Find a Kaiser Permanente Therapist

Kaiser Permanente mental health services are rooted in a medical-necessity model. If a licensed clinician determines therapy is clinically appropriate, Kaiser must cover it just as it covers a blood test or an X-ray. That said, every Kaiser region writes its own Evidence of Coverage (EOC), so visit limits and co-pays vary. In 2025, the most common plans still feature:

• $0–$30 copay for individual therapy sessions
• Unlimited medically necessary visits (no preset cap)
• Same-day phone intake with a triage clinician
• A choice between in-house departments or contracted community providers

All three can be booked directly from your member portal or by calling the Appointment & Advice line.

Maria, a 34-year-old new mom in Oregon, felt lingering sadness and brain fog months after giving birth. Here’s how she found a therapist covered by Kaiser:

1. Day 1 — Intake Call Maria clicks “Mental Health” in her Kaiser app and schedules a same-day phone screening.
2. Day 2 — Care Options The triage clinician offers two choices: a video appointment with an internal Kaiser Permanente therapist in 10 days or an external provider three miles away in four days.
3. Day 3 — Directory Deep Dive She uses the “find a therapist” filter (“Spanish-speaking,” “postpartum”) and chooses Dr. López—one of many therapists that take Kaiser in her county.
4. Week 2 — First Session Her first three visits cost $0 because preventative maternal-mental-health therapy is fully covered on her family HMO plan.
5. Week 3 — Psychiatry Consult When Dr. López recommends an SSRI, Maria schedules a 30-minute virtual check-in with a Kaiser psychiatrist the following afternoon.

Maria’s story shows how quickly you can move from symptoms to support when you understand the process.

Following these seven steps will help you find a therapist Kaiser members speak highly of—often within 2 to 14 days, depending on region and urgency.

Why stay in-network

• One chart, one bill — every clinician can see your KP record and medications.
• Predictable copay or coinsurance, usually $0–$30 once the deductible is met.
• Built-in coordination with your PCP, pharmacy, and any lab or imaging.

When to seek out-of-network

• You can’t get an in-network appointment within 15 business days (California standard) or the time-frame promised in other states.
• You already have a long-time therapist who isn’t on Kaiser’s panel.
• You need a niche specialty (e.g., trauma-focused EMDR in Spanish) that Kaiser can’t deliver quickly.

How to use out-of-network benefits without surprise bills

1. Call Member Services first. Ask: “Can you pre-authorize an external referral because the soonest in-network visit offered was later than the timely-access standard?”
2. Collect a “superbill.” Pay the therapist’s fee, then upload the superbill to kp.org → Coverage & Costs → Submit a Claim for partial reimbursement.
3. Track deadlines. KP must approve or deny the claim within 30 days and pay approved claims within 45 days.

Going out-of-network means paying the therapist’s full fee upfront, then submitting a superbill for partial reimbursement. If you turn to therapists that take Kaiser but sit outside the official panels, call Member Services first; some regions pre-authorize outside care when internal waits exceed 15 business days.

Tip: Digital tools are free extras, not plan benefits. They can be discontinued, so download any worksheets or progress logs you want to keep.

Always confirm in your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) or kp.org/costestimator — numbers above are mid-range examples, not guarantees.