Mental health has never been so accessible. While traditional in-person therapy requires clients to be present at a therapist’s office, online therapy eliminates the need to commute, enabling clients to get the necessary help from virtually anywhere.
Sometimes, people feel lonely and isolated when dealing with mental health issues. The truth is that you can get help if you just reach out for it. There’s no need to deal with your emotional problems alone because a licensed therapist can help you figure out the causes of your issues and suggest effective coping strategies that will work for you.
While making therapy more accessible, online therapy platforms also offer a number of other advantages. For instance, it offers great flexibility so even people with very busy schedules can find some time to talk to a therapist via video chat or just send a text message and wait for the therapist’s response.
Many people also use online therapy because it’s cheaper than traditional in-person sessions. Although not all online therapy platforms are affordable, you can always find something that fits your budget. We decided to help you choose a virtual therapy platform so that you can not only benefit from low prices but also be sure that you’ll work with qualified professionals.
Top 5 Online Therapy Companies in 2022
We considered some of the most popular online therapy platforms and compared their quality of services, prices, convenience, and unique features. We also analyzed reviews from clients, and based on our research, we selected the top 5 services:
- Calmerry
- Amwell
- TalkSpace
- Online-Therapy
- BetterHelp
Let’s take a closer look at each of these services.
1. Calmerry
Although this platform was created not so long ago, it has been quickly gaining popularity thanks to flexible subscription plans, high-quality services, and outstanding customer support.
Calmerry connects clients with therapists with the necessary credentials and experience. All therapists are professionals who are licensed to practice in their states.
There are mental health professionals with different areas of specialization and clinical experience so this platform helps clients deal with a vast variety of problems, including anxiety, grief, trauma, self-esteem problems, stress, etc. Here, you can benefit from relationship therapy or get help with the symptoms of depression.
To get matched, you need to complete a quick survey and provide some key information about your issue. After this, an advanced algorithm will match you with a therapist who is familiar with your kind of problem. The matching process is pretty quick, and you can send your first message or schedule a video session right away.
All conversations between clients and therapists are securely encrypted, and this company puts a lot of effort into protecting its clients’ personal data. Along with video sessions and unlimited messaging, here you can also benefit from free self-care tools, including a unique mood tracking chatbot.
This is the only platform that offers a one-week plan, and it has subscription plans for budgets of any size. Generally, the cost of subscriptions starts at $42 per week and depends on the number of live sessions included in a particular plan.
Pros
- Therapists licensed to practice in all 50 states
- Various subscription options
- Free therapist switching
- 24/7 client support
- Live video chats and unlimited messaging
- Free self-care tools
- HIPAA-compliant
- Advanced matching
- iOS and Android apps
Cons
- No free trials
- No psychiatrists available
- Individual therapy only
2. Amwell
This is probably the biggest company that offers telehealth services in the U.S. Perhaps, the main difference between Amwell and other companies on this list is that it doesn’t focus on mental health but it provides a wide spectrum of online services, and mental health therapy is one of them.
Here, you can talk to a physician, therapist, or psychiatrist. Given that this company offers psychiatrists’ consultations, it might be the right choice for those whose disorders require medication treatment, as psychiatrists are allowed to give prescriptions.
Just like other platforms from this list, this company offers video therapy sessions. However, the live sessions are only about 10 minutes long. To schedule a session, you should find an available therapist, and you can also check their reviews before making a choice.
Generally, video sessions with therapists cost $109-$129. The first consultation with a psychiatrist and follow-up visits will cost you about $280 and $109, respectively. Unfortunately, there are no discounts available.
Pros
- Psychiatry services are available
- A wide range of teletherapy services
Cons
- No subscription plans
- No discounts
- You may need to wait up to 14 days for an online appointment
3. TalkSpace
This is another online therapy platform that connects clients with licensed therapists and counselors. This company offers a vast variety of services, including individual, couples, and teens therapy.
Here, you can get help with depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, trauma, and many other mental health problems. Besides, you can talk to a psychiatrist, although psychiatry services aren’t featured in subscription plans so you may need to pay an extra fee.
TalkSpace is a very popular platform, and it’s often endorsed by celebrities and influencers. It has already helped thousands of clients, even though not all clients’ feedback is positive.
Clients can choose from among three subscription plans. The cheapest plan features messages only and costs $65 per week. Plans that include 1 and 4 live videos cost $79 and $99
Pros
- Individual, couples, and teen plans are available
- A free consultation with a matching agent
- Unlimited messages
Cons:
- The matching process may take a lot of time
- The services may not be covered by insurance
- Clients who haven’t used some of their therapy time aren’t eligible for refunds
4. Online-Therapy
This platform’s main focus is cognitive behavioral therapy, and it offers teletherapy services at an affordable price. The platform is easy to use: and you can search for therapists, book sessions, and manage your account from one place.
There is a wide range of services available. Here you can get help with symptoms of depression, anger management, or anxiety. All therapists have the necessary licenses and experience.
The dashboard has sections for messages, live video sessions, activity plans, and other features. To make sure that therapy actually works, this platform evaluates clients’ progress once in a few weeks.
Online-Therapy offers three subscription plans. The basic plan costs $39.95 per week and only features text messages with no express replies. A plan with one 30-minute weekly live session will cost you $59.95 per week, and a premium plan with two 60-minute weekly sessions costs $79.95.
Pros
- Licensed therapists
- Access to a mental health toolbox and wellness exercises
- You can get additional assignments for a better progress
Cons
- 24/7 texting is not supported
- Therapists are not available on weekends
- No mobile app
5. BetterHelp
This is one of the most popular online therapy platforms. Here, you can talk to a licensed therapist via video or phone call, and this platform offers not only individual but also group sessions.
There are many licensed therapists with different kinds of experience and backgrounds. Matching is based on an algorithm that considers clients’ symptoms. This company helps clients deal with depression, anxiety, stress, and many other problems.
The cost of subscription plans starts at $65 per week. The cheapest package, however, includes messaging only. The good news is that this platform also offers financial aid for certain categories of clients.
Pros
- Multiple pricing plans
- Groupinars and webinars are available
- Several communication channels
Cons
- Some clients complain about the customer service
- The basic plan has no video sessions
How We Selected The Best Online Therapy Platforms
We understand that everyone has unique problems and expectations regarding online therapy, so we decided to help you with our list of online therapy platforms with a good reputation. Each one of these companies has its unique features, strengths, and weaknesses, so you can choose the one that meets your needs.
We selected platforms for our list based on several important factors, such as professionalism, types of services, prices, flexibility, and clients’ reviews. We chose companies with licensed therapists and counselors that value clients’ privacy and offer professional support.
Wrapping Up: Choosing the Best Online Therapy Platform
Taking care of your mental health has never been so easy. There’s no need to commute to a therapist’s office because online therapy platforms allow you to get the necessary help and support from home. You can schedule video sessions whenever you have some time in your schedule.
Mental health is crucial for all areas of our lives, so accessible therapy offers a great opportunity to improve the quality of your life on your terms. You can choose your preferred format of communication and get the so-needed help from virtually anywhere. Online therapy has proven to be effective when treating depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, and many other issues.
Our website doesn’t receive any compensation from companies featured in our materials. All opinions are independent and not sponsored by businesses. To learn more about any of the platforms from this article, don’t hesitate to check out more detailed reviews on Therapy-Reviews.com.
