5 Best Online Therapy Platforms Announced in 2021
Physical distancing and economic shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic have remained in a place far longer than we first anticipated and have led to drastic negative effects on the mental wellbeing of people of different ages. Many people feel isolated and lonely and report increased levels of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty and express a need for psychological support.
Fortunately, technological advancements have simplified getting mental healthcare from wherever you are. Online therapy platforms offer an affordable and convenient solution to those who can’t see a therapist in person for any reason. They give you an opportunity to talk to a licensed online therapist via phone calls, video conferencing, and texting and eliminate the time and expense of commuting to work.
But not all online therapy platforms are created equal. Here is a list of top teletherapy companies for 2021 from Therapy-reviews.com, the tester, and aggregator of unbiased reviews of online therapy platforms:
We independently researched and tested different online therapy providers and now announce our top picks for 2021 with detailed reviews, highlighting their pros and cons.
Calmerry
Pros:
● Fully licensed therapists with experience in different fields
● Unlimited messaging therapy and live video sessions
● HIPAA-compliant platform
● Free mobile apps for Android and iOS
● Easy cancelation at any time
● Budget-friendly subscription plans
● You can switch therapist any time for free
Cons:
● The platform is relatively new
● No therapy sessions via phone calls
About the Platform
Calmerry is a comparatively new online therapy platform – it was launched in October 2020. It was founded by a group of American and EU entrepreneurs who wanted to address the challenges people faced because of the Covid-19 pandemic. They were concerned about the pandemic’s impact on people’s mental wellbeing. The founders wanted to make mental healthcare affordable and accessible to everyone.
It’s a HIPAA-compliant platform where you can get matched with a licensed counselor from your state: LMHC, LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC, LMFT, etc. Their plans include unlimited messaging and 30-minute live video calls.
How to Start Therapy on Calmerry?
The first step in starting therapy at Calmerry is taking a brief assessment. You have to complete an intake survey and answer a few questions. You can specify exactly what you are looking for. Then, you should choose the most suitable subscription plan for your lifestyle and budget and pay for your subscription. You will be emailed to let you know that you’ve been matched with a therapist who will contact you to schedule a session.
What Mental Health Issues Do Their Therapists Treat?
The platform offers individual therapy, family therapy, and couples counseling in a variety of specializations, including
● Anxiety and stress
● Depression
● Eating disorders, OCD
● PTSD
● Emotional abuse therapy
● Self-esteem issues
● Grief & trauma
● Career counseling
● LGBTQIA+, etc.
Prices
The platform uses a subscription-based model and offers multiple subscription plans. The prices start from $42 per week with $90 off the first month. You can pay for your subscription weekly or monthly.
Talkspace
Pros:
● Multiple communication options via text, video, or audio messaging
● You are matched to several therapists and can pick one
● Simple sign up process
● Individual, couples, teen counseling, and psychiatry services
● Psychiatrists can prescribe medication
Cons:
● No free trial
● Getting matched to a counselor may take a few days
About the Platform
Talkspace was founded in 2012, and now, it’s one of the most popular platforms. They boast they have already helped more than one million people improve their mental health and feel better. There are many licensed therapists available; they have been thoroughly vetted. Some of their treatment approaches include CBT, DBT, psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness.
How to Start Therapy on Talkspace?
You need to create an account and complete a questionnaire. Your answers will be helpful in matching you with a mental health professional. You can also have a free consultation with a licensed therapist who acts as a matching agent and may help you decide whether online therapy on their platform is right for you. An algorithm will match you to a few therapists who specialize in addressing your issues, and you can choose one. You can communicate with your therapist 5 days a week through text messages, video, or phone calls. Their therapists are expected to respond to a client’s messages a couple of times a day.
What Mental Health Issues Do Their Therapists Treat?
The platform offers individual and couples counseling, therapy for teens, and psychiatry. Their mental health professionals are trained to address a variety of issues:
● Depression
● Anxiety
● Stress
● Relationship issues
● Parenting
● Family conflict
● Anger management
● Childhood abuse
● Substance abuse
● Chronic illness
● OCD
● Trauma & grief
Prices
You can choose from 3 subscription plans from $65 to $99 weekly. You can pay monthly, quarterly, and biannually. There is an option to add individual live video sessions for an additional charge. The initial evaluation in psychiatry costs $199, and every consequent visit is $125.
BetterHelp
Pros:
● Individual, couples, and teen counseling
● Text and audio messaging & live video options
● Financial aid is available
● Many licensed counselors
● User-friendly website
Cons:
● You can’t see their pricing options before you sign up
● Response times from therapists vary
About the Platform
BetterHelp claims it has more than 20,000 licensed professionals on their site, and they report they’ve helped more than 1.77 million people on their platform. Their therapists have a minimum of three years and 2,000 hours of relevant experience.
How to Start Therapy on BetterHelp?
To join BetterHelp, you have to complete a brief questionnaire about your history, the issues you want to address, and any therapist preferences, for example, specialization or gender. You can sign up using your nickname, and they will ask you to provide emergency contact information, which is only used when your counselor thinks you might be in danger.
They will connect you with a therapist within 24 hours, and if you are not happy with a therapist assigned to you, you can request a new one. You get access to unlimited text-based messaging and live weekly video sessions that are scheduled in advance. You can cancel your BetterHelp membership at any time.
What Mental Health Issues Do Their Therapists Treat?
The platform offers individual and couples counseling for adults as well as teen counseling. BetterHelp therapists are experienced in treating a wide range of mental health issues:
● Depression
● Anxiety
● Anger management
● Sleep disorders
● Eating disorders
● Trauma and abuse
● Grief
● Intimacy issues
● Career counseling
Prices
BetterHelp doesn’t take insurance, but clients can apply for financial aid at signup. You can be billed monthly, quarterly, or yearly. The prices for subscription plans vary from $60 to $90 per week.
Pride Counseling
Pros:
● Designed specifically for the LGBTQ+ community
● Communication via phone, video, and messaging
● You can cancel your subscription at any time
● Transparent pricing plans
● Privacy, anonymity, and security
Cons:
● Not covered by insurance
● No customer support live chat
About the Platform
Pride Counseling is a good option for those who are looking for an LGBTQ-friendly therapist who is trained to handle gender and sexual orientation-related issues. The platform was launched in 2017 as a new branch of the well-known online therapy platform BetterHelp. The platform accepts people from any gender, orientation, and identity. Pride Counseling’s community of therapists consists of psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed professional counselors. All of them specialize in working with the LGBTQ+ community.
How to Start Therapy on Pride Counseling?
You need to create an account and complete an online intake questionnaire. You can use a nickname for signing up because the company respects your desire for anonymity. But you should provide them with a valid email address. You can express your preferences about assigning a counselor.
Your answers will be used to match you with a therapist. Usually, it takes about 24 hours. If you don’t think that this counselor is a good match for you, you can request another one.
You also need to choose a subscription plan and input your payment information, and you are ready to start your therapy sessions. You can communicate with your counselor using phone calls, live video sessions, or by sending text messages.
What Mental Health Issues Do Their Therapists Treat?
Although the platform specializes in addressing mental health issues faced by the LGBT+ community, anyone can take advantage of their counseling services. The company provides support to clients who have different concerns, including
● Anxiety
● Depression
● Stress
● Addiction
● Eating problems
● Sleep problems
● Family conflict
● Trauma
● PTSD
● Grief
● Religion
Prices
The services cost from $60 to $90 per week. And the costs are typically billed monthly. If you use a platform for more than 3 months, you can get a discount.
Doctor on Demand
Pros:
● Psychologists and psychiatrists can provide medication management
● Free screening tool for mental health assessment
● You can choose your mental health provider
● Accept insurance
● Mobile app for Android and iOS
Cons:
● Rather expensive
● Live Video is the only option
About the Platform
Doctor on Demand offers access to quality behavioral health care whenever you need it. The company states that its mission is to improve the world’s health through compassionate care and innovation.
How to Start Therapy on Doctor on Demand?
First, you may take an assessment that can help you determine if you might benefit from speaking with a mental health professional for anxiety or depression. You will need to answer 2 sets of questions, and this won’t take longer than 2 minutes. This screening tool can’t be used for diagnostics; it’s for informational purposes only.
You’ll need to schedule a live video session with a mental health professional, and the fee for the session depends on the type of treatment you receive. You can find a therapist to schedule an appointment with if you browse a list of therapists available in your state of residence and read their profiles to learn more about their specialization and experience.
What Mental Health Issues Do Their Therapists Treat?
This platform is good for short-term consultations and prescriptions for emotional and mental health concerns. Their psychiatrists and physicians have clinical training that allows them to address the relationship between emotional and physical health.
You can get help with a number of common mental health issues
● Anxiety
● Panic attacks
● Work stress
● Insomnia
● Headaches
● Chronic depression
● Bipolar disorder
● Postpartum depression
● Relationships
● Anger management
● Loss and grief
● PTSD
● Emotional and physical trauma
Prices
You can sign up for a Doctor on Demand account for free. Without insurance, you’ll have to pay a flat fee for a consultation with a psychologist or a psychiatrist.
Psychology
● $129 for a 25 min consultation
● $179 for a 50 min consultation
Psychiatry
● $299 for initial 45 min consultation
● $129 for 15 min follow-up
You can extend the call for an additional fee before your consultation ends. The platform also accepts many major health insurance plans.
Conclusion
Multiple studies show that online therapy can be as useful and effective as traditional offline therapy. Although not all therapy platforms accept insurance, subscription-based online therapy plans are often more affordable than some insurance copays, and they can be budget-friendly options to find mental health support when you need it, from the comfort of your home.
Media contacts:
Website: https://therapy-reviews.com
Original Source of the original story >> 5 Top Online Therapy Platforms 2021