Therapy for Depression
Therapy is the first-line treatment for depression, but symptoms can make finding care or leaving the house difficult.
Start feeling better todayTake a step toward healingGet professional depression therapy online with BetterHelp for $70–$100/week
Important: If you're in crisis situations or need immediate support, please reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. BetterHelp is here for ongoing mental health support, not emergency services.
Eligible insured members pay an average copay of $23/session*
Check your coverage*Coverage may vary by state and provider availability.
Therapy Built Around the Realities of Depression
Depression is hard. Getting help for depression doesn’t have to be.
When you’re living with depression, the very symptoms you need help with can make seeking help even harder. The lack of energy, low motivation, and feelings of hopelessness can make doing anything difficult, while the shame and fear of judgment from others can leave you feeling trapped and alone. How can you find the energy to look for a therapist or get to an appointment when just getting out of bed feels impossible?
Online therapy can help you break that cycle, by bringing you support that’s built around the realities of living with depression and the ways symptoms actually show up in your life:
What you might be experiencing
How therapy adapts to depression
No calling around to find a therapist when you have no motivation
Simply fill out a short questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist who specializes in depression.
No commuting to an office when you have no energy
Meet with your therapist right where you are, even from bed.
No getting ready for appointments when taking care of yourself feels impossible
Have virtual therapy sessions with your camera off, without changing out of your pajamas.
No running into people you know when you’re worried about judgments from others
Connect with your therapist wherever and however you feel most comfortable (video, phone, or live chat).
No waiting until your appointment to talk about the symptoms that disrupt your life
Message your therapist at any time, even at 2 a.m., and they will respond when they can.
Online depression therapy with BetterHelp is professional support that adapts to the real-life challenges of living with depression, so that even on your hardest days, help still feels within reach.
How depression therapy works on BetterHelp
BetterHelp can connect you with a licensed therapist who specializes in depression for accessible care, completely online. Signing up to get talk therapy treatment through BetterHelp is a simple process:
1
Fill out a 5-minute assessment.
Complete a short assessment about your symptoms, your therapy goals, and your needs in a therapist to help inform accurate diagnosis and care plan.
2
Get your monthly cost estimate.
Receive a monthly quote for online therapy; cost is typically $70-100/week billed weekly or monthly. Subscription pricing is based on factors such as your location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability, and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply. Financial aid is available to those who qualify, and most subscriptions are eligible expenses under FSA/HSA accounts.
3
Most match with a therapist in 24-48 hours.
Get matched with a licensed therapist based on your questionnaire. Many people can be matched in as little as 48 hours.
4
Start therapy.
Attend virtual therapy sessions from the comfort of home, via video, phone, or chat, which can make it easier to seek support while staying connected with family members and daily routines. You can message your therapist any time if you find yourself needing support in between therapy sessions, making it easier to treat depression consistently.
5
Get ongoing support outside of sessions.
Take advantage of a massive library of worksheets, goal and habit tracking tools, journaling, 300+ support groups, and 35+ educational classes to accelerate your healing journey, supporting healthy habits like exercise and a healthy diet.
Ready to get started?
Begin your healing journey todayCan telehealth really work for depression?
Wondering if talking to a therapist through a screen can actually make a difference for depression? The research says it can, and so do BetterHelp users.
Extensive research has shown online therapy (or “teletherapy”) to be just as effective as face-to-face therapy for depression.
A recent meta-analysis of 17 studies found that electronically-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (eCBT) was more effective than face-to-face CBT at reducing depression symptom severity.
A recent large-scale randomized controlled trial showed that online CBT significantly improved depression and anxiety symptoms after an 8-week intervention, with further improvements continuing for up to 12 months.
As noted by UCLA Health, some research has found that most patients prefer virtual formats for therapy, and that telehealth programs have higher attendance, number of treatment visits, and completion rates compared to in-person therapy.
BetterHelp’s platform-specific results add further proof: in 2024, 72% of BetterHelp clients experienced symptom reduction in 12 weeks.
Who is online depression therapy right for?
BetterHelp makes it easy to get high-quality therapy for depression—wherever you are online.
- Online therapy can be an ideal option for many individuals experiencing mild to moderate depression, especially those who face barriers to receiving in-person therapy.
- For those with mild to moderate symptoms who struggle to attend in-person appointments, have very busy schedules, have few therapists in their area, or feel more comfortable opening up from home, virtual therapy can be a great fit.
However, please note that BetterHelp is designed for ongoing support and is not meant for crisis situations. If you are in crisis and need immediate support, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by texting or calling 988.
Types of therapy for depression offered through BetterHelp
BetterHelp’s therapists are trained across multiple modalities to help address depression and other treatable mental health conditions, so you can find the best approach for your needs.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT):
Restructure negative thought patterns
Restructure negative thought patterns
The CBT approach involves learning to recognize, then shift distorted lines of thinking that may be contributing to negative emotions or behavior patterns.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT):
Learn distress tolerance
Learn distress tolerance
DBT focuses on helping clients learn effective coping skills, including emotional regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance, for strong emotions.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT):
Strengthen communication and relationships
Strengthen communication and relationships
Interpersonal therapy may help you address depression symptoms by improving relationship skills, like communication.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy:
Understand underlying emotional causes
Understand underlying emotional causes
With psychodynamic psychotherapy, depression is treated by helping you uncover unconscious forces that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches:
Build coping skills and resilience
Build coping skills and resilience
According to the American Psychiatric Association, mindfulness-based approaches can help individuals build resilience.
Cost of therapy for depression
BetterHelp online therapy costs around $70-100* per week billed on a monthly or weekly basis, or an average co-pay of $23 per session* for insurance-eligible members.
BetterHelp has joined with major insurance carriers in select states to provide in-network therapy coverage. BetterHelp may accept insurance as a payment option depending on the state that you currently reside in.
Have health insurance or an HSA/FSA? BetterHelp accepts HSA/FSA cards, and is recognized as an eligible expense by most HSA/FSA providers.
*Subscription pricing is based on factors such as your location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply.
72%
of BetterHelp users experienced a reduction in symptoms in 12 weeks
4.9 out of 5
average rating for a live session, from over 1.7 million client ratings
82%
of clients in treatment likely to recommend their therapist to others
93%
of use preferences met when matching with a therapist
What to know before you start
Online therapy can work well for many people experiencing depression, but there are a few things to keep in mind before getting started.
Online therapy vs. in-person therapy
While virtual therapy can be beneficial and effective for a range of mental health concerns, for individuals experiencing severe symptoms of depression, seeking in-person therapy may be more appropriate.
Medication options
For those interested in exploring medication options for depression treatment, it is important to note that while the therapists on the BetterHelp platform only provide talk therapy, BetterHelp now offers psychiatry as an additional care option through UpLift.
Is online therapy right for me?
If you have questions about whether BetterHelp might be right for you, you can talk with your therapist to learn more about online therapy for depression and help you determine how you want to move forward.
If you are in a crisis or need emergency support, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Line or your local emergency services.
What progress actually feels like: A roadmap for depression therapy
When you’re experiencing depression, it can be difficult to see a way out of it. But there is a path forward, and therapy can help light the way.
Making progress week by week
Everyone’s path will be unique, but here is a potential roadmap for what a healing journey with BetterHelp can often look and feel like, week by week:
Before the first therapy session
Many people feel nervous or stressed about what's to come, which is completely natural. Be kind to yourself and celebrate your decision to seek help. Oftentimes, the first step is the hardest, but once you take it, you're on your way.
First few sessions
Many people experience a noticeable sense of relief from simply feeling heard and being able to speak freely in a safe space. Being able to open up about what you've been experiencing can often bring real comfort, and talking with a trained mental health professional can help you realize you are not alone and you were never "broken."
Weeks 4 to 6
Many people start noticing small but meaningful changes in their daily lives, such as sleeping a little better, feeling slightly less irritable, or finding tasks like showering to be a little more doable. As you work with your therapist to unpack your experiences and learn new ways to cope, you may start to see the weight of depression lighten and various parts of daily life become a little more manageable.
Weeks 8 to 12
Many people experience significant symptom relief: BetterHelp's results show that 72% of users experience a measurable reduction in depression symptoms at 12 weeks. For some, a reduction in depression symptoms might look like having more energy; for others, it might mean showing up more fully in relationships and self-isolating less often. Exactly how this progress looks can vary, but it can involve meaningful improvements in your quality of life.
After week 12
Some people may be ready to take what they've learned in therapy and apply it on their own, and others may prefer to continue improving their mental health with support from a licensed therapist. For those who continue with therapy, sessions can provide a safe space and ongoing support with the various challenges of life, helping them achieve their goals, build healthier habits, and cultivate more fulfilling relationships.
Remember: Progress is not always linear
While this illustrates the big picture, it's important to remember that progress is rarely linear. There may be harder weeks and times when it feels like you are taking two steps forward and one step back, but this doesn't mean you aren't making progress. These highs and lows are often part of the process, and BetterHelp is built with them in mind.
Built-in Flexibility That Evolves with You
BetterHelp’s flexibility recognizes that not only does the healing journey look different from one person to the next, but also that each person’s journey can look different over time.
With BetterHelp, you have the tools and flexibility to adjust your therapy experience to fit your changing needs:
Some weeks, you may be feeling particularly low and choose to have a live text session with your therapist, so that you can get support without even speaking.
Other weeks, you may feel more energized and choose to have a video session, complete mental health worksheets, join support groups, and take classes to help you accelerate your progress.
Over time, you might even decide that you want to switch to a different therapist who takes a different approach, which you can do easily in just a few clicks.
At every point along your journey, this flexibility is an inherent feature, not an add-on. This is because with BetterHelp, you are not just getting a therapist. You are getting a mental health ecosystem filled with a vast network of experts, a massive library of resources, and a suite of thoughtfully designed tools to help you become your best self.
BetterHelp Reviews & Success Stories
Hear from real users about their experience in our more than 60,000 5-star reviews:
“Michelle helps me tremendously to work through my grief journey and the anxiety and stress. She arms me with appropriate coping mechanisms and to understand sometimes you just need to be sad, as long as you don't stay there. She communicates effectively, quickly and remembers my story and all the characters involved- very important to me. Would highly recommend”
Date of review • December 09, 2025
“I love Jan! She is so helpful. I cannot say enough positive things about her as a therapist. I know that if I am feeling down, stressed, anxious, or sad – Jan will help me process my emotions and work towards a better path.”
Date of review • November 24, 2025
“Perry has been amazing to work with. She understands where my struggles are and helps direct me with appropriate guidance and resources. She has a strong understanding of people and how our bodies and minds work. It is refreshing to have a therapist that is extremely knowledgeable, kind and caring. I truly appreciate her and highly recommend her. I can see the happier version of myself coming back out. Which is amazing to feel again. Thank you, Perry!!”
Date of review • December 10, 2025
“I love that she gives so many different options to try to get through anxiety and depression. She’s very knowledgeable, friendly, and listens well.”
Date of review • November 17, 2025
Testimonials are from actual BetterHelp clients. Photos are stock images. Results may vary.