How BetterHelp Works: Online Therapy From Sign-Up To First Session

We require every therapist providing therapist services on the platform to be trained and experienced licensed U.S. Psychologist (PhD / PsyD), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or similar applicable recognized professional license based on their state and/or jurisdiction. Therapy providers must have a relevant academic degree in their field, at least 3 years of experience, at least 1,000 hours of hands-on experience, and have to be qualified and licensed by their respective state board after successfully completing the necessary mental health education, exams, training and practice requirements as applicable. Learn more about the therapists. BetterHelp's sister sites Regain and TeenCounseling offer specialized support for relationships and teen counseling, respectively.

After you sign up, we will match you to an available, qualified therapist who fits your objectives, preferences, and the type of issues you are dealing with. Different mental health professionals have different approaches and areas of focus, so it's important to find the right person who can achieve the best results for you. We have found that we are able to provide a successful match most of the time; however, if you start the process and you feel your first therapist isn't a good fit for you, you may elect to be matched to a different online therapy provider.

BetterHelp may be right for you if you're looking to improve the quality of your life or address mental health conditions that are affecting you. Whenever there is anything that interferes with your happiness or prevents you from achieving your goals, our licensed professional counselors may be able to help. We also have BetterHelp therapists who specialize in specific issues such as stress, anxiety, chronic pain, relationships, parenting, depression, addictions, eating, sleeping, trauma, anger, family conflicts, LGBT matters, grief, religion, self esteem, and more.

BetterHelp is not the right solution for you if any of the following is true:

• You are a minor or you are under the care of a legal guardian

• You are in an urgent crisis or an emergency situation

• You were required to undergo therapy sessions either by a court order or by any other authority

• You do not have a device that can connect to the Internet or you do not have a reliable Internet connection

BetterHelp is not a free online therapy platform. BetterHelp costs range from $65 to $100 per week, based on factors such as your location, referral source, preferences, any applicable discounts or promotions, and therapist availability. BetterHelp therapy also offers financial aid to eligible users, depending on their employment or individual financial status. You can cancel your BetterHelp membership at any time, for any reason.

We are working with select insurance carriers to join their network. Some therapists on the BetterHelp platform now accept insurance coverage (state-limited). Until then, our flexible subscription model continues to be an option to receive quality care from our extensive therapist network.

BetterHelp accepts HSA/FSA cards and is recognized as an eligible expense by most HSA/FSA providers.

This process can take a few hours or a few days, depending on therapist availability. BetterHelp users can usually get matched with a therapist within 48 hours of filling out the intake questionnaire and completing the sign up process on the BetterHelp platform.

If you feel like your first therapist isn't the right fit, you can change therapists for no extra cost. Switching therapists is included with your BetterHelp account.

You can get therapy in four ways:

• Exchanging messages with your therapist

• Live chat sessions with your therapist

• Phone or audio sessions with your therapist

• Live video sessions with your therapist

You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience. Learn more about online therapy.

The professionals who work through BetterHelp are licensed and credentialed therapists who were certified by their state's board to provide online therapy services and in person therapy sessions. However, while online therapy platforms may have similar benefits, they are not capable of substituting for traditional in person therapy in every case. Please note that your provider won't be able to make any official diagnosis, fulfill any court order or prescribe medication for medication management. Your BetterHelp subscription will not offer access to family therapists or psychiatric services at this time.

This depends on your needs and varies a lot from one person to another. Some people feel they get most of the value after just a few weeks of BetterHelp therapy sessions, while others prefer to stick to the program for an extended period of time. This is completely up to you, and likely something that you will decide after you start therapy.

Whether it's better to do therapy online or in person depends on your personal preferences for mental health care and your reasons for seeking therapy. Virtual therapy can be an excellent option if you have difficulty finding a therapist based nearby, face barriers (like a physical disability) that make attending traditional therapy sessions challenging, or have a busy routine due to family or work commitments but still want to schedule sessions regularly.

In-person sessions may be the best option if you're seeking a specialty provider, such as one focused on family therapy, child psychology, or medication management.

As one of the world's largest therapy platforms, one of BetterHelp's key advantages is the flexibility to switch your therapist anytime. Instead of researching many therapists and waiting weeks for an opening, the BetterHelp app lets you request a new provider whenever you need, at no additional cost. The therapist-client relationship plays a major role in receiving helpful, quality care, and BetterHelp makes it easy to find the right fit.

BetterHelp sessions are designed to fit a variety of needs and preferences. The platform offers talk therapy with licensed professionals, including psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors.

Depending on your goals, you can participate in live sessions through messaging, phone, or video call, and you can also message your therapist between appointments to schedule additional sessions (up to 1 per week), discuss how BetterHelp is working for you, or receive additional support.

Beyond live sessions, features like journaling, BetterHelp group sessions, and worksheets within its mental health apps support ongoing growth and reflection. Our multimodal digital psychotherapy platform gives users flexibility beyond what traditional therapy settings provide.