This guide shows you how to find a therapist in Arizona, even if you have no insurance or very little money. It covers who is allowed to treat you, what sessions cost, how Medicaid works and where to find free or cheap help. Every fact comes from a page listed at the end.
If you are in crisis right now. Call or text 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), at any hour. In an emergency, call 911. In Arizona you can also call 1-844-534-4673. The full list of Arizona crisis numbers is in Crisis help in Arizona.
How to find a therapist or psychologist in Arizona, step by step
Start with the route that matches your situation. You can work through the steps in order, and you can run two routes at the same time.
- Decide what you can pay per session. Look at the cost table below and pick a number you can keep up for several weeks.
- Choose your route. With no insurance, start with a university training clinic or a sliding scale practice. With AHCCCS (Arizona's Medicaid), start with your health plan. With a private plan, start with the number on your insurance card.
- Make a short list of three to five places. Do not wait for the first one to answer before you contact the next.
- Check each license. Use the state lookups in the section on checking a license. It takes a couple of minutes.
- Send one clear message to each place. Say that you are looking for therapy, what days suit you, and what you can pay. A sample message is further down.
- Ask about fees before you book. Ask if there is a sliding scale, a trainee rate or a lower fee for the first weeks.
- Book a first session and see how it feels. You can switch if it is not a fit.
Where to search for names
- Your insurer's provider finder. Use the member portal or the number on your card. This is the list to start from if you want to use your plan.
- Arizona Psychological Association Find a Psychologist. Filters include city or ZIP code, specialty, age group, insurance accepted, telehealth, sliding fee scale and whether the psychologist is accepting new patients.
- APA Psychologist Locator. Search by ZIP code or city, and by name or specialty.
Directory listings are written by the therapists themselves. Confirm the license in the lookup below, and confirm the insurance and the openings with the therapist.
Read more about the process across the country on the find a therapist hub.
Therapist, counselor, psychologist: Who can treat you in Arizona
"Therapist" is a general word. In Arizona, the license title tells you what the person is allowed to do. The Board of Behavioral Health Examiners licenses social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists and addiction counselors. A separate Board of Psychologist Examiners licenses psychologists.
| License | What it means | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) | A counselor licensed by the behavioral health board. | BBHE directory |
| LAC (Licensed Associate Counselor) | The associate counselor title. Ask who supervises the work. | BBHE directory |
| LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) | A marriage and family therapist licensed by the behavioral health board. | BBHE directory |
| LAMFT (Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist) | The associate title for marriage and family therapists. | BBHE directory |
| LCSW, LMSW, LBSW (social workers) | Clinical, master's level and bachelor's level social work licenses. | BBHE directory |
| LIAC, LAAC, LACT (addiction counselors) | Independent, associate and technician addiction counseling licenses. | BBHE directory |
| Psychologist | Licensed by the psychology board, which also licenses behavior analysts. | Psychology board directory |
Arizona law defines the practice of psychology as the psychological assessment, diagnosis, treatment or correction of mental, emotional, behavioral or psychological abilities, illnesses or disorders. If you need a formal evaluation, check that the person holds a psychologist license.
The behavioral health board says that people who apply for an independent license must show proof of supervised experience and clinical supervision. Always find out which license the person holds before you book.
How to check a therapist's license in Arizona
Arizona uses two lookups. For counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers and addiction counselors, use the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners directory. The board explains the search on its directory and verifications page.
For psychologists, use the Board of Psychologist Examiners directory. The board says this directory is its only license verification, and there is no fee.
Search the name, then look at the license type and whether it is active. For contact details, use the contact pages on the boards' websites.
Online therapy in Arizona: Can you see a therapist from another state?
The rules depend on where you are during the session. For psychologists, the Arizona psychology board says an out-of-state psychologist needs PSYPACT authority or a telehealth registration to treat a client located in Arizona. An Arizona license covers clients in Arizona in person or by video.
Here is where the compacts stand.
- Psychologists. Arizona is a PSYPACT member under A.R.S. 32-2087. A psychologist with an active PSYPACT authorization to practice telepsychology (called an APIT) can treat you from their home state. You can check whether a psychologist holds one at verifypsypact.org.
- Professional counselors. Arizona is on the Counseling Compact member list, and the compact launched in Arizona on September 30, 2025. Counselors licensed in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri or Oklahoma, who live in those states, can apply for a privilege to practice in Arizona. Counselors in Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Wyoming will be able to apply. Check the Arizona board's compact page for the current list.
- Social workers. Arizona has passed the Social Work Licensure Compact language. The compact has reached activation status, but multistate licenses are not being issued yet.
We found no verified information on a compact for marriage and family therapists, or on a rule for out-of-state counselors outside the compact. If you want to see an out-of-state therapist, ask for their Arizona license number or compact privilege and check it.
How much does therapy cost in Arizona?
We found no Arizona price survey that we could trace to a source, so we do not print one. One benchmark is Medicare. For 2026 it allows about $167 for a 60-minute psychotherapy session and about $114 for 45 minutes. These are national amounts that change by area, and the source says they are not what private practices charge.
The same source says that LCSWs and LPCs are generally the most affordable licensed route. It also names Open Path Collective, which offers reduced rates after a one-time membership fee, but gives no price.
| Route | What it costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private pay, licensed clinician | Varies, ask | Medicare's 2026 allowance of about $167 for 60 minutes is a benchmark |
| ASU Counselor Training Center | $100 per semester | For Arizona adults not tied to a college. Free for Arizona college students |
| University of Arizona Behavioral Health Clinic | Greatly reduced prices, ask | Does not take insurance or cash |
| Open Path Collective | Ask for current rates | One-time lifetime membership fee |
| Private insurance | Varies, ask your plan | Depends on your plan |
| AHCCCS (Medicaid) | Varies, ask your plan | Ask what your plan charges |
Ask for the fee in your first message.
Does AHCCCS cover therapy in Arizona?
AHCCCS is Arizona's Medicaid program. The children's health insurance program is called KidsCare. Arizona adopted Medicaid expansion on January 1, 2014, and Medicaid.gov says the state has expanded coverage to low-income adults. You apply through Health-e-Arizona PLUS.
This guide does not state what counseling AHCCCS covers or what the income limit is. Ask AHCCCS member services, and ask each therapist whether they take your specific plan.
AHCCCS members choose a health plan. One example is UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, whose AHCCCS Complete Care page has a provider lookup and a "Find behavioral health support" link. Call your plan's member services and ask for the behavioral health line.
For a child or teen, ask about KidsCare when you apply.
Using private insurance: How to find a therapist in your network
Check with your insurer that a therapist takes your plan. A directory listing alone does not settle it.
- Call the number on your insurance card and ask for the behavioral health line.
- Ask for a list of in-network therapists, and ask if you need a referral.
- Ask what you pay per session, and if a deductible applies first.
- Call the therapist and confirm they still take that exact plan.
If your therapist is out of network. Ask the therapist for a superbill, which is an itemized receipt for your session. Call your insurer and ask what your out-of-network mental health benefits are, and whether the deductible applies first. Ask whether they reimburse you after you submit the superbill. If you have a health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA), ask your plan if therapy fees are eligible. IRS Publication 502 treats amounts paid to a psychologist for medical care as medical expenses, but your plan decides what it pays.
Arizona's insurance department (DIFI) explains that federal parity law requires comparable mental health and medical benefits, and Arizona's Jake's Law gives DIFI the power to enforce it. Large employer plans that pay claims themselves are usually regulated by the U.S. Department of Labor instead. If your insurer says a service is "not covered" or "not medically necessary," you appeal to the insurer. For other problems, you can file a complaint with DIFI or call its Consumer Protection Division on (602) 364-3100. Read the parity page for details.
Free and low-cost therapy in Arizona
Two Arizona university clinics have low fees we could verify.
- Arizona State University Counselor Training Center, Tempe. It is free for Arizona college students and costs $100 per semester for other adults. ASU faculty and staff pay $80. It offers individual counseling for adults only, not couples or families. You must be in Arizona. Phone 480-965-5067.
- University of Arizona Behavioral Health Clinic, Tucson. It offers individual therapy, group services, and couples and family therapy at greatly reduced prices. The page lists no rates. It does not take insurance or cash, and there may be a waitlist. You start with a patient interest form.
Public mental health services. This guide does not include a locator for Arizona's public behavioral health system. Your AHCCCS health plan or AHCCCS member services is the first call. DIFI also points people to 211 Arizona for counseling and recovery services at 211Arizona.org.
Open Path Collective. It offers reduced session rates after a one-time lifetime membership fee. Check its website for the current rates.
Warm lines. These are peer-run lines for talking when you are not in crisis. They are listed in the crisis section below.
Why therapists don't call back, and what to send instead
If you hear nothing, the therapist may have no openings or may not have seen your message. Keep your message short and specific, and ask one question at a time. Send the same message to several places.
Hello, I am looking for a therapist and found your practice online. I am free on weekday evenings. Are you taking new clients, and what is your fee per session? If you have a sliding scale or a trainee rate, I would like to hear about it. Thank you.
If you hear nothing in a week, send a short follow-up or move to the next name on your list. You can also ask for a waitlist spot and keep looking.
While you wait. Book the first opening you are offered, even if it is weeks away. You can cancel later. Ask to join the cancellation list. Keep contacting two or three other places. In the meantime, you can talk to a primary care doctor. For support when it is not a crisis, the Maricopa County Warm Line is (602) 347-1100. You can also call or text 988 at any hour.
How to tell if a therapist is a good fit
You will not know in the first minute. Give it two or three sessions, and use the first call to ask a few plain questions. Ask whether they offer a free short phone call before you book. If they do, use it to decide.
- What do you usually help people with?
- How do sessions usually go?
- How often would you suggest we meet?
- What is the fee, and can it change if my budget changes?
- What happens if I need to cancel?
Watch for red flags. The person dismisses your concerns. They will not tell you their license details. They pressure you to book many sessions up front. If you see any of these, you can stop and look elsewhere. It is normal to switch therapists, and it does not mean you did something wrong.
Crisis help in Arizona
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, at any hour. Veterans can dial 988 then press 1. The Arizona Crisis Line is 1-844-534-4673, and you can text HOPE to 4HOPE (44673). It runs 24 hours a day. In an emergency, call 911.
The UnitedHealthcare AHCCCS plan page also lists county crisis numbers.
- Maricopa County, 602-222-9444 or 1-800-631-1314
- Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties, 1-866-495-6735
- Apache, Coconino, Gila, Mohave, Navajo and Yavapai counties, 1-877-756-4090
Warm lines are for support when it is not a crisis. The Maricopa County Warm Line is (602) 347-1100 and is listed as open 24 hours. Hope, Inc. runs a warm line daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mountain time on 520-770-9909 (Pima County) or 844-733-9912 (other counties). Teen Lifeline takes calls and texts on 602-248-8336 in Maricopa County and calls on 1-800-248-8336 elsewhere in Arizona.
What else to know in Arizona
- Minors. Under A.R.S. 36-2272, a provider may not treat a minor for mental health without consent from a parent or legal custodian. The consent can be written or oral. There are exceptions for court orders, other laws and emergencies.
- Counselors under the compact. The behavioral health board lets you search for LPCs who work through the Counseling Compact on its directory page.
- Psychologists from other states. An out-of-state psychologist without PSYPACT authority can register on Arizona's Telehealth Registry. That registration is not a license.
Sources31
- Home, Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, https://bbhe.az.gov/
- FAQ, Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, https://bbhe.az.gov/about/faq
- Directory and Verifications Search, Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, https://bbhe.az.gov/directory-and-verifications-search
- Counseling Compact, Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, https://bbhe.az.gov/counseling-compact
- Board of Behavioral Health Examiners online directory, https://azbbhe.public.mi-licensing.com/
- Home, Board of Psychologist Examiners, https://psychboard.az.gov/
- Directory - Licensee Search, Board of Psychologist Examiners, https://psychboard.az.gov/directory-search
- Telehealth and Temporary Practice, Board of Psychologist Examiners, https://psychboard.az.gov/applications/telehealth-temporary-practice
- Final PSYPACT Legislation, Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), https://psypact.gov/page/statelegislation
- Compact Map, Counseling Compact, https://counselingcompact.org/map/
- Compact Jurisdictions, Social Work Licensure Compact, https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/
- Social Work Licensure Compact, https://swcompact.org/
- USA Therapy Costs: In Network or Out, TherapyRoute, https://www.therapyroute.com/article/how-much-does-therapy-cost-in-the-usa-by-therapyroute
- Arizona, Medicaid.gov, https://www.medicaid.gov/state-overviews/stateprofile.html?state=arizona
- Status of State Action on the Medicaid Expansion Decision, KFF State Health Facts, https://www.kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/state-activity-around-expanding-medicaid-under-the-affordable-care-act/
- Arizona AHCCCS Complete Care, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, https://www.uhc.com/communityplan/arizona/plans/medicaid/ahcccs
- Mental Health Parity, Consumer Information, Arizona DIFI, https://difi.az.gov/mental-health-parity
- Counselor Training Center FAQs, Arizona State University, https://cisa.asu.edu/sccp/counselor-training-center/faqs
- bhc faq, University of Arizona Department of Psychology, https://psychology.arizona.edu/bhc-faq
- AZDHS 988, https://www.azdhs.gov/988
- Arizona Crisis Line, https://crh.arizona.edu/arizona-crisis-line
- 988 Lifeline, https://988lifeline.org/
- 911.gov, https://www.911.gov/
- Maricopa County Warm Line, 211 Arizona, https://search.211arizona.org/search/c0df91ca-a8ca-5848-8b81-172fdb8b8b40
- NAMI National Warmline Directory, https://helplinefaqs.nami.org/article/577-nami-national-warmline-directory
- Arizona Revised Statutes 36-2272, https://www.azleg.gov/ars/36/02272.htm
- Counseling Compact, https://counselingcompact.gov/
- Find a Psychologist (Arizona Psychological Association), https://www.azpa.org/Find-A-Psychologist
- Psychologist Locator (American Psychological Association), https://locator.apa.org/
- Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses (IRS), https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502
- A.R.S. 32-2061, Definitions (Arizona Legislature), https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/02061.htm