This guide shows you how to find a therapist in New York, even if you have no insurance or very little money. It covers who is allowed to treat you, what sessions cost, how insurance and Medicaid work 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. The full list of New York crisis numbers is in Crisis help in New York.
How to find a therapist or psychologist in New York, 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 your local mental hygiene department. With Medicaid, start with your 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 lookup 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.
- 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 New York
"Therapist" is a general word. In New York, the license title tells you what the person is allowed to do. One agency, the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions, licenses all of these professions. It lists mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, creative arts therapists and psychoanalysts as mental health practitioners.
| License | What it means | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed mental health counselor | The title "Mental Health Counselor" or "Licensed Mental Health Counselor" requires a license unless an exemption applies. | NYSED license lookup |
| Licensed marriage and family therapist | The title requires a license unless an exemption applies. The work covers mental disorders that affect family and relationship dynamics. | NYSED license lookup |
| Limited permit holder | Someone who practices under supervision. A permit is valid only at a specific practice site and lasts two years. | NYSED license lookup |
| LCSW (licensed clinical social worker) | Can provide diagnosis, psychotherapy and treatment planning without supervision. | NYSED license lookup |
| LMSW (licensed master social worker) | Can provide those clinical services only under supervision. | NYSED license lookup |
| Psychologist | Only a licensed psychologist may use the title. | NYSED license lookup |
New York law defines the practice of psychology to include evaluation and diagnosis of behavioral and mental disorders, and psychological testing. If you need a formal evaluation, check that the person holds a psychologist license.
A person on a limited permit or an LMSW works under supervision. Ask which license you are booking.
How to check a therapist's license in New York
The Office of the Professions runs one online search for professional verification and enforcement actions. Use the NYSED verification search and type in the therapist's name. We could not open the lookup itself, so check what it shows when you search.
If you cannot find a name, ask the therapist for the exact license title and number, and check again.
Online therapy in New York: Can you see a therapist from another state?
New York bases the rule on where the client is. A practitioner must hold a New York license, or be otherwise authorized, to serve a client located in New York. The state also tells providers to verify the client's state of residence before starting online care.
There is one narrow exception for psychologists. A psychologist licensed elsewhere may file an attestation and pay a $10 fee. The temporary authorization cannot run past 10 consecutive business days or 15 business days in a 90-day period, and it cannot be renewed. The mental health counseling telepractice page mentions no such exception.
Here is where the compacts stand.
- Psychologists. New York was not on the list of states with final PSYPACT legislation when we checked on 21 October 2026.
- Professional counselors. New York is not a member of the Counseling Compact. The compact is live in 11 states so far: Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
- Social workers. New York is not on the list of jurisdictions that passed the Social Work Licensure Compact.
We found no verified information on a compact for marriage and family therapists in New York. If you want to see an out-of-state therapist, ask for their New York license number and check it.
How much does therapy cost in New York?
A 2026 guide says private fees in New York City run $100 to $350 per session. The guide was reviewed in July 2026. We found no sourced statewide average, so outside New York City, ask each practice for its fee.
| Route | What it costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private pay, New York City | $100 to $350 per session | Varies with discipline and experience |
| NYU Steinhardt counseling center | $40 per individual session, $20 per group session | Sliding scale. $50 intake fee. No insurance accepted |
| Dean Hope Center, Teachers College | Most individual therapy $40 per session | Sliding scale for hardship. Veterans get 50 percent off |
| Adelphi Center for Psychological Services | Sliding scale for community members | Ask the clinic for the current fee |
| Local mental hygiene department | Varies, ask | See the free and low-cost section |
| Private insurance | Varies, ask your plan | Depends on your plan |
| Medicaid | Varies, ask your plan | Ask what your plan charges |
Ask for the fee in your first message.
Does Medicaid cover therapy in New York?
New York adopted the Medicaid expansion, and it took effect on 1 January 2014. We could not open the state Medicaid pages, so check the current income limits when you apply.
The Department of Financial Services lists these numbers for Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus.
- Medicaid, (800) 541-2831
- Medicaid managed care and Child Health Plus, (800) 206-8125
- Essential Plan, (855) 355-5777
No verified page lists what counseling Medicaid covers for adults. Ask your plan directly. One Medicaid managed care plan, MetroPlus, says its members can see any in-network behavioral health provider at any time without a referral from a primary care doctor. That is one plan's statement, so ask yours.
Ask each therapist if they take your specific plan, since a therapist may take one plan and not another. The Behavioral Health Ombudsman line is (888) 614-5400, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Using private insurance: How to find a therapist in your network
In-network means the therapist has a contract with your insurer. Out-of-network means they do not, and you may pay more or the whole fee. A directory listing does not prove a therapist takes your plan, so check with the insurer.
- Call the number on your insurance card and ask for the behavioral health line.
- Ask for a list of in-network therapists. Under New York rules, the insurer must send it within 3 business days of your request.
- 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.
New York's Department of Financial Services says insurers must have staff to help you find an in-network provider. If none can meet your needs, the insurer must approve a referral to an out-of-network provider, and you pay the in-network cost share. For outpatient mental health care at a facility licensed by the Office of Mental Health, the copay may not be more than a primary care visit.
If a treatment is denied, you have 180 days to appeal with your insurer. Then you can send an external appeal to the Department of Financial Services within four months. You can call the department on (800) 342-3736.
Free and low-cost therapy in New York
University training clinics are one low-cost route. NYU and the Dean Hope Center do not take insurance. Ask Adelphi about insurance.
- NYU Steinhardt Center for Counseling and Community Wellbeing. Individual counseling is $40 a session and group counseling is $20. There is a $50 intake fee. The fee is on a sliding scale based on need.
- Dean Hope Center, Teachers College, Columbia University. Most individual therapy is $40 a session. Sliding scale fees are available for hardship, and veterans get 50 percent off. Trainees provide the therapy there. Phone (212) 678-3262.
- Adelphi University Center for Psychological Services. Community members pay a sliding-scale fee. It has sites in Garden City and Manhattan. The general university line is 800-233-5744.
Your local mental hygiene department is another route. Use the directory of local mental hygiene departments and pick your county or New York City from the map or list. The Office of Mental Health also links a "Find a Mental Health Program" tool on its guidance page. We could not read the fee rules for these services, so ask when you call.
The Office of Mental Health customer relations line is 1-800-597-8481.
Why therapists don't call back, and what to send instead
A listing may be out of date, or the therapist may have no openings. A long message can also get lost. A short, specific message is easier to answer than a vague one, and email lets someone reply when they have a gap.
Send the same message to several places. Keep it short, and ask one question at a time.
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, and you can call or text 988 at any hour. The OMH Emotional Support Helpline is 1-844-863-9314.
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, and do you work with my issue?
- What approach would you use, and 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. You can switch therapists.
Crisis help in New York
Call or text 988, or chat at chat.988lifeline.org, at any hour. Spanish text and chat are available. In New York City, you can also call 311 and ask for NYC 988. To text in Spanish in the city, send "AYUDA" to 988.
New York has 14 dedicated 988 contact centers, and each one serves its local community.
Two more state numbers are listed by the Department of Financial Services. The OMH Emotional Support Helpline is 1-844-863-9314. The NYS HOPEline for addiction is 877-846-7369. We could not confirm the hours for either, so call 988 if you need help at once.
Sources28
- Mental Health Practitioners (NYSED Office of the Professions), https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/mental-health-practitioners
- NYS Mental Health Counseling: License Requirements, https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/mental-health-counselors/license-requirements
- Mental Health Counselors (NYSED Office of the Professions), https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/mental-health-counselors
- NYS Marriage And Family Therapy: License Requirements, https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/marriage-and-family-therapists/license-requirements
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- What is the difference between the LMSW and the LCSW? (Office of the Professions), https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/social-work/faqs/what-difference-between-lmsw-and-lcsw
- Questions & Answers About Licensure and Limited Permits for Psychology, https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/psychology/questions-answers-about-licensure-and-limited-permits
- Telepractice (Office of the Professions), https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/mental-health-counselors/professional-practice/telepractice
- NYSED Professions verification search, https://eservices.nysed.gov/professions/verification-search
- Final PSYPACT Legislation, Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), https://psypact.gov/page/statelegislation
- Compact Map, Counseling Compact, https://counselingcompact.org/map/
- Counseling Compact, https://counselingcompact.gov/
- Compact Jurisdictions, Social Work Licensure Compact, https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/
- New York City Therapy Fees, In and Out of Network (TherapyRoute), https://www.therapyroute.com/article/how-much-does-therapy-cost-in-new-york-city-2025-prices
- 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/
- Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Information (Department of Financial Services), https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/health_insurance/mhsud
- Medicaid Managed Care Mental Health Resources (MetroPlus Health Plan), https://metroplus.org/plans/medicaid-managed-care/mental-health/
- Fees, Center for Counseling and Community Wellbeing (NYU Steinhardt), https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/center-counseling-and-community-wellbeing/about-us/fees
- Services, Dean Hope Center (Teachers College, Columbia University), https://www.tc.columbia.edu/deanhope/services
- Center for Psychological Services (Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology), https://www.adelphi.edu/psychology/services-for-the-community/center-for-psychological-services/
- Contact Local Mental Hygiene Departments (NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors), https://www.clmhd.org/contact_local_mental_hygiene_departments/
- Guidance Documents (NYS Office of Mental Health), https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/guidance/
- 988 Lifeline, https://988lifeline.org/
- Talk, text, or chat for mental health help (NYC 988), https://access.nyc.gov/programs/nyc-988/
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (NYS Office of Mental Health), https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/crisis/988.html
- Psychologist Locator (American Psychological Association), https://locator.apa.org/
- Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses (IRS), https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502
- Education Law Section 7601-A, Definition of the practice of psychology (NY Senate), https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EDN/7601-A