How Much Does Grief Counseling Cost?

Losing a loved one is a devastating journey we all must go on at some point in life. Grief is a highly personal, painful experience — and there’s no one way to go through it. The grieving process is different for everyone. There’s no right or wrong way to “do it.” As daunting as this significant loss can be though, there is hope; you don’t have to grieve alone. Grief counseling can be an instrumental part of your healing process, but if you’re wondering how much grief counseling costs — rest assured, that’s completely normal.

The truth is, the cost of grief counseling can widely vary. It depends on numerous factors, but if you or a loved one is trying to heal from a loss, the price of a grief counseling service is usually well worth it. 

If you’re considering therapy as a way to navigate healing from a significant loss, you can get an idea of what grief counseling costs here. We’re looking at the average cost you should expect to pay for a grief counseling service and what factors might influence your cost. 

Average Cost of Grief Counseling

The average cost of grief counseling typically ranges from $75 to $150 per session, though this can fluctuate based on the grief counselor’s experience, location, and the session’s length and type. The final price you pay for these types of mental health services will depend on many other things as well. Regardless of the cost, the benefits of grief counseling are worth the investment.

Factors That Influence the Cost of Grief Counseling

There are some common factors that influence the cost of therapy for grief. To start, how extreme your grief is can determine how often and long you need treatment, which can affect the total cost of care overall. 

Other factors that impact cost include: 

• The mental health professional’s experience and training
• Your location
• Duration and frequency of sessions 
• Type and format of counseling and if you’re seeking in-person or online therapy
• Whether or not you have insurance 

Counselor’s experience and qualifications

If you’re wondering how much a grief counselor costs, remember that mental health professionals will have varying degrees, backgrounds, and experience. A therapist’s history can influence their per-session price. Very experienced grief counselors, therapists, or psychiatrists can charge more because they bring knowledge, expertise, and reputation to their practice.  

Location

Like anything else, where you live generally plays a role in how much grief counselors and therapists will charge for their services. A mental health professional who works in Manhattan or Los Angeles will likely charge considerably more than one who practices in a smaller, rural community. 

Duration and frequency of sessions

Counseling session length and how often you go to therapy will obviously play a part in determining how much grief counseling costs. Longer or more frequent sessions will typically translate to higher overall costs. 

Type of counseling

There are multiple types of grief therapy techniques available. The approach and format can play a role in how much you’ll pay. Individual, group, online, or in-person (face-to-face) sessions will differ in price.

“There are several reasons why a person can choose one or more modes of bereavement therapy. Individual in-person or online sessions will be based on a few factors, including the cost and/or availability of those mental health professionals. Group therapy can be cost-effective. Both individual and group sessions have pros and cons in choosing what’s right for an individual. Understanding what you want and how you want to process your grief will be a key factor in deciding the right modality.”

– Talkspace therapist Minkyung Chung, MS, LMHC

Insurance coverage

Whether or not you have health insurance will play a large role in how much grief counseling will cost you. However, insurance gets tricky when it comes to therapy for grief recovery. While the Affordable Care Act mandates that insurance companies cover mental health services the same way they do physical health, you might need a distinct diagnosis for your insurance to offer coverage for grief support.

The good news, though, is if your insurance covers even a portion of your grief counseling costs, your out-of-pocket expenses (the portion of the fee you’re responsible for) will be much lower. 

Affordable Online Grief Counseling at Talkspace

Grief recovery can be a taxing journey — but you don’t have to go through it alone. If you’re worried about the cost of grief counseling, you should know that Talkspace is an online therapy platform that offers affordable, convenient, and accessible online grief counseling from licensed mental health professionals who understand what you’re going through. You can work with a Talkspace provider who takes a compassionate approach to the grief support and healing you need during this time — all while you’re in the comfort of your own home.

Connect with a Talkspace therapist today to start on the path of dealing with grief. The road is long, but we’re with you every step of the way during your grieving process.