For decades, insurance companies treated mental health as "optional" and refused to cover therapy. Thankfully, federal law (Mental Health Parity Act) now strictly requires ACA-compliant plans to cover mental health exactly like physical health.
The Catch: Finding a Therapist
While insurance covers it, finding a therapist who accepts your specific insurance is notoriously difficult. Many therapists are "out-of-network" cash-only because insurance companies pay them poorly and require massive paperwork.
Superbills: Your secret weapon
If you find a great out-of-network therapist, ask them for a "Superbill". This is an itemized receipt containing diagnostic codes. You pay the therapist cash, but you submit the Superbill to your PPO insurance company, and they will often mail you a check reimbursing you for 60% to 80% of the cost.