I am just pointing out that insurance costs is a monthly premium x 12 + deductible, + 20% of anything after deductible. A lot of people only think about the 20% of anything after the deductible and don't see what they are really paying.

Everyone needs insurance because it is for all medical, not just mental health. But that does not make things less, because one's deductible gets used up sooner, that just means you are having a bad run and paying 20% more than your premium covers (and probably increasing your premium costs for future years, like when you use automobile insurance).

One always uses insurance with doctors (one has to, doctor's usually won't treat you without) but sometimes it is more cost effective to have a huge deductible for a smaller monthly premium and, when dealing with therapists and other behavioral health care-givers, it may not be a good idea to use insurance. Everyone's case is different, but I would not trade a good $20 out of pocket therapist for a $65 insurance therapist and think the insurance therapist was less expensive; in my case it would not be.