Therapy Costs $200+ Per Session
“I did the math. Weekly therapy at $200/session is $10,000 a year. I don't have $10,000 for anything, let alone talking about my feelings.”
The people who say "therapy is an investment in yourself" aren't wrong. They're just not acknowledging that $10,000+ a year is an investment most people literally cannot make. ILTY won't fix therapy pricing, but it offers genuine support at a price that doesn't require a second job.
In crisis? Call or text 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and 24/7.
The Math Isn't Mathing
Here are real numbers: the average out-of-pocket therapy session costs $150-300. Most therapists recommend weekly sessions. That's $7,800-15,600 per year. The median American household income is around $75,000 before taxes. You're being asked to spend 10-20% of your gross income on mental health care.
And the people saying "just use your insurance" haven't tried to actually use their insurance for therapy. Out-of-network means paying full price and maybe getting reimbursed for a fraction. In-network means choosing from a list of three therapists, none accepting new patients.
Being angry about therapy costs isn't being "resistant to help." It's being realistic about economics.
Why This Happens
•Therapists have their own student debt ($100K+ average), overhead, and need to earn a living — the high cost reflects a broken education and healthcare system, not greed.
•Insurance companies systematically undervalue mental health: low reimbursement rates mean many therapists opt out of insurance networks entirely.
•There's a massive supply-demand imbalance — not enough therapists for the number of people who need them, which drives prices up.
•The system assumes employer-sponsored insurance with good mental health coverage, which fewer and fewer people actually have.
What ILTY Can Do
Support that fits your budget
Monthly access to ILTY costs less than a single therapy session. It's not the same thing — but it's something real when the alternative is nothing.
No session clock
You're not paying by the hour. Talk for five minutes or fifty. Come back three times a day or once a week. The price doesn't change.
Actually useful conversations
ILTY uses AI to have genuine back-and-forth conversations about what you're dealing with. It asks real questions, offers real perspective, and doesn't just recite coping mechanisms.
What ILTY Doesn't Replace
We want to be honest about our limitations:
- • It can't do what a therapist does—Therapists have years of clinical training, can diagnose conditions, notice body language, and build a therapeutic relationship over time. ILTY can't replicate that.
- • It shouldn't be your only option forever—If your financial situation changes, or if you find affordable therapy, pursue it. ILTY is best as a bridge or a supplement — not a permanent ceiling on your mental health care.
What a Conversation Looks Like
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is therapy so expensive?
Therapists typically carry significant student debt, pay for continuing education, licensing, office space, and malpractice insurance. Many also deal with low insurance reimbursement rates. The cost reflects systemic problems in healthcare and education, not overcharging.
Are there ways to get cheaper therapy?
Yes: sliding scale therapists, training clinics at universities, community mental health centers, Open Path Collective ($30-80/session), and some apps like BetterHelp offer reduced rates. Availability varies widely by location though.
Can AI really help with mental health?
Research shows that even non-professional conversational support can help with emotional processing, thought clarification, and reducing feelings of isolation. ILTY isn't clinical care, but meaningful conversation has real value.
Related Resources
How ILTY compares to BetterHelp on cost, approach, and what you actually get.
What you actually get at different price points for mental health apps.
How ILTY helps when anxious thoughts won't stop — at any budget.
When the cost barrier goes beyond just being expensive — it's impossible.
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
ILTY is a free download on iOS with a 7-day trial, then a subscription. It's not therapy. It's not a cure. It's a place to talk through what you're going through—honestly, without judgment, whenever you need it.