BetterHelp, on the other hand, takes the opposite approach. If you dont like who youre paired with, you can request to be matched with a new therapist. BetterHelp automatically matches you with the counselor it determines is a good match. Psych Central does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you dont like waiting hours for a response, you can schedule a live chat session with your counselor. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. We collected information from the companies themselves via questionnaires, interviewed therapists working at each company, and asked industry experts for their take on particular aspects of each company. However, I stuck with the same therapist, and over the course of four video sessions, she offered suggestions on ways to alleviate or prevent anxiety and resolve recurring communication issues with one of my siblings. Commissions we earn from partner links on this page do not affect our opinions or evaluations. The platform does not accept insurance. Once youve been matched with a counselor, you can immediately start messaging them in a private and secure chat room. They have a number of concerning privacy and security practices that we and others have reported like sending data to Facebook and sharing data widely with third parties. Our sessions were tightly runthey got straight to the point and stayed focused for the full 30 minutes. Keep in mind, Brightsides choice to mandate video connection for all sessions might be a quality issue rather than a lack of resourcesmany reputable therapists consider live chat or phone sessions to lack the level of connection necessary for a productive therapy session. The app will notify you of their response. MediaRadar calculates estimated spend for the digital, print and national television campaigns that we identify using proprietary algorithms based on medium and advertisement type. (2019). BetterHelp has an average of 4.07 out of 5 stars on Better Business Bureau (BBB) from over 330 customer reviews. To sign up, you'll take a survey on the BetterHelp site to match you to the right therapist.. Around one-fifth of U.S. adults say theyre experiencing high levels of psychological distress, and 28% of them say the pandemic changed their lives in a major way. Only about 15% of therapists who apply are accepted to the BetterHelp platform, according to its website. In contrast, Talkspace may be a better option for those interested in messaging their therapist daily and want the ability to have medication prescribed to them. Still, keep in mind that BetterHelp initially matches you with a therapist and doesnt allow you to choose from several options right from the start. Clients who live in remote areas or who have limited mobility or limited access to transportation may be more motivated to participate in online therapy, Zadeh says. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. My counselor made suggestions without pushing me to follow them and offered ways I could cope with anxiety, such as breathing exercises and journaling techniques for perceiving fears or worries in a more realistic and logical way. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. Therapy offers a broad array of benefits for all of us. If you want to learn more about BetterHelp and insurance, consider reading our in-depth article on the topic. Users generally report positive experiences with BetterHelps network of therapists, services, and the effectiveness of the therapy sessions. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of psychiatric illness. Psychiatry evaluations and medication management are also available. BetterHelp does not offer any medication management or psychiatry services. This process helps narrow down the options to get a therapist who best meets your needs. We researched news about both companies, including any controversy around prescriptions or advertising, investor and performance news, and company history. In addition, therapists must have received certification from the professional board in their state, which requires standard education, exams, and practice. Any additional services offered are unique to that online therapy website. Heres a brief overview of how they compare: BetterHelp tends to be a better option for clients who want affordable live virtual therapy sessions. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Mary X. Dennis is a Singapore-born, New York-raised, bilingual and biracial science reporter. BetterHelps sessions are 45 minutes to an hour, and generally take a little more time settling in at the beginning and signing offat the end of the session. Independent online reviews on BetterHelp are overall strongly positive. It also provides additional services like journaling and group therapy sessions. The type and price range of your chosen therapy format is all about what works best for you. If youre in crisis or experiencing an emergency, call 911 for assistance. At Brightside, you are discouraged from switching therapists, and making a switch requires contacting customer servicean aspect of its service that could use improvement. In the last year, we identified 28,239 new product launches overall. Therapy can be intimidating, especially for a lot of first-time clients. BetterHelp runs on a subscription model. The chat room is accessible at any time, as long as your device has reliable internet. Whether youre dealing with grief, want to improve your coping strategies, or youre just feeling down - BetterHelp makes starting therapy easy. Pew Research Center. Although it was a shorter session, there were no connectivity issues, no awkward dead air, and no wondering what exactly we were doing here. You can try the service for free for 7 days. You can receive therapy from BetterHelp for as long as youd like. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Receive the help you deserve. It offers counseling through online messaging, live chat, and video and phone sessions. BetterHelp counseling. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. BetterHelp makes professional therapy available anywhere through a computer, tablet, or smartphone. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Health. Both services match you with a therapist after a brief intake survey. KFF health tracking poll July 2020. However, while browsing therapist bios, I did find the average years of experience to be higher at Brightside than at BetterHelp. BetterHelp is the world's largest therapy service, facilitating over 5,000,000 video sessions, voice calls, chats, and messages every month. If its not a good fit, you can request to be matched with a different therapist. Learn more about how they compare. While this may influence where their products or services appear on our site, it in no way affects our ratings, which are based on thorough research, solid methodologies and expert advice. A 2022 review of 20 clinical trials comparing teletherapy to in-person therapy shows the promise of telehealth. Powell was matched with a therapist within a day. Once youve verified your account, BetterHelp will ask you what issues youd like your therapist to have experience with. Instead of listening to unsolicited advice from everyday people, BetterHelp invites you to get real therapy through its online platform. Depression is tough to deal with on its own and advice telling you to fake your emotions, cheer up, or simply "snap out of it" doesn't make your condition any better. Brightside stays fairly traditional with its session format, and requires video attendance via Zoom for all therapy sessions. At first glance, Brightside and BetterHelps price points are similar. You also get the comfort that comes with being in your own personal space and you dont have to worry about running into anyone you know in the waiting room. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. Our editorial content is based on thorough research and guidance from the, Partner Offers feature brands who paid Forbes Health to appear at the top of our list. While Brightside specializes in treating depression and anxiety with both medication and a specific course of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), BetterHelp spreads a wider net, offering therapy for many common mental health issues, but no medication. Heres what youll do to get signed up. BetterHelp is part of Teladoc Health Inc.. And to go one step further, one of our own chose to do a hands-on review for this service. A: No, BetterHelp is not covered by insurance. I found my online video sessions with my therapist to be as helpful as my previous experiences with in-person therapy. Brightside accepts a wide range of insurance: Cigna, Aetna, Optum/UnitedHealthcare, Anthem CA, and Allegiance are all considered in-network, and it also accepts health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) card payments. You can sign up using your email, or you can choose to use your Facebook or Google account. (2021). For more in-depth information, continue reading. Overall, Acadia reported a total of $675.3 million in revenue in the fourth quarter, a 13.8% increase year over year. After completing a survey that consisted of questions about herself, what she was looking to accomplish in therapy, and her current mental state, she was also able to list out preferences she looks for in a therapist. Two things we care about almost as much as the issue we're seeking therapy for: our precious time and money. Accessed 6/29/2021. Instead, you can choose a nickname your therapist can call you. This way, you can refresh your memory about any advice or insights youve discussed. Submissions should come only from actors, their parent/legal guardian or casting agency. BetterHelps databases are encrypted and scrambled and become unusable should a third party interfere with them. BetterHelp offers journal prompts that can help you get started in your journaling. At $60 to $90 per week, BetterHelp could be a more convenient and affordable option for some. Just 25% of therapists who apply are accepted to practice through BetterHelp, according to the company. A huge part of Betterhelp's advertising strategy has been the use of influencer marketing. Hamel L, et al. Just log on at your appointment time and your counselor will prompt you to start the video chat. However, unlike certain in-person therapists, BetterHelps therapists cannot give an official diagnosis, prescribe medication, or meet a court order. You can choose your own therapist, but this option isnt obvious without extensive exploration of the BetterHelp website. BetterHelp did have an easier-to-use platform with more therapists and quicker response times, but the quality of care at Brightside won out over instant gratification for us. BetterHelp does not take insurance, and clients pay out of pocket. The system does not share your personal phone number with the counselor everything is done through the BetterHelp app. Second, we also include links to advertisers offers in some of our articles; these affiliate links may generate income for our site when you click on them. Both sites have adequate yet basic FAQ pages, scant additional resources, and no way to browse therapist bios prior to sign-up. Healthline Media's new initiative, TRANSFORM: Future of Health, spotlights cutting-edge innovations that will change the future of health and wellness. Efficacy of synchronous telepsychology interventions for people with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and adjustment disorder: A rapid evidence assessment. During the sign-up process, I noted I was seeking help with some anxiety and family conflict issues. According to a 2019 study, online therapy can be effective for depression. 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