How Much Does Trauma Therapy Cost in Denver?
Short answer: at this practice, self-pay sessions are $120-$150 for a standard 50-minute session. With insurance, most clients pay considerably less -- often only a copay. A typical course of EMDR for single-incident trauma runs 8-12 sessions, so a realistic self-pay total is roughly $960-$1,800.
Below are the actual numbers, what changes them, and how to check what you would pay before booking anything.
Self-pay rates
| Standard therapy session (50 minutes) | $120-$150 |
| Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Model | $200/hour, 3-hour minimum |
| Medicine-assisted sessions | $200/hour (not covered by insurance) |
No referral is needed to book with any of the plans we accept. Some of our clinicians also offer a sliding scale -- ask when you reach out to see if yours does.
What it costs with insurance
We are in network with:
| Plan | Notes |
|---|---|
| Health First Colorado (Medicaid) | See the Colorado Medicaid coverage guide |
| Colorado Access | Regional Medicaid organization |
| Kaiser Permanente | |
| Aetna | |
| Anthem BCBS | |
| Carelon | Behavioral health benefits manager |
With an in-network plan you generally pay only your plan's copay or coinsurance for outpatient behavioral health. Across the plans we accept, copays typically range from $10 to $95 per session depending on your specific plan and whether your deductible is met -- which is why we run a complimentary benefits check before your first session. Bring or send a photo of your insurance card.
That check is worth doing. Most trauma specialists trained to this level in Denver are private-pay only, so people often assume specialist trauma work is out of reach on insurance. Frequently it isn't.
The codes on your bill
Almost nobody publishes these, and they are useful if you are calling your insurer or submitting a claim yourself:
| 90834 | Individual psychotherapy, 45 minutes -- the most common |
| 90837 | Individual psychotherapy, 60 minutes |
| 90832 | Individual psychotherapy, 30 minutes |
| 90846 / 90847 | Family psychotherapy (without / with the patient present) |
| 90853 | Group psychotherapy |
EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and IFS do not have their own codes.They are approaches used inside a psychotherapy session, billed under the codes above. If an insurer tells you "we don't cover EMDR," that is usually a misunderstanding -- the correct question is whether they cover outpatient psychotherapy.
What a full course typically costs
Nobody publishes this, and it is the number people actually want. The ranges below reflect typical treatment lengths reported in trauma therapy generally -- they are not this practice's own client outcomes, and your clinician will give you a clearer picture once they understand your specific history.
| Situation | Typical sessions | Self-pay total at $120-$150 |
|---|---|---|
| Single-incident trauma (one event, otherwise stable) | 8-12 | $960 - $1,800 |
| Multiple events or longer history | 15-25 | $1,800 - $3,750 |
| Complex or developmental trauma | 25+ | $3,000+ |
One thing to know if you are using Medicaid.Since January 1, 2026, Colorado's regional Medicaid organizations can require prior authorization for psychotherapy beyond 24 sessions in a state fiscal year (July 1 - June 30), counted across all providers combined. It is a review rather than a cap, but for complex trauma it is worth understanding early. Full explanation here.
Using out-of-network benefits
If your plan isn't listed above, you may still be reimbursed for part of the cost. A superbill is an itemized receipt containing everything your insurer needs to process an out-of-network claim: dates of service, CPT codes, diagnosis code, our credentials, and tax ID. We provide these on request.
You pay us directly, submit the superbill to your insurer, and they reimburse you at their out-of-network rate. A plan reimbursing 60% of a $150 session returns roughly $90, making your real cost about $60.
Call your insurer and ask these four questions:
- Do I have out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits?
- What is my out-of-network deductible, and how much of it have I met?
- What percentage do you reimburse for CPT code 90837?
- Do I need prior authorization, and is there a session limit?
What you'll pay, in writing
If you're uninsured or paying privately, ask your clinician about their fees before your first session -- they'll go over them with you directly upon request.
If cost is the barrier
Say so at the consultation. There are usually more options than people realize: checking Medicaid eligibility (Colorado's income threshold is higher than most people assume, and behavioral health is covered), asking about frequency (weekly is typical, but not universal -- some clients do meaningful work fortnightly), using out-of-network benefits, and HSA/FSA funds, which apply to therapy.
Frequently asked questions
Is EMDR more expensive than regular therapy?
No. It is delivered within a standard psychotherapy session and billed under the same codes.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
Some of our clinicians do -- ask when you reach out to see if yours offers one.
What if I need to cancel?
We ask for 24 hours' notice.
Can I use my HSA or FSA?
Yes, therapy is an eligible expense.
How do I find out my copay before booking?
Send us a photo of your insurance card and we will run a complimentary benefits check, or call the member services number on the card and ask about outpatient behavioral health.
Does insurance cover psychedelic or ketamine-assisted work?
The therapy portion may be covered. The medicine portion typically is not -- ketamine itself is FDA-approved as an anesthetic, and esketamine (Spravato) is FDA-approved for treatment-resistant depression, but off-label ketamine use for other conditions isn't FDA-approved, which is why insurers generally don't cover that portion.
Sources: CMS -- Good Faith Estimates and the No Surprises Act and HCPF -- Psychotherapy prior authorization policy.
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