Does free therapy exist?

Written By Praysha Spearman

The answer is yes, free therapy does exist! Also, a very close second to free therapy is low cost therapy. Be mindful there are pros and cons to free and low cost therapy. As they say, “Sometimes, you get what you pay for.”

Pros:

  • Available if you have low income or no insurance.

  • Services are available for every county in Georgia.

  • Online and in-office options are available.

Cons:

  • High demand sometimes means longer waiting periods.

  • Burn out is easy for therapists providing free/low cost services.

  • Longer intake process can mean more paperwork for you.

  • Lengthy research is sometimes required to find a good match.

  • “Free” can remove personal investment. Money often represents incentive or motivation to overcome potential hurdles. For example, if you worked out at home for free, it might be easier to give up before reaching your fitness goals than if you were paying a personal trainer. You could think to yourself, “Great! I was consistent for two months!” However, six months later when you try to work out again, you feel like you’re starting from square one.

Tips for engaging with free & low cost therapy:

  1. Even if it takes more than 3 months to get on a therapist’s schedule, still go for it. Those three months, even 6 months, will fly by and you may not find a better option financially speaking. You can always cancel your session later if you decide to go a different route.

  2. If you have to fill out tons of paperwork, and show proof of income, remind yourself why you are doing it. You are investing time and energy into yourself when money could not do the investing for you.

  3. After all of that, if you don’t like your therapist for any reason at all, tell your therapist upfront why you’re having resistance. Ask if there are options for changing the style of therapy, or for seeing a different therapist. Most therapists have encountered this before, and won’t be surprised when you give this kind of feedback. All therapists are trained to help you get connected with the best kind of therapist available for your needs and preferences.

  4. Be willing to educate your therapist about your unique situation if necessary. Most therapists will ask the questions they need answered to help you, but some may not realize how your personal experience is different than others. Therapy is a collaboration at best, so come willing to put in the work!

Free Therapy

Here is an easy guide to getting connected with free and low cost therapy:

Therapy by County

  • Community Service Boards - Search by County; Bring proof of income/insurance. https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/locations/community-service-board

  • Churches & Non-Profits - Search by Zip Code; Free and low cost options. https://www.opencounseling.com/united-states/georgia

For Victims/Survivors

  • Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program - Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) provides $3000 of therapy for victims of a reported crime in Georgia. If you want therapy after suffering from a crime, this application is for you: https://crimevictimscomp.ga.gov/our-programs/victims-compensation/

For BIPOC Women and Girls

  • The Loveland Foundation - Gives women and girls of color up to 12 FREE vouchers for therapy! That is the equivalent of $2400 in sessions! Learn more and apply here: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/therapy-fund/

Low Cost Therapy

If you have insurance

Free Alternatives to Therapy:

The following options are NOT therapy, but can be utilized in conjunction with therapy, or as support for your journey when affordable therapy is difficult to come by.

In-Person Options

Free Online Options

There are many options for free and low cost therapy (especially virtual ones). If I failed to name a free/low cost provider above, please let me know all about it so it can be added to the list!

Praysha Spearman
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