Access to clinical psychology services is essential but can be financially challenging. In my practice, most people pay me out-of-pocket while sometimes getting reimbursed through a flexible spending account or their insurance company. I also discount my fee in some cases for those facing financial constraints and provide a superbill for those seeking reimbursement through their insurance. Finally, I provide deeply discounted rates for some services due to my desire to give back to the field, such as helping people who need an evaluation for military service or accommodations for work or college. Despite all this, sometimes I cannot discount my fee enough to serve everyone who calls; other times, I am not the best fit for the person inquiring. So, how do you find a psychologist offering affordable therapy?
What are Clinical Psychology Services?
Before answering the question, “How do you find a psychologist?” It’s important to define clinical psychology services, which focus on assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental health conditions. They are provided by clinical psychologists and trained professionals specializing in therapy, psychological testing, and intervention.
Types of Clinical Psychology Services
Psychological Assessment & Diagnosis
- Comprehensive Mental Health Evaluations – Used to diagnose anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, etc.
- Neuropsychological Testing – Assesses cognitive functions for ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, or brain injuries.
- Personality Assessments – Evaluates personality traits and emotional functioning.
Therapy & Counseling
- Individual Therapy – One-on-one therapy for managing emotions, trauma, anxiety, depression, etc. Some examples:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Helps with thought patterns and behavior change.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – Supports emotional regulation.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Focuses on accepting thoughts and emotions while making positive changes.
- Couples Therapy – Work with partners wanting to improve their relationship including communication, understanding, and closeness. Some examples:
- Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT): Focuses on emotions and attachment styles to improve connection.
- Narrative Couples Therapy: Couples have formed an unhelpful or dated narrative of their relationship, and this therapy helps them rewrite it.
- Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT): Couples learn to manage differences that can benefit them.
- Family Therapy – One-on-one therapy for managing emotions, trauma, anxiety, depression, etc. Some examples:
- Strategic family therapy: Emphasizes problem-solving and goal-oriented strategies based on family history and how roles have evolved.
- Narrative family therapy: Encourages members to reframe their stories and narratives about their lives together and how they perceive their relationships.
- Solution-focused family therapy: Identifies and implements solutions rather than dwelling on problems.
Group Therapy & Support Groups
- Peer-based therapy sessions for specific mental health concerns (e.g., anxiety, trauma, ADHD, autism).
- Often used in addiction recovery, social skills training, and emotional regulation.
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention
- Immediate support for individuals in crisis.
- Often provided through hospitals, mental health clinics, or hotlines.
Specialized Clinical Psychology Services
- Trauma Therapy – Includes EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and somatic therapy.
- Addiction Treatment – Therapy for substance use disorders and behavioral addictions.
Workplace & Academic Accommodations
- Psychoeducational Evaluations – Determines eligibility for academic accommodations for ADHD, autism, or learning disabilities.
- Workplace Mental Health Support – Helps individuals request work accommodations under disability laws.
Behavioral Interventions
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) – Used for autism and developmental disabilities (controversial in neurodivergent communities).
- Parent Training – Helps parents support children with ADHD, autism, or behavioral challenges.
Psychiatric Referrals & Medication Management
- Clinical psychology services do not include medication but can refer patients to psychiatrists.
- Work in collaboration with medical professionals for holistic treatment.
Where to Access Clinical Psychology Services
- Private Practice Psychologists Offer therapy and assessments. These professionals are often quite experienced, but their fees tend to be highest, and access to affordable therapy is lower.
- Hospitals & Mental Health Clinics – Provide specialized, crisis, and lower-cost therapy services.
- University Counseling Centers – Often offer free or low-cost clinical psychology services. While you may see a student in training, they are closely supervised and use some of the newest techniques.
- Community Mental Health Centers—These offer sliding-scale or free clinical psychology services for low-income individuals, and there is often a wide range of available clinicians.
How Do You Find a Psychologist: Process Overview
How do you find a psychologist who is a perfect fit for you? This involves understanding different therapy types and approaches. Here’s a step-by-step guide with specifics:
How Do You Find a Psychologist with a Specialization
Psychologists can have different specializations. Based on your needs, you might look for one of these:
- Clinical Psychologist – Focuses on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, ADHD, or autism.
- Neuropsychologist – Specializes in brain function, often useful for ADHD and autism assessments.
- Counseling Psychologist – Helps with emotional and life challenges, often less clinical.
- Educational/School Psychologist – Specializes in learning differences, accommodations, and academic struggles.
Understand Therapy Types and Approaches
How do you find a psychologist with clinical psychology services that best fit you? Here is some advice:
How do you Find a Psychologist for ADHD & Learning Differences:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Helps with managing impulsivity, emotional regulation, and executive function challenges.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – Good for emotional regulation and distress tolerance, often used for autistic individuals who struggle with emotional overwhelm.
- Executive Function Coaching – Helps with organization, time management, and planning (especially for ADHD).
- Social Skills Training – Often helpful for autistic individuals working on communication and interaction strategies.
How do you Find a Psychologist for Anxiety, Depression, or Emotional Support:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Focuses on accepting emotions rather than fighting them, useful for anxiety and neurodivergence.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) – Combines mindfulness and CBT to help with stress and mood regulation.
- Psychodynamic Therapy – Explores past experiences and unconscious patterns affecting current behavior.
- Person-Centered Therapy – A more supportive, non-directive approach that helps with self-exploration and self-acceptance.
How do you Find a Psychologist for Trauma or Emotional Dysregulation:
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Helps process trauma, sometimes beneficial for those with past medical or educational trauma.
- Somatic Therapy – Focuses on bodily responses to stress and trauma, helpful for sensory-sensitive individuals.
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Helps individuals navigate different “parts” of their mind, useful for trauma and self-awareness.
How Do You Find a Psychologist by Therapy Approach
Once you know what kind of therapy might work for you, use these resources to find a specialist:
- Psychology Today (www.psychologytoday.com) – Filters by therapy type, insurance, and conditions.
- Therapy Den (www.therapyden.com) – Lists neurodivergent-affirming therapists.
- International OCD Foundation Therapist Directory (iocdf.org) – If OCD is a concern.
- Open Path Collective (www.openpathcollective.org) – For lower-cost therapy options.
How Do You Find a Psychologist: Questions to Ask
When contacting a psychologist, consider asking:
- What therapy modalities do you use?
- Do you have experience working with [your challenge, barrier, or diagnosis]?
- How do you accommodate your clients (e.g., flexible scheduling, communication preferences)?
- Do you offer virtual or in-person clinical psychology services?
- Do you provide diagnostic evaluations before we start
- What’s your experience with [something about your culture, identity, or background]?
How do you Find Affordable Therapy? 
Finding affordable therapy can be challenging, but there are several ways to access mental health care without breaking the bank. Here are some options:
The Most Affordable Therapy Option: Insurance Coverage
- If you have health insurance, check your provider’s website for in-network therapists. This is the best way to find affordable therapy. Then, you can cross-reference what you find with one of the directories listed above or websites like mine to get more information about the clinician’s approach.
- Call therapists directly to ask if they accept your insurance.
- Ask about “out-of-network” benefits—some insurers reimburse part of the cost as long as you provide a “superbill,” which provides another avenue to getting affordable therapy. I most commonly do this since I do not take many insurance plans directly, given the number of states I serve.
Sliding Scale Affordable Therapy
Many therapists offer a sliding scale, adjusting fees based on income to provide affordable therapy. You may have to balance the therapist’s experience and expertise with how deeply they are willing to discount their fee. For example, I discount my fee up to 30% (or more for certain specialties – see next section), but there may be psychologists who are earlier in their career or in locations with lower costs of living whose rates are lower. You can also:
- Search Open Path Collective.
- Use a platform such as Therapy Den to filter for low-cost therapists.
Affordable Therapy For Specific Needs
Many psychologists offer affordable therapy for certain aspects of their practice and areas in which they want to give back to the field. For example, I discount my usual fees by 50% for those who need an evaluation to help them join the military, emotional support animals, accommodations at work or school, and some clinical specialties that are hard to find otherwise (such as therapy for adolescents and young adults who have ADHD that was undiagnosed or diagnosed late).
Affordable Therapy at Community Mental Health Centers
I am happy to help people find a CMHC that meets their needs, and I have many highly talented colleagues who work at these agencies, for example:
- Many cities have nonprofit mental health centers offering therapy on a pay-what-you-can basis.
- Look for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) which provide services based on income.
Affordable Therapy at University Counseling Clinics
- Universities with psychology or counseling programs often have low-cost clinics where graduate students provide therapy under supervision.
- Search for “university psychology clinic near me.”
Local Support Groups & Hotlines
If your concern is situational, or might be served through more informal conversation or connection, there are other options, such as
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers free peer support groups.
- Many therapists run free or low-cost group therapy sessions.
- Crisis hotlines (988 in the U.S.) provide free support.
Finding a Good Psychologist – Does Experience Matter?
For several reasons, finding a good psychologist means paying for their experience. This can be a worthwhile investment in your mental health. Here’s why experience matters:
- Specialized Expertise & Accurate Diagnosis
- Experienced psychologists have worked with many clients and can quickly identify patterns, symptoms, and underlying issues.
- For complex conditions like ADHD, autism, trauma, or mood disorders, an experienced psychologist is less likely to misdiagnose and more likely to tailor a personalized treatment plan.
- More Effective Treatment Approaches
- A seasoned psychologist has years of practice refining therapy techniques and adjusting them based on individual needs. We all have certain continuing education requirements.
- They are skilled at adapting therapy methods (CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR, etc.) to fit neurodivergent individuals or those with multiple diagnoses.
- Better Problem-Solving & Crisis Management
- When therapy gets tough, an experienced psychologist knows how to guide you through resistance, emotional breakdowns, or trauma responses.
- We have handled a wide range of cases so that we can provide practical, real-world strategies rather than generic textbook advice.
- Stronger Therapeutic Relationship & Communication
- A seasoned psychologist understands neurodivergent communication styles and sensory needs, making sessions more comfortable.
- They know how to build trust and rapport faster, leading to deeper, more meaningful therapy.
- Saves Time & Money in the Long Run
- A highly skilled psychologist may help you progress faster, reducing the overall number of sessions needed.
- A less experienced therapist may struggle with complex cases, requiring more sessions (or even switching therapists) before real progress is made.
- Ethical & Evidence-Based Practice
- Experienced psychologists are up to date on research, ethical standards, and best practices.
- They are less likely to use outdated or harmful approaches, ensuring a safe, supportive therapy experience.
Finding a Good Psychologist with Less Experience
- If budget is a concern, newer therapists (e.g., graduate students in training) can still provide quality therapy under the supervision of a highly experienced person.
- When clinicians are just starting, they learn about the latest and most innovative techniques and methods, which can be an advantage.
- If your needs are mild (stress, life transitions, general support), you may not need to pay the highest fees. Remember that even when they are just starting out, a psychologist has already had three years of school, two years of part-time training, two years of full-time closely supervised training, and passed an intensive and challenging exam. Finding a good psychologist early in their career is quite possible.
I’ll Help with Finding a Good Psychologist
Your mental health and well-being are essential to all aspects of your life, and financial limitations shouldn’t hinder receiving the clinical psychology services you deserve. Whether you need therapy for a specific diagnosis such as ADHD, more general anxiety or malaise, or life transitions, there are many clinicians committed to providing accessible, professional, and effective support. In my practice, I discount my fee when needed, quite deeply for certain services to give back to my field, and help people get reimbursed through their insurance when possible. I also help people find lower-cost options when my practice is not a fit, or my discount is not deep enough.
If you have questions about sliding-scale fees, using a superbill for insurance reimbursement, or finding a good psychologist or therapist (see my other post for information about terms, such as therapist vs. psychologist) who matches your needs, I’m happy to help. Please feel free to contact me or schedule a consultation anytime.
