How Much Does Therapy Cost in NYC? Private Pay, Insurance, and Superbills Explained
What therapy in New York City typically costs, how out-of-network benefits and superbills work, and how to figure out what you will actually pay.
Therapy pricing in New York is confusing in the same way a menu without prices is confusing. Everyone assumes you already know how it works, and nobody wants to be the one who asks. So here is how it actually works, including what it costs to work with us.
Private pay
Private pay means you pay your therapist directly and your insurance company is not part of the treatment. In New York City it is common to see private-pay rates of $200 or more per session. Yana Kofman, LMHC-D, charges $225 per session.
People choose private pay for a few practical reasons. No diagnosis is sent to an insurer, nobody outside the room decides how many sessions you are allowed, and there is far more room to shape the work around what you actually came in for rather than what a treatment plan template expects.
Out-of-network benefits and superbills
Many PPO plans include out-of-network mental health benefits, which means your plan may reimburse part of what you pay a private-pay therapist. The document that makes this happen is a superbill, a detailed receipt with the information your insurer needs. You pay the session fee, submit the superbill, and your plan reimburses you according to your benefits. Our contact page includes a quick coverage check that takes about three minutes.
When you call your insurer, three questions cover most of it. Do I have out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits? What is my deductible, and how much of it have I met this year? What percentage do you reimburse for CPT code 90837 once the deductible is met? Write down the name of the person you spoke with, because you will want it later.
In-network care
If staying in network matters to you, Kate Staikos, MHC-LP, is in network with Aetna and Cigna. Kate works with adults navigating anxiety, relationships, life transitions, and the particular chaos of early parenthood, and she practices within the same clinical framework as the rest of Kofman Wellness.
What you are actually paying for
It is tempting to shop for therapy on price alone, and completely understandable. The more useful question is what the money buys. Therapy that keeps you comfortable without changing anything is expensive at any rate. Therapy that helps you understand why the same pattern keeps showing up, and then helps you do something different with it, tends to pay for itself in fewer lost weekends and fewer repeat arguments.
All sessions at Kofman Wellness are held by secure telehealth for clients across New York City and New York State. If you want to talk through fees or fit before committing, a complimentary 15-minute consultation is available at kofmanwellness.com/contact.