How Much Does Therapy Cost in Tempe, Arizona? 2025 Guide
Session fees in Tempe range from $20 at university clinics to more than $400 with psychiatrists, depending on the provider’s credentials and insurance coverage.
This guide provides a clear breakdown of therapy costs across Tempe, Arizona, including typical fees by provider type, regional price differences, affordable care options, and insurance coverage, giving you the essential information to navigate mental healthcare expenses with confidence.
Table of Contents | Jump Ahead
Average Session Costs by Provider Type
Who Can Provide Therapy in Tempe?
Insurance Coverage for Therapy in Tempe
Quick Summary
- Average Cost: Individual therapy sessions in Tempe typically range from $90 to $160 for a fully licensed professional, with university clinics offering significantly lower rates.
- Provider Differences: Psychiatrists and fully licensed counsellors command the highest rates, while pre-licensed associate counsellors and university training clinics offer more affordable entry points, with sessions as low as $20 or even free for college students.
- Affordable Options: Tempe is home to Arizona State University (ASU), which provides a wealth of low-cost mental health resources to students and the community, including the ASU Clinical Psychology Centre and the ASU Counsellor Training Centre.
- Insurance: Most Arizona insurance plans are required by law to cover mental health services, but many affordable options, like university clinics, operate on a self-pay or sliding scale basis and do not accept insurance.
Average Session Costs by Provider Type
The cost of therapy in Tempe is influenced by the professional’s qualifications, experience, and the city's status as a major university town. Psychiatrists, as medical doctors who can prescribe medication, have the highest fees. However, the presence of Arizona State University means there are many training clinics where costs are significantly lower.
| Provider Type | Average Session Cost |
|---|---|
| :--- | :--- |
| Psychiatrist (MD, DO) | $250 – $450+ |
| Psychologist (PhD, PsyD) | $150 – $250 |
| Licensed Professional Counsellor (LPC) | $110 – $160 |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | $110 – $160 |
| Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) | $110 – $160 |
| Associate Counsellor (LAC) | $80 – $135 |
| University Training Clinic | $20 – $100 (or free) |
Who Can Provide Therapy in Tempe?
To get good care, it helps to know about the different types of mental health workers in Tempe. The Arizona Board of Behavioural Health Examiners (BBHE) is the primary regulatory body that gives licences to most mental health professionals, ensuring they meet strict standards for education and training.
Types of Licensed Therapists:
- Psychiatrist (MD, DO): Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in mental health. They can prescribe medication and provide psychotherapy. They are licensed by the Arizona Medical Board.
- Psychologist (PhD, PsyD): Psychologists hold a doctoral degree and are trained in psychological testing, assessment, and providing psychotherapy. They cannot prescribe medication in Arizona. They are licensed by the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners.
- Licensed Professional Counsellor (LPC): An LPC has a master's degree in counselling and has met supervised experience requirements to provide psychotherapy and assessment.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): An LCSW has a master's degree in social work and has completed supervised clinical experience, including a licensing exam. They provide assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy.
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT): An LMFT has a master's degree with a specialisation in relationship and family dynamics. They provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families.
Insurance Coverage for Therapy in Tempe
Most health insurance plans in Arizona are required to provide some level of coverage for mental health services due to federal parity laws. However, the extent of coverage can vary significantly between plans, and many of the most affordable options in Tempe, like university clinics, do not accept insurance.
Top 5 Plans
While many insurance providers operate in Arizona, the following are some of the most common plans available in the Tempe area:
AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System):
- Arizona's Medicaid program.
Medicare:
- Typically covers 80% of the cost for outpatient mental health services after the Part B deductible is met.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona:
- A major insurer in the state.
Aetna:
- A major national insurer with a large network in Arizona.
Cigna/Evernorth:
- Another major national insurer with a significant presence in the area.
In-network vs. Out-of-network:
- In-network: If you see a therapist who is in-network with your insurance plan, you will typically only be responsible for a copay.
- Out-of-network: If you see a therapist who is out-of-network, you will likely have to pay the full fee upfront and then submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. Many practices, such as Achieve Counselling & Wellness, will provide a superbill (an itemised receipt) for this purpose.
Affordable Care Options
Tempe offers a unique landscape for affordable mental healthcare due to the presence of Arizona State University.- University Training Clinics: ASU has multiple clinics that provide low-cost services to the community as part of their graduate training programs.
- ASU Clinical Psychology Centre: Offers therapy on a sliding scale from $20 to $95 per session, based on income and family size. The first session has a flat $25 fee.
- ASU Counsellor Training Centre: Provides free counselling to any Arizona college student, and charges only $100 per semester for the general public.
- Sliding Scale Clinics: Some private practices and nonprofits offer reduced fees based on income.
- Example: Achieve Counselling & Wellness is a nonprofit that offers a sliding scale for middle-income individuals and families who qualify.
- Community Mental Health Centres: These centres provide services to residents of Maricopa County, often on a sliding scale or through AHCCCS.
- Example: Strategic Mental Health and Mountain Park Health Centre are listed as sliding fee providers in Tempe by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
- Inpatient and Acute Care: For more severe needs, specialised hospitals are available.
- Example: Aurora Behavioural Health has a hospital in Tempe that provides inpatient psychiatric care and accepts AHCCCS.
Tips to Reduce Therapy Costs
Provider Strategies
- Ask about a sliding scale. Many clinics in Tempe, especially those connected to the university, offer fees based on income.
- Consider group therapy, which is often a fraction of the cost of individual sessions.
- Inquire about seeing an associate-level or pre-licensed therapist (LAC, LAMFT, LMSW), who are supervised by a fully licensed clinician and have lower rates.
Alternative Resources
- If you are a student at any Arizona college, you can receive free counselling at the ASU Counsellor Training Centre.
- Check with your employer's Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which may offer a limited number of free counselling sessions.
- Use your out-of-network benefits if you have a PPO plan.
Therapy Cost Directory
- Nearby Cities: Phoenix | Mesa | Chandler | Sedona
- State: For a statewide overview of therapy costs, see: How Much Does Therapy Cost In Arizona
- Country: For a country-wide overview of therapy costs in the US, see: Therapy Costs Across the US
- Worldwide: For a global overview of therapy costs, see: Therapy Costs Worldwide
References
Achieve Counselling & Wellness - RatesASU Department of Psychology - Clinic Fees
ASU Counsellor Training Centre
Arizona Board of Behavioural Health Examiners
Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners
City of Tempe - Aurora Behavioural Health
Important:
TherapyRoute does not provide medical advice. All content is for informational purposes and cannot replace consulting a healthcare professional. If you face an emergency, please contact a local emergency service. For immediate emotional support, consider contacting a local helpline.
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