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Saturday, March 25th
In business since 2013, BetterHelp calls itself the largest online counseling platform in the world. From what we could find, they're right. BetterHelp's counselors offer their services through a variety of methods including online messages, live chat, phone sessions, and video sessions. BetterHelp works on a membership mode -so you pay to be part of the site and get access to their in-house therapists counselors, and psychiatrists.
Mental health membership
Since BetterHelp is a membership model, you will be charged recurring fees to be a member. Their prices range from $60 to $90 per week, charged every 4 weeks. This covers four 30-45 minute sessions a month, which you can choose how to allocate. BetterHelp offers an annual payment option at a reduced rate, which lowers the overall cost. Although they don't offer any free trials, the program does provide easy cancellation of your membership. They also offer some financial aid opportunities if you can't afford therapy and are covered by some private insurance policies.
Counselor accreditation
With over 30,049 individual therapists, counselors, and psychiatrists on their roster, BetterHelp offers professional counseling from accredited and licensed professionals. All counselors at BetterHelp have a master's degree or doctorate in their field and at least three years of professional experience. For additional piece of mind, BetterHelp evaluates all their providers by verifying licensure and requiring an exam that's reviewed by a licensed clinician.
Only the top 25% of applying professionals
Even then, only the top 25% of professionals applying to BetterHelp get in. The company promises that their therapists offer the same professionalism and quality that you'd get with an in-person counselor. Since they operate online, you have a much more flexible and personalized schedule than you could get with in-person visits. You can meet with them wherever you are.
There for what you need
BetterHelp meets a wide range of different mental health needs. The company knows that individuals are diverse and unique, and the site offers just as much variety in the type of counseling. Their range of therapy includes:
Get a recommended match or choose for yourself
Part of what this site does well is match you up with a therapist who best fits your profile. Alternatively, you can search for your own therapist in the BetterHelp directory if you'd rather find someone yourself after your initial match. This is a much easier (and less stressful) process than vetting therapists in-person.
A few limitations
Keep in mind there are a few areas where BetterHelp isn't ideal. BetterHelp is not for individuals who:
Overwhelming positive reviews
BetterHelp is rated well by reviewers, averaging a 4.5-star rating across different sites. They are accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an impressive "A-" rating. The positive reviews note that the service is fast, that they felt the therapist BetterHelp connected them with was a good match, and that BetterHelp's professionals really did help them improve their mental health across a variety of needs. The few less-than-stellar reviews we found related to problems with particular counselors, not BetterHelp itself.
It really is better at BetterHelp
Overall, BetterHelp stands out as an exceptional resource for online therapy. They offer a huge number of vetted and experienced counselors to choose from based on your needs, preferences, and location, along with an affordable and flexible membership plan. With such a large number of positive reviews, and an emphasis on customer-focused policies, BetterHelp earns our highest rating.
Have you been feeling down lately? A little stressed out? Do you feel like you want someone to talk to but you're limited by your local options? Or maybe you just don't have time for extra driving in your busy schedule? No matter what your therapy needs, if you feel like you need help, you deserve it.
Whether you're a long-time therapy patient, or you're looking to turn over a new leaf with your mental health, there are tons of online options to make your therapy journey easier. But where can you get started? There are so many online therapy choices and so many different therapy styles that it can be hard to choose which way to turn.
Telehealth and online therapy have become popular options. Nearly four in ten Americans (38%) have used telehealth services to meet with a medical or mental health professional, up from 31% in previous years. The majority of those who use telehealth or online therapy now started after the pandemic. Most patients are using telehealth through a video format (69%), while 38% have used phone calls only.
While many originally believed that telehealth and online therapy were lower-quality services compared to in-person treatment, the opinion on telehealth has increased by 40% since 2021. The National Center for Health Research found that online therapy is effective for treating trauma, anxiety, and depression. So, no matter what you need from your online session, you can be assured that you're getting the same treatment as an in-person session.
So, how do you choose the best online therapy provider for your needs? There are a lot of factors to consider. If you're not sure where to start your journey, here are a few things to help you decide:
To help you find the right kind of online therapy for you, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked today's most popular providers across the US. We hope these will make it easy to start prioritizing your mental health in the best way for your needs.
Select any 2 Online Therapy Services to compare them head to head