Therapy costs in Singapore range widely — from subsidised public options to private practice fees. Here's a transparent breakdown of what to expect, what affects the price, and what couples and marriage counselling costs.
Therapy costs in Singapore vary significantly depending on the type of provider, the setting (public vs private), and the practitioner's qualifications and experience. Here is a transparent breakdown of what you can expect.
Singapore's public mental health system provides services through the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and community mental health centres run by social service agencies. These services are means-tested and subsidised, with fees ranging from very low (a few dollars per session) to moderate, depending on your means assessment.
The tradeoffs: public sector waiting times can be significant (weeks to months for non-urgent cases), services may not be available in languages other than English, and you typically need a GP referral. If cost is a major barrier, public sector options are worth exploring.
A range of social service organisations in Singapore offer subsidised counselling — these include Care Corner, SAGE Counselling Centre (for older adults), and various family service centres (FSCs). Fees are typically SGD 10–60 per session, means-tested.
Private counsellors in Singapore typically charge SGD 120–200 per 50-minute session. Factors that affect the fee include:
At Heal Counselling: sessions start from SGD 200 per hour. Package pricing is available on request. The first 30-minute consultation is always free, with no obligation.
This is the fee question asked most often, and the answer is less predictable than you would expect: some practices charge couples the same hourly rate as individuals, and some add a premium. Published rates at three Singapore practices, checked in August 2026:
| Practice | Individual | Couples or marriage |
|---|---|---|
| Counselling and Care Centre (non-profit) | $200 per hour | $200 per hour, the same rate |
| The Counselling Place | $180 to $300 per 50 minutes, by therapist tier | The same tier rates as individual |
| Sofia Wellness Clinic | $170 to $250 | $280 to $300 per 75 minutes |
So where a couples session does cost more, it is often because it is longer rather than because the rate is higher. When comparing quotes, compare price and session length together, or you will conclude one practice is expensive when it is simply selling you 75 minutes instead of 50.
At Heal Counselling, sessions start from SGD 200 per hour, with couples sessions quoted on length. Our couples counselling cost guide covers couples fees, session counts and insurance in detail.
If you are a Singaporean or PR, this is likely to matter more than any comparison above. Several non-profit counselling centres run the Counselling Fee Subsidy Scheme. At the Counselling and Care Centre, the standard $200 per hour rate falls to between $40 and $170 per hour after means testing, for households with a gross monthly income of $9,500 or below. The subsidised rate applies to individual, couple and family sessions alike.
You will need documents: CPF contribution history for the past year, plus recent payslips if employed, or your latest IRAS Notice of Assessment if self-employed or not working.
Our guide to subsidised mental health services in Singapore covers the other routes.
Private clinical psychologists in Singapore typically charge SGD 200–350 per session. The higher fee reflects additional years of training and, for clinical psychologists, the ability to provide formal psychological assessment. For most presentations (anxiety, depression, burnout, relationship difficulties), a counsellor and a clinical psychologist deliver comparable outcomes.
Private psychiatrists in Singapore charge SGD 200–500+ per consultation. The first appointment is typically more expensive (longer assessment). If you are seen through IMH or a restructured hospital, fees are significantly lower after subsidies.
This is the single biggest factor in what you will pay, and it is worth being precise about.
Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents can access means-tested subsidies through polyclinics, restructured hospitals and IMH. CHAS cardholders receive additional support on top.
Pass holders — Employment Pass, S Pass, Dependant Pass, Student Pass are generally not eligible for those subsidies and will pay private or unsubsidised rates. If you are on a pass, our guide to therapy in Singapore as an expat covers what does apply to you, particularly around international insurance.
Everyone in Singapore, whatever their status, can use the free helplines. The full list is here.
Ask any practice these before you book. The answers move the total more than the headline rate does.
Most Singaporean integrated shield plans (IPs) do not cover outpatient counselling or therapy. MediSave generally cannot be used for outpatient counselling with a private counsellor either, and MediShield Life does not cover it. That is true for Singaporeans as well as foreigners, and it surprises most people.
Corporate and international plans are where cover actually lives. Some corporate health benefits include mental health coverage — check your HR benefits documentation carefully, because some policies reimburse psychology or psychiatric sessions but not counselling. International health insurance plans held by expats are more likely to include it.
Employee Assistance Programmes are worth checking before anything else. If your employer funds one, you may have a set number of fully paid sessions available immediately.
A few practical options:
The right option is the one you will actually start and keep going to. Cost is one variable among several, and which one matters most changes the answer.
If money is the binding constraint, start with the free helplines today, and begin the polyclinic route in parallel if you are a Citizen or PR. The wait runs in the background while you use other support.
If waiting is the binding constraint, private practice is the fastest route into consistent care, and many practices offer a free first consultation so you can test the fit before committing money.
If continuity matters most — and for most longer pieces of work it does — the ability to keep the same practitioner is the strongest argument for private practice. Public pathways can rotate clinicians between appointments.
The free Clarity Check at Heal Counselling is a good starting point if you're not sure what level of support is right for your situation.
*Figures on this page are indicative and change. Subsidy levels, CHAS rates and hospital fees are set by the relevant institutions — check current rates directly with the polyclinic, hospital or practice before making a decision based on price.*
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