Opportunities to receive mental health care have expanded in recent years, with platforms like BetterHelp playing a significant role in helping people connect with qualified therapists. Below, we’ll discuss BetterHelp UK and the services it provides as well as the ways in which online therapy can help reduce common barriers to care. We’ll also explore the evidence-based benefits of therapy, the difference made by high-profile mental health advocacy efforts, and additional ways to seek professional support for mental health challenges.

What is BetterHelp UK?

BetterHelp is the largest online therapy provider in the world. Its mission is to build, maintain, and support a platform that empowers its users and mental health professionals to communicate with each other effectively. As part of this mission, BetterHelp has expanded into over 200 countries, including the United Kingdom, to provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to receive effective mental health services.

What mental health services does BetterHelp UK provide?

A BetterHelp UK subscription includes one live session with a therapist each week. These therapy sessions can take place via video, audio, or live chat, depending on personal preference. In addition to their weekly sessions, BetterHelp users can message their therapists at any time through in-app messaging, and the therapist will respond as soon as they are able. Additional optional features of the platform include journaling and goal-setting tools, therapist-assigned worksheets, weekly support group sessions, and educational webinars.

What kinds of mental health challenges can BetterHelp therapists treat?

BetterHelp therapists can help individuals with a variety of mental health challenges, including but not limited to:

• Stress and burnout
• Relationship difficulties
• Symptoms of depression or anxiety
• Major life transitions
• Grief and loss
• Self-esteem concerns
• Emotion regulation challenges

It can be important to note that severe mental health conditions, such as psychotic disorders, typically require in-person care rather than virtual care. In addition, online platforms are not appropriate for mental health crisis situations.

While BetterHelp therapists cannot make official diagnoses or prescribe medication, they can provide the same type of evidence-based care used in traditional in-office therapy settings. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), psychodynamic therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) are a few examples of modalities that may be used by BetterHelp therapists. 

How to sign up for BetterHelp UK

Getting started with BetterHelp UK is simple. It involves completing a brief intake questionnaire that asks about the concerns for which you’re seeking mental health support and your preferences in a therapist. For example, some people prefer to work with a therapist of their same gender. Others may want to work with someone who shares their cultural background.

After completing the questionnaire, many people can be matched with a suitable professional in as little as 48 hours, although this process can sometimes take longer depending on factors like therapist availability and specific preferences. Once a person has been matched, they can schedule their first virtual therapy session and begin messaging their therapist.

How can online therapy address barriers to mental health care?

Many people who could benefit from mental health care don’t seek it due to various barriers. Common examples include a lack of local professionals, transportation difficulties, and cost concerns. Online counselling can address these barriers and give more people the opportunity to receive professional support.

Cost

Online therapy can offer an affordable way to connect with a mental health professional. For example, BetterHelp offers subscriptions as low as £45, billed weekly or every four weeks. In addition, the platform may provide financial aid to those who qualify. Subscription pricing is based on factors such as a client's location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply. 

Transportation

Many people struggle to travel to and from in-person therapy appointments due to factors like illness, injury, disability, lack of public transportation, and others. Or, some people have busy schedules that don’t allow for the commute to and from a therapist’s office. Remote therapy eliminates the need to travel, as individuals can attend sessions from the convenience of their home or another preferred location. Online therapy can be engaged in from anywhere with a personal device and internet connection.

Lack of local professionals

Not every area has sufficient mental health professionals to serve its population. Even areas with many therapists may not have professionals specializing in certain concerns or conditions. BetterHelp has a network of over 30,000 therapists worldwide, including over 5,000 based in the UK. This can make it easier for individuals to match with a professional who has experience treating the particular challenges they’re experiencing.

The potential benefits of seeking mental health services from professional therapists

Medical internet research generally supports the use of psychotherapy for a variety of mental health conditions. For example:

• An article from the American Psychological Association notes that around 50% of therapy patients improve after eight sessions, and around 75% of patients improve after six months of treatment.
• According to a 2023 systematic overview, multiple types of therapy can be effective forms of treatment for depression, with short-term efficacy often equal to that associated with prescription medication and long-term efficacy greater than medication.
• A 2023 meta-analysis supports the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a first-line treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
• A 2018 review reports that prolonged exposure (PE), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT) are all evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Advantages of online therapy with a qualified therapist

A growing body of evidence suggests that online therapy can often be equally effective to in-person therapy, generally producing similar client outcomes to traditionally delivered care. In addition, it may also provide a variety of additional benefits over its face-to-face counterpart.

First, scheduling tends to be challenging for many people who want to attend therapy, as most in-person sessions must take place during typical business hours. Online therapy allows for more scheduling flexibility, including the potential opportunity to schedule sessions during early mornings, evenings, and on weekends, depending on your provider.

In addition, features like goal-tracking, digital check-ins, and journaling can make it easier to recognize and celebrate progress made over time. Group sessions and webinars can offer additional educational opportunities and the chance to receive support and insight from peers.

How high-profile mental health advocacy efforts are making a difference

In recent years, many celebrities and well-known individuals have made an effort to help change perceptions around mental health and reduce the stigma associated with seeking professional help. Their work, as well as efforts made by various organizations and everyday conversations about mental health, may lead to decreased stigma and increased help-seeking behaviors.

Lewis Capaldi’s partnership with BetterHelp

One notable example of a celebrity who is making a difference in this way is Lewis Capaldi. After experiencing severe anxiety and Tourette’s syndrome symptoms that led him to cut short a performance at the Glastonbury Music Festival in 2023, Capaldi took a two-year break from music to focus on his mental health. 

Since his return to performing in 2025, Capaldi has openly discussed how beneficial therapy has been for him. He decided to partner with BetterHelp to help his fans receive mental health care, donating 734,000 free hours of therapy—which is 1,000 hours of therapy for each day of his mental health break. 

New BetterHelp users can receive one free month of therapy by signing up using Capaldi’s link. Although they must enter credit card information, they will not be charged as long as they cancel within one month.

The impact of celebrities discussing mental health

Some other celebrities who have also opened up about their mental health include Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, singers Shawn Mendes and Lady Gaga, and actors Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kristen Bell, among many others. According to a 2022 article, celebrities who talk about their mental health can support stigma reduction efforts by:

• Increasing the public’s awareness of mental health topics
• Modeling openness about speaking on mental health challenges
• Encouraging people to seek help when they need it

While there may still be work to do in reducing mental health stigma, the growing numbers of people who are willing to speak publicly about mental health appear to be having a notable impact.

Other ways to connect with a therapist

Some people may prefer to sit down with a therapist face-to-face rather than connect with an online therapist. In these cases, there are still many ways to seek support.

National Health Service (NHS) therapy services

UK residents can receive free mental health care through the NHS. They may self-refer to talking therapies, or they can ask their GP for a referral. 

Local resources and Registered Charities

Individuals living in the UK can ask their school or employer about any available mental health resources. Organizations like the following can also offer support:

• Samaritans
• Mind
• Mental Health UK
• Mental Health Foundation

Professionals with their own practices

Outside of the NHS system, there are also professionals with their own practices. This type of therapy tends to come at a higher cost but can provide highly specialized care. You can explore available options with the UK Council for Psychotherapy’s Find a Therapist tool.