Find a TriCare Therapist

• Psychotherapy, medication management, group, and family sessions are all covered when medically necessary.

Key points

• Unlimited medically necessary visits. TRICARE sets no yearly cap on covered sessions.
• No referral or pre-authorization for most outpatient therapy and medication-management visits; exceptions are psychoanalysis and certain substance-use treatments.
• Telehealth parity. TRICARE pays the same for secure video or audio-only therapy through at least December 2025.

All types of providerds must be licensed, credentialed, and “network” with Humana Military (East) or Health Net Federal Services (West). Non-network civilian clinicians can still treat you, but you’ll file claims yourself and pay higher cost-shares.

Jasmine Miller, 31, is an active-duty Staff Sergeant stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Her spouse is currently deployed overseas, and she’s balancing work and parenting two children under age five. After several weeks of feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and isolated, she decides it’s time to talk to someone.

Day 1: Finding a Provider: Jasmine goes to tricare.mil/finddoctor to search for behavioral health providers. She selects:

• Behavioral Health
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Telemedicine

She filters by her ZIP code and checks for evening appointments. Four in-network therapists show up, all accepting TRICARE Prime. She writes down their contact info and calls the first provider.

Appointment booked: Video therapy session in 8 days Cost: $0 (TRICARE Prime covers behavioral health for active-duty family members)

Day 8: First Therapy Session: Jasmine connects via secure video with a licensed therapist who specializes in anxiety, military family stress, and parenting challenges. They spend 45 minutes discussing Jasmine’s daily routine, stress triggers, and goals for therapy. She leaves the session feeling heard—and hopeful.

Day 10: Next Steps: After their second session, the therapist recommends that Jasmine consider a medication consult to help manage her anxiety. She explains that while therapy will continue, medication could provide additional support.

Day 12: Psychiatry Appointment Scheduled: Jasmine logs back into the TRICARE provider directory and searches for in-network psychiatrists offering telehealth. She finds one available the following week and confirms they accept TRICARE Prime. She books the appointment online.

Cost: $0 copay

What we can learn from Jasmines journey:

• Jasmine didn’t need a referral to start therapy (TRICARE Prime waives this for mental health care)
• She used TRICARE’s online provider directory to filter for therapy type, location, and telehealth
• All care was in-network and fully covered under her TRICARE Prime plan
• She kept track of provider contacts and appointment dates in case she needed to escalate or request alternatives

From first search to psychiatry scheduled: 12 days Total out-of-pocket cost: $0

Helpful Tip: If no provider has availability within 10 business days, you can request a network adequacy exception—this allows TRICARE to approve care with an outside provider at in-network rates.

1. Start with the Right Tool Go to the TRICARE “Find a Doctor” tool and launch the Find a Provider Wizard.

• Select “Network Provider”
• Choose “Mental Health” **Enter your ZIP code or APO/FPO location

2. Apply Filters That Match Your Needs

• Use filters like “Telemedicine” if you prefer virtual care
• Choose specialties such as PTSD, couples counseling, or ADHD
• Check the box for “Accepting New Patients” to avoid delays

3. Confirm the Provider is In-Network

• Look for the green check mark or “network” label Out-of-network providers may result in higher costs and require more paperwork

4. Call to Book Your Appointment

• Contact the provider’s office directly
• Be ready to give:
  • Your DoD Benefits Number (DBN)
  • The last four digits of your sponsor’s SSN
  • Your TRICARE plan type (Prime, Select, etc.)

5. Know If You Need a Referral (TRICARE Prime Only)

• TRICARE Prime: Routine outpatient therapy usually does not need a referral, but some clinics may request one—have your Primary Care Manager’s (PCM) info handy
• TRICARE Select: No referral needed for mental health care

6. Prepare for Telehealth Appointments

• The provider will send a HIPAA-secure video link
• If video isn’t an option, phone-only sessions are generally covered

Tip: Always double-check your coverage details at tricare.mil/mentalhealth or call your TRICARE regional contractor (Humana Military, Health Net, or International SOS depending on your region).

Bottom line: stick to network TRICARE mental-health providers when possible—especially overseas, where only TRICARE-certified clinicians can bill directly.

Telehealth counts toward annual catastrophic cap and Deductible as if you were in the clinic.

(Above numbers come from TRICARE’s February 2025 cost sheet; always check your own regional handbook.)

1. Match Specialty to Mission. PTSD, postpartum, couples—use directory filters.
2. Check Modality. CBT for anxiety, EMDR for trauma, Gottman for marriage prep.
3. Confirm Licensure & Network Status. Look for “TRICARE-certified” badge.
4. Ask About Telehealth. Saves drive time, especially if you live off-post.
5. Consider Cultural Fit. Many providers list military-family experience.

If chemistry is off, reopen the provider finder and swap providers at no penalty.

• Call the Regional Contractor. Humana Military (East) 1-800-444-5445; Health Net (West) 1-844-866-9378.
• Request the “Rapid-Access List.” These are providers who promise first appointments within seven days.
• Ask About MTF Specialty Clinics. On-base behavioral-health clinics often hold slots for dependents.
• File a Beneficiary Inquiry/Complaint. Use tricare.mil/forms; contractors must respond in 30 days.
• Contact a Patient Advocate. Every MTF has one—they can escalate network gaps on your behalf.

Document names, dates, and promised callback times; polite persistence often unlocks a sooner visit with psychiatrists and therapists that take TRICARE.

• Military & Veterans Crisis Line — call or text 988, press 1
• Military OneSource — 12 free non-medical counseling sessions
• Chaplains Corps — confidential short-term counseling on-base
• VA Vet Centers — readjustment counseling for combat veterans & families

Does TRICARE cover therapy for children? Yes—individual, family, and group therapy are covered when medically necessary.

Does TRICARE cover psychiatry via telehealth? Yes. Video and audio-only medication-management visits are paid at the in-office rate.

How do I find therapists that take TRICARE near me? Use the Find a Doctor wizard on tricare.mil, filter “Behavioral Health,” and check “Accepting patients.”

What’s the difference between a TRICARE therapist and a TRICARE psychologist? Therapist is a broad term for counselors (LCSW, LMFT, LPC). Psychologists (PhD/PsyD) can also perform testing. Both are covered when in network.

Can I see psychiatrists that take TRICARE without a referral? For routine outpatient visits, yes—no referral is required under Prime or Select unless you’re seeking psychoanalysis or substance-use specialty care.