When you’re experiencing mental health challenges, the last thing you want is the financial stress of trying to find treatment. It’s also possible that you’re only hearing about expensive therapy options that may or may not take your insurance. Even though investing in your mental health is important, it’s not always easy to find an option that won’t strain your wallet. That’s where online therapy comes in.

In data from 2021, approximately 30% of people in Massachusetts who needed mental health care didn’t receive treatment due to the cost. Online therapy tends to be more affordable than in-person therapy. Not only is it covered by most major insurances, but the lower overhead costs mean that the therapists may be able to offer lower rates. Plus, it removes the cost of transportation to get there, such as gas or ride services.

If you’re looking for affordable online therapy near you as a Massachusetts resident, this guide offers tips to find the best therapy options that won’t make you gasp at the cost. We’ll also discuss how Guidelight Health incorporates online therapy into our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program while keeping cost in mind.

4 ways to find affordable online therapy

Finding reliable support through online therapy can take some time. You want to make sure that the therapist is a good fit for you, their schedule works with yours and they fit into your budget.

People in Massachusetts who have health insurance are five times more likely to have to go out of network for their mental health care needs than for primary care. The high out-of-network fees could mean that having regular therapy sessions might not be financially sustainable.

Here are a few tips to finding affordable online therapy in Massachusetts:

Ask for referrals from your general practitioner.

If you’ve decided to take action to improve your mental health, it can be helpful to consult with professionals who have already spent time treating your health concerns. If you have a general practitioner you trust and feel comfortable with, open up to them about your mental health concerns and your search for online therapy.

They can likely refer you to trusted therapists within their network, or they can compile a list of potential therapists based on your insurance and symptoms.

Use the APA Psychologist Locator.

When you start searching online for virtual therapy, you’ll see dozens of options. To narrow it down, taking your insurance and/or budget into consideration, try out the American Psychological Association’s Psychologist Locator tool. You can put in your insurance provider, as well as your preference for telehealth options, and you’ll have a list of therapists who fit your criteria.

Call your insurance for recommendations.

When you start looking for online therapy, and you have insurance, the first question to ask may be what therapists are covered by your insurance. To get the most accurate, updated list of options, cut out the middle man by going directly to your insurance.

You can call your insurance directly. Ask what online therapists in Massachusetts are covered under your plan. You can also find out what out-of-pocket costs you can expect.

Explore community or nonprofit services.

If you’re looking for low-cost online therapy providers who have your best interests at heart, it’s worth looking into the options in your community that provide resources at little to no cost. Check to see if there are chapters of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) nearby that can connect you with therapy resources. There may also be free mental health resources provided at your local community center.

You can also look for free support groups or private online forums. These can provide space for you to connect with other people who can relate to your experiences to share insight and build a support system.

Guidelight provides affordable online therapy in Massachusetts in our vIOP

If you need support for persistent or worsening mental health condition symptoms that you’re having trouble managing, our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP) may be what you’re looking for.

At Guidelight, our vIOP incorporates virtual individual and group therapy sessions with medication management. We can help you take control of your symptoms and move along your mental health journey. Our vIOP involves virtual treatment three days a week on a secure platform for three to four hours per day. We provide day or evening options to give you the most flexibility possible.

Our vIOP is covered by many insurance providers for clients in Massachusetts, and we’re always working to add more to our network.

Everyone has a seat at Guidelight. Contact our team online or call us today for more information about online therapy in Massachusetts or to schedule an initial evaluation.