If you or someone is at immediate risk, call 911.
24/7 help: Call or text 988 for free, confidential support. In NYC, 988 counselors can also connect you to Mobile Crisis Teams when it’s the safest next step.
Finding mental health care in New York City can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re worried about cost, insurance, or long waitlists. This guide pulls together only the practical, no-nonsense routes New Yorkers use to get help at free or low cost, whether you need someone to talk to tonight or you want ongoing therapy.
This page is an independent, research-based guide. It doesn’t replace medical advice or an emergency service; it simply shows you where to start, who to call, and how to lower costs.
Quick Answers
Is there free therapy in NYC? Yes. Start with 988 for immediate counseling, referrals, and crisis support (phone/text/chat, 24/7).
No insurance? NYC Care through NYC Health + Hospitals helps uninsured New Yorkers get low or no-cost behavioral health care.
Teens (13–17): NYC Teenspace offers free online therapy—messaging plus live sessions—for all NYC teens.
Peer support (free): NAMI-NYC runs many free, peer-led support groups for individuals and families.
How to Get Help Today (Step-by-Step)
1) Need support right now?
Call or text 988. You’ll speak with a trained counselor who can offer brief counseling, help you make a plan for the next few hours or days, and point you to services that fit your situation. If needed, ask about a Mobile Crisis Team—licensed clinicians who can come to you (home, school, community) to assess safety and connect you to care.
Good to know: You can ask for an interpreter when calling 988. Phone support offers translation in 200+ languages. If you’d rather not call, you can also chat online.
2) No insurance or can’t use it?
Apply for NYC Care. It’s not insurance; it’s a city program that gets you a NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) card and access to low/no-cost visits, including behavioral health.
How to enroll: Start at nyccare.nyc or call 646-NYC-CARE (646-692-2273).
After enrollment: You’ll be assigned to an H+H site. To book appointments at public hospitals or Gotham Health clinics, call 844-NYC-4NYC (844-692-4692).
Costs: Fees follow a sliding scale based on income; many visits are $0 for eligible households.
3) Prefer a neighborhood clinic with sliding fees?
Many Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) offer behavioral health on a sliding scale. Search by ZIP at HRSA’s Find a Health Center, then call to ask about fees, wait times, languages, and whether they offer in-person, telehealth, or both.
4) Free peer groups while you wait
Waitlists happen. Don’t wait alone. Join a NAMI-NYC group that matches your situation—individual, family, condition-specific, identity-affirming, and more. Groups are free and run by trained peers. (Group Therapy in NYC)
5) Teens (13–17)
NYC Teenspace gives every NYC teen free mental health support—unlimited messaging plus live sessions with a licensed therapist each month. It’s virtual, private, and doesn’t require insurance.
What to Expect When You Call 988
Who answers? Trained counselors who specialize in mental health and substance-use concerns.
What happens on the call? You can talk about what’s going on, get coping strategies for the next hours/days, and ask for referrals to ongoing care that fits your location, insurance (or lack of it), and language.
Mobile Crisis Teams (MCTs): If your situation would benefit from an in-person evaluation, 988 can connect you to an MCT. They’re clinicians—not police—and they aim to stabilize, safety-plan, and link you to care.
Language access: Ask for an interpreter; phone support offers translation in 200+ languages.
Privacy: Calls are confidential except for rare situations where someone is at immediate risk and emergency services are necessary to keep people safe.
How NYC Care Works (Quick Walkthrough)
Apply online or by phone (646-NYC-CARE). You’ll need basic info (ID documents are helpful, but the program works with many situations).
Get your card & site: You’ll be assigned to an H+H location near you—public hospitals and Gotham Health centers exist across all boroughs.
Book visits: Call 844-NYC-4NYC to schedule primary care and behavioral health. Ask about the sliding fee; many visits are $0 depending on income/household size.
Stay connected: Once in the H+H system, referrals within the network (psychiatry, therapy, social work) tend to move faster.
Want to see what’s near you? Browse H+H locations and filter for behavioral health.
Related Article: Christian Counseling in NYC
Don’t have documents or worried about immigration status?
You can still get care. NYC Care and public hospitals serve New Yorkers regardless of immigration status. If you’re unsure what to say when you call, dial 988 first; a counselor can help you think through options that match your comfort level and language needs.
Practical Tips to Lower Costs (and Stress)
Say “sliding scale?” up front. When you call a clinic, literally ask: “Do you offer sliding-scale behavioral health? What would my first visit cost?”
Ask about “financial counseling.” H+H sites have staff who can walk you through fees, payment plans, and documents to bring.
Mix & match support. Use free groups (NAMI-NYC) while you wait for a therapy slot. Many people combine peer support + brief counseling via 988 with clinic-based therapy when it opens up.
Telehealth can save time. Ask whether your clinic offers phone/video visits.
Language & accessibility. Tell clinics your preferred language and any access needs. Interpretation is available at H+H; 988 can help you find services that match your language.
Keep a simple folder. One place for your appointment letters, any forms, and a list of your medications—it speeds up intakes.
You will likely find that if you are open to exploring your options, you can make sure that you find the best mental health care in the New York area. We also recommend you to watch the video below.
If You Have Insurance (Medicaid, Marketplace, or Employer Plans)
Call the number on your card and ask for “in-network outpatient mental/behavioral health providers near NYC.
Ask about costs before booking: copay, deductible, session limits, and whether telehealth is covered.
Still stuck? You can still call 988 for help navigating options, and you can still use NAMI-NYC groups for free. If your insurance isn’t accepted at a clinic you like, ask if they offer a cash sliding scale.
For Parents & Caregivers
Teens can enroll in NYC Teenspace for free virtual therapy. Parents/guardians typically consent for live sessions.
If you’re worried about a teen’s immediate safety, call 988 and ask about a Mobile Crisis Team. They can meet youth at home or school to assess and plan next steps.
Consider NAMI-NYC family groups for education and support while your teen starts services.
Getting Started: A Simple 10-Minute Plan
Save these numbers: 988, 844-NYC-4NYC, 646-NYC-CARE.
Text or call 988 and describe what you need this week. Ask for referrals near your ZIP, your preferred language, and your budget.
If you’re uninsured, start NYC Care enrollment today (it’s quick), then call 844-NYC-4NYC to book your first visit.
While you wait, pick one free NAMI-NYC group to try this week.
Prefer a neighborhood clinic? Search HRSA’s map and call two FQHCs to compare wait times and fees.
You deserve care that fits your life and budget. Start with one call or one message tonight—even small steps count.
There are many places to find free therapy in NYC, as long as you do the proper research. Is it possible for therapy to be free? Yes, it is possible; specific societies and schools can do it. Community organizations, which usually consist of people who have the same problems, also provide free services.