BetterHelp is an excellent option for people seeking online counseling for certain mental health issues. Published May 25, 2021 Advertiser BetterHelp Advertiser Profiles Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest Tagline "Get Real Therapy. This includes eating disorders and substance use disorders. 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. Brightside prescriptions focus primarily on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which are standard medications used for treating depression. You may also begin registration by clicking the Get Started button in the top right corner of the site. A 2016 review of high quality studies found that internet-delivered CBT sessions with a therapist reduced various anxiety symptoms at least as much and sometimes more than in-person CBT sessions with a therapist. Users generally report positive experiences with BetterHelps network of therapists, services, and the effectiveness of the therapy sessions. Brightside accepts a wide range of insurance: Cigna, Aetna, Optum/UnitedHealthcare, Anthem CA, and Allegiance are all considered in-network, and it also accepts health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) card payments. BetterHelp offers private, affordable online counseling when you need it from licensed, board-accredited therapists. You can also schedule video, phone or live chat sessions and access counseling services using four methods: BetterHelp counselors do not make official diagnoses or prescribe medications. In general, BetterHelp says its services can work well for people looking to improve their quality of life. After reaching out via online message and not getting a response for three days (it was a weekend), I called the company on Monday, and had to wait on hold, and then go through a 10-minute process over the phone that eventually sent a link to my portal that allowed me to browse options for a new therapist. Research on telehealth has shown it may be effective for people with many mental health conditions. A psychiatry session costs $249 for the initial visit, followed by $125 for each subsequent session. You can anonymously sign up on the platforms. For instance, BetterHelp gives clients the option to communicate with a therapist via messaging several days a week, in addition to a virtual live therapy session. Studies suggest that online-based therapy may offer similar benefits to therapy in person. BetterHelp costs $240 - $360 monthly (advertised as $60 - $90 weekly), making it an affordable out-of-pocket therapy option. All have a masters or doctoral degree in the area they specialize in. However, in case an emergency arises during sessions, you will be required to give your contact details when you start therapy. This means that everything discussed during appointments is strictly confidential unless theres a case of immediate harm to the user or someone else. Keep in mind, Brightsides choice to mandate video connection for all sessions might be a quality issue rather than a lack of resourcesmany reputable therapists consider live chat or phone sessions to lack the level of connection necessary for a productive therapy session. While other online therapy platforms may have more options for insurance coverage or allow you to pick your own therapist, BetterHelp allows users to message their therapist at any time through communication modes such as chat, phone, video and text message. We read customers comments and looked at how other trustworthy websites scored BetterHelp. 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. BetterHelp Learn More My Doubts About Online Therapy Brightside, on the other hand, has managed to keep its company profile squeaky clean, which, warranted or not, makes me marginally more comfortable trusting them with my personal data. Behavioral Health: Patient Access, Provider Claims Payment, and the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, BetterHelp markets itself as the largest online counseling platform in the world. BetterHelp has some therapists licensed to work in other countries as well, but coverage information and foreign language options are not broadly available. You can work with a therapist via your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Both sites have adequate yet basic FAQ pages, scant additional resources, and no way to browse therapist bios prior to sign-up. We reached our decision by looking at the companies reputation among therapists and users, the ease of use of the platform, accessibility, additional resources offered, level of care, and professional and ethical integrity. Gratzer D, et al. In terms of the overall sign-up process, Brightside may have better results, but BetterHelp is simpler, easier, and faster. BetterHelp also states on its FAQs page that all of its providers are fully licensed and in good standing.. Brightside and BetterHelps sign-up processes are similar, although Brightsides is more thorough. BetterHelp is the world's largest therapy service, facilitating over 5,000,000 video sessions, voice calls, chats, and messages every month. Messaging isnt done in real time, but as soon as you receive a response from your therapist, you will get an email notification. Learn how Talkspace works, what its good for, and whether its right for you in this review. Or, therapists may list a less well-known modality, such as client-centered therapy or psychodynamic therapy as their primary clinical approach. Brightsides therapy sessions run just 30 minutes long, and all use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as the main therapeutic technique. 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. You can choose to do your therapy sessions via video chat, phone call, live chat, or messaging similar to email. Teletherapy was found to be just as effective as in-person therapy, so it can be a good option when an in-person meeting with a therapist is not possible. The service is generally more affordable than in-person therapy. Whether youre dealing with grief, want to improve your coping strategies, or youre just feeling down - BetterHelp makes starting therapy easy. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. Frequently asked questions about BetterHelp, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7829321/, journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1357633X17730443. Yes! Heres what youll do to get signed up. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Heres our process. (2019). They spent, MediaRadar captures creative run on the top websites, magazines and national television stations for over. . BetterHelp Rakes in $1B in 2022, as Teladoc Plans to Integrate Behavioral Health into Its Chronic Care Strategy - Behavioral Health Business Digital Health BetterHelp Rakes in $1B in 2022, as Teladoc Plans to Integrate Behavioral Health into Its Chronic Care Strategy By Laura Lovett | January 9, 2023 Porapak Apichodilok BetterHelp offers professional counseling from accredited psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists and board-licensed professional counselors. 2022 Talkspace Review: How Does It Stack Up? That being said, since online therapists are distant from the client, it may be difficult to respond immediately or effectively when a crisis situation or tragedy happens. products. Spending just a few minutes a day on meditation can have big benefits for your mental health. For medications, you'll be charged either your pharmacy copay or, if paying out of pocket, a flat rate of $15 per medication. Once youve been matched with a counselor, you can immediately start messaging them in a private and secure chat room. Brightside uses Zoom to host all therapy sessions, and sends a Zoom link to your portal. Only Brightside takes insurance, which 30% of its users listed as an important factor for choosing the company. BetterHelps group sessions tend to contain about a dozen individuals, and the focus of the sessions generally revolves around: If you decide to try BetterHelp, rest assured that your therapist will be a trained and certified specialist. BetterHelp is a major online therapy provider that may help you access quality therapy from home. Lin T, et al. Plus 13 Best Services for 2023, 7 Tips for Finding a Culturally Competent Therapist from Someone Who's Been There, 10 Best Places for Guided Meditation Online, The Top 9 Online Psychiatry Services for 2023, people without insurance (or who dont have mental health coverage) who are looking for an affordable way to access 24/7 mental health care, people looking for a per-appointment (not subscription) virtual service, $65$129 per week for therapy; $249 for initial psychiatry and $125 for follow-up sessions, people looking for 24/7 counseling that might be covered by insurance and that you can access via video, phone, or chat, insurance accepted, but limited mental health professionals, people who prefer to chat with a therapist only through text, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, depression, LGBTQIA+ counseling, and grief counseling, your eating habits, including alcohol consumption, how you prefer to communicate with your therapist. BetterHelp is a popular mental health platform right now in 2022. Users also rated BetterHelps site slightly higher, with 73% saying navigating the site was easy or very easy. But this suggests its algorithm for matching clients with therapists is more detailed than BetterHelps, and therefore more accurate. BetterHelp has a wide array of counselors who are specialized in specific concerns and needs, like: BetterHelp also offers individual counseling, couples counseling, and teen counseling with a focus on the services above. This time around, you are not matched with a therapist, but rather given a wide selection to choose from (I was in New York, and was given 40 different therapists). Headspace vs. Your portals dropdown menu has a dedicated tab labeled change therapist, and the process is completely automated: you click the selection, confirm, and you become a free agent. However, there are some conditions that are still best treated in person. Only Brightside can prescribe medication. Mary X. Dennis is a Singapore-born, New York-raised, bilingual and biracial science reporter. They have a number of concerning privacy and security practices that we and others have reported like sending data to Facebook and sharing data widely with third parties. 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. A few months later, in July, BetterHelp was hit with another lawsuitthis time by Therapy for Black Girls, which sued for trademark infringement after BetterHelp allegedly used the company's trademark in advertising. At this writing, the platform says it has more than 24,000 licensed therapists and has hosted more than 202 million messages, live chats, phone calls, and video sessions. Marcelle ET, et al. 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. BetterHelp runs on a subscription model. Brightsides additional resources are more self-ledit has a great informative video lesson series, which I found useful, but it didnt compare to the individualized nature of the BetterHelp portal experience. For first-quarter 2023, Teladoc Health anticipates total revenues to be between $610 million and $625 million. Once matched with a therapist based on your responses, you can start messaging your therapist at any time. BetterHelp says employed therapists are licensed and accredited. Writing down your thoughts is a useful exercise for all kinds of situations, Imrie says. Also, Brightside has a medication plan that is affordable and reputable, and specializes in depression meds. You can remain anonymous with your therapist if you prefer. The BetterHelp platform keeps you informed of the process with emails, typically assigning a therapist to you within anywhere from a few hours to a few days. BetterHelp allows customers to change therapists at any time and as many times as they find necessary. The exact price depends on a person's location and preferences . As a result, many people experiencing mental health issues turned to online therapy platforms like BetterHelp. It wont be visible to anyone else unless you choose to share it. Theres also an option for group therapy, known as groupinars. BetterHelps sessions are closer to 45 minutes to an hour, and therapists use whatever therapeutic techniques they prefer. She specializes in aging, long-term care, caregiving, retirement and a variety of other health and retirement topics. Telehealth is web-based healthcare in which a healthcare professional and a person seeking treatment interact remotely via voice or video chat, or text. You also cannot get insurance reimbursement for the therapy costs from using the platform. 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. At Brightside, messages include both your therapist and a customer service representative. We follow an advertising policy . Psych Central only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Facing obstacles . Here are the 10 best teas for stress in 2022. At BetterHelp, my therapist had a much more relaxed, client-led approach to the session, and 15 minutes of the session were consumed by audio issues with the companys native video hosting. Most online reviews of BetterHelp appear to be positive. They invest in premium ad units and advertised on over 250 different Media Properties in the last year across multiple Media formats. It explicitly specifies what it doesnt treat, which are conditions it deems serious enough to warrant in-person care: eating disorders, addiction issues, or serious mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder (BPD) or schizophrenia. During the sign-up process, I noted I was seeking help with some anxiety and family conflict issues. The company does occasionally offer therapy below its $60 to $90 rate. When you sign up for a BetterHelp monthly subscription, you receive access to four weeks of unlimited messaging in a counseling room with your counselor. Founded in 2013, BetterHelp is the largest online therapy platform in the world, offering virtual therapy with licensed and accredited therapists via chat, phone calls, and video calls. 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. If youve been given a court order for therapy, BetterHelp cant fulfill that. Even if a therapy session is a videoconference, therapists generally only see from the shoulders up. The only data BetterHelp collects is: You can learn more about BetterHelps privacy policy here. Its also important to consider what you want included with your plan, if you intend to supplement your sessions with additional support. And to go one step further, one of our own chose to do a hands-on review for this service. A 2019 study assessed the effectiveness of BetterHelp for treating depression. These are called groupinars. If you want to attend a groupinar but arent able to make it to the meeting time, you can get a link to the recording via email. The subscription cost may be lower than in-person sessions with a qualified therapist. Talkspace is a text-based therapy platform. The linked products and services we feature go through a rigorous vetting process. BetterHelp has an overall positive reputation. Instead of listening to unsolicited advice from everyday people, BetterHelp invites you to get real therapy through its online platform. The introductory questionnaire is fairly detailed, asking you: Youll also be screened for depression. BetterHelp isnt free. MediaRadar helps advertising sales teams reach the key decision makers at brands. She is a licensed social worker with clinical experience in community mental health. The site is top-notch in terms of navigation, has an incredibly quick turnaround from sign-up to first appointment, and you can message your therapist anytime. Switching therapists is much easier at BetterHelp. You can try the service for free for 7 days. 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. Net loss per share is . A 2018 review study suggests that therapy sessions by phone or video were equally as effective for treating depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorder as in-person therapy. {{ tocState.toggleTocShowMore ? It also. Mary X. Dennis is a Singapore-born, New York-raised, bilingual and biracial science reporter. With online therapy, therapy is made more accessible for many people. Its also been reviewed by our medical affairs mental health experts and has gone through our vetting process. Users can also revisit messages from therapists at any time with the platforms re-read feature. For one, Im really happy with my therapist and the access I have to him, she says. . Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the gold standards of talk therapy and centers around changing unhelpful or faulty ways of thinking. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional. However, check with your health insurance provider to see whether BetterHelp services could be reimbursed under your policys mental health coverage. Unlike me, our users slightly preferred BetterHelp over Brightside: 87% of BetterHelp users rated the sites therapist qualifications from good to excellent, while 86% of Brightside users did the same. They are pouring millions of dollars into advertising to grow their user base. BetterHelp is rated as a top teletherapy platform for a variety of mental health concerns. The company says its service has helped more than 2.7 million people. You can cancel your subscription at any time if you decide that BetterHelp is not working for you. Yes, BetterHelps privacy policy and security measures indicate that the company is HIPAA compliant. The app and website are easy to navigate. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Health. 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. Online therapy can serve as a source of connection and support, especially during a time (in light of the pandemic) that feels otherwise isolating, says Sheava Zadeh, PhD, LEP, BCIM, a psychologist and the founder of Pamper Your Brain. Their campaigns have now expanded over several social media platforms such as YouTube or Instagram. Your . 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. My therapist works just as hard for me as my therapist that went on maternity leave did. If youre in crisis or experiencing an emergency, call 911 for assistance. All rights reserved. Depending on what youre looking for, BetterHelp offers counseling for individuals, couples, or families. Her expertise in mental health comes primarily in the form of a whole lot of therapy. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. It also offers couples and teen therapy, with free live weekly group seminars available. We surveyed 105 users from each online therapy company and asked the companies to complete questionnaires. . Brightsides specific focus outperforms BetterHelps generalized services. Healthline Media's new initiative, TRANSFORM: Future of Health, spotlights cutting-edge innovations that will change the future of health and wellness. 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. Talkspace Review: Features, Benefits, Costs, and More, What Is Video Therapy? Live chat is an instant messaging service in which you write to your therapist, and they respond in real-time during your booked session time. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. There are many pros when it comes to online or teletherapy. Sign up with BetterHelp and get matched to a therapist in less than 48 hours. Individual For myself Couples For me and my partner Teen For my child Professional, licensed, and vetted therapists who you can trust She opted for a video call, which she notes was very straightforward to use and similar to any other Zoom or G-Chat room Ive been in., For her initial appointment with her therapist, they met for an hour. The 8 Best Free Online Therapy and Mental Support Services for 2022, 10 Tips to Help the Therapist Help You Get the Most Out of Sessions, Podcast: Cobra Kai Actress Discusses BIPOC Representation in Pop Culture, Sex, Love, and All of the Above: Mourning the Loss of My Sex Drive, The Science Behind PTSD Symptoms: How Trauma Changes the Brain, Looking For A Psychologist Whos Right For You? Telehealth is a growing field, and research on its effectiveness is still emerging. For $150 a month, you get unlimited access to a therapist. Youll be billed monthly. Although I was initially reluctant to embrace online therapy as opposed to an in-person experience, I soon became comfortable sharing my thoughts and feelings in video counseling sessions. Affordable, Private Therapy Anytime, Anywhere. Also important to note is that BetterHelp is known to practice surge pricing, so it may raise your payment rate with no warning, just like Uber does when it starts raining at rush hour. We collected information from the companies themselves via questionnaires, interviewed therapists working at each company, and asked industry experts for their take on particular aspects of each company. The efficacy of synchronous teletherapy versus in-person therapy: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. For those who prefer working through problems out loud, its possible to schedule a phone call with your counselor. Many Americans Continue to Experience Mental Health Difficulties as Pandemic Enters Second Year, The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. 2005-2023 Psych Central a Red Ventures Company. I can also change how I contact him at any point, so I can decide [if] Id rather have a call or just chat throughout the week, she says. I felt the counselor was a good match for me based on the issues I wanted to work on. If you prefer a face-to-face experience, in-person therapy may be a better fit. Insurance covers both its therapy and psychiatry services. Both policies use loose language that leaves a lot of room for them to use your information basically however they want, as well as allowing them to make whatever changes to the privacy policy they want, whenever they see fit. Brightside vs. BetterHelp: Types of Therapy, Brightside vs. BetterHelp: How Therapy Sessions Work, Brightside vs. BetterHelp: Therapist Qualifications, Brightside vs. BetterHelp: Switching Therapists, Brightside vs. BetterHelp: Privacy Policies, Brightside vs. BetterHelp: User Satisfaction, Daily Tips for a Healthy Mind to Your Inbox, Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry. *Please note: When we say basics in the services offered column, we are grouping anxiety, stress, relationship issues, depression, LGBTQIA+ counseling, and grief counseling together. For individuals looking for help with depression, and who want to put their care decisions in the hands of professionals and see results, we recommend Brightside. BetterHelp does collect data on its clients, but it doesnt sell this data for marketing. The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. The opinions expressed are the authors alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers. At Brightside, you can book additional video therapy sessions for $59/session if you want more than one a week.