By William Schroeder, LPC and clinically reviewed by Teri Schroeder, LCSW
Last reviewed: September 2026
Key takeaways
- Austin has free and low-cost counseling through nonprofits and university training clinics, often under $50 a session.
- Many private practices offer sliding scale rates in the $50 to $100 range, and insurance can bring the cost down further.
- Directories like Psychology Today let you filter therapists by price, insurance and specialty.
Affordable Counseling in Austin: Your Guide to Low-Cost Therapy Options
Where can I find affordable therapy in Austin? You’re not alone in asking. Whether you’re navigating stress, trauma, relationship issues, or simply looking for personal growth, the cost of therapy can be a barrier.
This guide was built with input from over 2,000 therapists in Austin to help you find affordable counseling services near you, whether you’re looking for free therapy, sliding scale options, or low-cost licensed professionals.
Start Here: Therapy One Session at a Time with Just Mind
At Just Mind, we know that the first step can be the hardest. That’s why we created One Session at a Time: a no-pressure way to try therapy, see how it feels, and decide what you need, without committing to ongoing appointments upfront. We also have graduate interns from UT School of Social Work that provide therapy at $75 per session.
William Schroeder explains how single session therapy works and who it tends to help:
We’re a private practice of over 50 licensed therapists who specialize in a wide range of mental health concerns, including:
- Anxiety, depression, and trauma
- Grief and life transitions
- Couples and relationship therapy (Gottman, PACT, EFT)
- Child and teen therapy (including play therapy)
- EMDR and Somatic Experiencing for trauma recovery
Flexible Rates & Select Insurance Accepted
Individual therapy at Just Mind runs $145 to $215 per session, and couples therapy runs $160 to $215, depending on the therapist’s experience. Each therapist’s exact rate is on their profile. If cost is a stretch, ask about our sliding scale, which can bring the rate down by up to $25 a session. Our UT social work interns see clients for $75, with evening and weekend times available.
Some of our clinicians are in-network with Aetna, EHN/WebTPA, Harbor Health, Nomi Health, and Sana. If we’re out of network for you, we can give you a superbill to file for reimbursement, and you can use an HSA card to pay. See our rates and insurance page for the full details.
What to Expect from Affordable Therapy
- In-Network vs Out-of-Network: If you have insurance, check your benefits to understand your options. In-network providers have contracted rates with insurance companies, usually lower than cash pay, but low reimbursement rates mean many therapists limit how many insurance clients they accept. Out-of-network therapists charge their full rate, but your insurance may reimburse a portion after you meet your deductible.
- Time Commitment: Therapy is a process, not a quick fix. Depending on your concern, treatment may require several months or more of regular weekly sessions. Be patient with yourself. Healing takes time.
- Therapist Experience: More experienced or specialized therapists often charge higher rates. Many affordable options come from early-career therapists or nonprofit settings with grant funding.
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): If you have access to an EAP through your job, check your benefits. Some services may be entirely free.
Nonprofits & Training Clinics: Many affordable services are offered by agencies or nonprofits, where therapists begin their careers. These options are budget-friendly and accessible, with rates ranging from free to $100 depending on the provider and funding. However, high demand often leads to long wait times. You may be assigned a therapist based on availability, and some services are telehealth-only, which may not be ideal if you’re seeking in-person care.
How to Make Therapy More Affordable
The sticker price isn’t always what you end up paying. A few things can bring the cost down:
- Ask about a sliding scale. Many therapists have one and don’t advertise it. It’s fine to ask on the first call. You might say, “I’d like to work with you, but your full rate is hard for me. Do you have any flexibility?”
- See an associate or intern. Early-career therapists and supervised graduate interns usually charge less, and they get regular consultation from experienced clinicians.
- Use your HSA or FSA. Therapy is usually an eligible expense, so you pay with pre-tax dollars.
- Ask for a superbill. If your plan has out-of-network benefits, you can file for partial reimbursement after you meet your deductible.
- Check your EAP. Many employers cover a handful of free sessions a year.
- Try group therapy. Groups often cost a fraction of individual sessions and can be just as helpful for things like anxiety, grief, and DBT skills.
- Space out sessions. Once things are more stable, meeting every other week can cut your monthly cost in half.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
- What is your full rate, and do you offer a sliding scale?
- Are you in-network with my insurance, or will you give me a superbill?
- Is there a fee for canceling or missing a session?
- Do you have openings at times I can actually make?
- Have you worked with people dealing with what I’m going through?
A good therapist won’t mind these questions. Talking openly about money is part of making therapy work.
Where to Find Free or Affordable Counseling in Austin
Are there any free counseling services available in Austin? Yes, especially for youth, survivors of violence, veterans, musicians, and low-income families. Below is a curated list of affordable therapy options, categorized for easy browsing.
If you’re looking for a “therapist near me” or even “family counseling near me,” use this guide to help you find the right counselor for your unique needs. (Click here to update or add your listing info)
| Option | Typical cost per session | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits and university training clinics | Free to under $50 | Often income-based, and some have waitlists |
| Affordable private practices | $50 to $100 | Ask whether they offer a sliding scale |
| Insurance-friendly practices | Your copay or coinsurance | Check that the therapist is in-network with your plan |
| Just Mind | $145 to $215, sliding scale up to $25 lower, $75 with UT interns | One Session at a Time lets you try therapy without a long commitment |
Free Counseling in Austin or Low-Cost Therapy (Under $50 per session)
- Asian Family Support Services of Austin
Provides counseling support specifically for Asian/Asian-American/Immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Also offers case management and legal support services. - Capital Area Counseling
A training agency where many therapists start as interns and some continue after graduation. Offers exceptional low-cost counseling with rates from $15-$60 per session based on your ability to pay. (Central/East Austin) - Central Austin Psychotherapy
Located on West Koenig Lane, serves children, teens, families, couples, and adults with sliding scale fees as low as $50 per hour. Specializes in relationship issues, developmental trauma, anxiety, depression, family communication, and adoption-related concerns. - Discovery Counseling
Run by Sara Weber, specializing in eating disorders and mindfulness-based therapy. Sessions range from $35-$60. (Central Austin) - Flourish Psychotherapy and Nutrition
Takes a mindful, holistic approach to mental health, viewing difficulties as whole-body challenges needing empathy and nourishment. Master’s level counseling intern offers sliding scale $30-50 (fully licensed practitioners $140-160). (South Austin) - Luminary Counseling
Private practice clinic offering flat $50 rate for individuals, couples, and families who need affordable long-term counseling with immediate availability. Clients who cannot afford higher rates are welcome. (NE Austin) - Mike and Sherry Project
Specialized affordable counseling for restaurant industry workers, with sliding scale starting at $15/session for food service workers only. Services provided through Capital Area Counseling. - Mindful Wellness Center of Austin
Offers 50-minute individual sessions on sliding scale $30-$50 based on income, provided by LPC Associates. Focus on mindful, holistic mental health approaches. (South Austin) - NAMI Central Texas
Provides education classes on mental illness and volunteer-run support groups for individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. Free community resources and peer support. (Central Austin) - Nurtured TX (formerly Pregnancy and Postpartum Health Alliance)
Provides a therapy voucher program with up to 10 free therapy sessions for people who are pregnant or up to 12 months postpartum and experiencing depression, anxiety, PTSD, or OCD. Specialized maternal mental health support. - Open Path Collective
National network requiring all therapists to commit to sessions between $30-$60. Provides affordable therapy access with licensed professionals nationwide. - Out Youth
Offers individual and group counseling for LGBTQ youth ages 12-23, plus adult support groups for trans and queer-identifying adults. Also provides family support for parents of LGBTQ youth. - SAFE (formerly SafePlace)
Offers free counseling for all survivors of interpersonal violence including domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Serves people with disabilities, Spanish speakers, and Deaf community members. (East Austin) - St. Edward’s Community Clinic
Community clinic staffed by St. Edward’s counseling students providing individual, family, and relationship counseling for $0-20 per session. General focus with supervised student therapists. (Central Austin) - Texas State Community Counseling Clinic
Operated by Texas State’s Professional Counseling Program at San Marcos and Round Rock campuses. Serves individuals, couples, families, children, and adolescents for $0-$20 (no one turned away for inability to pay). - Texas State University Assessment Clinic & CARES Clinic
Provides comprehensive assessments for children, adolescents, and adults, with CARES specializing in autism evaluations and ABA services. Sliding scale fees available based on financial need. - Waterloo Counseling
Provides affordable, culturally sensitive mental health services to all people regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or HIV status. LGBTQ-affirming and inclusive care approach. (Central Austin)
Affordable Counseling Options ($50 to $100 per session)
If you don’t qualify for free services but still need something affordable, these clinics and group practices offer licensed therapists or supervised associates at accessible rates:
- Austin DBT Associates
Specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy with sliding scale starting at $60 for individual sessions and $45 for DBT skills groups. Effective for managing emotional intensity and impulsive behaviors that disrupt daily life. (North and South Austin) - Austin Family Institute
Offers individual, couples, and family therapy on competitive sliding scale comparable to insurance copays. Lower costs available with less experienced clinicians who receive ongoing training and supervision. (Westlake) - Austin Relational Counseling
Specializes in relationships and how people relate to the world through individual, premarital, marital, and couples therapy. Helps renegotiate relationships so clients and loved ones can step closer to their preferred lives. $75-115 (Online only) - Autonomy Therapy
Committed to supporting healing in relationships with self and others, specializing in eating disorders, body image issues, compulsive exercise, anxiety, trauma, and depression. Evidence-based treatment approaches. $50 (North Austin, Online/In-person) - Center for Relationships
Expert relationship-focused counseling for individuals, couples, families, and groups with multicultural, spiritual, LGBTQ and non-monogamy sensitivity. All associates trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and other current relational models. $50-$150 - David Wachsman Counseling
Creates a warm, welcoming environment to explore life obstacles and find solutions for personal, professional, and relational success. Specializes in career counseling, couples counseling, and anxiety treatment. $50-$100 (Online only) - Doable Recovery Institute
RJ Garcia provides comprehensive care as therapist and case manager, coordinating with physicians/psychiatrists for continuity of care. $85-100 per hour. - Enhancing Intimacy Austin
Focuses on relationship and sexual health, helping couples, individuals, and families strengthen relationships and increase intimacy. Sliding scale $45-$150 with fully licensed professionals or supervised interns/associates. (West Austin) - GT Therapy
Interdisciplinary team of social workers, LPCs, and LMFTs offering systemic and integrative therapy across the lifespan. Special focus on teens, college students, parents, and families with post-graduate therapists offering $75-125 sliding scale. (Central/University area) - JC Shakespeare
LPC-S with over 15 years experience working with adolescents and adults on trauma, substance use, recovery, grief, and depression. Integrates somatic psychotherapy (EMDR, Natural Processing) with mindfulness and Internal Family Systems. $100-150 (South/Central Austin) - Jewish Family Services
Doesn’t typically turn clients away for inability to pay, accepting Medicare, Aetna, Humana, BCBS, Magellan, United Healthcare. Two fully licensed clinicians available, one providing EMDR and one with LCDC credentials for substance abuse. (2-3 week wait typical) - Liz Watts Counseling
Individual adult therapy focusing on anxiety, mood disorders, life transitions, stress coping, and grief/loss. Provides safe, judgment-free environment for honest exploration of concerns. $50-80 (West Austin, Online & In-person) - Plumeria Counseling Center
Committed to exceptional counseling at affordable rates with fees reflecting therapist experience: $80+ (1st year associates), $95+ (senior associates), $135+ (fully licensed). Accepts major insurance including Aetna, Cigna, Humana, United, BCBS, Medicare. (South Austin, mostly telehealth) - Relational Counseling Services
Private practice providing affordable individual adult and marriage counseling with sliding scale appointments $45-$95 per hour based on client’s financial need. Focus on relationship and individual growth. (Hutto) - Taylor Group Counseling
Provides affordable counseling for adults and teenagers 16+ through individual, couples, and family therapy. Each therapist has unique specializations with $90 private pay rate and accepts multiple insurance plans. (NW Austin – Cedar Park) - Therapy Austin
Has locations in central and north Austin with intern therapists who cannot take insurance but offer affordable rates. Sessions range $75-$125 with quality supervised care. (Central and North Austin)
Insurance-Friendly Options
Some practices accept a wide range of insurance plans and offer a range of rates:
- ⭐️ Just Mind
Private practice with 50+ therapists offering services $100-$200 based on experience level. Serves children (play therapy), teens, adults, couples (Gottman, PACT, EFT trained), with 20+ EMDR and Somatic Experiencing specialists. Accepts select insurance. (Westlake & Spicewood/360) - Austin Travis County Integral Care
Low-cost option requiring proof of income and insurance at intake, with fees determined by income and coverage. Accepts most major commercial insurance with sliding scale fees and specialized groups for crisis support. (Central Austin) - Center for Relational Care
Christian counseling offering low rates $30-130 based on experience, with counselors trained in Intimacy Therapy, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, TBRI, TFCBT, Positive Discipline. Multiple locations serving families and individuals. (South, North, Georgetown) - Charles Gee at Cardinal Collective
Serves individuals 18-45, specifically people of color, men, queer individuals, or those at intersecting identities. Focuses on anxiety/stress, coping skills, college concerns, depression, family conflict, trauma, relationships, racial identity. $100 per session (Online) - Jamie LaFevers and Associates
High-quality, collaborative psychotherapy at affordable rates helping clients go from “surviving” to succeeding. LGBTQ-affirming, specializes in anxiety, relationships, family concerns, dysmorphia, adolescents. $70-$150, accepts BCBS, United Healthcare (Telehealth only) - Louis Laves-Webb Counseling & Associates
Two Austin locations with nearly a dozen therapists offering individual, group, and couples therapy. Group therapy sessions $30-$60, individual sessions $100, couples therapy $120. Virtual appointments available. - Moonstone Counseling
Group practice serving clients across lifespan with high-quality care for trauma, grief, aging, depression, anxiety, relationships. Serves children, adults, couples, families online or in two Austin offices. Accepts Aetna, United, Oscar, Optum, Medicare, BCBS, Cigna. (North, Southwest Austin) - New Life Counseling Center
Christian spiritual counseling agency with two locations offering services for children, teens, adults, families. Provides EMDR for trauma work with rates $65 (Round Rock) to $145 (Austin) per session. (Round Rock and South Austin) - Samaritan Counseling Center
Spiritual-focused counseling for veterans, individuals, couples, and families with sliding fee scale and special programs for low-income and under-insured. Hope for Heroes program for military families with highest fee $125 and grants available. (Multiple NW locations, San Marcos) - Viesca Therapeutic Services
Small group practice focusing on adult mental health including trauma, grief/loss, life transitions, anger management, mood disorders, anxiety. Experienced clinicians with EMDR and CBT backgrounds, accepts Optum, Traditional Medicare, Oscar, United. $65-$150 (Round Rock – Online Only)
Looking Online? Try These Therapy Directories
Still wondering how to find an affordable therapist near you? These directories help match you with therapists based on your budget, identity, and therapy preferences:
- Psychology Today
Most comprehensive and well-known database of Austin therapists with extensive search filters and provider information. - Mental Health Match
Allows detailed demographic information input and specific search filters (atheist non-binary therapists under 35, white Christian male therapists over 45). Best feature is filtering by price you can pay per session. - Inclusive Therapists
National directory of therapists committed to culturally-responsive therapy acknowledging intersection between mental health and systemic inequality. Specifically geared toward people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and marginalized groups. - Therapy Den
Alternative directory to Psychology Today offering different search options and therapist profiles.
Culturally-Specific Directories
If You Need Help Right Now
If you or someone you love is in crisis, you don’t need to wait for an appointment. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time. In Austin and Travis County, Integral Care’s 24/7 Helpline is 512-472-HELP (4357). If there is immediate danger, call 911.
Frequently Asked Questions About Affordable Therapy in Austin
Is there free therapy in Austin?
Yes. SAFE offers free counseling for survivors of violence, NAMI Central Texas runs free support groups, and university training clinics like St. Edward’s and Texas State charge $0 to $20 a session. Nurtured TX also offers up to 10 free sessions for pregnant and postpartum parents.
How much does therapy cost in Austin without insurance?
Most of the low-cost options in this guide run from free to about $100 a session. Fully licensed therapists in private practice usually charge more. At Just Mind, individual sessions are $145 to $215, with a sliding scale and $75 sessions with our UT interns.
Does Just Mind take insurance?
Some of our clinicians are in-network with Aetna, EHN/WebTPA, Harbor Health, Nomi Health, and Sana. For other plans, we provide a superbill so you can file for out-of-network reimbursement. Our providers have opted out of Medicare.
Is online therapy cheaper?
Sometimes. Online therapy saves you drive time and parking, and some low-cost programs are telehealth only. It’s worth asking whether a practice charges the same for online and in-person sessions.
You’ve Got Options
Affordable counseling is available in Austin, whether you have insurance or not. If you want expert care with no pressure to commit, Just Mind’s One Session at a Time is a great place to start.
If you’re looking for free counseling near you, or need sliding scale therapy, this guide includes dozens of resources to explore.
