This guide shows you how to find a therapist in Tennessee, even if you have no insurance or very little money. It covers who is allowed to treat you, what sessions cost, how insurance and TennCare 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 Tennessee crisis numbers is in Crisis help in Tennessee.
How to find a therapist or psychologist in Tennessee, 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 the Behavioral Health Safety Net. With TennCare, start with your plan's provider search. 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 Tennessee
"Therapist" is a general word. In Tennessee, the license title tells you what the person is allowed to do. Three boards under the Tennessee Department of Health license these professions. One board covers counselors and family therapists, one covers psychologists, and one covers social workers.
| License | What it means | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed professional counselor (LPC) | Listed by the counselor board, with an optional Mental Health Service Provider (MHSP) designation. Temporary and associate licenses also exist for some of these titles. | Tennessee license lookup |
| Licensed marital and family therapist (MFT) | Licensed by the same board as counselors. | Tennessee license lookup |
| Licensed clinical pastoral therapist (CPT) | Also licensed by that board. | Tennessee license lookup |
| Psychologist | Licensed by the Board of Examiners in Psychology. The board also certifies psychological assistants and has a senior psychological examiner upgrade. | Tennessee license lookup |
| Social worker (LBSW, LMSW, LCSW, LAPSW) | The social work board names four levels, from baccalaureate to advanced practice. | Tennessee license lookup |
Tennessee law lists psychological testing, the evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics, and the diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional and nervous disorders as part of what a psychologist does. If you need a formal evaluation, check that the person holds a psychologist license.
We could not confirm from the boards' pages what each title allows, such as who can supervise others. Ask the person which license they hold and what it covers.
How to check a therapist's license in Tennessee
All three boards link to the same Department of Health tool. Use the Tennessee license lookup and search for the therapist by name.
If you cannot find a name, ask the therapist for the exact license title and number, and check again. The boards share one phone line, 615-741-5735 locally or 1-800-778-4123 from elsewhere in the country.
Online therapy in Tennessee: Can you see a therapist from another state?
Tennessee bases the rule on where you are. The counselor board says the provider must be licensed in Tennessee and the client must be in Tennessee, unless care is in a free clinic. The psychology board says the same unless an exception applies.
Each profession has its own compact, and they are at different stages.
- Psychologists. Tennessee was on the list of states with final PSYPACT legislation when we checked on 21 October 2026. The psychology board says PSYPACT lets a psychologist practice by telepsychology or temporarily in other member states. You can check a psychologist's authorization on verifypsypact.org.
- Professional counselors. Tennessee is on the Counseling Compact member list, and the compact is live for Tennessee licensees. It is live in 11 states so far: Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
- Social workers. Tennessee is on the list of jurisdictions that passed the Social Work Licensure Compact. The compact has reached activation status, but multistate licenses are not yet being issued.
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 Tennessee license number and check it.
How much does therapy cost in Tennessee?
We found no sourced statewide average for Tennessee. One provider chain, LifeStance, says its typical self-pay range for a therapy visit in Tennessee is $102 to $383. That is one company's range, not a state average.
Training clinics and community programs publish their own fees. The table shows the figures we could source.
| Route | What it costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LifeStance, self-pay | $102 to $383 per visit | One provider chain's range, not a state average |
| University of Tennessee Psychological Clinic, Knoxville | $40 intake fee, then a sliding scale by income | No insurance accepted |
| Lipscomb Family Therapy Center, Nashville | $10 to $50 per session, by annual income | Therapist interns in a graduate program |
| University of Memphis Psychological Services Center | Sliding scale, with a cost estimate from the front office | No insurance accepted. Fees can change for hardship |
| MTSU Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, Murfreesboro | Ask the center | Counselors-in-training under faculty supervision |
| Behavioral Health Safety Net | Ask the provider | For uninsured adults who meet the program's rules |
| Private insurance | Varies, ask your plan | Depends on your plan |
| TennCare | Varies, ask your plan | Ask what your plan charges |
Ask for the fee in your first message.
Does TennCare cover therapy in Tennessee?
TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid program. Tennessee has not adopted the Medicaid expansion, according to KFF in October 2026. The TennCare Medicaid page says the program mainly serves low-income people and lists groups such as children under 21, pregnant women, and parents or caretakers of a minor child. It does not list adults without children as a group. Check your own situation with TennCare before you apply.
TennCare says it covers family and individual psychotherapy and medication management, based on medical necessity. It also lists intensive outpatient programs, peer support and psychosocial rehabilitation. For children and pregnant women, the Eligibility page points to CoverKids. We could not open the CoverKids pages, so ask TennCare for details.
You find a provider through your managed care plan's Find a Doctor tool. TennCare lists these Member Services numbers.
- Wellpoint, 833-731-2153
- BlueCare Tennessee, 800-468-9698
- United Healthcare, 800-690-1606
- TennCare, 1-800-342-3145
TennCare suggests searching "Community Mental Health Center" in the Wellpoint directory and "Behavioral Health Facility" in the BlueCare directory. Ask each therapist if they take your specific plan, since a therapist may take one plan and not another.
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.
- 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.
Free and low-cost therapy in Tennessee
University training clinics are one low-cost route. Graduate students or counselors-in-training provide the therapy, and two of these clinics say they do not take insurance.
- University of Tennessee Psychological Clinic, Knoxville. The therapy intake session costs $40, and later sessions are on a sliding scale based on income. The clinic does not accept insurance. Phone 865-974-2161.
- Lipscomb Family Therapy Center, Nashville. Therapist interns from the marriage and family therapy program see clients. Sessions on the sliding scale cost $10 to $50, depending on annual income. Phone 615-966-5300.
- University of Memphis Psychological Services Center. Graduate student therapists provide the care on a sliding scale, and fees can be adjusted for hardship such as job loss. The center does not accept or require insurance. Phone 901-678-2147.
- MTSU Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, Murfreesboro. Counselors-in-training see clients under faculty supervision. The page lists no fees, so call 615-898-2271 and ask.
The state also runs the Behavioral Health Safety Net. It provides outpatient mental health services to uninsured adults who meet its rules, through 15 community mental health providers that serve all 95 counties. Services include assessment, individual, family and group therapy, and medication management. To apply, find a provider in your area, make an intake appointment, and tell them you want to apply. The state helpline, 800-560-5767, is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except state holidays. We could not read the full list of eligibility rules, so ask the helpline.
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. 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 Tennessee
Call or text 988, or chat at chat.988lifeline.org, at any hour. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health says to call or text 988 and press 0 to talk to someone. The line runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Tennessee also lists a non-emergency helpline at 800-560-5767 and an addiction treatment referral line you can call or text at 800-889-9789. We did not confirm the hours of the referral line, so call 988 if you need help at once.
Sources26
- Tennessee Department of Health Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists, https://www.tn.gov/health/licensure/pct.html
- Board of Examiners in Psychology, https://www.tn.gov/health/licensure/psy.html
- Board of Social Workers, https://www.tn.gov/health/licensure/sw.html
- Tennessee Department of Health license verification, https://internet.health.tn.gov/Licensure/
- Final PSYPACT Legislation, Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), https://psypact.gov/page/statelegislation
- Verify PSYPACT, https://www.verifypsypact.org/
- 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/
- Therapists & Psychiatrists Accepting Insurance in Tennessee (LifeStance), https://lifestance.com/insurance/tn/humana/
- TennCare, https://www.tn.gov/tenncare.html
- TennCare Medicaid, https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/members-applicants/eligibility/tenncare-medicaid.html
- Eligibility (TennCare), https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/members-applicants/eligibility.html
- Behavioral Health Services (TennCare), https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/members-applicants/benefits-services/behavioral-health-services.html
- 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/
- Fees, Psychological Clinic (University of Tennessee), https://psychclinic.utk.edu/patient-information/fees/
- Services & Pricing, Lipscomb University, https://www.lipscomb.edu/about/offices-and-services/lipscomb-family-therapy-center/services-pricing
- Services Offered, Psychological Services Center (University of Memphis), https://www.memphis.edu/psc/services/index.php
- Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (MTSU), https://ccps.mtsu.edu
- BHSN for Adults (Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services), https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/bhsn/safety-net-eligibility-requirements.html
- Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health.html
- 988 Lifeline, https://988lifeline.org/
- Psychologist Locator (American Psychological Association), https://locator.apa.org/
- Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses (IRS), https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502
- Tenn. Code Section 63-11-203, Practice of Psychologist (FindLaw copy of the statute), https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-63-professions-of-the-healing-arts/tn-code-sect-63-11-203/