Why we don't print a price
Fees for couples work vary a great deal by city, by format and by counselor, and CivilCouplesCounseling doesn't publish price figures it can't source to a current, public schedule. This page explains what shapes the fee instead, so you can compare counselors fairly and ask the right questions before you book.
What shapes the fee
- Session length. A standard session is usually around 50 minutes. Longer sessions, often 75 to 90 minutes, cost more per session but may mean fewer sessions overall.
- Format. Intensives, which are half-day or multi-day blocks of sessions, are priced as a package. Discernment counseling is short by design, so its total is usually limited. Mediation is often priced per hour or per session, sometimes with a separate fee for drafting a written summary.
- License level and experience. Counselors at an associate or supervised level may charge less than fully independent counselors. Experience with couples matters more than the title.
- Location and setting. Fees often differ between cities, and between private practices, group practices and community agencies.
- Telehealth. Some counselors charge the same for telehealth as for in-person sessions; some charge less.
Insurance
Health insurance coverage for couples counseling varies. Some plans cover sessions only when they're tied to one partner's own care; others don't cover couples work at all. If you want to use insurance, call your plan and ask what it covers for couples sessions, then ask the counselor whether they're in network or will give you a receipt you can submit yourself. Many couples choose to pay privately for confidentiality or flexibility.
Lower-cost options
Ask counselors whether they offer a sliding scale based on income. Community agencies and university training clinics sometimes offer reduced fees. Employers' assistance programs may cover a set number of free sessions; your HR department or benefits booklet will say.
Questions to ask before you book
- What is your fee for a standard session, and for longer sessions?
- Do you offer intensives, and how are they priced?
- What is your cancellation policy, and how much notice do you need?
- Do you offer a sliding scale?
- Are you in network with our insurance, or will you provide receipts?
- For mediation: is drafting a written summary included, or billed separately?
Comparing fairly
Compare the total you're likely to spend, not just one session. A counselor with a higher fee who suggests fewer, longer sessions may cost about the same overall as one with a lower fee and more sessions. Fit matters more than a small difference in price, because couples who don't feel comfortable with a counselor tend to stop going.
Paying for intensives
Intensives concentrate many hours of work into one or a few days, so the fee is paid as a lump sum and is often due in advance. Before booking, ask what the fee covers (preparation sessions, follow-up calls, written materials), what the refund policy is if you need to reschedule, and whether the counselor recommends follow-up sessions afterwards, which would be priced separately. Travel and lodging, if the intensive is out of town, add to the total.
Cancellation and missed sessions
Most counselors charge for sessions cancelled at short notice, often the full fee. Ask how much notice they need and whether they make exceptions for illness. If your schedules are unpredictable, a counselor with a more flexible policy, or telehealth sessions you can join from wherever you are, may save you money over time.
What the directory charges you
Nothing. CivilCouplesCounseling doesn't charge couples who use it or take any share of what you pay a provider. Any featured or sponsored listing is labelled on the page where it appears.