The company stands out in the online therapy field as being specifically geared toward depression and anxiety. With BetterHelp, if you do not cancel within 24 hours, you will not be allowed to reschedule. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. Also, Brightside has a medication plan that is affordable and reputable, and specializes in depression meds. Messaging isnt done in real time, but as soon as you receive a response from your therapist, you will get an email notification. Covid19 Support: 25% off your first month of counseling.. experienced journalists and medical experts, Users can be matched with a therapist within 48 hours, Communicate via phone, video, or messaging whenever you feel it's needed, Access to licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors. 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. 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. However, BetterHelp should not be used if youre in immediate danger or need critical mental health services. Mobile apps for BetterHelp are available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. Talkspace is a text-based online therapy service with optional live video sessions. 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. Knowing hes there is really comforting.. All have a masters or doctoral degree in the area they specialize in. BetterHelp is one such online therapy service that allows you to text-chat with a licensed, accredited therapist 24/7. Marcelle ET, et al. Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. We discuss how Betterhelp works, what to consider if youre in the market for online therapy, and what would work best for you. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. BetterHelp is a subscription plan with services not generally covered by health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. I had the option to schedule an appointment with him or choose a different therapist I decided to schedule, and Im really glad I did!, She says that she had the option to choose between a call, messenger, or video. I got matched with a therapist within a couple of hours at BetterHelp, while with Brightside, it took over a day. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. On a separate occasion, when I submitted a question via the platforms support messaging, I received a satisfactory reply to my question within a few hours. As a Product Manager at BetterHelp, you'll join a diverse team of licensed clinicians, engineers, product pros, creatives, marketers, and business leaders who share a passion for expanding . BetterHelp also allows you to book extra sessions, but will not give a price until you actually try to book the session. My therapist complained to me that connectivity issues at BetterHelp were not that uncommon. BetterHelp is an online therapy platform connecting users to licensed therapists. Exploring the efficacy of telehealth for family therapy through systematic, meta-analytic, and qualitative evidence. Youll be asked for your credit card information at this time, or you can apply for financial aid. Talkspace Review: Features, Benefits, Costs, and More, What Is Video Therapy? No more waiting days, weeks or even months to find a therapist. Its available in the United States and the United Kingdom. They spent over $100 million on advertising in digital, print, and national TV in the last year. . BetterHelp costs $240 - $360 monthly (advertised as $60 - $90 weekly), making it an affordable out-of-pocket therapy option. Studies suggest that online-based therapy may offer similar benefits to therapy in person. This option mimics the comfort of texting a good friend. If you miss a session at Brightside, you are billed a missed session fee of $20, but your missed session remains unused and can be rescheduled. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. While traditional therapy offers the quiet comfort of facial expressions and affirmations, in todays tech-centric world, even that can be closely mimicked through BetterHelps live video sessions. Headspace vs. The exact price depends on a person's location and preferences . While in-person therapy provides only live sessions, generally once a week, BetterHelp provides more frequent communication options. Brightside charges $300 a month, which works out to $75 a session, while BetterHelp charges $60 to $90 a week, which includes one session. You get unlimited messaging with your therapist. Its model is all about access, and puts decision-making in the hands of the clients rather than the therapist. Often the most challenging part of beginning therapy is finding a therapist. Efficacy of synchronous telepsychology interventions for people with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and adjustment disorder: A rapid evidence assessment. Instead, you can choose a nickname your therapist can call you. 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. Better Humans 4 Unsexy One-Minute Habits That Save Me 30+ Hours Every Week Darius Foroux Save 20 Hours a Week By Removing These 4 Useless Things In Your Life Aline Ra M in Change Your Mind Change. If you dont like who youre paired with, you can request to be matched with a new therapist. Theyll give you an authorization form to fill out before they can release your information. Their campaigns have now expanded over several social media platforms such as YouTube or Instagram. The actual click-through process takes less time, and the matching turnaround is also much faster. It also offers couples and teen therapy, with free live weekly group seminars available. They can be convenient and private for many people, making them a viable option for receiving coaching and therapy from anywhere and at any time. It also has several sister websites that provide therapy for couples, teens, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those seeking a faith-based approach. 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. In both companies, the personal portal in the app mirrors the one found on the website almost exactly. Affordable, Private Therapy Anytime, Anywhere. The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. Overall, users were very satisfied with both platforms, and the companies received similar ratings in most categories: 90% of Brightside users rated it good to excellent overall, while 86% of BetterHelp users did the same. Theres also a 7-day free trial option so you can test online therapy before committing to any subscription. BetterHelp also offers financial aid for those who qualify for example, for anyone whos unemployed or going through financial difficulty. Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does take longer, and gets rather personal about your medical history and personal habits. Switching therapists is much easier at BetterHelp. 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. She has over a decade of experience as a professional journalist covering mental health, chronic conditions, medicine, and science. On Google Play, the BetterHelp app received 4.7 stars from more than 26,000 reviews. Your counselor will reply with questions, guidance, homework, or feedback. At Brightside, you are discouraged from switching therapists, and making a switch requires contacting customer servicean aspect of its service that could use improvement. As a result, youre free to message your counselor at any hour of the day. Youll be asked to fill out a questionnaire to check your eligibility. Here are some cons to consider before trying BetterHelp: You can connect to BetterHelp on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Health site. Published May 25, 2021 Advertiser BetterHelp Advertiser Profiles Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest Tagline "Get Real Therapy. Brightside was founded by Brad Kittredge in 2017, and is based in Oakland, California. We dont publish any health content until our. Here are the biggest benefits, as well as who are good candidates for the. The therapists credentials and experience level determine how much you pay for your visits. Learn more about. The journal feature may be useful if you want to try writing down your thoughts and feelings. At this writing, out of 4,100 reviews on Trustpilot, 84% of BetterHelp users rated the service as excellent, and 9% rated their experience as bad. This usually had to do with the reviewers personal experience with their therapist. Your . 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. Talkspace is a digital therapy platform that hosts thousands of licensed therapists and connects them with clients via the web and mobile app. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best If youre interested in trying BetterHelp, you can get started here. It also offers couples and teen therapy, with free live weekly group seminars available. Get help, you deserve to be happy! Commissions we earn from partner links on this page do not affect our opinions or evaluations. To connect with your therapist for a live chat, phone or video session, you will need to schedule a time with your therapist and log in to your account at your determined session time. Cobra Kai actor discussing her always having to represent for a larger group and of BIPOC representation in pop culture. Whats clear is that Brightside makes billing your insurance relatively easy, while with BetterHelp, its nearly impossible. She says that, while she didnt have many prerequisites for a therapist, she did feel that she was matched relatively well. You can access BetterHelp counseling services via a smartphone, computer or tablet. 7 Cups provides mental-health care through mindfulness exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and interpersonal exercises, along with support for a variety of different needs: 7 Cups matches you with a therapist, so you will not have the option of choosing your therapist. Financial aid is available to users who cant afford the standard price. Talkspace and BetterHelp both offer online access to trained therapists for a wide range of mental health services. My therapist was skilled, empathetic and competent. 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. You can choose to do your therapy sessions via video chat, phone call, live chat, or messaging similar to email. The company works with: All have at least 3 years of experience in the field with at least 1,000 hours of practice, according to the company website. Here are the best places for guided meditation online in, If youre considering meeting with a psychiatrist but prefer remote visits, online psychiatry may be right for you. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Frequently asked questions about BetterHelp, kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/report/kff-health-tracking-poll-july-2020/, Is BetterHelp Covered By Insurance? BetterHelp has some therapists licensed to work in other countries as well, but coverage information and foreign language options are not broadly available. Neither the site nor its therapists will submit claims for you, and although its FAQ page says you are welcome to try to get reimbursed yourself, it notes that services offered using this site are generally not covered by health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Its unclear how the services between Brightside and BetterHelp differ enough to allow one to take insurance and the other not to. 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. Along with BetterHelp, there are other online therapy services that offer services that could better align with your needs. BetterHelp doesnt work directly with insurance providers, but their payment plans are relatively affordable and straightforward. The sites and apps for both companies are relatively minimalist and feature similar setups: a scrollable homepage that offers easy-to-digest information about how the service works, with highly prominent links prompting you to sign up scattered throughout the page. 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. For more in-depth information, continue reading. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of psychiatric illness. Online therapy platforms connect you with licensed providers, which can include psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers and licensed professional counselors. Behavioral Health: Patient Access, Provider Claims Payment, and the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. For those who prefer working through problems out loud, its possible to schedule a phone call with your counselor. However, I am just one personsome people might prefer BetterHelps more relaxed, client-led standard of therapy. BetterHelp includes an online journal thats yours and yours alone. Simone is the health editorial director for performance marketing at Verywell. Here are our top picks for online, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. {{ tocState.toggleTocShowMore ? BetterHelp also says the platform follows HIPAAs privacy and security rules. 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. BetterHelp last advertised a new product in December, 2021. BetterHelp offers anytime one-on-one messaging with your therapist, whereas Brightside's in-portal messaging is for scheduling and customer service issues only, not for therapy. She specializes in aging, long-term care, caregiving, retirement and a variety of other health and retirement topics. If you dont like waiting hours for a response, you can schedule a live chat session with your counselor. An algorithm will pair you with a licensed therapist based on your answers. In addition, you can choose to request financial aid from BetterHelp, according to anecdotal sources. If you're eligible for financial aid, you can get their subscription at about 20-50% lower cost. 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. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. 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. Brightside uses Zoom to host all therapy sessions, and sends a Zoom link to your portal. It wont be visible to anyone else unless you choose to share it. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Youll also have an opportunity to describe, in your own words, why youre seeking therapy. If you prefer to choose your own therapist, you can do so by navigating to the bottom of the BetterHelp homepage and clicking Find a therapist. However, this choice isnt explained in BetterHelps FAQs page. BetterHelp is the convenient way to get professional help from a licensed therapist. The BetterHelp platform was easy to navigate, and I enjoyed my therapy experience. You can work with a therapist via your computer, smartphone, or tablet. What type of therapy are you looking for? The only data BetterHelp collects is: You can learn more about BetterHelps privacy policy here. As a result, many people experiencing mental health issues turned to online therapy platforms like BetterHelp. However, some note that their insurance didnt cover their BetterHelp subscription cost. Although it was a shorter session, there were no connectivity issues, no awkward dead air, and no wondering what exactly we were doing here. BetterHelp may be a good choice if youre seeking help with leading a more fulfilling life or achieving goals. On the other hand, you may not find BetterHelp useful if you: If youre having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, you can access free support right away with these resources: Yes, BetterHelp connects users with licensed mental health professionals who can provide psychotherapy through online channels. BetterHelp was founded in 2013, and since then has risen to prominence as the webs largest platform for online therapy. Insurance companies need these details before they can cover the cost and for record-keeping. Kaiser Family Foundation. Surprisingly, BetterHelp had more users looking for help with depression: 62%, compared to just 51% of Brightside users, despite Brightsides more specific focus on the condition. Talkspace is a text-based therapy platform. Insurance covers both its therapy and psychiatry services. The app and website are easy to navigate. Or, therapists may list a less well-known modality, such as client-centered therapy or psychodynamic therapy as their primary clinical approach. I felt my therapist was an excellent counselor and a good match for the issues that brought me to therapy. Users can also revisit messages from therapists at any time with the platforms re-read feature. Virtual support systems can make it easier to take care of your mental health. Since 2013, over 30,000 licensed, accredited, and board-certified therapists from BetterHelp's network have helped more than 2,000,000 people face life's challenges and improve their mental health. 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 Plus, get 20% off your first month. They offer a variety of different services, and their monthly membership payment plan is flexible so you can cancel anytime. (2019). By Mary X. Dennis All Rights Reserved. Compared to other popular online therapy sites and the typical cost of traditional, in-person therapy, BetterHelp falls on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes to price, which is important for those looking to find a more affordable form of therapy. 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