How to find a therapist or psychologist in North Carolina

This guide shows you how to find a therapist in North Carolina, even if you have no insurance or very little money. It covers who is allowed to treat you, what sessions cost, how NC Medicaid works and where to find free or cheap help. Every fact comes from a page listed at the end.

How to find a therapist or psychologist in North Carolina, 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.

1. Decide what you can pay per session. Look at the cost table below and pick a number you can keep up for several weeks.
2. Choose your route. With no insurance, start with a university training clinic or a sliding scale clinic. With NC Medicaid, start with your health plan. With a private plan, start with the number on your insurance card.
3. Make a short list of three to five places. Do not wait for the first one to answer before you contact the next.
4. Check each license. Use the board lookups in the section on checking a license.
5. 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.
6. Ask about fees before you book. Ask if there is a sliding scale, a trainee rate or a lower fee for the first weeks.
7. 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.
• North Carolina Psychological Association Find a Psychologist. A statewide directory of licensed psychologists. The association says it is still moving the directory to a new platform, so some profiles are incomplete.
• 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 board lookups 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 North Carolina

"Therapist" is a general word. In North Carolina, the license title tells you what the person is allowed to do. Four separate boards license the main professions, and each has its own lookup.

License	What it means	Where to check
LCMHC (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor)	The independent counselor license.	Counselors board lookup
LCMHCA (Associate)	Cannot work unless an approved supervision contract is on file with the board.	Counselors board lookup
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)	Required for clinical social work practice. Needs 3,000 hours of post-MSW clinical practice.	Social work board lookup
LCSWA (Associate)	The associate license. Supervision is documented to the board every 6 months.	Social work board lookup
Licensed Psychologist	The doctoral level of licensure from the NC Psychology Board.	Psychology board verification
Licensed Psychological Associate	The master's level of licensure. The board sets supervision levels 1, 2 or 3 for associates.	Psychology board verification
LMFT (marriage and family therapist)	Licensed by the NC Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board.	Call the board on 919-772-6600

Some social work titles are not clinical. The board's CSW, CMSW and CSWM are voluntary certifications for non-clinical work, and the board says the LCSW is required for clinical practice.

An associate is not automatically a worse choice. They work under supervision. What matters is knowing which license you are booking.

How to check a therapist's license in North Carolina

There is no single portal. Each board runs its own lookup, so check the one that matches the title.

• Counselors. Use the counselors board license verification. The page warns that a name in the results does not guarantee good standing, so open the full record.
• Social workers. Use the social work board license lookup.
• Psychologists and psychological associates. Use the psychology board verification page. Web and phone checks are free. You can phone 828.262.2258 on Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Marriage and family therapists. We could not confirm an online lookup. Call the licensure board on 919-772-6600.

Online therapy in North Carolina: Can you see a therapist from another state?

North Carolina bases the rule on where you are sitting. The counselors board says counseling happens where both the counselor and the client are located. To counsel you in North Carolina, the person must hold a North Carolina license or be exempt. The psychology board says the same about where practice takes place.

Here is where the compacts stand.

• Psychologists. North Carolina is on the list of states with final PSYPACT legislation. Ask any out-of-state psychologist to confirm that they hold PSYPACT authority to practice in North Carolina.
• Counselors. North Carolina is a member of the Counseling Compact, but the compact is not live for North Carolina counselors yet. It is live in 11 states so far: Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
• Social workers. North Carolina has passed the Social Work Licensure Compact language. Multistate licenses are not yet being issued.

We found no verified information on a compact for marriage and family therapists, or on a temporary-practice rule for out-of-state providers. If you want to see an out-of-state therapist, ask for their North Carolina license number and check it.

How much does therapy cost in North Carolina?

We found no state survey of what people pay out of pocket. The best figures we found are what four large insurers pay North Carolina therapists, from June to August 2026. For a 45-minute session they pay about $72 to $110. For a 60-minute session they pay about $91 to $150. The source says these are published rates, not claim payments or a clinic's actual contract.

Route	What it costs	Notes
Insurer rate, 45 minutes	About $72 to $110	What insurers pay the therapist, not your bill
Insurer rate, 60 minutes	About $91 to $150	Same source, June to August 2026
Open Path Collective	$40 to $70 per session	One-time $65 membership. $30 with student interns. Check the site for current prices
UNCG Psychology Clinic	$20 to $105 per session	Sliding scale. UNCG students $15
UNCG Vacc Clinic	$10 to $30 per session	Set by household income
ECU Psychology Clinic	Sliding scale	First consultation free. Does not bill insurance
UNC-Chapel Hill community clinic	Reduced fee	Set during the phone screening
Private insurance	Varies, ask your plan	Depends on your plan
NC Medicaid	Copays never more than $4	Ask your plan what applies

Ask for the fee in your first message.

Does NC Medicaid cover therapy in North Carolina?

NC Medicaid is run by the state health department (NCDHHS). It expanded on December 1, 2023. Adults aged 19 through 64 qualify if household income is up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line. There is no monthly fee, and copays are never more than $4.

The state's behavioral health page lists what outpatient services NC Medicaid covers. These include assessment, individual and group therapy, behavioral health counseling, family therapy and psychological testing. It does not say which license types can provide them, so ask each therapist if they take your specific plan.

Some people get behavioral health care through a Tailored Plan. These plans started on July 1, 2024. They are for people with serious mental illness, severe substance use, intellectual or developmental disabilities, or a traumatic brain injury. Your plan depends on the county that runs your Medicaid. Use the LME/MCO directory or call the NC Medicaid enrollment broker on 1-833-870-5500.

To find a covered therapist, start with the NC Medicaid Find a Doctor page. It links to the provider and health plan lookup tool. You can also call the NC Medicaid Contact Center on 888-245-0179, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For a child or teen, the eligibility page lists separate income limits for ages 0 through 18. Those figures were marked as current only until April 1, 2026, so ask the Contact Center for today's numbers. We could not confirm the current name of the state's children's health insurance program.

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.

1. Call the number on your insurance card and ask for the behavioral health line.
2. Ask for a list of in-network therapists, and ask if you need a referral.
3. Ask what you pay per session, and if a deductible applies first.
4. 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.

North Carolina's insurance department says fully insured plans must cover mental health at parity with other health care. Self-funded plans are not required to cover it, but if they do, it must be at parity. If you think your plan is breaking these rules, file a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Its consumer line is 855-408-1212.

Free and low-cost therapy in North Carolina

University training clinics publish their fees, and several charge on a sliding scale.

• UNCG Psychology Clinic, Greensboro. The standard rate is $105 an hour. The sliding scale goes as low as $20 a session by income and dependents. The screening visit is free for Medicaid clients. It takes Medicaid Direct and Medicaid through Healthy Blue or Trillium, but not private insurance. Phone 336.334.5662.
• UNCG Vacc Clinic, Greensboro. Counseling costs $10 a session under $40,000 household income and rises to $30 above $70,000. Phone 336.334.5112.
• ECU Psychology Clinic, Greenville. Graduate student clinicians work under supervisors on a sliding scale. The first consultation is free and the fee is set in the first session. It does not bill insurance. Phone 252-737-4180.
• UNC-Chapel Hill Psychology Department community clinic. Graduate students in the clinical doctoral program provide most services. Reduced fees are based on income and are set during the phone screening. Phone (919) 962-6906.

Your local LME/MCO. North Carolina has one local management entity and managed care organization for each county. They run the Tailored Plans and coordinate some services for NC Medicaid Direct members. The directory lists Alliance Health (Wake, Durham, Mecklenburg and other counties), Trillium Health Resources (Guilford, Pitt, New Hanover and others) and Vaya Partners (Buncombe, Forsyth, Gaston and others). The page does not say whether people without Medicaid can use them, so ask when you call.

Open Path Collective. Sessions are $40 to $70 after a one-time $65 membership, or $30 with student interns. Check the Open Path site for the current prices.

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 short, specific message is easier to answer than a long or vague one.

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 NC Peer Warmline is 1-855-733-7762, and you speak with a peer who has lived experience.

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. It is normal to switch therapists, and it does not mean you did something wrong.

Crisis help in North Carolina

Call or text 988, or chat at chat.988lifeline.org, at any hour. Text and chat are also available in Spanish. In an emergency, call 911.

North Carolina also has these lines.

• NC Peer Warmline, 1-855-733-7762. You speak with a peer who has lived experience.
• Hope4NC Helpline, 1-855-587-3463. It is open 24 hours and is for people recovering from Hurricane Helene.
• Behavioral health crisis lines listed by each LME/MCO. Alliance Health, 877-223-4617. Trillium Health Resources, 888-302-0738. Vaya Partners, 833-353-2093. The directory does not say who may call, so use 988 if you are unsure.

The full list is on the LME/MCO directory.

Sources33

• North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors, https://www.ncblcmhc.org/
• Applying (NC Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors), https://www.ncblcmhc.org/licensure/applying
• Distance Counseling Policy, https://www.ncblcmhc.org/LawsAndCodes/DistanceCounseling
• License Verification, https://portal.ncblcmhc.org/verification/search.aspx
• Frequently Asked Questions (NC Psychology Board), https://ncpsychologyboard.info/resources/frequently-asked-questions-faq/
• License Verification (NC Psychology Board), https://ncpsychologyboard.info/resources/license-verification/
• Advisory Statements (NC Psychology Board), https://ncpsychologyboard.info/resources/advisory-statements/
• Levels and Eligibility Requirements (NC Social Work Certification and Licensure Board), https://www.ncswboard.gov/levels-and-eligibility-requirements/
• License Lookup (NC Social Work Certification and Licensure Board), https://ncswb.igovsolution.net/online/Lookups/Individual_Lookup.aspx
• Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing Board (NC Secretary of State), https://sosnc.gov/divisions/licensing_boards/marriage_and_family_therapy
• 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/
• Social Work Licensure Compact, https://swcompact.org/
• PayerPriceCheck Local Rates, https://payerprice.com/specialties/mental-health-therapy/north-carolina
• Open Path Collective, https://openpathcollective.org/
• North Carolina Expands Medicaid, https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/north-carolina-expands-medicaid
• Outpatient Behavioral Health Services (NC Medicaid), https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/providers/programs-and-services/behavioral-health-idd/outpatient-behavioral-health-services
• Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans, https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/tailored-plans
• Find a Doctor (NC Medicaid), https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/find-doctor
• Eligibility (NC Medicaid), https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/eligibility
• LME/MCO Directory (NCDHHS), https://www.ncdhhs.gov/providers/lme-mco-directory
• North Carolina Mental Health Parity (NC Department of Insurance), https://www.ncdoi.gov/consumers/health-insurance/mental-health-parity
• PSY CLINIC Fees, FaQs, & Forms (UNCG), https://psy.uncg.edu/clinic/faq/
• Vacc Clinic services (UNCG), https://soe.uncg.edu/ced/vacc-clinic/vacc-services/
• Frequently Asked Questions (ECU Psychology Clinic), https://psychology.ecu.edu/clinic/pass-clinic-faqs/
• Our Community Clinics (UNC Psychology), https://psychology.unc.edu/our-community-clinics/
• Hope4NC Helpline (NCDHHS), https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/mental-health-developmental-disabilities-and-substance-use-services/hope4nc-helpline-1-855-587-3463
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, https://988lifeline.org/
• Find a Psychologist (North Carolina Psychological Association), https://www.ncpsychology.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