If cost is the thing holding you back from starting therapy, you’re not alone. In a recent Montana Free Press poll, 67% of Montana voters said cost of services was a major barrier to getting mental health care — a larger share than those who named distance or stigma.
The good news is that therapy in Montana is often much more affordable than people assume, especially when insurance is involved. This post breaks down exactly what therapy costs in Montana, what insurances cover it, and what options exist if paying out of pocket is the only path.
Does Insurance Cover Therapy in Montana?
Yes. Most major insurance plans in Montana cover outpatient mental health services, including individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy. Under federal mental health parity law, insurance plans that cover mental health must cover it on comparable terms to physical health — meaning comparable copays, deductibles, and session limits.
Insurances Accepted at Sunflower Counseling Montana
Sunflower Counseling Montana is a mental health center, which is different from a private counseling practice — we are in-network with a wide range of Montana insurance plans. We currently accept:
Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Blue Edge, Aetna, Healthy Montana Kids Plus, Allegiance, Interwest, Missoula County Employee Benefits Program, Pacific Source, First Choice, Optum/UHC, Montana Health Co-Op, and cash pay.
If you don’t see your plan listed, contact us anyway. Plan networks change frequently, and we can verify your specific benefits before your first appointment.
What Does Insurance Usually Cost Out of Pocket?
Even when insurance covers therapy, most clients have some out-of-pocket responsibility. This typically comes in three forms:
Copays
A copay is a flat fee you pay at each session, usually between $10 and $50 depending on your plan. Many Montana plans have a copay under $30 for in-network mental health visits.
Deductibles
If your plan has a deductible, you’ll pay the full negotiated session rate until you’ve met it. Once the deductible is hit, your plan starts covering sessions and you pay only your copay or coinsurance.
Coinsurance
Some plans use coinsurance instead of copays — meaning you pay a percentage (often 10 to 30 percent) of the session cost after the deductible is met.
The fastest way to find out what you’ll actually pay is to let us verify your benefits before your first session. We do this at no cost.
What Does Therapy Cost Without Insurance in Montana?
If you’re paying cash, either because you don’t have insurance or because you’ve chosen not to use it, Sunflower Counseling Montana’s current rates are:
Provisional Counselor Rate
$90 per session with a provisional counselor (a counselor completing post-graduate supervised hours toward full licensure).
Licensed Counselor Rate
$150 per session with a fully licensed counselor when the client chooses not to use their insurance.
These rates are current as of this writing and may adjust over time. An important note: if a client chooses to pay cash with a licensed counselor to avoid using insurance, they cannot also bill that session to insurance later. It’s one or the other.
Does Sunflower Counseling Montana Offer a Sliding Scale?
Yes, in limited circumstances. Sliding scale reduces the cost of sessions for clients who meet financial need criteria. Here’s how it works at Sunflower Counseling Montana:
Who Qualifies
Sliding scale is based on federal poverty level guidelines. Proof of income is required, and there is an application process.
What the Rate Can Go Down To
For provisional counselors, the lowest sliding scale rate available is $70 per session.
What to Know Before Applying
Sliding scale is not guaranteed. Availability depends on open spots and clinical fit. If you’re interested in applying, reach out and we’ll walk you through the process.
What If I Can’t Afford Therapy at All?
If paying for therapy simply isn’t possible right now, you still have options in Montana.
Medicaid
If you qualify for Montana Medicaid, mental health services are covered with little to no cost to you. Sunflower Counseling Montana accepts Medicaid.
Healthy Montana Kids Plus
For children and teens, Healthy Montana Kids Plus provides comprehensive mental health coverage at low or no cost for qualifying families. We accept this plan.
988 and Crisis Resources
If you’re in crisis, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7. This is not a substitute for ongoing therapy, but it’s a critical resource when things feel unbearable.
Community Mental Health Centers
Montana has a network of community mental health centers that serve clients regardless of ability to pay. They’re worth contacting if private-practice therapy isn’t financially possible.
Is Online Therapy Cheaper Than In-Person in Montana?
Not usually — online therapy through a licensed Montana therapist typically costs the same as in-person therapy, because the therapist’s time, training, and licensure are the same regardless of format.
What online therapy does save is the cost of gas, time off work, and childcare. For Montanans who live far from an office or who juggle tight schedules, those savings are often the real financial benefit.
How Do I Find Out What My Therapy Will Actually Cost?
The most reliable answer comes from verifying your specific benefits. Sunflower Counseling Montana offers free benefits verification before your first appointment. We contact your insurance, confirm your coverage, and tell you exactly what your copay, deductible status, and session cost will be before you commit.
This takes the guesswork out of it and helps you plan.
Does Sunflower Counseling Montana Offer Affordable Therapy in Montana?
Yes. Between our wide insurance acceptance, cash-pay rates at both provisional and licensed levels, and limited sliding scale availability, we work hard to make therapy accessible for Montanans across a wide range of financial situations. We offer in-person sessions in Missoula, Kalispell, and Butte, and online therapy throughout Montana.
If cost has been what’s stopped you from starting, please reach out. Even if we turn out not to be the right fit financially, we’ll help you figure out what is.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy Cost in Montana
Q: How much does therapy cost in Montana with insurance?
A: Most clients pay between $10 and $50 per session in copays if their plan has been met, or the full negotiated rate until their deductible is met. Exact cost depends on your specific plan. Sunflower Counseling Montana verifies benefits for free before your first session.
Q: How much does therapy cost in Montana without insurance?
A: At Sunflower Counseling Montana, current cash rates are $90 per session with a provisional counselor and $150 per session with a licensed counselor. These rates are current and subject to change over time.
Q: Does Sunflower Counseling Montana take Medicaid?
A: Yes. We accept Montana Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids Plus.
Q: What insurance plans does Sunflower Counseling Montana accept?
A: We accept Medicaid, BCBS, Blue Edge, Aetna, Healthy Montana Kids Plus, Allegiance, Interwest, Missoula County Employee Benefits Program, Pacific Source, First Choice, Optum/UHC, Montana Health Co-Op, and cash pay.
Q: Is sliding scale available?
A: Yes, in limited circumstances. Sliding scale is based on federal poverty level guidelines and requires proof of income and an application. The lowest rate available is $70 per session with a provisional counselor. Availability depends on open spots and clinical fit.
Q: Is online therapy cheaper than in-person therapy in Montana?
A: Not usually — the session rate is the same regardless of format. What online therapy saves you is gas, travel time, and sometimes childcare.
Q: What if I can’t afford therapy?
A: Options include Medicaid if you qualify, Healthy Montana Kids Plus for children and teens, community mental health centers across the state, and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for crisis support.
Q: Do you offer therapy in Montana?
A: Yes. Sunflower Counseling Montana offers therapy in person in Missoula, Kalispell, and Butte, and online throughout Montana.
Q: How do I find out what my therapy will cost before I start?
A: Contact Sunflower Counseling Montana and we’ll verify your insurance benefits for free before your first appointment so you know exactly what to expect.
Call or text Sunflower Counseling Montana today to get started: (406) 214-3810 or email hello@sunflowercounseling.com.
Serving clients in person in Missoula, Kalispell, and Butte — and online throughout Montana.
About the Author: Marie is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Clinical Director at Sunflower Counseling Montana, specializing in children, teens, families, and trauma-informed care across Montana.