What therapy costs in India
Fees are the question people are most embarrassed to ask, so platforms tend to hide them. We would rather give you real numbers. The figures below come from fees listed publicly on large healthcare directories and on our own profiles, as of October 2026.
What listed fees look like right now
In the big metros, psychologists' and psychotherapists' listed fees mostly fall between ₹1,200 and ₹3,000 per session, with typical fees around ₹1,800–2,400 in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi. In smaller cities the range shifts down, often ₹500–1,500. Psychiatrist consultations mostly list between ₹1,500 and ₹3,000.
A session is usually 45 to 60 minutes. Outliers exist in both directions: senior practitioners in metro private practice may charge ₹4,000 or more, and sliding-scale or trainee-supervised sessions can cost a few hundred rupees.
What drives the price
Years of training (an RCI registration or a psychiatry residency represents close to a decade), city rents for in-person practice, experience and demand. Online sessions often cost somewhat less because there is no clinic overhead.
What "fee on request" means
Some professionals prefer to discuss fees directly, often because they offer a sliding scale based on what a client can pay. Asking about the fee before the first session is completely normal, and no therapist worth seeing will hold it against you.
If money is tight
A lower fee does not mean lower quality; it usually just means a smaller city, an online practice or an early-career professional whose credentials are every bit as real. Session frequency can also be adjusted. And free support exists: Tele-MANAS at 14416 is a free government mental-health line, and district mental-health programmes run low-cost services.
Common questions
Is a more expensive therapist a better therapist?
There is no evidence for that. Fit with the person and verified credentials predict far more than price. Expensive mostly measures city, seniority and demand.
Does health insurance cover therapy?
The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 requires insurers to cover mental illness on the same basis as physical illness, but in practice most policies cover hospitalisation rather than outpatient therapy sessions. Check your specific policy.
How many sessions will I need?
It genuinely varies with what you bring and the approach used. Many people feel momentum within the first four to six sessions; a good professional will discuss expected duration openly rather than keeping it vague.
Ready to look for someone?
Every professional listed on this directory had their credentials verified before going live, and the registration numbers are on the profiles.
If you are in crisis right now, do not research: call Tele-MANAS at 14416. Crisis support