While online counseling isn't the best solution for everyone, it's quickly becoming one of the most popular ways for people to seek mental health services.
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#1 BetterHelp: Best Therapy Site Overall
BetterHelp is our top choice for online therapy and counseling services. While some telemedicine sites offer a suite of services, BetterHelp focuses exclusively on teletherapy. It has a network of more than 16,000 licensed clinical workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors. Since opening, BetterHelp has assisted 1.6 million people through online counseling.
The platform offers teletherapy services for individuals, couples, and teenagers. After you select the option that works best for you, BetterHelp has you fill out a questionnaire. Your answers go into an algorithm that matches you with qualified therapists. While BetterHelp encourages people to use the matched therapist, you have complete control over who you select.
The virtual therapy platform stands out for its flexibility. You can sort mental health professionals based on their type of therapy, experience, sex, and race. The filtering options make it easier for you to find the right therapist for your specific needs.
BetterHelp offers therapy services via messaging apps, phone, and video. The site comes with extensive explanations of how the process works, helping you get the most of every session. BetterHelp also encourages you to change your therapist if you don't feel like you're making progress.
The downside of BetterHelp is that it doesn't accept insurance. This drawback might be a dealbreaker if you're on a tight budget, with sessions costing $60 to $80 per week. The company also charges a flat rate for all its therapy online.
- The world’s largest network of on-demand therapists
- Over 16,000 licensed mental health professionals
- Therapy programs via chat, phone, or video session
- Specialties include anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief
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#2 Regain: Best Virtual Therapy for Relationship Counseling
Regain is one of the highest rated therapy providers for marriage counseling. Regain gives married couples the support and tools they need to strengthen their relationships. The online therapy platform focuses entirely on relationship counseling so that marriages end up stronger than when they started. Regain encourages live video sessions since it doesn't have an option for three-way phone calls.
You and your partner will fill out a questionnaire before meeting with marriage and family therapists. Your selected licensed mental health professional will seek to understand your concerns and what they can do to help. Couples may want to address relationship issues ranging from marital infidelity to a lack of interpersonal communication.
The questionnaire also lets you detail what you're looking for in a Regain therapist. The insights allow Regain to connect you with the best possible counselor. You can talk with the licensed marriage and family therapist as an individual or couple through 24/7 video conferencing.
Regain couples counseling gives you the space you need to address relationship issues freely. The safe and secure sessions serve as constructive environments to overcome emotional or mental hurdles. The therapist will listen and respond to your statements before providing advice.
Regain serves as a go-to source for effective marriage counseling. While the platform doesn't have live customer service during the sign-up process and doesn't accept insurance, the pros far outweigh the cons. The easy-to-use site deserves the consideration of anyone looking to improve their marriage.
- Individual or couples counseling
- Couples can join therapy sessions together virtually
- Answer a few questions and get matched with the ideal therapist for your needs
- Phone, chat, or video sessions
#3 TeenCounseling: Best for Teen Counseling
TeenCounseling is one of the top-rated therapy programs for teen counseling. Nowadays, teenagers have their attention diverted in every direction, a fact exacerbated by social media and omnipresent technology. It's easy to see why teenagers might struggle with mental health issues, considering the endless barrage of online stories and pictures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9.2% of children experience a mental health issue, ranging from anxiety, depression, and stress to eating disorders and addiction.
Teen Counseling has more than 6,000 licensed clinical social workers and therapists to assist teenagers. The online counseling platform provides a comprehensive way to support young adults, regardless of their issues. Teen Counseling therapists have the necessary qualifications to address mental health care, peer pressure, bullying, and more.
The sign-up process requires teenagers to fill out a questionnaire, though the platform encourages parental involvement in the process. Teenagers can choose to have their own space where they talk with therapists on their own time. Users don't have to worry about making appointments because sessions occur at the same time each week.
Teenagers can get in touch with a therapist via any smart device for either phone or live video sessions. Some users prefer text messaging with their therapist so that they can talk discreetly. The secure environment at Teen Counseling ensures that teenagers don't succumb to outside pressures of shame or judgment.
Teen Counseling offers a flexible online platform that lets teenagers get the help they want when they need it most. Users have unlimited text and video messaging access to therapists, allowing them to get timely treatment. Teen Counseling sessions cost $90 to $120 per week. The platform does not accept insurance.
- Over 7,000 licensed therapy providers
- Specialties include bullying, depression, anxiety, and more
- Offers both teen and parent therapy sessions
- Access to a therapist via phone, chat, or video
#4 TalkSpace: Best Online Therapy Reviews
TalkSpace ranks as one of the top online therapy platforms with its accommodating environment and comprehensive array of services. It has made a name for itself in psychiatry, helping more than a million people treat anxiety, depression, anger, and substance abuse issues. You can get started with a plan for individuals or couples.
The sign-up process requires new users to fill out a brief assessment. The form asks a few questions about your situation and preferences. Those answers go to a professional matchmaker instead of an algorithm, providing you with a list of recommended therapists.
TalkSpace provides 24/7 access to therapists, with sessions available through phone, video, and text messaging. The flexible scheduling allows you to start a live session at your convenience so that you never have to worry about commuting or scheduling issues. If you want to switch therapists, TalkSpace allows you to do that at any time.
The cost of mental health services depends on how you talk with your therapist. If you choose unlimited text and video messaging, TalkSpace is $65 per week. That cost goes up to $79 per week if you add one video chat per month and $99 per week if you add one video chat per week.
TalkSpace provides cost-effective options to get treatment for psychiatric issues. The online platform accepts multiple insurance providers, including Resources for Living, Cigna, and GatorCare. The subsidized treatment means that you can talk to a therapist without breaking the bank.
TalkSpace should be on your shortlist of potential providers if you're interested in psychiatric services. The platform assists people of all ages, including celebrities like Michael Phelps and Demi Lovato. It also has more than 60,000 five-star reviews online and has earned coverage in publications like The Huffington Post, Business Insider, and Mashable.
- Accepts insurance information
- Endorsed by Michael Phelps and Demi Lovato
- 24/7 access – reach out whenever you need to
- Flexible plans to meet your therapy needs
- Easily switch therapists for free at anytime
#5 Online-Therapy.com: Best for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Online-Therapy.com brands itself as a must-visit destination for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) services. It offers an array of tools and resources to support individuals dealing with mental health issues. The platform seeks to provide users with more than a chat, addressing their deepest underlying problems.
Online-Therapy.com starts with a 12 question survey. You answer questions about your overall life satisfaction, anxiety, and stress. The results provide direction toward the ideal treatment.
What makes Online-Therapy.com unique is its structure. You can apply CBT techniques at your own pace while maintaining the option to talk with professional therapists. The platform comes with unlimited messaging, so you have 24/7 support.
Here's the catch: Online-Therapy.com users can only video chat for 30 minutes per week. The cap is one reason the site can offer prices as low as $32 per week. This setup works well for anyone who wants affordable online therapy with do-it-yourself options built-in.
Online-Therapy.com provides a complete toolbox so that you can move forward with each session. The platform includes worksheets, activity planners, and journals for a wide range of CBT resources. All information on the site is secure and confidential, thanks to end-to-end encryption.
- Instant help on any device
- More affordable than seeing a face-to-face therapist
- Anonymous and private
- Program based on cognitive behavioral therapy
(sources: sfgate.com, nytimes.com)