The Doctor Is In (Your Phone): 6 Online Therapy Services to Try
When it come to therapy, cost is a big issue, but emotional factors might also prevent someone from seeking help. Online therapy removes these obstacles.
These are trying times. Whether you’re upset about the divisive nature of politics or the changing seasons are making you feel blue, you might want to talk to a therapist.
Over half of Americans with mental-health issues do not receive treatment. Cost is the biggest issue, even for those with health insurance, as not all plans cover the treatment they may need. Emotional factors might also prevent someone from seeking help, not to mention practical ones involving time and transportation.
Online therapy removes many of these obstacles. It might seem strange to conduct something as intimate as therapy on a smartphone or tablet, but having an in-home talk with a mental-health professional could help ease the stigma and awkwardness that some feel in seeking a therapist’s assistance. It also allows for sessions at different times of day, like late in the evening, and removes travel complications. Then there’s price. Online therapy is often more affordable than an in-office visit, particularly for those without insurance.
There are some caveats before you sign up. Make sure the professional you’re speaking to is a licensed therapist. That means checking to see if they are a psychiatrist (an M.D. or D.O.), licensed psychologist (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.), licensed psychological associate (L.P.A.), licensed professional counselor (L.P.C.), licensed clinical social worker (L.C.S.W.), or licensed marriage and family therapist (L.M.F.T.). Then look into whether the site or app is HIPAA-compliant, which means it would have to meet federal privacy standards that apply to health care.
We’ve put together some sites and apps that offer mental-health services in the form of one-on-one therapy via video and text. We’ve also included some apps that guide you through exercises designed to ease some common issues.
If you are experiencing an immediate mental-health crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1–800–273–8255.
Doctor on Demand
The Doctor on Demand site is designed as a portal to one-on-one video chats between physicians and patients. The specialties available extend to mental health. Using the site or the app (Android, iOS), you can speak to a doctorate-level psychologist or a psychiatrist. An appointment can start within minutes after you sign up. The cost to speak with a psychologist is $79 for 25 minutes and $119 for 50 minutes; for a psychiatrist, it’s $229 for an initial 45-minute visit and $99 for a 15-minute followup. Doctor on Demand does accept several types of health insurance, so prices may be lower for those in participating plans. Many major employers also offer discounts. Doctor on Demand is HIPAA-compliant.
BetterHelp
BetterHelp matches users to therapists who are psychologists (PhD or PsyD), marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, or licensed professional counselors. Users can text their therapist in a “room” on the site or in the app (Android, iOS). The text chat is the default option, but users and therapists can schedule video chats at mutually convenient times. If a user is not pleased with the therapist they’ve been matched with, they can switch. BetterHelp does not accept insurance but the cost of services is in the very reasonable range of $35 to $80 per week. BetterHelp is HIPAA-compliant.
Talkspace
Talkspace’s main service is Unlimited Messaging Therapy, which puts customers in touch with a licensed professional therapist via text and audio and video messaging for $49 per week. Those who also wish to add one live video session per month can opt for the premium plan at $59 per week. There’s also the LiveTalk plan that brings customers a live video chat with a therapist each week, as well as the unlimited messaging, for $79 per week. The service also offers couples therapy for $79 per week. Counselors in Talkspace can be licensed professional counselors (LPCs); have a Master of Science in counseling psychology, clinical psychology, clinical counseling, or educational psychology; licensed mental health counselor (LMHC); licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT); licensed and independent clinical social worker (LICSW); doctor of psychology (Psy.D); or psychologists (Ph.D). Talkspace is HIPAA-compliant.
Larkr
Larkr (iOS) is an app that combines one-on-one therapy with self-help features like guided meditation. Customers are matched with a therapist by an algorithm but can switch therapists if they do not like the one they are assigned. Sessions are conducted via video chat. The cost is $85 per 50-minute session.
7 Cups of Tea
7 Cups of Tea is two things: a place to talk with unlicensed “listeners” and a medium for online therapy with licensed therapists. The latter is staffed with psychologists, licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), and licensed clinical professional counselors (LCPCs). It is $150 per month for unlimited messaging with a therapist. Users can chat with them on the site or via the app (Android, iOS). 7 Cups of Tea is HIPAA-compliant.
Anxiety Coach
One of the most common mental-health issues is anxiety. If you feel like you’d benefit from tackling some of your worries with a bit of guidance, the Mayo Clinic has developed an app. Anxiety Coach (iOS) is organized by types of fear and leads users through exercises designed to combat them. You get a to-do list and once you’ve selected an activity from it, you practice until you master it with a minimal level of anxiety. There’s a progress tracker so you know just how far you have to go. Those with Android devices can try Self-Help Anxiety Management.
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Originally published at www.pcmag.com.
