Reviewed by Dr. Kylie Pottenger, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist. Last reviewed October 2026.
TL;DR
- Therapy cost in Missouri averages about $122 to $130 per session, among the lowest in the country.
- Doctoral-level psychologists typically charge $150 to $250 per session.
- In-network copays usually run $20 to $75; out-of-network plans often reimburse 40 to 80 percent.
- If your deductible is already met, care before December 31 may cost substantially less.
- A New Day Psychology offers a free 15-minute consultation before any charge.
Cost is the question most people are too uncomfortable to ask on a first call, so it goes unanswered until after they have already committed. This page answers it plainly, with real numbers.
At A New Day Psychology, Dr. Kylie Pottenger provides telehealth therapy across Missouri and 40+ PSYPACT states. Below is what therapy actually costs here, how insurance changes the math, and why October through December is the cheapest window of the year for many people.
What Is the Average Cost of Therapy in Missouri?
Missouri is one of the most affordable states in the country for therapy. Analysis of national session data puts the state average around $122 per session, against a national average closer to $165. Cost of living in Missouri sits roughly 12 percent below the national index, and therapy pricing follows it.
That average blends every credential level. What you actually pay depends mostly on who you see.
- Counselor or social worker (LPC, LCSW, LMFT): $100 to $175
- Clinical psychologist (PhD, PsyD): $150 to $250
- Psychiatrist, for medication (MD, DO): $200 to $500 initial
Doctoral-level psychologists sit at the higher end because of training length and, usually, specialization. A generalist and a clinician trained specifically in ERP or EMDR are not providing equivalent care, and the fee reflects that.
What Does Dr. Pottenger Charge?
Dr. Pottenger's current session fee is $225 for the initial intake session and $200 for a standard 50-minute telehealth session. The initial 15-minute consultation is free, and there is no charge or obligation attached to it.
She is in-network with Aetna and Cox Health Plans, and provides superbills on request for out-of-network reimbursement. Full details are on our finance and payment page.
Fees are confirmed during your consultation before anything is scheduled. You will not encounter a surprise figure after committing.
Why Should I Think About Therapy Before December 31?
Because your deductible resets on January 1 and any progress toward it disappears. If you have already met your deductible through medical care this year, your out-of-pocket cost for therapy between now and December 31 may be a fraction of what the same sessions will cost in January.
Three year-end factors are worth checking:
- Met deductible. Once met, insurance pays its share. HealthCare.gov explains how the threshold works. Sessions in November and December may cost far less than identical sessions in February.
- FSA dollars expire. Flexible Spending Account funds are generally use-it-or-lose-it at year end. Therapy is an eligible expense. Unspent FSA money is simply forfeited.
- HSA dollars roll over. Health Savings Account funds carry forward, so there is no deadline pressure, but therapy remains an eligible expense whenever you use them.
Does Insurance Cover Therapy in Missouri?
Most plans cover mental health care. Federal parity law requires health plans that cover mental health to apply the same financial terms they apply to medical care, so therapy cannot carry a higher copay or stricter limits than a comparable medical visit.
What you pay depends on network status:
- In-network. You pay a copay, commonly $20 to $75 per session, once any deductible is met. Lowest out-of-pocket cost, smallest pool of specialized clinicians.
- Out-of-network. You pay the full fee, then submit a superbill for partial reimbursement, frequently 40 to 80 percent of the allowed amount once the out-of-network deductible is met. This is how most people access specialists.
- Private pay. You pay directly with no insurance involvement. No diagnosis is filed with an insurer, there are no session limits, and treatment length is decided clinically rather than by a reviewer.
What Is a Superbill?
A superbill is an itemized receipt containing the diagnosis codes, service codes, dates and provider details your insurer requires for reimbursement. You pay your therapist, submit the superbill to your plan, and the insurer reimburses you directly. Most plans accept submission through a member portal or app.
Is Therapy Worth the Cost?
This is the real question underneath the price question. The honest answer is that it depends on fit, and that effective therapy is time-limited more often than people expect.
Specific protocols have defined arcs. ERP for OCD commonly runs 12 to 20 sessions. EMDR for a single-incident trauma can resolve in fewer. Complex or longstanding presentations, and perinatal mental health care that spans pregnancy and postpartum, take longer. At $200 per session, a 16-session ERP course is roughly $3,200 for a condition that otherwise consumes hours of every day indefinitely.
Specialized care is also usually cheaper than generalist care over time. Several clients arrive at OCD-specific treatment after years of general talk therapy that never addressed the root of the issue. Three years of the wrong modality costs more than one year of the right one.
How Does Telehealth Change the Total Cost?
Telehealth removes costs that never appear on an invoice. No commute across Kansas City or St. Louis traffic, no parking, no half-day off work, no childcare for the appointment window. For rural Missouri clients, in-person specialist care can mean a two-hour round trip, which often means a lost workday on top of the session fee.
Because Dr. Pottenger practices through PSYPACT, care continues without a new intake or new fee structure if you travel or relocate across covered states.
You are not alone in a crisis moment. If you're experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Support is free, confidential and available 24/7 regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
What If I Can't Afford Private-Pay Therapy?
Cost is a genuine barrier and pretending otherwise helps no one. If the fees here are out of reach, these options exist statewide:
- Reduced fee or sliding scale. Many private practices hold a limited number of reduced-fee slots based on income. Ask directly; most clinicians will not volunteer it.
- Community mental health centers. Missouri's network of CMHCs provides care on income-based sliding scales statewide.
- University training clinics. Doctoral programs across the state operate supervised clinics at substantially reduced rates.
- Employee Assistance Programs. Many employers fund a set number of free sessions annually. Check before assuming you have none.
- Open Path Collective. A national nonprofit connecting people to therapists at reduced rates.
Get the Actual Number Before You Decide
The free 15-minute consultation covers fees, insurance options and whether Dr. Pottenger is the right fit, with no charge and no obligation. If you have already met your deductible this year, starting before December 31 may be the least expensive window available to you.
Book Your Free 15-Minute Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does therapy cost per session in Missouri?
Therapy in Missouri averages about $122 to $130 per session across all provider types, among the lowest rates in the country. Doctoral-level psychologists typically charge $150 to $250. With in-network insurance, most people pay a copay of $20 to $75 once their deductible is met.
Does Dr. Pottenger take insurance?
Yes. A New Day Psychology is currently in network with Aetna and Cox Health Plans. Dr. Pottenger will provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement, which many plans honor at 40 to 80 percent of the allowed amount. Your specific benefits are worth verifying with your insurer before your first session.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for therapy?
Yes. Therapy is a qualified medical expense for both. FSA funds generally expire at year end, so unspent dollars are forfeited on December 31. HSA funds roll over indefinitely.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. The 15-minute telehealth consultation carries no charge and no obligation. It exists so you can assess fit and get exact fee information before committing to anything.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on what you are treating. ERP for OCD commonly runs 12 to 20 sessions. EMDR for a single-incident trauma can be shorter. Complex trauma and longstanding patterns take longer. Dr. Pottenger discusses a realistic range during your consultation rather than after you have committed.
Is online therapy cheaper than in-person?
Session fees are generally comparable, but the total cost is lower. Telehealth eliminates commuting, parking, time off work and childcare for the appointment, which for rural Missouri clients can exceed the session fee itself.
Do I need to be in Missouri to work with Dr. Pottenger?
You need to be physically located in a PSYPACT state during sessions. Missouri and New Jersey are both covered, along with 40+ others.
Crisis Support Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for free, confidential 24/7 support.
A New Day Psychology Dr. Kylie Pottenger, Licensed Clinical Psychologist Email: info@andpsych.com Phone: (417) 429-4580 Telehealth services for Missouri, New Jersey, and 40+ PSYPACT states
About the Author
Dr. Kylie Pottenger, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience, certified in perinatal mental health by Postpartum Support International and trained in ERP, Inference-Based CBT, EMDR, and CPT. She provides telehealth care across Missouri, New Jersey, and 40+ PSYPACT states. Dr. Pottenger brings both clinical expertise and her own lived experience of infertility, pregnancy loss, and postpartum anxiety to her work. Learn more about Dr. Pottenger.