Last updated: October 26, 2026 · By Alex Sandev, Founder of HiveSourced. General information, not legal advice.
Yes, most therapists should put their fees on their website, and if you see self-pay clients you may also have to post a notice about the Good Faith Estimate. Listing a session fee helps the right clients book and filters out the ones who cannot afford you. The No Surprises Act adds a separate rule: providers generally must give uninsured or self-pay clients a written estimate of costs, and post a notice that they have the right to one.
Key takeaways
- Showing your fee is a choice. Showing the Good Faith Estimate notice may be a requirement if you treat self-pay clients.
- CMS says providers generally must give a Good Faith Estimate to uninsured or self-pay clients who ask for one or schedule care at least 3 business days ahead.
- A client can dispute a bill that is at least $400 more than the estimate, according to CMS.
- A fee page does not need to be long. A rate, session length, payment methods and your cancellation policy cover most questions.
- Check the rule against your own situation with your licensing board or an attorney, because this article is not legal advice.
Should a therapist list their fees on their website?
There is no rule that says you must list a session rate. It is a business decision, and there are good reasons on both sides.
Reasons to list it: clients often want to know the cost before they write to a stranger. A visible rate saves you from inquiries that were never going to book, and it signals that you are open about money. It also gives search engines and AI assistants a clear answer when someone asks what therapy costs in your area.
Reasons to hold back: some therapists work on a sliding scale, or quote different rates by service. In that case a single number can mislead. If that is you, list a range or the rate for your most common session and say how you handle the rest.
Either way, put the fee on a page people can find. Our list of the 10 pages every therapist website needs includes a Fees or Getting Started page for this reason.
What is a Good Faith Estimate, and does it apply to therapists?
The Good Faith Estimate comes from the federal No Surprises Act. According to CMS, if you do not have or do not use health insurance, providers must usually give you an estimate of what your care will cost. That includes therapists who see clients on a self-pay basis.
CMS says the estimate is generally owed when the person asks for one or schedules care at least 3 business days in advance. CMS also says a person may be able to dispute a bill that is at least $400 more than the estimate. See the CMS page for consumers for the current wording.
Whether it applies to your practice depends on how you bill. A therapist who only takes insurance and never sees a self-pay client has a different situation from one who is fully private pay. If you are not sure, ask your professional association or an attorney.
Do you have to post a notice on your website?
CMS publishes a required notice about the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate. The text of the federal rule at 45 CFR 149.610 covers where providers must display it, and CMS provides the model notice you can use. Providers who have a website are generally expected to post it there, along with posting it in the office and wherever scheduling or cost questions come up.
Because the wording and the places you must post it matter, read the CMS notice and the rule yourself before you add it. Do not copy a summary from a blog, including this one.
What should your fees page include?
A fees page works best when it is short and calm. Clients reading it are often nervous about cost, so plain language helps.
- Your session rate for each service, such as individual, couples or intake sessions.
- Session length, so the rate means something.
- How you accept payment, and whether you take insurance or are fully self-pay.
- Your cancellation policy, stated once and kindly.
- Sliding scale or reduced fee spots, if you offer them, and how to ask.
- The Good Faith Estimate notice, if it applies to you.
Should you show a price or a range?
Here is how the options compare:
| Approach | Works well when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| One flat rate | You charge the same for all sessions | Outdated numbers if you raise your rate and forget the page |
| A range | Rates differ by service or clinician | A wide range can confuse people or feel evasive |
| Rate plus sliding scale note | You reserve some spots at lower fees | Explain how people ask, so it does not read as a promise |
| No rate, “contact me” | You quote each case individually | Some visitors leave rather than ask |
If your practice is a group, the same page can list each clinician’s rate or one rate for the practice. Our group practice websites include a place for this.
How do fees fit with HIPAA and your contact form?
Talking about fees on a public page is not a privacy issue by itself. What matters is what happens when someone replies. If a client writes to you about cost and mentions their health, that message should travel through a secure channel. Read our guide to HIPAA-compliant emails and forms and see the HHS HIPAA privacy overview.
How does your fee page help people find you?
People search for cost. A clear fees page gives you a place to answer “how much does therapy cost in my area” in your own words. It also gives you something to link from your homepage and contact page. If you want a sense of how we think about pricing for our own work, our therapist website cost guide lays out what each part costs, and our pricing page lists current prices.
One more thing to decide is tone. A fees page does not need to apologize for your rate or justify it at length. State it, explain what a session includes, and move on to how to get started. Clients tend to trust a practice that talks about money plainly, because it suggests the rest of the process will be just as clear.
A simple checklist before you publish
- Decide whether you will list one rate, a range or a rate plus sliding scale.
- Confirm whether the Good Faith Estimate rules apply to your self-pay clients.
- Read the CMS notice and the rule, then add the notice where it is required.
- Add your session length, payment methods and cancellation policy.
- Link the fees page from your homepage, services pages and contact page.
- Put a reminder in your calendar to review the page each year.
Frequently asked questions
Do therapists have to list their fees on their website?
No federal rule requires a therapist to list a session rate. Listing one is a business choice. If you see self-pay clients, though, you may have to post a notice about the right to a Good Faith Estimate.
What is a Good Faith Estimate for therapy?
It is a written estimate of expected charges. CMS says providers generally must give one to uninsured or self-pay clients who request it or who schedule care at least 3 business days in advance.
What happens if my bill is higher than the estimate?
CMS says a person may be able to dispute a bill that is at least $400 more than the Good Faith Estimate. See the CMS page for the current process.
Does the Good Faith Estimate apply if I only take insurance?
The estimate is aimed at uninsured and self-pay clients. If you are unsure how your clients are billed, ask your professional association or an attorney.
Where should the fees page go on my site?
Link it from your main menu or from your services and contact pages, so a client can find it in one click.
Can HiveSourced build a fees page for my practice?
Yes. Every website we build can include a fees or getting-started page. See our pricing page or tell us about your practice.
Want a website with a fees page that feels calm and clear? I’d like to explore my options, or see our pricing first.
About the author: Alex Sandev is the Founder of HiveSourced, a Chicago-based agency that has built 100+ websites for therapy practices since 2023. More about HiveSourced.
