Discover low-cost therapy resources in the San Francisco Bay Area. These options feature sliding-scale fees, community clinics, and non-profits that provide quality mental health care:

1. Open Path Psychotherapy Collective

• Overview: A non-profit network that connects individuals with therapists offering sessions at significantly reduced rates ($30–$60 per session).
• Website: openpathcollective.org
• Cost: One-time $59 membership fee, then therapy costs between $30–$60 per session.
• Availability: Available throughout the Bay Area.

2. San Francisco Mental Health Access Program

• Overview: Provides a range of mental health services for low-income individuals or those with Medi-Cal.
• Services: Individual therapy, family counseling, crisis services.
• Contact: Call 888-246-3333 to get connected to services.
• Cost: Free for eligible individuals (those with Medi-Cal or without insurance).

3. Pacific Center for Human Growth (Berkeley)

• Overview: Focuses on providing affordable therapy services to the LGBTQ+ community and others in need.
• Services: Individual therapy, couples counseling, youth counseling.
• Cost: Sliding scale, typically ranging from $15–$65.
• Website: pacificcenter.org

4. Grateful Heart Holistic Therapy Center (Berkeley & San Francisco)

• Overview: Offers sliding-scale psychotherapy with both licensed clinicians and interns.
• Services: Individual, couples, and family therapy.
• Cost: Sliding scale starting at $30 per session.
• Website: gratefulhearttherapy.org

5. The Wright Institute Clinic (Berkeley)

• Overview: A training clinic run by doctoral students under licensed supervision.
• Services: Individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy.
• Cost: Sliding scale, as low as $20 per session.
• Website: wrightinst.edu

6. Bay Area Psychotherapy Institute (BAPTI)

• Overview: Offers therapy through its network of interns and trainees, providing affordable options for individuals, couples, and families.
• Cost: Sliding scale starting at $35 per session.
• Website: bapti.org

7. Haight Ashbury Psychological Services (San Francisco)

• Overview: A community-based clinic offering sliding-scale therapy by supervised interns.
• Services: Individual, couples, and group therapy.
• Cost: Sliding scale, usually ranging from $15–$50 per session.
• Website: haightashburypsych.org

8. The Liberation Institute (San Francisco)

• Overview: A community-based organization providing affordable therapy to underserved populations.
• Services: Individual and group therapy, mindfulness, and wellness workshops.
• Cost: Sliding scale, starting at $30 per session.
• Website: liberationinstitute.org

9. SF Therapy Collective

• Overview: A collective of therapists offering services on a sliding scale, with special focus on LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Services: Individual therapy, couples counseling, and family therapy.
• Cost: Sliding scale based on income, starting as low as $40 per session.
• Website: sftlc.org

10. CIIS Integral Counseling Centers (San Francisco & Berkeley)

• Overview: The counseling centers of California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), offering low-cost psychotherapy services.
• Services: Individual therapy, couples counseling, and family therapy.
• Cost: Sliding scale, generally ranging from $25–$65 per session.
• Website: ciis.edu/counseling

11. Access Institute for Psychological Services (San Francisco)

• Overview: Provides high-quality psychotherapy and psychological assessment services on a sliding scale.
• Services: Individual, group, and couples therapy.
• Cost: Sliding scale based on income, typically $20–$60 per session.
• Website: accessinst.org

12. La Clínica de La Raza (Oakland & Richmond)

• Overview: Offers affordable mental health services for the Latinx community and other low-income individuals.
• Services: Individual, family, and group therapy.
• Cost: Sliding scale; some services may be free or covered by Medi-Cal.
• Website: laclinica.org

13. Bay Area Community Counseling (San Francisco)

• Overview: Offers low-cost therapy services through counseling interns supervised by licensed professionals.
• Cost: Sliding scale starting at $20 per session.
• Contact: Call (415) 206-8448 for appointments.

14. New Perspectives Center for Counseling (San Francisco)

• Overview: A counseling center providing therapy at low cost with a focus on accessible services.
• Services: Individual and couples therapy.
• Cost: Sliding scale, ranging from $30–$70 per session.
• Website: newperspectivescenter.org

15. UCSF Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Clinics

• Overview: Offers sliding scale therapy provided by psychology interns and residents under supervision.
• Services: Individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy.
• Cost: Sliding scale, based on income and need.
• Website: psychiatry.ucsf.edu

These organizations and clinics offer a range of affordable therapy options across the Bay Area. Make sure to contact them directly to inquire about availability and current fees.

1. What is low-cost therapy?

• Low-cost therapy refers to mental health services offered at reduced rates to make them more accessible to individuals who may not be able to afford standard therapy fees. These services are typically provided through sliding scales, community clinics, non-profit organizations, or by therapists in training.

2. How can I find low-cost therapy in my area?

• To find low-cost therapy options, you can search online for community mental health clinics, non-profit organizations, and training clinics in your area. Additionally, websites like Open Path Psychotherapy Collective and local mental health hotlines may help connect you with affordable therapy services.

3. What is sliding-scale therapy and is it common in low-cost therapy?

• Sliding-scale therapy is a payment model where the cost of therapy is adjusted based on your income. This allows people with lower incomes to pay less for each session. Sliding-scale fees are common in many low-cost therapy options, especially in community clinics, non-profits, and training facilities.

4. Are low-cost therapy services as effective as standard therapy?

• Yes, low-cost therapy can be just as effective as standard therapy. Many affordable therapy options are provided by licensed professionals or interns under supervision. The key to effective therapy is the quality of the therapeutic relationship, not the cost of the session.

5. Who typically offers low-cost therapy services?

• Low-cost therapy services are often offered by community health centers, non-profit organizations, universities with psychology or counseling programs, and therapists in training. Additionally, some licensed therapists may offer sliding-scale fees based on income.