medical provider.
• Read psychologists' reviews on Thervo and Google.
• Confirm the psychologist is licensed to practice in your area.
• Speak with the psychologist via phone to discuss the questions shown below.
• Schedule an initial session to make sure the psychologist's communication and treatment style is a good fit for you.

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

• How long have you been practicing?
• Are you licensed as a psychologist in this state?
• What experience do you have in treating clients with my concern?
• What therapy style or treatment methods do you commonly use for this issue?
• What does a typical session look like?
• 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?
• Do you accept my health insurance? Will you bill the insurance company directly?
• Are there any exceptions to the confidentiality rules for my treatment sessions?