
A psychologist costs $50 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 $50 per session for the copay.
Online therapy membership plans cost $40 to $70 per week and typically include scheduled appointment sessions held via video conferencing along with 24-hour support through texting or online chat.
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:
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:
Once you've decided which therapy method you'd like to pursue, follow these tips to find the best psychologist for you:
Ask these questions to help you find a psychologist who is the best fit for you:
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