Where to Find Low-Cost or Free Therapy in San Antonio
Affordable Mental Health Resources in the Alamo City
San Antonio is a vibrant, culturally rich city, but like most places, therapy isn’t always easy to afford. Between rising living costs, limited insurance coverage, and long waitlists, many people feel like getting help is just too far out of reach.
Whether you’re a busy parent, student, service member, or someone quietly struggling with anxiety or burnout, you deserve support that doesn’t break your budget. There are free and sliding-scale therapy options right here in San Antonio. Let’s walk through where to find them, how to get started, and what to expect when cost is a concern.
What “Affordable Therapy” Really Means
You don’t have to pay $200 an hour to talk to someone who listens and understands.
Affordable therapy can look like:
Free sessions through nonprofits or campus clinics
Sliding scale fees, based on income and household size
Therapy with supervised graduate interns, often $25–$50 per session
Community programs offering trauma-informed or faith-based care
Online counseling that’s secure, flexible, and cost-effective
Community Clinics and Nonprofits Offering Sliding Scale Therapy
The Ecumenical Center
A well-known nonprofit in San Antonio offering individual, couples, family, and group therapy. They provide care for grief, trauma, relationship challenges, and more, with a sliding scale fee structure. ecrh.org
The Center for Health Care Services (CHCS)
San Antonio’s local mental health authority. Offers publicly funded therapy, psychiatric services, and crisis care for uninsured and low-income residents. chcsbc.org
Family Service Association of San Antonio
Provides low-cost therapy, parenting support, and trauma-informed counseling. Offers services for individuals, couples, and families. family-service.org
Clarity Child Guidance Center
If your child or teen needs help, Clarity is a trusted local nonprofit specializing in pediatric and adolescent mental health. They work with families using a sliding scale and accept a variety of insurance plans. claritycgc.org
College Students & Military Families: You’ve Got Options, Too
UTSA Sarabia Family Counseling Center
Open to UTSA students and community members. Offers low-cost therapy with graduate student interns under supervision.
📍 Near UTSA Downtown Campus
🌐 utsa.edu
Military & Veteran Services
San Antonio has one of the largest military communities in the U.S. Organizations like Endeavors and the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic offer free or low-cost therapy for veterans and their families.
🌐 endeavors.org | cohenveteransnetwork.org
Prefer Online Therapy? Here’s What’s Affordable and Private
Sometimes the hardest part is showing up in person—especially when you’re emotionally exhausted or short on time. These options offer flexible, secure, and affordable therapy from home:
Sagebrush Counseling (Serving San Antonio Residents)
I offer online therapy services for adults and couples throughout Texas, including San Antonio. I hold a few sliding scale and low-cost spots and specialize in anxiety, relationship issues, burnout, infidelity, and neurodivergent couples.
📧 contact@sagebrushcounseling.com
Tips for Getting Started Without Overwhelm
Ask about sliding scale even if it’s not on their website
Join a waitlist now, even if you’re not ready today
Try a session with a student intern—many are highly trained and supervised
Consider virtual therapy options if privacy or transportation is a concern
Mental Health Support Is for You, Too
In a city as warm and community-driven as San Antonio, it’s easy to feel like you should “handle things on your own.” But being strong doesn’t mean staying silent. It means reaching out when you need help—and knowing that affordable care is out there.
If you’re ready to take that first step, I’d love to support you—or help you get connected to someone who can.
📞 (512) 790‑0019
📧 contact@sagebrushcounseling.com
You don’t have to do it alone. And you don’t have to go broke to start healing.
