Finding an affordable therapist in Nashville can be tough. Most private practice therapists charge between $120 - $150+ per session and finding in-network therapists can be overwhelming: health insurance websites are often outdated or inaccurate, and those therapists who are in-network often have full practices because their services are so sought after.
If you do not have the financial means to afford the typical Nashville therapy fees, there are a number of ways to afford therapy on a budget, including sliding scales and using out-of-network benefits.
If sliding scales are still above what you can afford, below are institutes that offer need and income-based low cost therapy services, most provided by non-profits and therapist training institutions.
- Low cost therapy for students in Nashville
- Low cost therapy for LGBTQ folks in Nashville
- Low cost therapy in different languages in Nashville
- Low cost therapy for veterans in Nashville
- Low cost therapy for the homeless in Nashville
- Low cost therapy for older adults in Nashville
- Free helplines in Nashville
- Other low cost services in Nashville
Low cost therapy for college students in Nashville
Lloyd C. Elam Mental Health Center
The School of Medicine of Meharry Medical College offers services to meet the mental health needs of underserved and disadvantaged populations, and trains mental health care professionals to render and conduct research that addresses mental health and psychiatric services. The clinics, substance abuse, and rehabilitation programs at Elam Center provide an excellent service to patients and family. The result is a cooperative relationship with the community that is fostered and maintained.
Focus areas
Adults, teens, children
Fees
The center accepts most major health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. A financial assistance program is available for those who have no insurance or limited coverage.
Location
1005 Dr DB Todd Jr Blvd
Nashville, TN 37208
Contact information
615.327.6495
Vanderbilt Community Mental Health Center
Vanderbilt Behavioral Health offers highly specialized and personalized care for children, teens and adults through a range of outpatient and inpatient services. Therapists understand that every person is different, so they offer personalized care for someone's specific needs. Adult treatment programs can help with mood disorders, addictions, psychotic disorders, and more. Adolescent services are also provided.
Focus areas
Adults, adolescents, children
Fees
Patients who do not have insurance or have limited insurance benefits and receive treatment at a VUMC facility may be eligible for financial assistance. Financial hardship is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Location
D-3300, Medical Center North
Nashville, TN 37232
Contact information
615.327.7000
Low cost therapy for LGBTQ folks in Nashville
United Neighborhood Health Services
Neighborhood Health is committed to providing convenient, affordable, comprehensive and high quality primary health care in Middle Tennessee. Neighborhood Health has professional counseling staff that can assist patients if they are suffering from depression, anxiety or any stressors in life. They can also help with drug or alcohol concerns, and can give referrals if patients need long-term care or residential services. The staff at Neighborhood Health has experience and commitment to working with all patients, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The staff creates a comfortable and inclusive space and provides care in a personalized, supportive way.
Focus areas
LGBTQ, depression, anxiety, substance abuse
Fees
Neighborhood Health accepts insurance. There is a discounted fee program for those who don't have insurance. If a patient qualifies, the amount they are asked to pay will be reduced based on income and family size.
Locations
511 S 8th St.
Nashville, TN 37206
Contact information
615.227.3000
Low cost therapy in different languages in Nashville
AGAPE Nashville Foster Care
AGAPE embraces people in need, people who often have nowhere else to turn. From addiction to broken families, mental illness to spiritual despair, neglect to abuse, AGAPE's professional therapists, social workers, and support staff receive with open arms those who cry out. AGAPE specializes in helping children, adults, families and couples grow and flourish. Therapists offer individual, couples, family, and group counseling services, and can help with issues including anxiety and depression, grief and loss, trauma, abuse, stress and anger management, adjustment and life transitions, family conflict, attachment and adoption issues, and more. Spanish services are available.
Focus areas
Individual, couples, family, group therapy, Spanish
Fees
AGAPE provides a sliding scale fee system based on gross income and the number of people in the household. AGAPE accepts many behavioral health insurance policies and partners with churches, employers and other organizations to make services affordable.
Location
103 Maple St
Smyrna, TN 37167
Contact information
615.781.3000
Low cost therapy for veterans in Nashville
Make the Connection
Make the Connection is an online resource for veterans, their family members, and friends, who are seeking local support and treatment options for mental health. They provide information about signs and symptoms of topics such as alcohol or drug problems, eating disorders, chronic pain, feeling on edge, trouble sleeping, and many more. They also provide information about different medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar, and schizophrenia. Make the Connection posts videos from other veterans about their experiences and life challenges since leaving the military.
Focus areas
Military veterans mental health information and resource locator
Fees
Make the Connection is a free resource
Location
N/A
Contact information
Veterans Crisis Line: 1.800.273.8255 (Press 1)
Centerstone
Centerstone provides mental health and substance use disorder treatment, education and support. Centerstone helps children, adolescents, adults, seniors and their families who suffer from a myriad of behavioral health challenges. A multitude of programs are designed to address the wide-range of emotional, behavioral, psychological and addiction issues that affect the individuals in our care. Centerstone's Military Services provides care for service members, veterans and family members. Centerstone exists to help individuals from all walks of life in need.
Focus areas
Adults, children, adolescents, families, veterans, service members, military family members
Fees
This practice serves all patients regardless of inability to pay. Discounts for essential services are offered depending upon family size and income.
Location
4525 Harding Pike, Suites 235 & 236
Nashville, TN 37205
Contact information
615.463.6600
Low cost therapy for the homeless in Nashville
Centerstone
Centerstone provides mental health and substance use disorder treatment, education and support. Centerstone helps children, adolescents, adults, seniors and their families who suffer from a myriad of behavioral health challenges. A multitude of programs are designed to address the wide-range of emotional, behavioral, psychological and addiction issues that affect the individuals in our care. Centerstone's Housing Services provides a variety of housing options for adults with serious mental illness and/or intellectual or developmental disabilities. Long-term residential facilities offer daily training in self-sufficiency skills, symptom management, medication management, and supervised recreational and socialization activities
Focus areas
Adults, children, adolescents, families, housing services, mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities
Fees
This practice serves all patients regardless of inability to pay. Discounts for essential services are offered depending upon family size and income.
Location
4525 Harding Pike, Suites 235 & 236
Nashville, TN 37205
Contact information
615.463.6600
United Neighborhood Health Services
Neighborhood Health is committed to providing convenient, affordable, comprehensive and high quality primary health care in Middle Tennessee. Neighborhood Health has professional counseling staff that can assist patients if they are suffering from depression, anxiety or any stressors in life. Neighborhood Health provides care for patients experiencing homelessness. Services include psychiatric services, case management, and transportation.
Focus areas
Homeless, psychiatric services, case management, transportation
Fees
Neighborhood Health accepts insurance. There is a discounted fee program for those who don't have insurance. If a patient qualifies, the amount they are asked to pay will be reduced based on income and family size.
Locations
511 S 8th St.
Nashville, TN 37206
Contact information
615.227.3000
Low cost therapy for older adults in Nashville
Catholic Charities of Tennessee
Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Inc. provides human services which enhance and enrich the quality of life for people in need. From adolescents to parents who face difficulties on a daily basis, stressed couples struggling to keep their marriage alive, Catholic Charities of Tennessee provides counseling for everyone of all ages. The professional staff has a long history of offering counseling services for individuals, couples and families around issues such as anxiety, depression, grief and relationship challenges. Counseling provides a safe place to focus on desired life changes, strengthening relationships with loved ones and/or emotional growth and healing. Some of the most common topics explored are decision making and family communication, crisis and disruptions in daily life, depression and anxiety, grief, isolation, personal history of abuse, changes in family structure, and more.
Focus areas
Individuals, couples, families, older adults, life transitions, grief
Fees
A sliding scale based on a family's ability to pay is used.
Location
2806 McGavock Pike
Nashville, TN 37214
Contact information
615.352.3087
Free helplines in Nashville
Tennessee Statewide Crisis Line
The Tennessee Statewide Crisis Line, available 24 hours a day/365 days a year, is a resource for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. All calls are routed to a trained crisis counselor in the area, who will provide support and guidance, and work to connect callers with appropriate community supports.
Focus areas
24/7 free crisis line
Contact information
855.CRISIS.1 (855.274.7471)
Mental Health Cooperative Emergency Psychiatric Line
A mental health crisis can be extremely frightening and difficult for family and friends to understand. Mental Health Cooperative's emergency teams are trained to immediately respond and resolve a crisis. Emergency psychiatric services can be accessed immediately by calling 615.726.0125. The line is operated 24/7 and is free.
Focus areas
24/7 free crisis line
Contact information
615.726.0125
Other low cost therapy services in Nashville
Davis House Child Advocacy Center
The mission and purpose of Davis House is to combat child abuse by coordinating services to children and families in crisis and providing community education focused on prevention and early intervention. The Counseling Program provides mental health treatment to children suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) symptoms following sexual and severe physical abuse. Severity of symptoms and best method of counseling are determined by pre-testing with age appropriate tools. Davis House employs therapists trained in both Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Play Therapy. One of the therapists will conduct the initial assessment, create a treatment plan and meet with the child (and family when necessary) for counseling sessions.
Focus areas
Children, families, child abuse, PTSD
Fees
All services are provided at no cost to the children and families they serve.
Location
101 Forrest Crossing Blvd
Franklin, TN 37064
Contact information
615.790.5900
The Papillion Center
The Papillion Center is a faith-based, nonprofit therapeutic center utilizing different techniques to bring about hope and healing to children and families in hard places. Counseling services include individual counseling, support groups and equine therapy for a wide range of needs such as depression, abuse, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), or marital issues. Services offered are individual therapy, couple therapy, family therapy, child & adolescent therapy, group therapy, play therapy, and equine therapy groups.
Focus areas
Individual, couples, family, group therapy, equine therapy, child and adolescent
Fees
A sliding scale is offered for those who qualify.
Location
2042 Nashville Pike
Gallatin, TN 37066
Contact information
615.590.7213
Primary Care and Hope Clinic
The Primary Care and Hope Clinic serves as a medical home for uninsured and underserved patients in Middle Tennessee, regardless of their ability to pay. Through the consistent delivery of preventative, acute, chronic and behavioral health services, the clinic ensures that patients receive the care they need to get healthy and stay healthy. The Primary Care & Hope Clinic uses an integrated behavioral health model that teams behavioral health providers with a medical provider. Private, in-house behavioral health therapy for adults, adolescents, and children is available with licensed counselors and Mental Health Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners.
Focus areas
Adults, adolescents, children
Fees
The health center accepts all patients regardless of their ability to pay. A sliding-fee scale discount is offered to all eligible patients, based on annual household size and income.
Location
351 Quecreek Circle
Smyrna, TN 37167
Contact information
615.625.9390