It’s not easy to find a therapist you like, especially if you don’t live near one or your insurance doesn’t cover it.
For many people, online therapy is the answer because there are lots of affordable options that offer quality care with no travel time required.
Do you know according to Mental Health America, 20% of Americans have not been able to receive treatment for their mental health but we want to make you aware of these 10 best online therapy services so that you can take the necessary action to improve your mental health?
We created this list as a resource for those who want to find an online therapist but aren’t sure where to start looking.
Let us get started!
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10 Best Online Therapy Services
These are our 10 best services based on:
- Best Overall – BetterHelp
- Best For Teenagers – Teen Counseling
- Best For Relationship Counseling – Regain
- Best Premium – Talkspace
- Best for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Online-Therapy.com
- Best For Flexible Plans – Calmerry
- Best With Insurance – Cerebral
- Best For Families – Rethink My Therapy
- Best For Psychiatry – Teladoc
- Best For Group Therapy – Circles
1. BetterHelp — Best Overall
For the best online therapy and counseling services, we recommend BetterHelp.
While other telemedicine sites provide a variety of mental health treatments, BetterHelp is only dedicated to teletherapy.
More than 21,000 certified clinical workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors are part of its network.
BetterHelp has helped 1.6 million individuals via online counseling since its launch.
Individuals, couples, and teens can use the platform for teletherapy. After you’ve decided on the best choice for you, BetterHelp will ask you to complete a questionnaire.
Your responses are fed into an algorithm that connects you with qualified therapists to help you.
While BetterHelp encourages users to use the therapist who has been matched with them, you have ultimate control over who you choose.
BetterHelp is, in general, one of the most effective online therapy services available.
You’ll have no trouble choosing the right online therapist for your needs, thanks to their huge network of therapists who cover a wide range of specialties.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 20,000+ licensed therapists
- Financial aid can drastically minimize the cost.
- The health and dietary habits of the respondents are taken into consideration in a detailed questionnaire.
- Effectively helps you through the process of beginning therapy.
Cons
- Doesn’t accept insurance
Reviews by Reddit Users:
BetterHelp – honest thoughts?
by u/ValePhoenix in TalkTherapy
2. Teen Counseling — Best For Teenagers
Teens deserve a safe environment to deal with mental health issues, interpersonal conflicts, and family dynamics.
Teen Counseling, a web-based counseling service for teenagers aged 13 to 19, can assist with stress, anxiety, depression, coping capacity, eating disorders, and rage.
Your teen will meet with a therapist in a virtual therapy room after they have been connected.
It’s a secure place where only your teenager and a qualified therapist can go.
So, unless your teen reveals that they are considering self-harm or inflicting harm on someone, have been exposed to abuse or neglect, or are aware of being mistreated or neglected, their conversations with the therapist remain private.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- A large network of around 9,000 therapists
- Financial aid is provided to eligible families.
- Available in every state
- Unlimited messaging
Cons
- Can’t accommodate court-ordered therapy
- It is difficult to get a refund.
3. Regain — Best For Relationship Counseling
Regain is one of the best online therapy providers for couples therapy.
Regain provides married couples with the resources and assistance they need to improve their relationships.
The online therapy platform focuses only on relationship therapy, with the goal of making couples stronger than they were when they began.
Due to the lack of a three-way phone call option, Regain recommends live video sessions.
Regain couples therapy gives you the freedom to openly talk about your relationship problems.
The secure and safe sessions provide a positive atmosphere to overcome emotional or mental obstacles.
Before offering recommendations, the therapist will listen and reply to your statements.
Regain is a go-to resource for marriage counseling that works.
While there is no live customer service throughout the sign-up process, and the site does not accept insurance, the benefits significantly outweigh the drawbacks.
Anyone wishing to improve their marriage should have a look at this website.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Couples therapy
- Therapists and counselors are relationship experts.
- Two people pay the same amount as one.
- Counselors encourage clients to participate in live video sessions.
Cons
- There is no live support or chat available throughout the sign-up process.
- Policies from insurance companies are not accepted.
4. Talkspace — Best Premium
Talkspace is an easy-to-use, subscription-based online therapy company that provides a number of services (including medication management) and a variety of communication methods, and certain services may be reimbursed by insurance.
Talkspace, founded in 2012, was one of the first online therapy services to start, and its services have only grown since then.
They now include psychiatry, medication management, marital therapy, and adolescent counseling.
Talkspace, like BetterHelp, offers a variety of ways to communicate with your therapist, including video, audio, live chat, and limitless texting.
If your plan is in-network, the firm also works with a few insurance companies and EAP programs, which helps make them more affordable.
They also accept HSA and FSA cards for payment.
Talkspace complies with HIPAA regulations, and its privacy rules are publicly displayed on its website.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Accepts insurance
- Psychiatric treatments are provided, including assessments and medication management.
- Adults, teenagers, and couples can all benefit from therapy.
- The plans include text, audio, video chats, and live treatment sessions.
Cons
- Matching with a therapist may take several days.
- Live video sessions are not included in every plan.
5. Online-Therapy.com – Best for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Online-Therapy.com touts itself as a go-to source for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) services.
It provides various tools and information to help those who are struggling with mental health problems.
The platform aims to provide customers with more than just a chat session by addressing their underlying issues.
The structure of Online-Therapy.com is what sets it apart.
You can learn CBT techniques at your own pace while still having access to expert therapists.
You get access to unlimited messaging on the platform, as well as 24/7 support.
Online-Therapy.com offers a comprehensive toolkit to help you progress through each session.
Worksheets, activity planners, and notebooks for various CBT tools are available on the platform.
Thanks to end-to-end encryption, all information on the site is safe and secure.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Detailed therapist bios with customer reviews
- Global access
- Various therapies are available.
- Low-cost options
Cons
- Insurance isn’t accepted.
- It might be difficult to schedule in-person video sessions.
6. Calmerry — Best For Flexible Plans
Calmerry is a newer platform that provides online therapy.
The company consistently receives positive feedback from customers, according to third-party consumer review websites.
Licensed clinical psychologists, licensed marital and family therapists, clinical social workers, and trained counselors make up the expert network.
Calmerry specializes in depression, anxiety, relationship issues, OCD, rage, trauma, consumption disorders, family turmoil, PTSD, and panic attacks.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Quick access to a therapist customer
- the service team that is attentive and helpful
- It takes around five minutes to complete the basic registration process.
- A daily response from a therapist is guaranteed.
Cons
- There are no services available for children or teenagers.
- No telephonic sessions
7. Cerebral — Best With Insurance
Cerebral is a web-based therapy platform that offers both talk therapy and medication.
It also delivers your prescription medicine to your home, saving you the time and effort of going to the pharmacy.
Cerebral tackles a wide range of mental and emotional health problems.
Although its out-of-network subscription fees are similar to those of its competitors, if you have one of the in-network insurance plans it supports, your monthly charges may be as little as $29 plus your copay.
Cerebral was chosen because of its ability to provide medication management and talk therapy treatments while accepting a wide range of in-network insurance policies.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Accepts insurance
- Prescribes medications and delivers them to your door.
- There are three different membership options available.
- If you’re not in-network, they can help you submit insurance claims.
Cons
- Not all care counselors are licensed therapists
- Users cannot message therapists.
8. Rethink My Therapy — Best For Families
When it comes to actual user survey statistics, ReThink My Therapy stands out since its users are overwhelmingly satisfied with their service.
ReThink My Therapy also stands out since it provides a seven-day free trial to all new customers, which is quite generous compared to similar offers from competitors.
This makes it easier for people to commit to a subscription plan and a therapist.
Rethink My Therapy is also incredibly cost-effective, providing both medication management and talk therapy for a single low monthly fee (though medication costs are additional).
Individual, couple, and family treatment plans are also available, making it a great option for a wide range of individuals.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable subscription rates
- Individual, couple, and family sessions are available.
- Provides counseling and medication management services.
Cons
- Live messaging isn’t available.
- Does not accept insurance
9. Teladoc — Best For Psychiatry
Teladoc has been in business since 2002, and it now serves people aged 13 and up in dozens of countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, China, Portugal, and others.
Teladoc’s fully qualified therapists and psychiatrists provide users worldwide with accessible, in-network mental health services seven days a week.
Teladoc’s therapists and psychiatrists run their own practices and are not employed by the company.
You can book 45-minute video or audio sessions between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. seven days a week. For non-emergencies, medical professionals are available 24/7.
Teladoc accepts many insurance policies and claims that its services may cost as little as $0 out of pocket.
However, you must first register an account to see whether your plan is approved.
Teladoc also provides individual talk therapy, but this isn’t the service for you if you’re looking for couples counseling or family therapy.
Its professionals can assist with issues such as depression, stress, addiction, and anxiety.
However, the site claims that disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia should be treated in person, so if you suffer from such mental disorders, this is not the company for you.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Serves teens and adults in over 130 countries
- Provides medication management services (except for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia)
- Psychiatrists and therapists who are fully licensed
- In-network with several insurance plans
Cons
- Only individual talk therapy and psychiatry sessions are available.
- Without insurance or reimbursement, it might be costly.
10. Circles — Best For Group Therapy
Circles, a group therapy company, connects you to live online group support groups guided by qualified therapists or trained coaches for about $30 per week on a monthly subscription basis.
There are groups for several mental health issues, such as grief, sadness, anxiety, and addictions.
However, it should be stressed that the service is not intended to replace primary care or individual treatment.
Outside of sessions, Circles provides extra exercises, tools, and an online journal for work.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Topic-specific groups conducted by qualified therapists or trained coaches are available at different times.
- Unlimited messaging with the therapist and other members of the group
- Seven-day free trial and weekly billing
Cons
- Insurance does not cover some services.
- It is more of an emotional support service than a therapeutic service.
Comparison
| Company | Best For | Price | Best Feature | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetterHelp | Overall | $60 to $90 per week | 20,000+ licensed therapists | 4.7/5 |
| Teen Counseling | For Teenagers | $60 to $90 per week | Available in every state | 3.7/5 |
| Regain | Relationship Counseling | $60 to $90 per week | Safe & Secure | 3.2/5 |
| Talkspace | Premium | $69 – $149 per week | Psychiatric treatments | 3/5 |
| Online-Therapy.Com | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | $50 – $110 per week | Global access | 4.1/5 |
Conclusion
The 10 best online therapy services Of 2023 are a great option for people who need counseling but can’t afford an office visit.
These companies offer professionally-guided groups, one-on-one sessions with licensed therapists and psychiatrists, and the convenience of being able to schedule from anywhere at any time of day or night.
FAQs
Is online therapy effective?
Online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy.
Many therapists offer real-time video sessions, which means you can get the same experience of one-on-one interaction with your therapist online that you would get in an office visit.
Does insurance cover online therapy?
Some insurance companies cover online therapy if prescribed by your primary care provider, but there are also services designed specifically for people who have out-of-network benefits.
Check with your insurance carrier if you want to know what the policies are in your state.
How much does online therapy cost?
Many of these services offer a free trial or a discounted rate, but after that, you might be looking at around $50 for a one-on-one session with your therapist.
Group sessions are typically even less expensive than individual sessions, and the average cost is about $20 per week.
Amit Gupta is the founder of National Planning Cycles, a company that helps startups, individuals, and small businesses with their financial planning. He has a vast amount of experience in the finance sector, having managed Google Play accounts for some of the world’s most successful unicorns. Amit is an expert in his field, and he uses his knowledge to help others achieve their individual goals.