Why It’s So Hard to Find a Therapist Who Takes Insurance

by Annie Waldman, Maya Miller, Duaa Eldeib and Max Blau, photography by Tony Luong, special to ProPublica, design by Zisiga Mukulu

America is in the midst of a mental health crisis.

But finding a therapist who takes insurance can feel impossible.

Insurers say that's because there aren't enough therapists.

That's not entirely true.

Carter J. Carter became a therapist to help young people struggling with their mental health.

Rosanne Marmor wanted to support survivors of trauma.

Kendra F. Dunlap aspired to serve people of color.

They studied, honed their skills and opened practices, joining health insurance networks that put them within reach of people who couldn't afford to pay for sessions out of pocket.

So did more than 500 other psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists who shared their experiences with ProPublica.

But one after another, they confronted a system set up to squeeze them out.