How Much Does Therapy for Eating Disorders Cost?

What Does Therapy for Eating Disorders Cost Per Session?

$150-$350

Eating disorders are among the most expensive mental health conditions to treat. This is not primarily because per-session therapy rates are higher, but because effective treatment typically requires a multidisciplinary team, longer treatment durations, and in many cases, higher levels of care than standard outpatient therapy.

Here is what shapes the cost of eating disorder treatment:

Type of eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa typically requires the longest and most intensive treatment, often including medical monitoring and nutritional rehabilitation. Bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder may respond to shorter courses of specialized outpatient therapy. ARFID often requires specialized providers with limited availability.

Severity and medical stability. Medical complications from eating disorders (electrolyte imbalances, cardiac issues, severe malnutrition) may necessitate higher levels of care — from intensive outpatient programs to residential treatment — that cost significantly more than standard weekly therapy.

The treatment team. Most eating disorder treatment involves at least three providers: a therapist specializing in eating disorders, a registered dietitian, and a medical provider for monitoring. Each provider bills separately, increasing total costs.

Therapist specialization. Eating disorder specialists charge $150 to $350 per session due to the advanced training required. Therapists certified through the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) or trained in specific protocols like CBT-E typically command higher rates.

Treatment duration. Eating disorder recovery takes longer than treatment for many other conditions. Outpatient therapy typically runs 6 to 12+ months, with some people requiring ongoing support for 1 to 2 years.

Cost by Therapy Type for Eating Disorders

Several evidence-based therapies are recommended for eating disorders. The right approach depends on the type of eating disorder, the patient's age, and clinical presentation.

CBT-E (Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

CBT-E is the leading evidence-based treatment for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, and it has growing evidence for anorexia nervosa in medically stable patients. CBT-E addresses the core eating disorder psychopathology — the over-evaluation of shape and weight — through a structured, phased approach.

The standard CBT-E protocol runs 20 sessions over 20 weeks for bulimia and binge eating disorder. The "broad" version for patients with additional clinical features (perfectionism, low self-esteem, interpersonal difficulties) runs up to 40 sessions. At an average of $225 per session, a 20-session course costs approximately $4,500 before insurance, while a 40-session course runs approximately $9,000.

CBT-E is billed under standard psychotherapy CPT codes and is well-covered by insurance. Its structured, time-limited format makes it one of the more predictable eating disorder treatments from a cost standpoint.

Family-Based Treatment (FBT/Maudsley Approach)

Family-Based Treatment is the first-line treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa and has strong evidence for adolescent bulimia. FBT empowers parents to take charge of their child's eating and weight restoration before gradually returning control to the adolescent.

FBT runs 15 to 20 sessions over 6 to 12 months, with sessions typically lasting 60 to 90 minutes and including the entire family. At $175 to $350 per session, total costs range from $2,625 to $7,000 before insurance. FBT sessions may be billed under family therapy CPT codes (90847), which are covered by most insurance plans.

FBT's cost-effectiveness lies in its ability to treat adolescent anorexia in an outpatient setting, potentially avoiding the far higher costs of residential or inpatient treatment. Research shows FBT has the highest success rates for adolescent anorexia of any outpatient approach.

DBT for Eating Disorders

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is used for eating disorders that involve significant emotion dysregulation, particularly binge eating and purging driven by difficulty managing intense emotions. Standard DBT includes individual therapy, group skills training, and phone coaching.

Full DBT for eating disorders typically runs 6 to 12+ months, with weekly individual sessions ($150 to $300) and weekly group skills training ($40 to $100). Total annual costs for the full DBT program range from $5,000 to $20,000+ before insurance. See our DBT cost guide for a detailed breakdown.

IPT for Eating Disorders

Interpersonal Therapy addresses the interpersonal triggers and maintaining factors of eating disorders. It has strong evidence for binge eating disorder and moderate evidence for bulimia nervosa.

IPT for eating disorders runs 16 to 20 sessions at $125 to $275 per session, totaling $2,000 to $5,500 before insurance. IPT is a good alternative for people who have not responded to CBT-E or who have significant interpersonal difficulties contributing to their eating disorder.

Cost by Level of Care

Eating disorders are unique among mental health conditions in that they frequently require treatment at levels beyond standard outpatient therapy. Understanding the full spectrum of care and associated costs is essential for planning.

Standard outpatient (1 session per week): $150 to $350 per therapy session, plus $100 to $250 per dietitian session, plus $100 to $300 for periodic medical visits. Monthly cost: $1,000 to $3,600. Appropriate for mild to moderate eating disorders in medically stable patients.

Intensive outpatient (IOP, 3 to 5 days per week, 3 to 4 hours per day): $500 to $1,500 per day, or $6,000 to $30,000 for a typical 4 to 8 week program. Includes group therapy, individual therapy, meal support, and nutrition counseling. Appropriate for moderate eating disorders or step-down from higher levels of care.

Partial hospitalization (PHP, 5 days per week, 6 to 8 hours per day): $800 to $2,000 per day, or $16,000 to $80,000 for a typical 4 to 8 week program. Includes supervised meals, medical monitoring, and intensive therapy. Appropriate for medically stable patients who need more support than IOP.

Residential treatment (24/7 care): $1,000 to $2,500 per day, or $30,000 to $150,000+ for a typical 30 to 90 day stay. Includes full meal support, medical monitoring, and comprehensive therapy programming. Appropriate for severe eating disorders requiring around-the-clock support.

Inpatient hospitalization: $1,500 to $3,500+ per day for medical stabilization. Reserved for acute medical complications or severe malnutrition requiring hospital-level care.

For more detail on costs across levels of care, see our treatment cost by level guide.

Insurance Coverage for Eating Disorders

Eating disorder treatment coverage has improved significantly in recent years, but it remains one of the more challenging areas to navigate in mental health insurance.

Federal Protections

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires insurers to cover eating disorder treatment comparably to medical conditions. In practice, this means your insurer cannot impose more restrictive session limits, higher copays, or stricter authorization requirements for eating disorder treatment than they do for comparable medical conditions.

Several states have enacted additional eating disorder coverage mandates that go beyond federal parity requirements. Check your state's specific laws for additional protections.

How Eating Disorder Therapy Is Billed

• 90791 — Initial psychiatric diagnostic evaluation
• 90834 — Individual psychotherapy, 45 minutes
• 90837 — Individual psychotherapy, 60 minutes
• 90847 — Family psychotherapy with patient present (used for FBT)
• 90853 — Group psychotherapy
• 97802/97803 — Medical nutrition therapy (dietitian visits)

Your therapist will use ICD-10 codes F50.00-F50.02 (anorexia nervosa), F50.2 (bulimia nervosa), or F50.81 (binge eating disorder). These codes support medical necessity for specialized treatment.

What You Will Pay with Insurance

• In-network copay: $25 to $75 per outpatient session
• In-network coinsurance for higher levels of care: 10% to 30% of allowed amounts, which can still be substantial for residential or PHP programs
• Out-of-network: Full fee upfront, then submit for reimbursement

The Authorization Challenge

Higher levels of care (IOP, PHP, residential) almost always require prior authorization. Insurers may initially approve fewer days than clinically recommended, requiring your treatment team to submit appeals and letters of medical necessity for continued stays. Many eating disorder treatment centers have dedicated insurance advocacy staff who handle this process.

If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal. The Emily Program, National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), and similar organizations provide free resources for navigating insurance appeals for eating disorder treatment. For detailed guidance, see our insurance coverage guide.

Cost-Saving Strategies for Eating Disorder Treatment

Start outpatient if medically safe. Outpatient CBT-E or FBT is dramatically less expensive than residential treatment. If you or your loved one is medically stable, starting with evidence-based outpatient treatment is both clinically appropriate and cost-effective.

Use your insurance's in-network specialists. Call your insurer and specifically request eating disorder specialists in your network. Having an in-network therapist and dietitian reduces costs significantly for the long duration of eating disorder treatment.

Appeal denied claims. Insurance denials for eating disorder treatment are common but frequently overturned on appeal. Organizations like NEDA and Project HEAL offer free insurance navigation assistance.

Training clinic and university programs. Academic medical centers with eating disorder programs often offer treatment at reduced rates. Graduate students delivering CBT-E or FBT under supervision can provide high-quality care at $20 to $60 per session.

ANAD and NEDA support groups. Free support groups through the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) and NEDA provide peer support and can supplement professional treatment at no cost.

Project HEAL treatment access program. This nonprofit helps people with eating disorders navigate insurance, find treatment, and access grants to cover treatment costs.

Telehealth for outpatient therapy. Telehealth eating disorder therapy can reduce costs and improve access to specialists, particularly for CBT-E and IPT sessions. Dietitian appointments can also be conducted via telehealth.

HSA/FSA accounts. All eating disorder treatment costs (therapy, dietitian, medical visits, higher levels of care) qualify for pre-tax payment through health savings and flexible spending accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Eating disorder treatment is a significant financial investment, but it addresses conditions with the highest mortality rate of any mental health disorder. Outpatient therapy with a specialist costs $3,000 to $12,000 for a full course before insurance, with most people paying considerably less through in-network coverage. When higher levels of care are needed, costs can rise to $30,000 to $150,000+ for residential programs, though insurance typically covers a substantial portion.

The most cost-effective approach is to start with the least intensive level of care that is clinically appropriate. For many people with bulimia or binge eating disorder, outpatient CBT-E can produce full recovery. For adolescents with anorexia, FBT keeps treatment outpatient in most cases. Investing in the right evidence-based treatment from the start — even if it costs more per session than general therapy — reduces the likelihood of progressing to more expensive levels of care.

If cost is a barrier, use every resource available: insurance appeals, nonprofit assistance (NEDA, Project HEAL, ANAD), university clinics, and sliding-scale providers. Eating disorders are treatable, and early intervention is both the clinically and financially best path forward.

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