Low Cost Therapy Options in San Francisco - Resource List

  • Private Practice Options ($60 - $100 per session)

  • Clinics & Counseling Centers (< $60 per session)


LOW FEE PRIVATE PRACTICE OPTIONS
One reduced fee option is to see a skilled pre-licensed or newly licensed therapist in private practice. These clinicians often offer a sliding scale. You can expect fees to range from approximately $60 to $120 per session. Two well-trained, pre-licensed clinicians in private practice who I highly recommend are:

Kristin Fiorella, MS
Offers Saturday hours
1944 Fillmore Street 
San Francisco, CA, 94115
415-820-1676

Amy Torchia Levin, MA
Offers evening hours
3321 Sacrament Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
415-938-6005

In addition, no matter who you call, if you need a reduced fee, always ask. For example, some experienced therapists in private practice may reduce their fees for daytime appointments, reserving evening appointments that are in high demand for those who can pay full fee.

SAN FRANCISCO CLINICS & COUNSELING CENTERS
If you can’t afford to pay more than $60-$70 per session for weekly therapy, you might consider the options below.

San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis (SFCP)
Locations vary.
415-563-5815
Unlike clinics, treatment is in private offices most often with licensed, experienced clinicians. Provides referrals for reduced fee psychotherapy ($50 per session and over) and low fee psychoanalysis (as low as $25 per session; 4 session minimum per week).

San Francisco Counseling Center
1801 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
415-440-0500

Integral Counseling Center at Pierce Street
2140 Pierce Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415-776-3109

Access Institute for Psychological Services
110 Gough Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-861-5449

The Marina Counseling Center
2137 Lombard Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-563-2137

California Pacific Medical Center
Department of Psychiatry Adult, Child, and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic
2323 Sacramento Street, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94115
415-600-3247

New Perspectives Center for Counseling
5026 Geary Blvd. (at 14th Ave.)
San Francisco, CA 94118
415-752-5275

TIPS FOR PAYING OUT-OF-POCKET
When budgeting for therapy, you should in general expect to meet once weekly with your therapist (at a minimum) for either individual or couples therapy and you should plan to incorporate this expense into your monthly budget for six months or longer.

In San Francisco, if you want to see an experienced, licensed therapist, you should generally expect to pay at least $140 per session for weekly therapy and likely more. Rates for psychotherapy in San Francisco can range between $110 to $280 or more per session. Some providers offer reduced fees for people who come for multiple sessions per week. Click here for an approximate range of fees by discipline.

You can use a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to use pre-tax dollars to pay for therapy.

Lastly, psychotherapy can count toward your medical expenses on your income taxes though your total annual healthcare expense must exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income to receive a deduction.

Click here or on the links to the left for additional Resources about the different kinds of therapy, identifying potential therapists, and beginning and financing therapy.