
The service also offers ongoing promotions to get your first week free.

Though Betterhelp doesn't take insurance, you can apply for financial aid at signup. The subscription service ranges from $60-90 per week billed monthly per the site's FAQ, "based on location, preferences, and therapist availability" (they're a bit less transparent in their pricing structure than rival TalkSpace). Offers: Individual therapy, couples counseling, teen therapyīetterHelp bills itself as "the world's largest e-counseling platform," which means you'll have access to a large pool of accredited mental health professionals with a minimum of three years' experience. Next, you'll choose a licensed therapist from a pool of matches, and communicate with them through the site or app to message, schedule, and conduct video sessions. After creating an account, you'll fill out a short assessment form with info about yourself and what you're looking for.
VIRTUAL COUNSELING FULL
Talkspace is partnered with some health plans, as well as with some companies' employee assistance plans (EAP), so check their full list of partners before signup. Online consultants are available via chat to help choose the best package for you.

Premium and Ultimate include live 30-minute video therapy sessions for the Ultimate's weekly video therapy session you'll pay $99 per week. (though the hours at which they'll respond vary by therapist). Their three package tiers, Plus, Premium, and Ultimate, all offer unlimited 24/7 messaging via text, audio, and video, in case you need to vent at 3 a.m. Talkspace's pricing begins at $65 a week for the lowest message-only package, if you pay monthly. Offers: Individual therapy, couples counseling, teen therapy, psychiatry as a separate service Here are 10 of the best online therapy platforms out there today, and a summary of each to help determine which is best for you. Given that subscription-based teletherapy plans can be more affordable than some insurance copays (accent on "some"), they can be a budget-friendlier to find support when you need it, without leaving home. Several of the telehealth services below, such as Amwell, accept insurance others don't. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to playįortunately, multiple studies suggest that online therapy really is as useful as in-person visits when they're conducted via video, though there's less research-based evidence on text-only therapy. Durlofsky notes that she tends to ask more questions in virtual sessions than she normally would, because, "for example, with online therapy I’m not able to determine if a patient is feeling particularly anxious by observing his or her body language in person."

Paula Durlofsky, who practices in Pennsylvania. "As a psychologist, I've found online therapy to be surprisingly effective," says Dr.
VIRTUAL COUNSELING PROFESSIONAL
For those who have mobility issues, live in locations with a limited pool of in-person providers, or simply never had the time to commute to appointments, professional help is finally just a video chat, text, or phone call away. This pivot to virtual and online therapy is more than just a boon for those sticking close to home in a pandemic. One rare positive upshot among the many creative readjustments that this worldwide lifestyle shift entailed: An increase in teletherapy, meaning remote mental health counseling, as both new and established services rose to meet a rising need in treatment for depression and anxiety. The events that began in March of 2020 required everyone to stay at home as much as possible.
