Find a Counselor near you
The average rating for Bark Counselors is 4.88, based on 134,997 reviews
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Need to speak to a professional counselor but not sure how much it will cost? Our handy guide tells you how much you can expect to be charged for different counseling services in the US, as well as how to minimize costs.
A counselor is someone trained to support people to overcome their emotional distress by listening and talking to them about their problems. Counseling helps with a variety of problems, such as:
A change in personal circumstances or a challenging life event, like bereavement, work-related stress, or a relationship ending
A mental health condition (depression, anxiety, etc.)
Problems with relationships
Emotions which are difficult to manage, including anger or low mood
Counseling occurs in a safe and comfortable environment. This is usually in the professional’s clinic, but they may be able to travel to your home.
Popularity in online counseling is rising as people can have the session from the comfort of their own home.
There is no fixed rate when it comes to counseling costs - the price can vary based on different factors. As a rough guide, here’s a breakdown of the average cost per session based on local professionals across the US. A session usually lasts for 45-60 minutes.
| Average cost (per session) | $65 |
| Minimum cost (per session) | $50 |
| Maximum cost (per session) | $80 |
The cost of a counselor can vary depending on different factors. These include:
Location
Experience
Type of counseling service
The price of a counselor can change depending on which city or state you live in. If you are in a big city like New York, you are likely to spend more than if you live in a rural area, as the cost of living is higher. If you are wondering how much you can expect to pay based on where you live, here’s a rough idea:
| Location | Average cost (per session) |
| New York | $60 - $130 |
| Smaller cities/rural areas | $50 - $80 |
Nothing is more important than your mental wellbeing, so always make sure your counselor has the right skills and ethics to be able to help you with your problems. Make sure they have the necessary qualifications required to practice.
In the US, most counselors will hold a Master’s degree in counseling or counseling psychology, which also includes a certain amount of clinical experience as part of the qualification.
Licensure in the state that you practice is also required, and the specifics of this vary from state to state.
Beyond this, a highly qualified and experienced counselor may charge anything from $70 - $300. This may include having additional qualifications like psychotherapy or psychology.
Online counseling, which takes place either through live text, video, or phone call, is less expensive than traditional counseling that takes face to face. This makes it much more convenient as you aren’t required to travel to the professional.
The below table shows price differences for online and face-to-face counseling services based on local US professionals:
| Type of counseling | Average cost (per session) |
| Face-to-face | $50 - $70 |
| Online | $40 - $50 |
Everyone should be able to access a counselor if they need to, regardless of their financial situation. There are lots of ways to minimize costs when hiring a counselor:
Price packages - Some counselors offer a discount price for a pack of multiple sessions, reducing the price per session.
Discounts - Lots of counselors operate a sliding scale on fees, meaning that students, job seekers or those on lower incomes will pay less than the average amount.
Student counselors - As student counselors are still in training, they will charge around $20 per session. A student counselor is monitored by a senior counselor to ensure they are delivering a high quality of service.
Look after your mental wellbeing, find a Counselor on Bark.
The average rating for Bark Counselors is 4.88, based on 134,997 reviews
5/5
based on 134,997 reviews
