This guide shows you how to find a therapist in Pennsylvania, even if you have no insurance or very little money. It covers who is allowed to treat you, what sessions cost, how Medical Assistance (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. More numbers are in Crisis help in Pennsylvania.
How to find a therapist or psychologist in Pennsylvania, 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 county mental health office. With Medical Assistance, start with your behavioral health plan. With a private plan, start with the number on your insurance card.
- Make a short list of three to five places. Contact them all without waiting for the first to answer.
- Check each license with the state lookup described below.
- 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.
- Pennsylvania Psychological Association Find a Psychologist. Filters include work counties, areas of practice, testing and evaluations, populations served, accepted insurance, languages spoken, whether they are accepting new clients, telehealth and PSYPACT telehealth authority.
- 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 license 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 Pennsylvania
"Therapist" is a general word. In Pennsylvania, the license title tells you what the person is allowed to do. One board licenses social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors. A separate State Board of Psychology licenses psychologists.
| License | What it means | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) | Needs a master's or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field, one approved exam and 3,000 supervised hours for a master's degree. | PALS license search |
| Licensed Associate Professional Counselor | The board lists this title for counselors who are still building their supervised hours. | PALS license search |
| Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) | Licensed by the same board as counselors and social workers. | PALS license search |
| Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) | Gaining the supervised experience needed to become a licensed marriage and family therapist. | PALS license search |
| Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | Allowed to practice clinical social work independently. | PALS license search |
| Licensed Social Worker (LSW) and bachelor social worker | A person with only an LSW license or an MSW degree may not enter independent clinical practice. | PALS license search |
| Psychologist | Needs a doctoral degree from an accredited program. Licensed by the State Board of Psychology. | PALS license search |
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 Pennsylvania
Both boards use one public tool, the PALS license search. You can look up a license number and its status at any time. PALS also shows whether the person has ever faced disciplinary action, such as a suspension or a fine.
Search by the therapist's name and look for an active license of the type you expect. If something looks wrong, call the board line on 1-833-DOS-BPOA. The line is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Online therapy in Pennsylvania: Can you see a therapist from another state?
The Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors says it requires a Pennsylvania license for anyone providing services in Pennsylvania. It also says it cannot issue a temporary license to a person licensed elsewhere. That FAQ was last revised in 2019, so ask the therapist directly.
Here is where the compacts stand.
- For psychologists, Pennsylvania is a PSYPACT participating state. Psychologists licensed in another participating state can apply for authority to offer telepsychology or to practice temporarily in person.
- For professional counselors, Governor Josh Shapiro signed the Counseling Compact into law on July 12, 2026. The law takes effect 60 days later, but privileges to practice are not available yet. The Counseling Compact is live in 11 states so far: Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
- For social workers, Pennsylvania is not on the list of states that have passed the Social Work Licensure Compact.
We found no verified information on a compact for marriage and family therapists. If you want to see an out-of-state therapist, ask for their Pennsylvania license number and check it.
How much does therapy cost in Pennsylvania?
One directory puts the average at $120 per session in Pennsylvania and $175 in urban areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The page has no date, so treat it as a rough guide. LifeStance, a large provider chain, says its typical self-pay range in Pennsylvania is $158 to $476 per visit. That is one company's range, not a state average.
| Route | What it costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private pay, directory average | About $120 per session | $175 in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh |
| Private pay, LifeStance | $158 to $476 per visit | One provider chain |
| Temple University clinic | $20 to $80 per session | Sliding scale. Does not accept health insurance |
| Duquesne University clinic | $10 to $40 per session | Based on income. $30 intake fee. $20 for students |
| University of Pittsburgh clinic | Sliding scale | Ask the clinic for the current fee |
| Drexel University clinic | Sliding scale | Based on income and household size |
| Penn State Psychological Clinic | Reduced fee for financial need | Ask the clinic for the current fee |
| County mental health office | Varies, ask | See the free and low-cost section |
| Private insurance | Varies, ask your plan | Depends on your plan |
| Medical Assistance | Varies, ask your plan | Ask what your plan charges |
Ask for the fee in your first message.
Does Medical Assistance cover therapy in Pennsylvania?
Medicaid is called Medical Assistance in Pennsylvania. The state adopted Medicaid expansion, which took effect on January 1, 2015. The Department of Human Services (DHS) sets the income limit at 138 percent of the federal poverty level. As of January 13, 2026, that is $22,025 a year for one person and $45,540 for a household of four.
Mental health care comes through a program called Behavioral HealthChoices. DHS says it covers medically necessary mental health and drug and alcohol treatment. Ask your plan whether it covers the kind of therapy you want.
You are assigned a behavioral health plan, called a BH-MCO, based on the county where you live. The five plans are Community Behavioral Health in Philadelphia, Community Care, Magellan, PerformCare and Carelon. Use the DHS list of BH-MCOs by county to find yours. Then call your plan's customer service line, search its provider directory and ask each therapist if they take your plan.
If you need to apply, call the Consumer Service Center on 1-866-550-4355 or apply on COMPASS. The DHS Customer Service Center is 1-877-395-8930, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For a child or teen, Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is another route. Call 1-800-986-KIDS (5437), choose Prompt No. 2, then Prompt No. 1. You can also apply through COMPASS, and the CHIP how to apply page has the steps.
Using private insurance: How to find a therapist in your network
Ask your insurer whether a therapist is in network, and what you pay if they are not. 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, 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.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department says government health plans must follow mental health parity law. If you think your plan makes it harder to get mental health care than other care, you can complain. File online through the Insurance Department complaint portal or call Consumer Services on 1-877-881-6388. The mental health parity page explains the parity rules.
Free and low-cost therapy in Pennsylvania
Several university clinics offer therapy on a sliding scale, and at some of them doctoral students see clients under supervision. Some of these clinics do not take insurance or Medical Assistance, so ask before you book.
- Temple University Psychological Services Center, Philadelphia. Individual, couple or family therapy is $20 to $80 a session on a sliding scale. It does not accept health insurance. Phone 215-204-7100.
- Duquesne University Rita M. McGinley Psychology Clinic, Pittsburgh. The intake is $30. Sessions are $10 to $40 for community members, based on income. Phone (412) 396-6562.
- University of Pittsburgh Clinical Psychology Center. Fees follow a sliding scale based on income. It does not accept commercial insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. The Department of Psychology phone is 412-624-4500.
- Drexel University Psychological Services Center, Philadelphia. Fees follow a sliding scale based on income and the number of people it supports. It does not accept insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.
- Penn State Psychological Clinic, University Park. People with financial need may get a reduced fee, decided after intake. The clinic is in-network with Community Care Behavioral Health, Centre County's Medical Assistance provider. Phone 814-865-2191.
Your county mental health office. In Pennsylvania, counties run mental health programs. The county office can assess what level of care you need and connect you to providers. DHS says that if you are uninsured, or have insurance but struggle to pay, your county may be able to help with funding. Find yours in the DHS county mental health office directory. The page does not state fees or who qualifies, so ask when you call.
If you are 14 to 17. Act 65 of 2020 sets who can consent to voluntary mental health treatment for people aged 14 to under 18. DHS does not spell out the outpatient rules on that page, so ask the provider what applies to you.
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.
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, such as a person who dismisses your concerns, will not tell you their license details or pressures 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 Pennsylvania
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, at any hour. It is free and confidential. For Spanish, call 988 and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988. Veterans can press 1 after dialing 988. In an emergency, call 911.
Each county also has its own 24-hour crisis line. Two state lists agree on these examples.
- Montgomery County, 610-279-6100
- Lancaster County, 717-394-2631
- Centre County, 800-643-5432
The state's list of county crisis numbers covers every county. It is an older document, and the state's lists differ for some counties. If your county's number does not work, call 988.
Sources37
- State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/social-workers-marriage-family-therapists-professional-counselors
- Professional Counselor Licensure Snapshot, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/social-workers-marriage-family-therapists-professional-counselors/professional-counselor-licensure-snapshot
- Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Licensure Snapshot, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/social-workers-marriage-family-therapists-professional-counselors/associate-marriage-and-family-therapist-licensure-snapshot
- Licensed Social Worker (LSW) Frequently Asked Questions, https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/social-worker/SWM%20-%20FAQs%20LSW.pdf
- State Board of Psychology, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/psychology
- Psychologist Licensure Snapshot, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/psychology/psychologist-licensure-snapshot.html
- About Professional and Occupational Licensing (verify a license), https://www.pa.gov/services/dos/verify-a-professional-or-occupational-license.html
- Compact Map, Counseling Compact, https://counselingcompact.org/map/
- Counseling Compact, https://counselingcompact.gov/
- Pennsylvania becomes the 40th Member, Counseling Compact, https://counselingcompact.gov/?p=5407
- Compact Jurisdictions, Social Work Licensure Compact, https://swcompact.org/compact-jurisdictions/
- Therapists Accepting Insurance in Pennsylvania (LifeStance), https://lifestance.com/insurance/pa/humana/
- Match With The Best Therapists and Coaches in Pennsylvania (MyWellbeing), https://mywellbeing.com/therapists-and-coaches/pennsylvania
- Medicaid (Pennsylvania DHS), https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/medicaid
- 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/
- Behavioral Health (Pennsylvania DHS), https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/programs-services/behavioral-health.html
- Request Behavioral HealthChoices Program Services, https://www.pa.gov/services/dhs/request-behavioral-healthchoices-program-services
- Behavioral Health MCOs, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/medicaid/bhc/bhc-mcos
- CHIP How To Apply FAQ, https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dhs/resources/chip/faq-chip/faq-chip-how-apply.html
- Mental Health Parity (Pennsylvania Insurance Department), https://www.pa.gov/agencies/insurance/laws-regulations-notices/mental-health-parity
- File a Complaint, Ask a Question or Get Help, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/insurance/consumer-help-center/complaints-questions-help
- Fees & Hours (Temple University Psychological Services Center), https://sites.temple.edu/psc/fees-hours/
- Psychology Clinic (Duquesne University), https://www.duq.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/liberal-arts/departments-and-centers/psychology/psychology-clinic.php
- About the Clinic (University of Pittsburgh), https://psychology.pitt.edu/clinical-psychology-center/about-clinic
- Fees (Drexel University Psychological Services Center), https://drexel.edu/coas/academics/departments-centers/psychology/clinic/fees/
- Psychological Clinic (Penn State), https://psych.la.psu.edu/psychological-clinic/
- Contact Us (Penn State Psychological Clinic), https://psych.la.psu.edu/psychological-clinic/contact/
- County Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities (MH/ID) Offices, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/contact/county-mh-id-offices
- Act 65 of 2020, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/mental-health-substance-use-disorder/act-65-of-2020
- Call the National Suicide & Crisis Hotline, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/mental-health-substance-use-disorder/crisis-intervention
- 988: A Direct Link for Suicide Prevention and Crisis Support, https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/mental-health-substance-use-disorder/988
- 24-Hour Crisis Telephone Numbers for All Counties in Pennsylvania, https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/services/mental-health-in-pa/documents/Suicide_Prevention_Hotlines.pdf
- Contacts by County in PA (Pennsylvania Department of Education), https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/schools/school-climate-wellbeing/mental-health/contacts-by-county-in-pa
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, https://988lifeline.org/
- Find a Psychologist (Pennsylvania Psychological Association), https://www.papsy.org/locator
- Psychologist Locator (American Psychological Association), https://locator.apa.org/
- Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses (IRS), https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502