WASHINGTON STATE

LOW COST THERAPY REFERRALS

I make no guarantee to the qualifications or competence of those listed below. I do not endorse, approve of, or make any warranties or representations as to accuracy of the information contained in any site to which any user may be linked. 

Liberation Healing Seattle is intended to be used for informational purposes only.

Please do not treat Liberation Healing Seattle as a substitute for professional mental health advice. Liberation Healing Seattle will not be held responsible for your use or application of the information you obtain from Liberation Healing Seattle.

WASHINGTON state Therapy Referrals

WASHINGTON STATE REFERRALS

  • The average cost of therapy without using insurance in the Seattle metropolitan area is about $160 with a range of $30-$350.

    Some therapists offer reduced fees/lower cost therapy while others are provisionally licensed accruing clinical hours toward independent licensure or still enrolled in graduate school and offer lower fees than market rate.

  • Interns are graduate students still in school completing their required internship/practicum placements. They are unlicensed.

    These students need clinical internship hours to complete their degree.

    Benefits of working with an intern:

    • Reduced cost

    • Flexible schedules and hours offered

    • They receive at least 1 hour of supervision a week (sometimes more) by a licensed professional who oversee their caseload and clients’ well-being

    • Knowledge of theory, skills, and practice are up to date and evidence based due to being enrolled in both school and internship

    —

  • Pro bono therapy is free therapy. Therapists give away their services for free to help individuals who would be otherwise unable to access their services due to price.

    • UV Cares (Washington State): $0-What you can afford

    • Antioch Counseling Clinic: The Antioch Clinic is now offering a special, low fee, sliding scale (beginning at $0), based on household income to help all those who are struggling economically.

    • Project Access Northwest:
      Project Access Northwest: Project Access Northwest connects un- and under-insured patients referred by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC’s)/Free/Faith-based clinics with the specialty care they need. *Note they do not accept self-referrals.

    • Give An Hour: For military, veterans and loved ones affected by time in service

    • King County Sexual Assault Resource Center: Provides trauma-specific, evidence-based therapy to help victims of sexual assault heal. Cost is not a barrier.

    • Providence Intervention Center for Assault & Abuse: Therapy for adults ages 22 and over. Survivors of sexual assault/abuse can receive short term counseling free of charge.

    • Emotional PPE: The Emotional PPE Project connects healthcare workers in need with licensed mental health professionals who can help. No cost. No insurance.

    • The GALAP Project: Free gender affirming care letters for access to medical care (ICATH model).

    • DMHS Free Therapy: Deconstructing the Mental Health System is a means to bring anti-racist therapists together to address the mental health system’s racial and financial inequities, through education and other initiatives, such as a free provider listing for BIPOC Therapists.

    • BLM Pro Bono Providers: Compassionate, anti-racist, culturally sensitive, supportive therapy for BIPOC/POC affected by current events, riots, and protests.

    • A Home Within: A Home Within envisions a world in which every foster youth has a relationship with at least one consistent, caring adult. To meet that end, we provide open-ended, individual psychotherapy, free of charge, to current and former foster youth for as long as it takes.

    • Therapy For Therapists

  • The following organizations offer short-term funds for therapy at least once a year:

  • GROUP PRACTICE

    A group practice is a type of therapy business where many therapists are hired and employed, where the business aspects of therapy like billing and admin are handled by the owner (not the therapist). Thus, there are more therapists available for clients to select from.

    In private practice, one therapist provides therapy and also runs their business.

    THIRD PARTY COMPANIES

    • Alma (Accepts UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna)

    • Headway (Accepts Aetna, Cigna, Oscar Health, Oxford, Premera Blue Cross Washington, Regence BlueShield Washington, and United Healthcare)

    • A therapist is considered in-network if they have a contract with your health insurance company to accept a set fee for every session.

    • Working with an in-network therapist is typically more affordable than out-of-network therapists because your health insurance pays the bulk of the therapy session fee and you only pay the copay amount.

    • Understand your plan’s benefits (e.g. deductible, co-pay, etc.) so you aren’t surprised by bills and charges; this is located online your portal or you can call your company and ask for a list of benefits

    • Log onto your insurance portal to find a list of in-network therapists

    • Call your insurance company and ask to speak to an agent/case manager who legally must give you 1-2 therapist referrals with current openings.

    • If your insurance company does not help you or find you a referral, you can file a complaint with the WA State Insurance Commissioner here