If you’ve ever looked into therapy and felt a jolt of sticker shock, you’re not alone. Seeing that a psychotherapy session in Ireland can cost between €75 and €150 per hour, it can make anyone pause. It’s easy to wonder, “Why Is Therapy So Expensive in Ireland?”
It’s the kind of thing therapists hear a lot: “All you do is sit there and pull in probably €100 an hour”, and “Sure isn’t therapy a bit much?”
In reality, the fee covers much more than the 50 minutes you spend in the room. Let’s take a closer look at what’s behind the price tag — and how to find affordable or even free options for mental health support in Ireland.
Time Restrictions On Therapists
Hidden Costs of Therapy
Actul Cost of Therapy
Free Supports And Helplines
Finding Affordable Therapy Options
What You’re Really Paying For
Unlike doctors or dentists who can see patients back-to-back all day, most psychotherapists see no more than four clients a day, or about 20 a week. That’s not because they’re lazy — it’s because therapy is emotionally intensive work.
If a therapist tried to see six or eight clients a day, they’d burn out quickly — and the quality of care would drop for everyone. In reality, the time spent in sessions may make up only about 60% of their working day. The rest goes into:
Preparation & follow-up: Reviewing notes, planning sessions, and maintaining records.
Ongoing training: At least 30 hours of professional development each year (required by bodies like the IACP).
Supervision: Regular consultation with a senior therapist (usually one hour of supervision for every 20 client hours).
- Practice management: Managing bookings, client communication, GDPR compliance, and billing.
- Taking notes and creating clinical or assessment reports.
- Dealing with social workers and An Tusla as mandated.
- Review of referral or historical documents.
- Time spent with parents or guardians in child and adolescent work.
- Self-care & emotional recovery, which is essential for sustaining quality, ethical practice.
The Hidden Costs Behind Every Therapy Session
Running a therapy practice is much more than renting a room and talking to clients. Therapists also pay for:
- Professional insurance (for client and therapist protection)
- Membership fees for professional bodies
- Room rental or purchase, plus utilities
Website hosting and directory listings
Telecommunications and IT tools for online sessions
Creative materials (for art or play therapy)
Data protection and compliance fees
Supervision costs
Licensing fees for Psychometrics and measurement tools
Personal therapy (mandatory during training and often ongoing afterwards)
And before even qualifying, many therapists invest €25,000 or more in training, plus around €8,000 for the mandatory personal therapy and supervision hours.
They also complete hundreds of unpaid hours in voluntary counselling during training. So, while it may appear to be €100 for an hour of conversation, the true picture is far broader and more complex.
How Much Does Therapy Actually Cost in Ireland?
| Type of Service | Typical Cost | Wait Time |
|---|---|---|
Private Therapy (50 min) | €75–€150 | 2–6 weeks |
| Public Healthcare Psychology (via GP) | Free | 6–18 months |
| Psychiatrist (private) | €345 initial / €230 follow-up | Varies |
| Online Therapy | Similar to in-person rates | 2–6 weeks |
| Couples Therapy (50–75 min) | €70–€213 | 2–6 weeks |
| Affordable / Low-Cost Services | €35–€69 | 2–6 weeks |
Free Therapeutic Services and Mental Health Support Helplines
For those who have lost a loved one, free bereavement counselling and support are available through services such as The Irish Hospice Foundation’s Bereavement Support Line and Pieta’s suicide bereavement counselling. You can also reach out to trusted helplines, including Samaritans (116 123), AWARE (1800 80 48 48), and Text About It (text “HELLO” to 50808) for immediate emotional support.
It’s important to remember that free services and helplines are usually staffed by trained volunteers, not by licensed therapists, but they provide a compassionate listening ear and can help you find professional care when you’re ready.
Below are some options for free and immediate support in Ireland:
Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7)
Text About It: Text “HELLO” to 50808 (24/7 text support)
Pieta: 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
AWARE Support Line: 1800 80 48 48
Women’s Aid: 1800 341 900
Men’s Aid: 01 554 3811
Finding Affordable Therapy and Support
Yes, counselling does come with a cost — and for many people, that’s what keeps them from reaching out sooner. But those who do take that step often say, “It’s the best investment I’ve ever made.”
Not just because it helps them through a rough patch, but because it changes how they move through lifehow they relate to others, handle stress, and treat themselves with more compassion.
Therapy doesn’t just support you in the moment; it helps you build a stronger foundation for how you live, grow, and care for yourself in the future.
Still, help should never be out of reach. There are several ways to access affordable, meaningful support:
Across Ireland, community groups, charities, low-cost services, and support groups like Aware and Mental Health Ireland are doing incredible work to make mental health support accessible.
BetterCare offers low-cost counselling for €39.99 per session and psychotherapy for €80, both in-person and online.
Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs): If your employer is signed up to a programme like BetterCare EAP Programme, or if you have private health insurance through a company plan, you may be eligible for free short-term counselling.
Therapy can seem expensive, but what clients are really paying for is specialised care that’s grounded in years of training, supervision, and experience. It’s not just a conversation — it’s a structured process designed to promote healing, insight, and long-term change
Neil Costello Psychotherapist & Founder BetterCare