Talkspace Review

Saturday, March 25th

2023 Online Therapy Reviews

Talkspace

• BBB accredited
• An extensive network of counselors
• Offers therapy for couples, teens, and individuals
• Psychiatric services available for adults
• Text, audio, and video
• Prescriptions offered
• Pricing starts at $276/month

Talkspace is a frontrunner in telehealth therapy. As one of the largest telehealth providers out there, they have a massive cohort of mental health professionals available. With programs that serve individuals, couples, and teens, and that offer prescriptions, this membership-based platform is one of the most robust out there. With several membership types, Talkspace seems to be the best option - until you start digging a little deeper.

Prices are high for what they offer

While a lot of Talkspace's platform sounds amazing, the price is where it really starts to differentiate from the competition. Talkspace's subscription plans range from $276 to $516 per month. However, if you want to use their psychiatry option, this isn't part of any subscription and will be charged per session. Talkspace does accept insurance, so the final price you pay might be less than what is shown on the initial estimate.

5 membership options

The 5 memberships options include:

• Messaging Therapy for $276 per month
• Live Therapy for $396 per month
• Live Messaging and Therapy for $516 per month
• Couples Therapy for $436 per month

The psychiatry option, which is billed separately costs $249 for the initial evaluation and $125 for additional sessions. Teens have access to the first three memberships with parental consent.

Extra attention to credentials

All of the therapists at Talkspace are required to have at least one of the following: a license for a clinical social worker (LCSW), a license for a marriage and family therapist (LMFT), a license for professional clinical counseling (LPCC), or a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. All Talkspace therapists have completed a minimum of 3,000 hours of clinical experience and are authorized to work only in the state where they hold their licenses.

Features depend on the package you select

Depending on which subscription you choose, you will have access to unlimited text messaging with your therapist, video sessions, and audio messages. Packages that include live video sessions provide four 45-minute sessions each month. In the couples therapy packages, you get unlimited texting and four 30-minute video sessions per month. And with the psychiatry sessions, you are able to get medication management assistance and focus on helping you get your prescriptions.

Full range of therapy styles

Talkspace therapists can focus on a variety of topics in sessions, including, but not limited to: addiction, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, grief and trauma, mood disorders, PTSD, and LGBTQ+ issues. In terms of methodology, Talkspace therapists have a variety of approaches to therapy including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Client-centered therapy
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Existential therapy
• Interpersonal psychotherapy
• Mindfulness therapy
• Trauma-focused therapy
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Family therapy

Shockingly bad reviews

For a frontrunner program, the reviews for Talkspace are shockingly bad. Averaging one star on both Trustpilot and BBB, Talkspace isn't popular with customers. Reviewers agree that the customer service at Talkspace leaves a lot to be desired. Many customers felt "scammed" by charges for services they didn't receive. Other customers found it difficult to change therapists when they didn't feel like the match was right. Some found the cancellation process either unsuccessful or very difficult to complete without getting charged again. Without a single 5-star review on either site, it's hard to recommend Talkspace.

Sounds great, but doesn't stack up for customers

Despite being a well-advertised option, Talkspace doesn't stack up when we look at customer satisfaction. With their high prices, you'd imagine they'd take customer service more seriously, but the reviews say otherwise. Despite having a great roster of mental health professionals and therapy styles on paper, they aren't delivering what they promise to their customers. So, while Talkspace offers a few extras like teen counseling, it's nowhere near our favorite resource for online therapy.