Sitting in a room and talking to a therapist has always been the norm if you want help with mental health issues. However, things have changed a lot in the last decade or so. Right now, you can get therapy sessions from online therapy platforms across the world. The trick is just finding the right online therapy platform and getting the help you need.
5 Best Online Therapy Services: Reviews And How To Choose
The best online therapy services help you find licensed therapists to cater to your needs. Learn about the top platforms today.
5 Best Online Therapy Services
5 Best Online Therapy Services
The best online therapy platform should be able to pair the customer with the right professional, use the correct communication methods, and still be affordable. Does such an option exist? That is what we discuss below to help you see the importance of online therapy sessions and highlight the best platforms to consider.
Editor’s Choice
Why Is It Better?
- Offers multiple communication tools
- Many positive reviews
- Sleek and intuitive user interface
Top 8 Best Online Therapy Platforms
- Betterhelp - Best for Family Counseling
- Calmerry - Best for Affordability
- Talkspace - Best for Insurance Cover
- Online-therapy.com - Best Communication Tools
- Self-therapy Journey - Best for Easy Onboarding Process
1. Betterhelp
Highlighted features:
- Fast sign-up process
- Easy to manage the sessions
- Multiple communication tools
Pros
- Clean website design
- Get your therapist fast
- Best suited for a wide range of mental health issues
Cons
- Might be expensive for some
Betterhelp is a good online therapy platform where you get matched to a professional fast. You simply have to answer a few questions as part of the onboarding process and then you will be matched with professional counselors fast for mental health care. That is what makes it among the best online therapy platforms.
The communication tools for therapy sessions include text, phone, chat, or video. Choose a method that works for you to experience the best online therapy session. You can always communicate with the therapist based on convenience. Once you get assigned a therapist, the schedule is something you can easily work out.
2. Calmerry
Highlighted features:
- Affordable therapy sessions
- Offers multiple specialties
- Easy sign-up process
Pros
- Offers individual matching
- Works with licensed therapists
- Offers free therapist switching
Cons
- Does not accept insurance
If you are seeking an affordable option, this is it. It is affordable but still has the best mental health professionals important to help with your mental health. Once you fill out the sign-up questionnaire, you should get matched with the right mental health professional. The best part is that it has professionals in different fields, including online cognitive behavioral therapy, emotional abuse, OCD, PTSD, and more.
If you are not happy with your assigned therapist, simply ask for a change. The company will offer free switching from one therapist to another. The aim is to help you find a person you can comfortably talk to all the time to get better.
3. Talkspace
Highlighted features:
- Accepts insurance
- Therapist assigned in 48 hours
- Switch therapists at no extra cost
Pros
- Therapists can prescribe medication easily
- Offers flexible plans to meet your lifestyle
- Offers multiple communication tools
Cons
- Lacks the live chat option
When you opt for online therapy rather than in-person therapy, you are hoping to get licensed clinical social workers and other mental health professionals. That is not a problem at all here on Talkspace. Even Health Canal shares details on how to have better mental health, including the use of online therapy platforms such as Talkspace. That is enough to make you consider it.
Here, you will get options such as online therapy for couples, teen therapy, individual therapy, and psychiatry. It just shows how broad it is to provide the best mental health you need. Since it has more than 60,000 positive reviews, it can be more reason to consider it.
Highlighted features:
- Works best for couples
- Has multiple tools to track progress
- Secure and confidential
Pros
- Offers top-quality therapy
- Makes it easy to access professionals
- It keeps your information private
Cons
- No financial assistance program available
This online therapy provider has many options for licensed therapists. This included licensed marriage and family therapists who can generally help your family stay together. The company offers a complete toolbox with all the vital tools to track your progress as you go through the different things in your life.
The company can also help with medication management. This is vital in ensuring that you get the most out of your therapy sessions. We also find it affordable. Compared to what you pay for when in a face-to-face therapy session, you are going to love this kind of option.
Highlighted features:
- Has multiple professionals
- Good for handling mental disorders
- Has multiple resources to help with the journey
Pros
- Huge database of professionals
- It helps you track your progress better
- Can help heal emotional wounds
Cons
- Boring website design
This online therapy service is known to be good for mental health conditions including eating disorders too. MIDSS champions the best mental health, and this includes using STJ as one of the online therapy platforms. The result is that you can get better at various things in life and not have to battle mental health all the time.
The company mostly deals with psychological issues, emotional woods, and healthy capacities. So, whatever you might be going through, there is someone available on STJ to help resolve it. The platform also features many professionals ready to help with your case. Simply follow the sign-up process, and you should get the help you need.
What is Online Therapy?
Online therapy is when you can get counseling or psychotherapy services over the internet. This is unlike the in-person sessions where you would have to sit in a room across from a therapist.
This can be quite interesting to see how it works. Well, so long as you have a device that can connect to the internet, then it is possible to have the sessions based on therapist availability. This includes the use of your computer, phone, or tablet.
The good thing about online therapy is the availability of different therapists. You can get marriage and family therapists, licensed counselors, and so much more. A good online therapy program can generally be excellent at catering to your needs for a therapist.
Who is Online Therapy Useful For?
Whether you are seeking relationship counseling, teen counseling, or any other psychiatry services, online therapy can be useful for you. We live in a world where many things are now done via the internet and so is accessing online therapy.
Online therapy can be good for different conditions and disorders. This includes depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress, self-esteem issues, and more. Since you will be working with licensed mental health counselors, you should be in good hands.
Online therapy is also for those who would feel comfortable in their own environment. If that is something that helps you share better with the mental health professional, then consider it. Of course, online therapy is still a more affordable option than in-person therapy.
What Should I Consider Before Choosing Online Therapy?
So you are interested in trying out mental health apps and websites but you have no idea how to choose one. Here are ideas on what to consider before choosing online therapy.
The expertise of the therapists
What kind of expertise do you get from a platform? It would be nice if you get a wide range of options of professional mental health experts. This includes psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, counselors, and so much more.
Signup process
Before you can opt for any physical therapy assistant programs online, make sure the website is also easy to use. One of the ways to do so is to check the sign-up process. The moment the sign-up process is complicated, it can drive off a potential customer.
Also, how long does it take for you to be matched with a professional? If it takes more than a week, then it might not be worth it.
Types of services
If you are searching for relationship counseling near me, you already know what type of service you want. So, the website should clearly highlight the kind of services it provides to help you choose better. It can be online therapy for teens, LGBTQ, couples, and so much more.
Payment methods
Since you have to pay for the service, look at the pricing to see if you can afford it. Sometimes the company itself can offer financial aid for common mental health issues. However, only pick a company you can comfortably pay for over the months. Also, consider online therapy that takes insurance. This will always save you more in the end.
Communication methods
How you get to communicate with the therapist is also important. There are a couple of methods available. They include video chat, unlimited messaging, live chat, phone calls, and more. Having a variety is better as you can choose the most convenient one for you. In case you are not yet comfortable showing your face on a video, then consider live chat or phone calls.
Online therapy platform reviews
What is the feedback on the company like? Would you be comfortable having to choose a company with negative feedback? As you can see, the online therapy reviews about the company are important to help you choose the right one for you. We recommend only choosing a company with positive reviews so that you can also get the much-desired help.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Taking Online Therapy
Before you can choose the best online therapy programs, you would want to know if there are any benefits and drawbacks to using online therapy. Below are some pros and cons of online therapy to help you see if it is possible to consider it today.
Benefits
It is just as effective
Virtual counseling has proven to be as effective as in-person counseling for different mental health concerns you might have. That is why you may find such telehealth services being recommended for cognitive behavioral therapy and other forms of mental health disorders.
Great for remote areas
Sometimes, because of where you live, it can be hard to access licensed mental health professionals. However, the best online therapy providers make it easy for you to find such professionals to help you even when you are in a remote area. With a simple video chat and several sessions, some can proceed to prescribe medication you need to manage your condition.
More accessible
Mental health emergency is a real issue that can be addressed via online therapy space. In case an individual is disabled and cannot come to the office of a therapist easily, that is where an online therapy site comes in handy. All of the counseling is done from the comfort of their homes.
Affordable
Online therapy cost let us for couples counseling would be cheaper than what you pay for in-person sessions. One, you will be attending the sessions straight from your home so no spending money on gas to get to the therapist. Also, some online counseling companies allow insurance payments. Just make sure your health coverage policy can pay for it.
Drawbacks
Not all insurance companies cover it
Online therapy can be good for stress management, bipolar disorder, stress, and so much more. However, not all insurance companies can cover the service. Most of the time, you may have to pay out of pocket, which can get expensive over time.
Uncertain about privacy and confidentiality
You are going to share with someone about your mental health over phone calls or video chats, but you may be unsure if that information will remain protected. So, it is possible to remain skeptical until you have enough evidence or assurance that your privacy will not be breached.
Not the best for serious psychiatric illnesses
Sometimes, a person just needs the therapist to be there. A good example is when you have severe or complex symptoms because of mental health disorders. Online therapy might not be effective in such a case.
Conclusion
You have seen that it is possible to get the best best online therapy providers who can help a lot with your mental health and other issues that would generally need a therapist's input. Since these companies pair you with professional mental health professionals and counselors, you can see why they are liked more today. They are still affordable to make it easier for you to get the help you need. So, pick the one you feel has the right services to cater to your needs and enjoy online therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does insurance cover online therapy?
It depends on the insurance policy. Check with the insurance company to understand if it covers it or not. In case it covers, that would save you a lot of money.
2. Who should not use online therapy?
In case of an emergency or mental health crisis, it is best to seek in-person services. This is because sometimes, a physical approach is better.
3. How effective is online therapy? Should you use it?
There is plenty of research showing how online therapy is effective. Just make sure you choose the best online therapy provider with the right tools for communicating with the therapist and getting the help you need.
The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.
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