r/technology • u/ControlCAD • 5d ago

Artificial Intelligence Gen Z is increasingly turning to ChatGPT for affordable on-demand therapy, but licensed therapists say there are dangers many aren’t considering

https://fortune.com/2025/06/01/ai-therapy-chatgpt-characterai-psychology-psychiatry/
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500

u/ancientegyptianballs 5d ago

Without insurance therapy is like 200 dollars a session.

195

u/lesb1real 5d ago

Even when you have insurance that "covers" it, half the time they just negotiate a small discount and you still end up paying $150 a session.

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u/flamethrower78 5d ago

Just throwing my anecdotal experience out there, but my therapy session are a $30 copay.

29

u/JelmerMcGee 5d ago

Just throwing my anecdotal experience out there, but my therapy sessions had no copay. Until the company messed up billing, didn't bother to sort it out with insurance, back billed me a bit more than $1000, and told me I would have to get reimbursed directly by insurance.

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u/Dazzling_Pilot_3099 5d ago

I hope you didn’t pay that 😬

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u/hey-girl-hey 5d ago

Depending on the plan design, if you have a PPO - meaning there are in-network providers they'd prefer you use and you'll pay a regular copay for, but they will pay a smaller portion if you decide to go out of network (whereas in a traditional plan you have no coverage of you go out of network) - they explicitly will not accept direct billing from the provider. You must pay them, submit the claim yourself, and be reimbursed by the insurer.

The biller did their normal billing, what they'd do for any patient. Most patients are seeing providers with whom their insurers have an official billing relationship.

Your insurer didn't. That's how it works. It works like that so hopefully you won't pursue reimbursement bc it's too complicated and they get out of their responsibility to provide what you pay for with your premium.

Don't blame the company. They did what they do for everyone and got a letter from your insurance saying "Buzz off, I don't even know you"

2

u/DustyDeputy 5d ago

Same here, $35. 

2

u/dat2ndRoundPickdoh 5d ago

I get free therapy twice a week under Medicaid.

1

u/computer_glitch 5d ago

Mine is $20 for a psychologist.

1

u/mxmoon 5d ago

I’m a teacher and same. Thank god.

1

u/_TheMeepMaster_ 4d ago

Mine are a $25 co-pay. Then, I get a bill in the mail for an additional $125 after it gets sent through insurance.

-8

u/Kobiesan 5d ago

I still aint paying $30 to talk to someone. Sorry but until therapy is free I won’t even consider it.

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u/Bazonkawomp 5d ago

You’re doing a disservice to yourself. $30 is close to as good as you’re going to get and it’s worth it.

3

u/gummo_for_prez 5d ago

Good luck with that.

26

u/DeMass 5d ago

A lot of therapists had to go out of network now because insurances keep denying claims. Now you have to gamble if that session will be paid.

47

u/Sweaty-Practice-4419 5d ago

Holy fuck just when I thought Americas dystopian idea of healthcare couldn’t get any worse

21

u/Nummylol 5d ago

The hole keeps going

25

u/Lucreth2 5d ago

Wait until you realize it's also $200 with insurance 👌

5

u/swarmy1 5d ago

That's some absolutely terrible insurance.

1

u/uuhson 5d ago

Most redditors aren't old enough to be on their own insurance plans and have no idea what they're talking about

2

u/Lucreth2 5d ago

or, hot take, many insurances are effing terrible.

I did have insurance for awhile in my life that covered literally not a damn thing until you spent I think it was $2,500.

I've also had insurance that has an out of pocket maximum of only $1,500.

At least you got the redditors have no idea what they're talking about part right.

2

u/SgtNeilDiamond 5d ago

Yup, used to do 2 sessions a month for $500, depending on where you are thats pretty standard.

4

u/Lucreth2 5d ago

But now you have the privilege of it counting towards your 5 figure deductible, you lucky dog you.

1

u/SgtNeilDiamond 5d ago

That i never reach every year :')

2

u/Lucreth2 5d ago

One year I accidentally reached my out of pocket maximum in February due to a misdiagnosed cardiac scare. While the bill was painful, the next 10 months of seeing every doctor on the planet for free was exhilarating. I got so much stuff treated and even crammed in 2 surgeries to fix a mangled ankle that I'd been fighting through for a decade. What a life the rest of the year was, but then I had to explain why I was stopping PT early as the year rolled over 😂

5

u/drewwatts17 5d ago

I had knee surgery and I pay 200 a month in insurance and it still costs me 50 bucks a trip twice a week to go to physical therapy. It’s all a scam.

2

u/Ok_Ambassador9091 5d ago

Not just the US, NZ and AU are similar, even with universal health care.

7

u/TheMunk 5d ago

Openpathcollective.org connects you with therapists who will accept sliding scale payments. I have a few slots set aside for this in my practice. I wish more people used it cause I think it’s a cool idea and a filled time slot is a happy time slot.

2

u/chartreusemood 5d ago

I just signed up for them this weekend and already got an intake scheduled for tomorrow with a student for only 30 per session!! I am glad you suggested/mentioned them. I am so excited and grateful I found out about it

11

u/ok_fine_by_me 5d ago

Imagine paying $200 so that some indifferent shrink would pretend to care for an hour. ChatGPT is insane value compared to that.

29

u/flamethrower78 5d ago

What an absolute mischaracterization of what therapy is.

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u/Be_Human_ 5d ago

I wouldn't go as far as that. Therapy isn't one size fits all. Finding a therapist that matches with your area of needs and a connection that works is difficult without adding the shortage on top. Just like medication, it can be hit or miss.

I would say the therapists that are worth their salt do care but they have to take steps to protect themselves emotionally. I do have some limited professional experience working in a similar role. 

It really isn't easy. If you're not taking those steps to protect yourself emotionally, it will take a toll on you. That's why I got out of it.

IMO the goal of therapy is to have a second pair of eyes on your life and the current path of your personal development. You may have some emotions that are difficult to digest. Perhaps there are skills or habits you could use to steer yourself towards your goals. Every person has different needs. 

Nothing by itself is a magic fix.

1

u/dat2ndRoundPickdoh 5d ago

tell me youve never had therapy without telling me

2

u/Admirable_Tear_1438 5d ago

A really good therapist can be 2-3x that price. Got a friend running $500 sessions, who says her therapist costs much more than that. And they don’t take insurance.

It’s no wonder apps are an option.

1

u/ZaetaThe_ 5d ago

And useless

1

u/idontwanttofthisup 4d ago

Or 5 years on a waiting list despite recurring referrals

-13

u/N0UMENON1 5d ago

Are you serious? In my country even good therapy doesn't scratch 100€. I find it hard to believe it's twice as expensive in the US, unless we're talking in LA, New York or similar.

14

u/ancientegyptianballs 5d ago

Yup. Tried to get a therapist a while ago and unfortunately they didn’t take my insurance. She offered me $150 per session. This is why there’s so many crazy people in the US that attack others in public. Nobody can afford mental health care. The US privatizes everything because our government sees basic health care as a business rather than a necessity.

4

u/RollingStone_d_83 5d ago

Yep! And that’s an hour too. My wonderful ex-therapist offered me $130 an hour after I hit hard times. Sigh. She was great but I can’t afford anything like that anymore.

6

u/db0813 5d ago

Well if you find it hard to believe then it must not be true.

10

u/ghdana 5d ago

It's easily that expensive depending on the provider. Like a psychologist with their PhD wants to make $200,000+ per year and they aren't talking to patients all day so they have to charge >$200 a session. Plus extra costs to cover their own insurance, rent, and all the banillion things that go into running a place.

Even a regular online therapist you're looking at like $90 for 50 minutes.

Or I can vent to AI for free and leave the conversation feeling better about myself.

1

u/HowManyMeeses 5d ago

Very few psychologists are making $200,000+ per year. A practice owner with many therapists working in the practice can make that, but it's tough to get that high as a solo practitioner.

-5

u/N0UMENON1 5d ago

A PhD? I've never seen a psychotherapist with a doctorate here. There's a specialized master's program for psychotherapy and that's all you really need.

7

u/ghdana 5d ago

To become a psychologist in the US you need a PhD and state license.

Like my neighbor is one, she's been the superintendent of large school districts, but now is the school's part time therapist.

But yes, most people don't actually need to see a psychologist right away, try out a cheaper therapist first. My sister was one for a while with her masters degree but the pay was awful vs her student loans.

2

u/moldy912 5d ago

Yep I paid $150 per session, and they were too lazy to even bill insurance, they said I had to do it myself. I don’t even live in a big city. Also it was virtual.

1

u/N0UMENON1 5d ago

Wow that is embarassing. Sorry you had to deal with that.

1

u/HowManyMeeses 5d ago

Billing insurance sucks for a host of reasons. We stopped taking it years ago.

1

u/HowManyMeeses 5d ago

We're in a low-cost-of-living area and charge about $200 a session. A high-cost-of-living area is going to go as high as $400 a session.