How Much Does EMDR Therapy Cost in San Francisco?

In short: According to Erica Spartos, LMFT, EMDR therapy in San Francisco typically costs $200 to $300 for a standard session and $250 to $400 for the longer 75 to 90 minute sessions many EMDR clinicians use. Most experienced EMDR therapists in the city work out of network, so your real cost depends on your PPO benefits. With out-of-network reimbursement of 50 to 80 percent after your deductible, many clients pay far less than the full fee. A free consultation is the fastest way to get an exact number for your plan.

Cost is one of the first questions people ask me before starting EMDR, and it is one of the hardest to answer from a website alone. The fee listed on a therapist's page is rarely the amount you end up paying, and EMDR has a few pricing details that standard talk therapy does not.

I have practiced in San Francisco for 20 years and work only on an out-of-network basis, so I walk people through these numbers often. Here is the honest version.

What EMDR therapy costs in San Francisco

In San Francisco, a standard 50 to 60 minute EMDR session usually costs $200 to $300 out of pocket. The longer 75 to 90 minute sessions, which many EMDR therapists use to complete a full processing cycle safely, tend to run $250 to $400. Rates sit toward the higher end of general therapy pricing because EMDR requires specialized training and longer appointments.

• Standard session (50 to 60 minutes): $200 to $300 out of pocket

• Extended session (75 to 90 minutes): $250 to $400

• EMDR intensive (around 3 hours): $450 to $900 or more

• First or intake session: often priced higher than a standard session

In my experience, EMDR sessions often run longer than the standard 50 minute hour because stopping in the middle of processing can leave a client activated. The extra time is a clinical decision, not an add-on.

Does insurance cover EMDR therapy?

EMDR is covered the same way any psychotherapy is covered, because it does not have its own billing code. Therapists bill it under standard psychotherapy codes like 90834 and 90837, so your insurer treats it as a regular therapy session. Whether it is covered comes down to your plan, your diagnosis, and whether your therapist is in network.

Most experienced EMDR therapists in San Francisco, myself included, are out of network. That means I do not bill your insurance directly. If you have a PPO plan with out-of-network benefits, you can still be reimbursed for a portion of every session. HMO plans generally do not reimburse out-of-network therapists, while PPO and some POS plans do, so your plan type is the first thing to check.

The full mechanics of out-of-network reimbursement, what to ask your insurer, and how a superbill works are covered in my guide to what therapy costs in San Francisco. This post stays on the EMDR-specific side.

How superbill reimbursement lowers the real cost

A superbill is an itemized receipt I provide each month with the codes your insurer needs. You submit it to your PPO, and they reimburse you directly for their share.

Once your out-of-network deductible is met, a PPO plan generally covers 50 to 80 percent of each session fee. At 70 percent on a $300 session, your real cost lands around $90.

So while the listed fee looks higher than an in-network copay, the amount you actually pay after reimbursement is often much closer, and sometimes lower, than people expect.

Why EMDR costs more, and what you are paying for

EMDR pricing reflects two things: longer sessions and specialized training. Becoming EMDR-trained takes formal coursework, supervised consultation hours, and continuing education, and the sessions themselves run longer than standard therapy.

You are paying for the clinical judgment to pace trauma work safely, not only for time in the room. Done well, EMDR is structured and often time-limited, which matters when you are weighing cost against a course of open-ended therapy.

The American Psychological Association recognizes EMDR as an effective treatment for PTSD, and the World Health Organization recommends it for trauma, which is part of why demand and rates have risen.

The clearest way to know your real cost is to ask. My consultation is free, and questions about fees and reimbursement come up in it often.

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Ways to lower the cost of EMDR

A few options can bring the out-of-pocket number down:

• Out-of-network reimbursement. For anyone with a PPO, this is the biggest lever, and it is worth confirming your benefits before your first session.

• Sliding scale at some practices. Some therapists set aside part of their caseload for reduced fees, generally in the $25 to $150 range, though not every practice offers it. If cost is the main barrier, low-fee options like Open Path Collective and university training clinics are worth looking into.

• EMDR intensives. These compress treatment into fewer, longer appointments. The per-session cost is higher, but the total course can be shorter and involve less time off work. I explain the format on my EMDR intensives in San Francisco page.

• Telehealth. I offer online EMDR across California, which removes commute time and cost. Superbills work the same way for online sessions.

Under the federal No Surprises Act, I am required to give self-pay clients a Good Faith Estimate of expected costs before treatment begins, so the total should never come as a surprise.

Is EMDR therapy worth the cost?

That depends on what you are treating. For trauma, PTSD, and the anxiety that often travels with them, EMDR is one of the more researched and structured options available, and it is frequently time-limited rather than open-ended.

Because EMDR is structured and goal-focused, many clients complete a defined course of treatment rather than continuing indefinitely, which can make the total cost more predictable than open-ended talk therapy.

If you want to understand how the treatment itself works before weighing the cost, I explain the process on my EMDR therapy in San Francisco page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does EMDR therapy cost in San Francisco?

A standard 50 to 60 minute EMDR session in San Francisco usually costs $200 to $300 out of pocket, and longer 75 to 90 minute sessions run $250 to $400. Most experienced EMDR therapists work out of network, so your real cost depends on your PPO reimbursement.

Does insurance cover EMDR therapy in California?

It can. EMDR is billed under standard psychotherapy codes, so insurers treat it like any therapy session, and coverage depends on your plan and diagnosis. With a PPO, out-of-network benefits often cover 50 to 80 percent of each session once your deductible is met.

How much does EMDR cost after out-of-network reimbursement?

Once your out-of-network deductible is met, a PPO reimbursing 70 percent of a $300 session leaves a real cost of about $90. The exact amount depends on your plan's reimbursement rate and deductible.

How much does an EMDR intensive cost?

EMDR intensives compress treatment into longer blocks and typically cost $450 to $900 or more for a half-day, depending on length and the preparation and integration sessions included. The per-session price is higher, but the overall course can be shorter.

Does EMDR cost more than regular talk therapy?

Usually a little. EMDR sessions often run longer than the standard 50 minutes, and the training behind it is specialized. Per minute, it is broadly in line with other specialized therapy in San Francisco.

Erica Spartos, LMFT (#81057) is an EMDR-trained therapist with 20 years of experience, based in the Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco. She offers in-person EMDR therapy, walk-and-talk sessions at Lake Merced, and online therapy across California, all on an out-of-network basis.

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