PublishedJul 9th, 2026•7 min read
How Much Does Family Therapy Cost?
Author
Laura Meyer
LPC, ACS, EMDR-C
Family therapy typically costs between $100 and $250 per session without insurance, depending on where you live, your therapist's credentials, and how long sessions run. With insurance, most families pay much less, with co-pays typically running between $20 and $50 per session when seeing an in-network provider.
Cost is one of the most common reasons families put off starting therapy. This page walks through what family therapy actually costs with and without insurance, how billing works when more than one person is in the room, what drives price differences, and practical ways to lower what you pay.
At-a-glance: family therapy cost summary
Key question: How much does family counseling cost, and does insurance cover it?
Without insurance
$100–$250 per session (national average)
With insurance
Typically a co-pay of $20–$50 per session for in-network providers
At Octave
Average of $28/session through insurance; 95%+ of clients pay less than $45/session. FSA and HSA accepted. No subscription model. Exact costs vary by plan and are always confirmed before care begins.
Who this is for
Families considering therapy who want to understand costs before starting, families trying to figure out what insurance covers, anyone comparing affordability options
How much family therapy costs without insurance
Without insurance, family therapy typically costs $100 to $250 per session, with the national average landing around $120 to $175 for a 50- to 60-minute session.
The price you pay out of pocket depends largely on who you're seeing. More credentialed providers tend to charge more, and sessions that include multiple family members often run longer than standard individual appointments.
Provider type | Typical per-session range |
|---|---|
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) | $100–$200 |
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) / Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) | $100–$200 |
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | $100–$200 |
Psychologist (PhD/PsyD) | $150–$250 |
Online / telehealth sessions | $90–$200 |
How much family therapy costs without insurance
One factor worth flagging: family therapy sessions often run 45 to 60 minutes instead of the standard 50 minutes, because it takes more time when multiple people are sharing the room.
It's worth thinking about the full cost of care, not just one appointment. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy reports that most families complete treatment in around 12 sessions. At typical private-pay rates, that adds up to roughly $1,000 to $3,000 out of pocket over the course of care.
Does insurance cover family therapy?
Yes, most health insurance plans cover family therapy when it's provided by a licensed, in-network therapist and billed under a qualifying mental health diagnosis.
Coverage usually falls under your plan's mental or behavioral health benefits, the same category used for individual therapy. Two things generally need to be true for insurance to provide coverage: the therapist has to be in your plan's network, and the sessions have to be connected to a diagnosis your plan considers medically necessary (for example, depression or anxiety).
How billing works when a whole family attends
Insurance companies don't bill "a family." They bill one person.
In practice, one family member is designated as the identified client for billing purposes. That means not everyone needs their own separate insurance policy for family therapy to be covered. The person identified is usually the person whose concerns brought the family in, or whose diagnosis supports the medical necessity of the sessions.
The fastest way to understand your coverage is to call the member services number on the back of your insurance card. Questions to ask include:
- Do I have behavioral or mental health benefits?
- Is family therapy (CPT code 90847\) covered, and is it billed differently from individual therapy?
- What is my co-pay or coinsurance for an in-network therapist?
- Do I have a deductible I need to meet first?
- Is pre-authorization required before starting care?
Find a family therapist who accepts your insurance. Octave is in-network with major insurers covering more than 40 million people.
Find a family therapist who accepts your insurance
What family therapy costs with insurance
With insurance, families typically pay a co-pay of $20 to $50 per session for in-network providers, though your exact cost depends on your deductible, co-pay structure, and whether you've already met your deductible for the year.
Insurance terminology can feel like its own language. Here's what each term actually means and how it affects your out-of-pocket costs:
- Co-pay: A flat fee you pay per session (for example, $30). The insurance company covers the rest.
- Deductible: The amount you pay out of pocket each year before insurance starts covering costs. Some plans apply a co-pay from the first visit; others require you to hit the deductible first.
- In-network vs. out-of-network: In-network therapists have a contract with your insurance company at negotiated rates. Out-of-network therapists don't, so you'll usually pay more. In some cases, you'll pay the full session fee, although you may be able to receive partial reimbursement later.
- Coinsurance: Instead of a flat fee, you pay a percentage of the session cost (often 10% to 30%) after meeting your deductible.
- Out-of-pocket maximum: The most you'll pay in a year. Once you hit it, insurance covers 100% of covered services.
A real cost example: Say your plan has a $30 co-pay for mental health visits and your deductible is already met. You attend 10 family therapy sessions over about three months. Your total out-of-pocket cost: $30 × 10 \= $300.
FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and HSA (Health Savings Account) funds can typically be used for co-pays, coinsurance, and other out-of-pocket therapy costs, which effectively lowers the cost further by letting you pay with pre-tax dollars.
Factors that affect family therapy cost
The biggest factors driving family counseling cost are insurance status, provider credentials, geographic location, session length, and whether sessions are in person or virtual.
Here is how each affects the cost of therapy:
- Insurance status: Whether you're in-network, out-of-network, or paying fully out of pocket. This is by far the single biggest factor.
- Provider type and credentials: A marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, or clinical social worker (LMFT, LCSW, or LPC) generally charges less for a cash pay rate than a psychologist (PhD/PsyD); though they will all charge the same rate if sessions are covered by insurance. All can provide effective family therapy; the difference is the training path, not necessarily outcomes.
- Geographic location: Therapy in major metro areas (New York, San Francisco, Boston) tends to cost 20% to 50% more than in smaller cities or rural areas. State-level variation is significant.
- Format: Virtual sessions are often 10% to 20% less expensive than in-person, and they save on travel time.
- Frequency: Weekly sessions add up faster than biweekly. Many families start weekly and shift to every other week as things improve.
Finding an in-network provider is the single most effective way to reduce what you pay.
How to make family therapy more affordable
The most effective way to lower family therapy costs is to find an in-network provider, but there are several other strategies for families on a budget:
- Use an in-network provider. This is almost always the biggest cost saver. Your insurer's website or member services line can give you a list.
- Ask about sliding scale fees. Many therapists, especially in private practice, offer reduced rates for families who need them. A sliding scale bases the fee on household income.
- Use FSA or HSA funds. These accounts let you pay with pre-tax dollars, which lowers your effective cost. Therapy co-pays, coinsurance, and deductibles generally qualify.
- Check for Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Many employers offer EAPs that cover three to six free therapy sessions per year. It's worth asking HR, even if you're not sure you have one.
- Look into community mental health centers and nonprofit counseling services. Many offer family counseling on income-based sliding scales, sometimes as low as $10 to $40 per session.
Cost matters, but so does fit. The least expensive option isn't helpful if it doesn't match what your family actually needs.
How Octave makes family therapy accessible
Octave makes family therapy accessible through broad insurance coverage, transparent pricing, and no subscription fees.
Cost through insurance. Octave clients pay an average of $28 per session through insurance, and 95% pay less than $45. Your exact cost depends on your plan — Octave confirms your out-of-pocket amount before care begins, so there are no surprises. FSA and HSA funds are accepted.
Insurance coverage. Octave accepts Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, Blue Shield, and others — about 40 million Americans are in-network. There's no subscription model; you pay per appointment.
Quality and access. All Octave therapists are fully licensed with an average of 10+ years of experience. Octave does not work with trainees or pre-licensed associates. Care Navigation matches families to a therapist based on your specific needs, dynamics, and goals — typically within one to three business days, with appointments usually available within 13 days. Both virtual and in-person options are available.
If Octave isn't the right fit for your family — whether due to location, insurance, or therapist availability — your insurance company's provider directory and SAMHSA's treatment locator are good next steps.
About the Author
Laura Meyer
LPC, ACS, EMDR-C
Laura is a multi-state licensed therapist and clinical supervisor based in Denver, Colorado. She has provided mental healthcare in a variety of settings over the last decade, from hospitals to nonprofits to the digital mental-health space.
Family therapy costs: frequently asked questions
Family therapy typically costs $100 to $250 per session without insurance, with the national average falling around $120 to $175. With insurance, most families pay a co-pay of $20 to $50 per session when seeing an in-network provider. The exact amount depends on your therapist's credentials, your location, how long sessions run, and your specific insurance plan.
Yes, most health insurance plans cover family therapy when it's provided by a licensed, in-network therapist and billed under a qualifying mental health diagnosis. Coverage usually falls under your plan's behavioral or mental health benefits, the same category used for individual therapy. The fastest way to confirm your specific coverage is to call the member services number on the back of your insurance card and ask whether family therapy (CPT code 90847) is covered under your plan.
Family therapy is typically billed under one family member's insurance rather than split across everyone in the room. One person is designated as the identified client for billing purposes, and the therapist submits claims under that person's plan and a qualifying diagnosis code. Other family members can participate in sessions without each needing their own insurance claim.
Per-session rates for family therapy and individual therapy are generally similar, with both typically falling between $100 and $250 without insurance. The main difference is session length. Family therapy sessions often run 45 to 60 minutes instead of the standard 50 to 60, which can raise the per-session price. With insurance, the co-pay is usually the same regardless of whether the session is individual or family.
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy reports that the average course of family therapy runs about 12 sessions, though this varies significantly by situation. Some families resolve specific issues in around six sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work. Your therapist will usually discuss expectations for length of care during the first few sessions and adjust as things progress.
Yes, both FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and HSA (Health Savings Account) funds can typically be used for family therapy costs when the provider is a licensed mental health professional. Eligible expenses usually include co-pays, coinsurance, deductibles, and out-of-pocket session fees.
Several options can make family therapy more affordable when cost is a barrier. These include therapists who offer sliding scale fees based on household income, community mental health centers and nonprofit counseling services, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that often cover three to six free sessions per year, and virtual sessions, which tend to cost less than in-person care. Finding an in-network provider through your insurance is almost always the single most impactful way to reduce cost.
Start with your insurance company's provider directory, which you can usually find on their website or by calling the member services number on your insurance card. Ask specifically for therapists who specialize in family therapy and are in-network with your plan. Octave's Care Navigation team can also help match families to in-network family therapists, with exact costs confirmed before care begins.
Source
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy — "About Marriage and Family Therapists." https://www.aamft.org/AAMFT/Consumer_Updates/MFT.aspx
