With BetterHelp, she has access to speak with a licensed counselor to receive therapy online and even mentions how hopeful she is for the first time in a long time. Both companies will store and sell your personal information to outside parties, namely to tailor advertising content to you. Its available in the United States and the United Kingdom. However, for those who want to give web-based therapy a try, BetterHelp is a good option. Overall, both services provided high-quality therapists that fit my needs very well: both were women of color who were fully licensed, and both had over 10 years of experience. Youll also have an opportunity to describe, in your own words, why youre seeking therapy. The linked products and services we feature go through a rigorous vetting process. BetterHelps online therapy sessions may benefit anyone whod like to prioritize and improve their mental health. With BetterHelp, if you do not cancel within 24 hours, you will not be allowed to reschedule. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, BetterHelp markets itself as the largest online counseling platform in the world. She brings more than a decade of media experience to Forbes Health, with a keen focus on building content strategy, ensuring top content quality and empowering readers to make the best health and wellness decisions for themselves. Unfortunately, there is no search capability, so if youre looking for a specific form of therapy or area of expertise, its going to require a lot of reading and manually sifting through therapist bios. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The conversations are saved in the chat room, so youre free to reflect and reread whenever youd like. BetterHelp Learn More My Doubts About Online Therapy She is a former investigative reporter with more than 25 years of experience as a journalist and writer. The Forbes Health editorial team is independent and objective. The researchers suggested that web-based psychotherapy like from BetterHelp showed promise for helping people overcome barriers to getting therapy. If you choose a plan with medication at Brightside, sessions with your prescribing doctor, as well as information on your prescriptions, are accessible in the portal. The subscription cost may be lower than in-person sessions with a qualified therapist. BetterHelps databases are encrypted and scrambled and become unusable should a third party interfere with them. This option mimics the comfort of texting a good friend. A 2022 review of 20 clinical trials comparing teletherapy to in-person therapy shows the promise of telehealth. Talkspace accepts insurance from a couple of insurance providers. Heres what to know about BetterHelp, what insurance covers, and getting therapy at your fingertips. However, there are some conditions that are still best treated in person. BetterHelp includes an online journal thats yours and yours alone. It also offers couples and teen therapy, with free live weekly group seminars available. Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. However, I stuck with the same therapist, and over the course of four video sessions, she offered suggestions on ways to alleviate or prevent anxiety and resolve recurring communication issues with one of my siblings. Individual For myself Couples For me and my partner Teen For my child Professional, licensed, and vetted therapists who you can trust The main upside of online therapy with BetterHelp is that BetterHelp tends to be a more affordable option than in-person therapy. Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. At the same time, resources for face-to-face mental health services werent readily available due to public health concerns. If youre unable to afford it, you can apply for financial aid through the BetterHelp website. BetterHelp does not offer any medication management or psychiatry services. Learn more about what to ask and what to expect in therapy. Also, in-person therapy sessions are a more appropriate fit for managing severe mental health conditions. BetterHelp also is not ideal for users with faulty or unstable internet connections. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20% of people in the United States will experience a mental health condition in any given year. Here are some cons to consider before trying BetterHelp: You can connect to BetterHelp on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. The type and price range of your chosen therapy format is all about what works best for you. Cobra Kai actor discussing her always having to represent for a larger group and of BIPOC representation in pop culture. If youre looking for a mental health provider, what type of treatment are you looking for? The app and website are easy to navigate. Here are the biggest benefits, as well as who are good candidates for the. For $150 a month, you get unlimited access to a therapist. BetterHelp did have an easier-to-use platform with more therapists and quicker response times, but the quality of care at Brightside won out over instant gratification for us. BetterHelp, Medical Insurance, and Paths to Counseling. The chat room is accessible at any time, as long as your device has reliable internet. Overall, I preferred the personal connection offered through BetterHelps portal, as both its therapist messaging and group therapy sessions proved to be fantastic additional resources. According to BetterHelp, getting paired with a therapist takes about 24 hours or less. Net loss per share is . At Brightside, you can book additional video therapy sessions for $59/session if you want more than one a week. Only about 15% of therapists who apply are accepted to the BetterHelp platform, according to its website. I found my online video sessions with my therapist to be as helpful as my previous experiences with in-person therapy. Brightside stays fairly traditional with its session format, and requires video attendance via Zoom for all therapy sessions. BetterHelp has a 4.6 out of 5 stars rating on Trustpilot from more than 4,100 customer reviews. Brightside sessions are 30 minutes. Heres everything you need to know. If you dont like who youre paired with, you can request to be matched with a new therapist. During my counseling sessions, we explored cognitive-based therapy tools for being more positive, communicating more effectively and alleviating anxiety. A 2019 study assessed the effectiveness of BetterHelp for treating depression. Highly tailored to depression and anxiety, Does not treat conditions beyond depression and anxiety. When I forgot to cancel my subscription after four weeks and was billed for the next month, the agent answered promptly and immediately processed a refund for the full amount. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Health site. Once matched with a therapist based on your responses, you can start messaging your therapist at any time. Subscribers pay $60-90 per week after this trial period. Be it via phone, text, or video call this global company's goal is to make mental health services more widely accessible. Submissions should come only from actors, their parent/legal guardian or casting agency. BetterHelp is a popular mental health platform right now in 2022. Amwell is a telehealth company that connects people with healthcare professionals through a virtual care platform. Plus, in April 2022, Mozilla raised concerns about BetterHelps privacy and security practices, giving the company a *privacy not included warning label. BetterHelp also offers a 25% discount off your first month of therapy on its COVID-19 support page. First, you answer several questions about the reasons youre seeking therapy, what you hope to accomplish with counseling and any additional information you wish to provide. When you sign up with BetterHelp, you dont have to enter your full name. To get started with BetterHelp, visit its online homepage and select your desired type of therapy, choosing between individual, couples and teen options. The company offers a secure, easy-to-use platform and qualified therapists. Also, Brightside has a medication plan that is affordable and reputable, and specializes in depression meds. Submit ONCE per commercial, and allow 48 to 72 hours for your request to be processed. Youll be billed monthly. Research on telehealth has shown it may be effective for people with many mental health conditions. Published May 25, 2021 Advertiser BetterHelp Advertiser Profiles Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest Tagline "Get Real Therapy. My therapist was skilled, empathetic and competent. Overall, we preferred Brightside for its consistent, highly specific care from a team of well-qualified therapists. Last medically reviewed on February 6, 2023. Kaiser Family Foundation. Brightside, however, does not offer group therapy. The Better Business Bureau, a nonprofit organization that posts a companys consumer ratings online, showed a rating of 4.09 out of 5 stars for BetterHelp, with 387 reviews at the time of this writing. BetterHelp matched me with a therapist with more than 25 years of counseling experience who specialized in depression, anxiety and family conflict, as well as other areas of mental health and wellness. With over 20,000 trained, experienced, and accredited therapists covering a wide range of areas - from depression and anxiety to family and couples therapy - it's never been easier to receive personal, professional help when you need it. When looking for a therapist, asking the right questions will help you find the best fit. With Brightside, you know what you are getting, while with BetterHelp, there is much larger variety in techniques and experience levels. We include products we think are useful for our readers. Turgoose D, et al. For $109 to $129, you can receive counseling for a variety of different services: Amwells therapy services are not subscription-based, meaning you have to pay for each therapist visit. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. Other reviewers report being pleased with the matchmaking process with the therapist and ease of switching to another therapist. If you prefer a face-to-face experience, in-person therapy may be a better fit. Interested in trying BetterHelp? According to BetterHelp, counselors are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, or licensed professional counselors. We follow an advertising policy . We use our own and third-party cookies and web beacons to deliver a faster and safer experience, to monitor and analyze usage, to comply with laws, and for advertising purposes. (2019). She described her therapist as being qualified, empathetic, thoughtful, and a great listener.. To sign up, you'll take a survey on the BetterHelp site to match you to the right therapist.. Founded in California in 2013 by two ad-tech professionals, BetterHelp's goal is to remove some of the challenges related to traditional in-person therapy, including convenience, cost and stigma, and make remote counseling available to anyone, anywhere, anytime. One reason is that BetterHelp does not give official diagnoses or prescribe treatment. You can choose to do your therapy sessions via video chat, phone call, live chat, or messaging similar to email. BetterHelp allows customers to change therapists at any time and as many times as they find necessary. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best Have questions about this ad or our catalog? Online therapy offers a safe, secure way to interact with licensed therapists. However, if youre experiencing deep depression, suicidal thoughts or symptoms of a serious mental illness, its important to seek in-person therapy with a qualified mental health professional. BetterHelp markets itself as the world's largest online therapy service with nearly 2 million users, according to its website. Depending on what youre looking for, BetterHelp offers counseling for individuals, couples, or families. Users generally report positive experiences with BetterHelps network of therapists, services, and the effectiveness of the therapy sessions. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. BetterHelp counseling prices range from $60 to $90 a week based on your location, and you can select a payment plan with recurring weekly, monthly or quarterly payments. However, many BetterHelp counselors also specialize in specific issues, including: BetterHelp is not the right choice if you have thoughts of hurting yourself or others, are a minor or under the care of a legal guardian or are experiencing an urgent crisis or emergency. Once youve paid for your first month, week or quarter, BetterHelp assigns you an online room where you can exchange private messages with your counselor. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Not too far behind, 69% of Brightside users felt the same way. We surveyed 105 users from each online therapy company and asked the companies to complete questionnaires. She took the initiative to lead the session and outline what we should accomplish, both that day and in the course of our work together, while still giving me plenty of time to talk. BetterHelp is an online therapy service where you can access a therapist 24/7 via a phone call, video chat, live chat, or text message.