Group therapy typically costs between $40 and $50 per session when paying out of pocket, making it one of the more affordable forms of professional mental health treatment. With insurance, your cost can drop even further, sometimes to just a copay. The exact price depends on whether you have coverage, where you live, and the type of group you join.
Out-of-Pocket Costs Per Session
A standard group therapy session runs 60 to 90 minutes and includes anywhere from five to fifteen participants led by a licensed therapist. Without insurance, most people pay in the $40 to $50 range per session. That’s roughly half to one-third the cost of individual therapy, which commonly runs $100 to $200 or more per session in most U.S. markets. The savings come from the therapist’s time being divided across multiple clients, with each person paying a smaller share.
Prices vary by region and by the credentials of the therapist leading the group. A group run by a psychologist in a high-cost city like New York or San Francisco will charge more than one led by a licensed clinical social worker in a mid-size metro area. Specialty groups, such as those focused on trauma processing or intensive outpatient programs, sometimes charge more than general support or skills-based groups because they require more clinical structure.
What Insurance Typically Covers
Most insurance plans that include mental health benefits will cover group therapy. Providers bill insurers using a standard code for group psychotherapy, and reimbursement is calculated per participant, not per group. Medicare reimburses providers roughly $25 to $40 per patient per session, while commercial insurance plans often pay higher rates, especially for groups that are part of intensive outpatient or behavioral health programs.
If your plan covers group therapy, you’ll usually pay only your standard mental health copay or coinsurance. That might be $10 to $30 per session depending on your plan. Federal law, specifically the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, requires that insurance plans offering mental health benefits apply the same financial rules they use for medical care. That means your copay for a therapy session can’t be higher than what you’d pay for a comparable medical visit, and your plan can’t impose stricter visit limits on mental health treatment than it does on other care.
One important caveat: the parity law does not require plans to cover mental health benefits in the first place. It only says that if they do, the terms must be equivalent to medical benefits. Most employer-sponsored plans and marketplace plans do include mental health coverage, but it’s worth confirming before you start.
Low-Cost and Free Options
If you’re uninsured or underinsured, several paths can bring costs down significantly. University training clinics, staffed by graduate students under licensed supervision, often run group therapy programs at deeply reduced rates or completely free. Westminster University’s community clinic, for example, provides free group counseling for a range of mental health challenges. Many universities with psychology or social work programs operate similar clinics in their communities.
Community mental health centers funded by state or local governments also offer group therapy on sliding-scale fees, where your cost is based on your income. Some private practices use sliding scales as well, so it’s always worth asking. Online platforms have started offering group sessions too, and some work directly with insurance or offer reduced rates for financial hardship.
Peer-Led Groups vs. Professional Groups
Not every group that offers emotional support is group therapy. Peer-led support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, NAMI support groups, and grief circles are free in almost all cases. They’re run by people with lived experience rather than licensed clinicians, and they don’t involve clinical techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy or structured trauma processing.
That doesn’t make them less valuable for the right person. Peer support has strong evidence behind it and costs a fraction of professional services. One state-level analysis found that using certified peer specialists cost an average of $997 per person per year, compared to $6,491 for traditional day treatment. For many people, a free peer group provides the connection and accountability they need. For others dealing with diagnosed conditions, clinical group therapy offers structured treatment that peer groups aren’t designed to deliver. Some people benefit from both at the same time.
How to Find the Right Price
Start by calling your insurance company and asking whether group psychotherapy is a covered benefit under your plan, and what your cost-sharing would be. If you’re paying out of pocket, call therapists in your area who run groups and ask about their session rates. Many list this information on their websites. Psychology Today’s therapist directory lets you filter by “group therapy” and by insurance accepted, which can speed up the search.
If cost is a barrier, look into university training clinics, community mental health centers, or practices that offer sliding-scale fees. For online options, check whether the platform accepts your insurance before signing up. Group therapy sessions typically meet weekly, so even at $40 to $50 per session, you’re looking at $160 to $200 per month without insurance. With coverage, that monthly cost could drop to $40 to $120 depending on your copay structure.