How much is online therapy?
The cost of online therapy varies by platform. BetterHelp ranges from $60 to $90 per week (weekly rate billed every four weeks) for unlimited messaging and weekly video, phone (talk therapy), or chat appointments with a licensed mental health professional ; not simply social workers. This is much less than the national US market average ($125-$199) for therapy appointments while offering even more ways to communicate with your therapist. BetterHelp also offers a financial aid discount to those who qualify. Reach out to us at contact@betterhelp.com if you have any questions about the cost of using the affordable option of BetterHelp, the online therapy service global leader.
How can online therapy help me?
Therapy has changed hundreds lives for the better. Online therapy holds all the same mental health benefits as in-person therapy, with the added convenience of being able to talk to your therapist anytime, anywhere. With options for text based messaging, live chat, telephone calls, and video calls, you can choose a method of communication that is most comfortable for you, all with a licensed therapist just as qualified (either by training and/or studying in various academic schools) as one you would see in an office. After filling out a questionnaire and being matched with a therapist who fits your needs, you can meet with your initial consultation therapist, beginning your journey to create an improvement with yourself right away in a safe space.
If the therapist you are initially matched with isn’t a good fit, you can change therapists at any time right from your profile, no questions asked. This allows you more time to get started on your own betterment rather than having to go through your insurance coverage agency or calling multiple therapist offices in your area which often have long wait times. Be sure to check out 10,000s of therapy reviews to hear the first-hand opinions of users that have access to and have used our platform to overcome common hurdles barriers to therapy.
Where can I learn more about BetterHelp?
Interested in learning more about why BetterHelp is the leader of online therapy companies and teletherapy platforms? Find our social media, sister sites, and news about us using the below links:
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About Our Company - Learn more about us and our mission as the global leader of the best online therapy services. Discover how affordable video chat, phone, or virtual talk therapy sessions with one of the licensed professional therapists here can provide you with tools and support you need. The types of therapy we offer is useful for topics like anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health symptoms or concerns.
Online Therapy Reviews - Real experiences and online therapy reviews that our users have had on our virtual counseling platform that offers convenient, affordable teletherapy services. You can find a therapist that has been highly rated here today.
Press Room - News coverage about BetterHelp (part of Teladoc Health) as the global telehealth leader.
Advice Content - 1,000s of free researched & medical reviewed articles on our blog are designed to help our readers understand mental health topics like psychology, bipolar disorder, relationship issues, stress management, adult depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, dialectical behavioral therapy, and more. If you're looking for a topic we haven't covered, reach out to our team (a growing editorial staff with bios included) to see how we can produce the best content to address that subject. Let the global leader of online therapist services help you; which could be one of the best decisions of your life. To better understand mental health and therapy, read some of the free articles found in our advice section.
FaithfulCounseling.com - Professional mental health online psychotherapy from a biblical perspective. Visit the website to see if this religion & faith-based service is the type of counseling you're looking for.
TeenCounseling.com - Our teen counseling platform allows parents and teens to set up an online account to provide teen therapy, helpful recommendations, and assistance. Learn how this form of family counseling can help your teen using our teletherapy services.
ReGain.us - Couples and families on this platform have experienced how teletherapy with a marriage and family therapist can help better understand a majority of the reasons and behaviors that can make relationships challenging and how to deal with them via marriage counseling. Learn how we can help your relationships with counseling online by connecting you with a licensed marriage and family therapist with online therapy experience with family conflicts; without creating outside judgment or criticism, but instead with empathy about your relationship.
PrideCounseling.com - Pride Counseling offers the best service for adults in the LGBTQIA+ community. Learn how Pride Counseling can help you by matching you with a professional licensed therapist on our secure platform.
Does insurance cover online therapy?
This depends on a few factors and varies among insurance plans. BetterHelp does not officially accept insurance or partner with any insurance providers and partners. However, the Mental Health Parity Act currently requires that employers and others who provide access to group health plans must offer equal benefits for medical and mental health-related services.
As a result, some major health insurance providers now cover or offer reimbursement for online behavioral and mental health services; all of which is covered by insurance. The best way to find out if you can have online counseling covered by your health insurance is to ask your provider by either calling them or reviewing your coverage plan online. From there, your provider can help you find a therapist's office with their insurance accepted that lines up with your insurance plan within a reasonable distance from you.
Does Medicare or Medicaid insurance cover online therapy through BetterHelp?
The BetterHelp therapy service offers affordable online therapy (typically $60 to $90 per week) with experienced and licensed therapists there to provide the support and therapeutic methodology you need. In some cases, out-of-pocket costs for therapy can be reimbursed by medical insurance or a behavioral health plan.
If you aren’t sure if your health plan provides insurance coverage for the therapy cost and related services, reach out to your Medicare or Medicaid insurance provider before your first appointment. You can find the contact information for your Medicare or Medicaid provider on the back of your state-issued health insurance card. Much of the same can be said about using FSA or HSA cards on our platform although not all of the best online therapy programs accept them.
Does BetterHelp offer free online therapy & counseling?
The therapy services offered at BetterHelp are not free or on a trial basis. As the leading global provider of all online therapy platforms, we employ a large, dedicated team and contract with thousands of licensed therapists & psychologists to provide convenient, accessible, and affordable online therapy. Making this happen comes at a cost which is why we can’t provide the service for free, because we feel people do best when therapists are licensed. That being said, we offer financial aid to those who qualify to make the therapy cost even more accessible and affordable to those who need the extra help; costing $60 to 90 per week. Simply reach out to contact@betterhelp.com to find out how to apply.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person?
Many studies have confirmed the effectiveness of online therapy for making positive life changes. For example, research published by JMIR Publications and the Berkeley Well-Being Institute found that online counseling is just as effective as in-person therapy. Whether you decide to seek therapy in-person or online, working with an experienced and licensed therapist can help you understand their methodology to help you overcome various aspects of mental health and life challenges. You can read the full study and survey here. In the future, we'll share more history and details about the science behind various online therapies, their efficacy, as well as the range of modes and capacities it can help people.
Andersson, G., & Cuijpers, P. (2009). Internet-based and other computerized psychological treatments for adult depression: A meta-analysis. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), 38(4), 196-205. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20183695
Is online therapy cheaper than in-person therapy?
Generally speaking, yes! While we can not guarantee that online therapy pricing is the cheaper option 100% of the time because in-person session prices will vary by therapist, location, commission, and insurance plans, we can confidently say that BetterHelp is more affordable than most other options (typically costing $99 to $200 for face-to-face therapy) when paying out of pocket against a deductible, while also helping you save money that you may otherwise spend to see a therapist via traditional in-person therapy sessions... such as bus fare, gas, or parking.
How much is an online therapy session?
The cost of therapy through BetterHelp subscription options ranges from $60 to $90 per week (billed every 4 weeks as a subscription plan) and it is based on your location, preferences, budget, and therapist availability. Customers can cancel membership at any time, for any reason. Your membership payments will be charged to a credit card or PayPal on a recurring basis. If you accomplish your goals or if you find psychotherapy research & services with BetterHelp (one of the best online therapy platforms) to no longer be helpful for any reason, you can simply cancel the subscription.
What are the disadvantages of the best online therapy counseling services with a therapist?
Online therapy has been found to be just as effective and sometimes better than in-person or exposure therapy when it comes to treating common mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, online counseling is not recommended for those struggling with more serious mental health concerns such as psychosis or suicidal thoughts. If BetterHelp is not the best fit for you, our member advocate team can help refer you to a local in-person psychologist that can help you follow a therapy process that is more suitable for you.
How often should you go to therapy?
Most people who see a therapist whether in-person or online have a session once a week. This allows a steady pace of communication with healthy reflection between sessions, which is why we encourage you to chat with your therapist. BetterHelp subscription plans include one live session per week along with unlimited messaging with your therapist. If you would like more than one session a week, you can let your therapist know and reach out to the member advocate team to make an adjustment to your subscription plan. Ultimately, it's up to you how much you want to use the service. The best way to make use of a BetterHelp subscription is for individuals to have weekly live sessions with messages, journal writing, complete assigned worksheets, and attend a group session with our communities in between.
Is BetterHelp actually good?
BetterHelp is the leading online counseling platform in the industry and has the largest selection and network of therapists & psychologists for a good reason. With over two million sessions completed and thousands of positive reviews (generally 4-5 stars), it's obvious that BetterHelp is a great option for improving mental health and addressing everyday life challenges. Of course, psychotherapy is what you make of it and how willing you are to work on yourself. If you put in the effort with a therapist who is a good fit for you, we're confident that you'll join the thousands of others with positive reviews. Lastly, BetterHep therapists are HIPAA compliant.
Is therapy over the phone effective?
Therapy in any form can be effective, with phone sessions being an excellent option for those who struggle communicating over video or face-to-face. On the phone, you have freedom of movement which helps many organize their thoughts. Although your therapist won't be able to read your body language or see your facial expressions, they can still hear your tone of voice which can help them add a layer of insight to the words you say. BetterHelp gives you multiple options to communicate with your therapist, so we encourage you to try them all out and see what works best for you.
Do therapists prescribe medication?
Therapists do not prescribe medication. BetterHelp does not offer prescriptions or medication management services at this time. For mental health medication, please reach out to medical professionals such as your doctor, physician, therapist or psychiatrist.
Are BetterHelp therapists licensed?
All therapists at BetterHelp are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (PhD / PsyD), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW / LMSW), or board licensed master’s degree
holding professional counselors (LPC). Our team ensures that every provider we bring to the platform is fully licensed and in good standing. Providers who apply are required to provide proper licensure documentation and proof of identity. With that objective in mind, we then cross-check their licensure information with their respective state licensing board.
In addition to checking credentials, each potential provider needs to complete a case study exam graded by a licensed clinician and be evaluated in a video interview. The result of this rigorous process is that only about 20% of the therapists & psychologists who apply to work through the BetterHelp online therapy program are accepted to the platform. We also show the full licensing information for each provider to make it easy for you to do your own due diligence on your therapist.
How long do the best online therapy sessions last?
The length of a BetterHelp online therapy session depends on the therapist you're matched with and the program they put in place for your benefit. Most therapists & psychologists on our platform offer one 30-50 minute live therapy session per week, although other platforms psychotherapy companies like Talkspace or Amwell might differ. If you would like longer or more frequent appointments with your online counselor, please reach out to your consultation therapist as well as the member advocate team to see if this is something we can accommodate with your subscriptions. Outside of your weekly live session, you can message your therapist at any time; even outside of your scheduled online counseling sessions in order to receive feedback.
How much does it cost to talk to a virtual therapist?
The cost of virtual therapy at BetterHelp ranges from $60 to $90, billed monthly. When compared to most face to face therapy (aka in person therapy) appointments, the cost of online counseling via the BetterHelp app is the more cost effective option.
These are some of the reasons why people use the BetterHelp platform. You no longer have to wonder "how much does online therapy cost?" because you can clearly see it's cheaper than traditional therapy. It has never been easier to search for a counselor that focuses on helping their customer make progress with common issues like severe depression or anxiety. Getting started with a counselor that specializes in matters that you're focused on improving doesn't have to be a challenge. These are some of the reasons why many of our counselors have received such a high review and reports from their clients that they've delivered therapeutic services to.