Does therapy count as medical expenses for taxes?
Andrew Mclaughlin
Published Apr 03, 2026
How to Make Therapy Tax Deductible. Your deduction may include the cost of counseling that you pay for yourself, your spouse or your dependents. The IRS allows you to deduct medical expenses associated with psychiatric care, including psychoanalysis. You also can deduct expenses related to treatment by a psychologist.
Are mental health expenses tax deductible?
Self-employed individuals who itemize their deductions can deduct mental health expenses that exceed 7.5% of their adjusted gross income. For example, if your adjusted gross income for the year totaled $40,000, you could only deduct mental health costs once you spent $3,000 out of pocket.
Is therapy tax deductible for therapists?
As a therapist, you can still claim the 20% deduction even if you own a private therapy practice if your taxable income is less than $315,000 (if you’re married and filing your taxes jointly) or $157,500 (if filing individually).
What should I claim on tax?
Home office expenses.
Therapy visits can be included as a medical expense if they are primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental disability or illness. The IRS allows you to deduct preventative care, treatment, surgeries and dental and vision care as qualifying medical expenses.
Can I claim my therapy on taxes?
The costs associated with creating a personal therapy plan and the costs of therapy for someone with a mental or physical impairment are eligible expenses. This includes services provided by a psychologist or occupational therapist, for example.
Can you deduct therapy visits on your taxes?
Therapy visits can be included as a medical expense if they are primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental disability or illness. See more detail below on what medical expenses are deductible. Please note that the IRS only allows you to deduct qualified medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income for 2017.
When is personal therapy considered a medical expense?
Is personal therapy considered a medical expense? It depends. Therapy visits can be included as a medical expense if they are primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental disability or illness. See more detail below on what medical expenses are deductible.
How much can I claim as a therapist on my taxes?
As a therapist, you can still claim the 20% deduction even if you own a private therapy practice if your taxable income is less than $315,000 (if you’re married and filing your taxes jointly) or $157,500 (if filing individually).
Can you deduct counseling as a medical expense?
Like many types of health care, counseling and other mental health treatment that meet certain requirements can be deducted as a medical expense from your income tax. As long as your counseling expenses are above the threshold set by the IRS, you can deduct them on your taxes.
