How to Find Mental Health Care You Can Afford
You can get mental-health care without insurance. Many community health centers offer counseling and psychiatric care on the same income-based sliding-fee scale as their medical services. Community mental-health centers and sliding-scale therapists are good options too. And if you're in crisis right now, you can call or text 988 free, any time.
In crisis? Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) — free, confidential, 24/7. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
1. Community health centers
Many community health centers (FQHCs) have behavioral-health staff — counselors, social workers, and sometimes psychiatric providers who can prescribe medication. It's all on the sliding-fee scale, so cost is based on your income. Services vary by site, so find a health center near you and ask whether that location offers mental-health care.
Our listings cover every community health center site, but the source data doesn't yet flag which offer behavioral health — calling ahead is the fastest way to confirm.
2. Community mental-health centers
Most areas have a community mental-health center that provides counseling, therapy, and psychiatric care on a sliding scale, with special focus on serious or ongoing conditions. Your county health department can point you to the nearest one.
3. Sliding-scale and low-cost therapists
Many private therapists set aside sliding-scale spots for clients who pay out of pocket. University training clinics also offer low-cost therapy from supervised graduate students. When you call, ask directly: "Do you offer a sliding scale?"
4. Free support lines
- 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text, 24/7.
- SAMHSA National Helpline, 1-800-662-4357 — free, confidential referrals for mental health and substance use, 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get therapy with no insurance?
Community health centers, community mental-health centers, and sliding-scale therapists are the main low-cost options. Many community health centers offer counseling and psychiatric care on the same income-based sliding-fee scale as their medical services.
Is there a free number to call in a crisis?
Yes. In the US you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time — it is free, confidential, and available 24/7. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Can a community health center prescribe mental-health medication?
Many can. A lot of community health centers have behavioral-health staff who provide counseling and can prescribe and manage psychiatric medication, all on the sliding-fee scale. Call the site to ask what mental-health services it offers.
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Sources: HRSA Health Center Program; SAMHSA (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, National Helpline). Directory information only, not medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988. Last reviewed July 2026.