Running your own business is demanding. Between managing clients, staying on top of deadlines, and keeping operations afloat, stress often becomes a silent partner. Factor in the post-COVID reality of blurred work-life boundaries, and it’s no surprise that more entrepreneurs are turning to therapy to stay grounded.
But therapy, while incredibly valuable for your mental health and well-being, isn’t cheap. If you’re juggling tight margins or self-funded health care, you might be wondering: Can I deduct therapy costs on my taxes?
The short answer: Sometimes — if the expense meets certain criteria.
When Therapy Qualifies as a Business Expense
To deduct therapy as a business expense, the sessions must be directly related to your work. The IRS allows deductions for “ordinary and necessary” business expenses — and yes, that can include mental health support if it’s essential to running your business.
Let’s say you’re a business owner or independent contractor dealing with chronic stress, anxiety, or burnout that directly impacts your ability to lead, meet deadlines, or manage teams. If therapy helps you maintain the focus and resilience required to operate your business, then some or all of that cost may be deductible as a business expense.
It’s not just for mental health professionals, either. While therapists can obviously write off therapy to help them stay present and empathetic with clients, business owners in high-stress fields — tech, legal, finance, real estate, creative industries — may also qualify, so long as they can connect the expense to their professional performance.
What’s NOT Deductible?
Therapy solely for personal reasons (e.g., grief counseling, relationship issues, personal growth) typically doesn’t qualify as a business expense. Those costs are considered personal and fall under medical deductions, not business write-offs. And even then, medical deductions only kick in if your total unreimbursed medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income — and you choose to itemize your deductions.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- ✅ Therapy to manage job-related stress, burnout, anxiety, or conditions impacting your work: Potentially deductible
- ❌ Therapy for general wellness, family dynamics, or personal issues unrelated to your business: Not deductible as a business expense
Examples of Therapy-Related Expenses You Might Be Able to Deduct
If you qualify, here are therapy-related costs that could be partially or fully deductible as business expenses:
- Therapy sessions with a licensed provider (in-person or virtual)
- Travel costs to attend therapy (mileage, airfare, hotel) if business-related
- Mental health books, workbooks, or courses used to improve workplace performance
- Subscriptions to therapy-related apps or industry publications that contribute to mental resilience or leadership skills
- Memberships in professional wellness or coaching organizations that support your mental health
Don’t Forget: Documentation Is Key
If you’re planning to deduct therapy or mental health support as a business expense, make sure to:
- Keep detailed records and receipts
- Maintain a clear connection between the therapy and its business relevance
- Work with a CPA to ensure the deduction is correctly categorized and defensible
The IRS doesn’t draw a firm line here — it depends heavily on context and intent — which is why having a tax professional guide you through the process can make all the difference.
What About Health Insurance or Support Groups?
Some additional mental health-related expenses may also be deductible, though not necessarily as business expenses. For example:
- Health insurance premiums that include mental health care coverage (often deducted as self-employed health insurance)
- Medications for diagnosed mental health conditions
- Participation in support groups or coaching programs aimed at improving workplace performance
Final Thoughts
If therapy helps you be a better leader, communicator, or decision-maker in your business, it could be considered a valid business expense — but only if there’s a clear connection between the treatment and your professional responsibilities.
As with all tax matters, gray areas exist, and claiming therapy as a deduction is one of them. If you’re unsure, talk to a CPA (we happen to know a few).