Mental Health Disorder Therapy Treatment Cost Without Insurance

EDMR has been identified as the most cost-effective treatment for individuals living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR is usually paid for each session, which can range from 45 to 90 minutes in length. Online sources indicate that prices for EDMR can vary widely, anywhere from $75 to $250 per session. 

Some of the factors that influence EDMR therapy costs include the geographical location that you are in, the therapist’s experience, the duration of their session, and any fees that may be required. Fees can be charged for needing to utilize time outside the preplanned session time. 

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive treatment option that utilizes electromagnetic pulses to stimulate the brain cells to reduce symptoms of neurological disorders and mental health disorders, such as depression. TMS therapy costs can range from $6,000 to $12,000 without insurance coverage. 

Many providers require their patients to try various psychotropic medications before trying TMS. TMS is typically a time commitment, that includes 5 days of treatment for several weeks for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. 

Applied Behavioral Analysis, also known as ABA, is revered as the gold standard for autism interventions. Though it is highly effective, many individuals worry about the funding options for mental health treatment. A 2022 study found that the average cost for ABA was just under $60,000 each year. 

It is important to note that there is a range associated with ABA that is often a reflection of the individual’s treatment plan. ABA helps individuals increase their social abilities, develop self-control and self-regulation, learn to transfer behaviors to new environments, and reduce negative behaviors.

The cost of cognitive-behavioral therapy, also known as CBT, is dependent on the services that you are receiving. Research reported that in 2017, the average cost for a physician visit was $74, individual counseling was typically $128 for one hour, and group sessions utilizing CBT were an average of $26 per hour. 

The same study noted that there can be significant differences in cost, and highlighted a range of $18 to $6,747 for clients for the duration of their treatment episode. The higher end of this range represented individuals who were taking psychotropic medications in addition to attending therapy sessions. 

Online sources vary widely when providing estimates for DBT treatment costs, quoting prices from $75 up to $300 per session. One detail that is consistent across research studies is that individuals who engage in DBT treatment compared to other forms of psychotherapy, typically save themselves $8,000 eventually because of the effectiveness of DBT.

Factors that are known to impact the price of DBT include the geographical location, the level of care that the therapy is taking place, the duration of treatment, and the clinical experience of the clinician. If you have questions about the cost of addiction treatment, we encourage you to contact the Harmony Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Group. Our knowledgeable staff can provide you with insight into our personalized treatment programs, and discuss how insurance coverage can help you maintain the cost of therapy.  

• The National Alliance on Mental Illnesses reported that 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness annually
• An estimated 1 in 20 American adults experience a serious mental illness annually
• 1 in 6 youths, between the ages of 6 and 17, experience a mental health illness each year
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents in America between the ages of 10 and 14
• The most common mental health concern among American adults is anxiety, followed by depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, OCS, and schizophrenia, respectively
• Less than half of adults living with a mental illness received treatment in 2021
• Approximately half of adolescents with a mental health disorder received treatment in 2016
• 10.6% of American adults living with a mental illness had no health insurance
• An estimated 19.7% of U.S. Veterans experience a mental illness in 2020
• Approximately 9.6% of active service members experienced a mental health or substance abuse concern in 2021
• Depression and anxiety disorders have a global impact, totaling a loss of $1 trillion in productivity annually
• Approximately 1.1 million adults in New Jersey are living with a mental health concern
• 42.2% of New Jersey residents were experiencing depression or anxiety symptoms in February 2021
• An estimated 260,000 individuals living in Massachusetts are living with a serious mental illness
• NAMI estimated that 1.469 million adults living in North Carolina were living with a mental health condition, and an estimated 356,000 residents were living with a serious mental health condition
• Approximately 231,000 adults in Tennessee did not receive appropriate mental health treatment in 2021, 38.5% identified the cost of treatment as the barrier preventing them from accessing care
• Approximately 2.88 million adults in Florida are living with a mental illness, 648,000 of them are living with a serious mental illness

• Bessonova, Leona et al. “The Economic Burden of Bipolar Disorder in the United States: A Systematic Literature Review.” ClinicoEconomics and outcomes research : CEOR vol. 12 481-497. 7 Sep. 2020, doi:10.2147/CEOR.S259338 
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• “Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.” Behavioral Research Therapy Clinics. Accessed January 12, 2024. https://depts.washington.edu/uwbrtc/about-us/dialectical-behavior-therapy/
• Hodgson, Robert et al. “Intensive behavioural interventions based on applied behaviour analysis (ABA) for young children with autism: A cost-effectiveness analysis.” PloS one vol. 17,8 e0270833. 16 Aug. 2022, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0270833
• Nunez, Kirsten. “TMS Therapy: What It Treats, Benefits, Side Effects, and Costs.” Healthline, January 20, 2021. https://www.healthline.com/health/tms-therapy#costs. 
• Matza, Louis S et al. “A review of the economic burden of ADHD.” Cost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E vol. 3 5. 9 Jun. 2005, doi:10.1186/1478-7547-3-5
• “Mental Health by the Numbers.” National Alliance on Mental Health. Accessed January 12, 2024. https://www.nami.org/mhstats
• Shirneshan, Elaheh. “Cost of Illness Study of Anxiety Disorders for the Ambulatory Adult Population of the United States.” UTHSC Digital Commons. Accessed January 12, 2024. https://dc.uthsc.edu/dissertations/370/#:~:text=The%20annual%20overall%20direct%20medical,93%25%20of%20the%20overall%20cost
• SusannaKaufman. “EMDR Therapy Indicated as the Most Cost-Effective Trauma Treatment.” EMDR International Association, November 13, 2023. https://www.emdria.org/blog/emdr-therapy-indicated-as-the-most-cost-effective-trauma-treatment/. 
• Ross, Eric L et al. “The Cost-Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Versus Second-Generation Antidepressants for Initial Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in the United States: A Decision Analytic Model.” Annals of internal medicine vol. 171,11 (2019): 785-795. doi:10.7326/M18-1480 
• “The High Cost of Mental Disorders Facts for Business Leaders.” Tufts Medical Center. Accessed January 12, 2024. https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.214/e47.77e.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/OMaW_Tufts-Study_High-Cost-of-Mental-Disorders-1.pdf