How Does Free Online Therapy Work
If youre dealing with a mental health challenge and looking for emotional support or counseling, you can access it from anywhere in the world with free online therapy.
Many free online therapy services are offered by nonprofit organizations, run by volunteers with a psychology background, or exist in the form of chat rooms and peer support.
Is Online Counseling Effective How Can It Help Me
Online therapy is often seen as the new way to connect with a caring, qualified mental health professional.
On the contrary, online counseling services have been around in some form for more than 60 years! The field has a long and rich history thanks to both skilled providers and researchers.
Today, ethical codes or statements have been thoroughly developed by professional organizations like the American Psychological Association . These ethical guidelines arent newthey too have been around for more than a decade.
Thriveworks is a trusted brand of counseling and coaching services with more than 240+ offices across the United States. Now, in online therapy at Thriveworks, clients can connect with a licensed mental health professional virtually. They can choose between HIPAA-compliant live video or phone call.
Some may prefer a face to face session with a licensed therapist. However, there are decades of research that show counseling online can be effective.
In fact, online and phone-based services have been especially helpful for clients who find that they:
1) Have few qualified counselors or coaches in their area
2) Feel uncomfortable meeting with a therapist in person
3) Prefer to connect with a provider from the comfort of their home
If youre seeking help from an online psychologist or online counselor, we hope our services are the right fit for you. That said, if youre seeking a more traditional in-person therapy experience, Thriveworks offers that too.
Best For Using Insurance: Talkspace
Why we chose it: Talkspace partners with over 170 insurance plans, employers and employee assistance programs to provide accessible and discounted therapy to those who need it. That includes major insurance companies like Cigna, Optum, Humana and Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield. In our online therapy survey, 45% of Talkspace users chose the platform because it accepted their insurance.
Pros
Accepts insurance and works with EAPs
Can prescribe medication
Offers options for text therapy and live sessions
Cons
Not the most affordable chat therapy option
No customer service phone number
Couples, individuals 18 and older and those needing psychiatric help can all use Talkspace. Each therapy session lasts 45 minutes, and you can have it over live chat, phone or video.
If you choose a plan with unlimited messaging, you can send messages to your therapist any time of day over text or through an audio or video message. According to Talkspace, therapists should respond to their clients once a day at least five times a week.
Our poll revealed that people who used Talkspace seemed happy with their experience, too. We asked Talkspace users who tried in-person therapy before to compare the two experiences 76% of users were mostly satisfied to very satisfied with their Talkspace care.
Talkspace Pricing and Plans
Talkspaces exact prices depend on your location, but it offers four different plans. Each is billed monthly.
- Messaging therapy :
- Prices start at $276 per month
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Looking For A Way To Handle Your Anxiety
Online treatment is a fantastic method to deal with stress. It offers therapeutic assistance through an on the internet solution that can be accessed constantly any time, from any type of location.
Online treatment has actually come to be a popular form of mental wellness that is as efficient as traditional therapy and also can be done anywhere, such as in your home or on your mobile phone, for an affordable price. It likewise gives people with the advantage of not leaving their present home for psychological health services.
What Are The Perks Of Using An Online Therapy Internet Site
Therapy internet sites are becoming much more preferred, and for a good reason. They permit individuals to connect with specialists absolutely free and also, in many cases, also spend for the service.
Online therapy internet sites have a lot of advantages that make them an outstanding choice when it pertains to seeking assistance. Here are several of the benefits:
- It is convenient to utilize an online treatment site since it is readily available anytime as well as anywhere you want
- Online therapy internet sites can be utilized by people that live in different time zones
- Treatment web sites give privacy
- These internet sites provide a secure space where you can share your experiences without judgment
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Best Online Therapy With No Insurance
As mentioned above, being able to use insurance doesnt automatically mean youll pay less for virtual therapy. This really depends on whats being covered and whats not, but even if you do enjoy full coverage, you might find it still costs more when compared to the most affordable therapy sites out there.
While we do understand the importance of cutting costs as much as possible, you should never lose sight of the most important thing making sure you get both the best value for money and the optimal care.
For example, take a look at our top pick for online therapy site Betterhelp. While they do not offer any insurance coverage, they do have very flexible financial aid programs that can cut down costs by as much as 50%. If you are eligible for those benefits, youll end up paying $180 a month, which is pretty much the same as using insurance.
Another thing to keep in mind is that using insurance for online therapy is somewhat of a tradeoff. It not only limits the amount of therapy sites and treatments available to you, but also means you will have to provide these sites with much more personal information most importantly, access to your medical records . For people who wish to stay anonymous during online therapy, we dont recommend using insurance at all.
Other Ways To Save On Online Therapy
If your insurance doesnt cover online therapy, check with your employer. They may offer an employee assistance program that covers some visits with an online therapy provider. Many online therapy platforms offer a free trial of their services or a monthly subscription plan that may save you money. The National Alliance on Mental Illness also offers various resources for those who are having trouble affording therapy, such as a list of prescription assistance programs for psychiatric medications. Additionally, your local NAMI affiliate may be able to connect you with housing resources and support.
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Plushcare Please Don’t Change A Thing
I was able to schedule a same day appointment online with the doctor of my choice. I had received some abnormal lab results that needed to be reviewed. I was contacted via email a few hours later by a customer service rep, double checking the date of my labwork to make sure they had the results on file. My doctor was kind, reassuring, informative and very helpful. He changed some of my scripts and sent them to my pharmacy that evening. I received an email copy of lab orders, email confirmation my prescriptions had been ordered and an appointment for a follow up pre-scheduled . I then received a personal email from my doctor that was warm, reassuring and encouraging, inviting me to contact him if any other questions came to mind. I came to Plushcare for routine meds when COVID first hit, but have now chosen a primary care physician who is the kindest, most concerned and helpful doctor I have ever worked with.
J.P., Apr 2022
The Importance Of Recurring Assistance During & After Your Training Course Of Online Treatment
Online treatment is a fantastic option for those that need to service their psychological health however can not afford the moment or money to see a therapist face to face. It is likewise an excellent choice for those who are too frightened by the suggestion of going to treatment.
It is necessary to have somebody there for you when youre experiencing tough times, as well as its a lot more so when youre discovering exactly how to manage your mental health. Online specialists provide ongoing support during and also after your course of treatment, as well as they can aid give assistance if something goes wrong or if you need any kind of extra help. Online Therapy That Accepts Insurance
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What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT for short is a specific branch of therapy where licensed clinical social workers or qualified online therapists help to break negative patterns of thought that often lead to depression.
Many online therapy platforms, like BetterHelp, offer these types of mental health services for individuals who need them.
Four Ways To Get Online Therapy
- Web Therapy This form of distance therapy involves a client and board-certified or licensed therapists meeting virtually via the therapy platform. Clients and therapists connect via private video chat sessions similar to Skype from the comfort and privacy of the location of their choosing.
- Texting / Chat Therapy This is the most popular form of online therapy because of its ease of use. They conduct texting therapy sessions via mobile phone apps where both users log in to their apps and begin texting therapy sessions within a private text chat room.
- Phone Therapy Clients and therapists exchange phone numbers or agree to call into a conference calling service with a universally shared number to have voice chat sessions via phone.
- Video Chat Therapy
Counselor Reviews
“My experience with Priscilla has been immensely helpful in better understanding myself and providing me with the tools to see my life and relationships with more clarity and compassion.”
Shannon is very knowledgeable, and skilled in knowing how to use that knowledge to help others. She is also very compassionate and encouraging. I was skeptical about using a counseling service, but this experience has been incredible. I highly recommend Shannon to anyone who needs guidance or help through a difficult time in life. I gave her some enormous challenges, and nothing has been over her head. She has been a tremendous help to me.
Therapy Is Personal
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What If I Dont Like My Therapist
Entering counseling is a big step in caring for yourself, and your relationship with your therapist is an important part of your success in treatment. Do not hesitate to interview more than one therapist in order to find one with the experience, qualifications, and professional skills that allows you to become the best you can be. A good therapist will respect your decision.
Who Are Online Therapists
Of the six video therapy services we tested, only Doctor On Demand requires all of its therapists to be psychologists with a doctoral-level degree, either a PhD or a PsyD. Amwell, Teladoc, MDLive, BetterHelp, and Talkspace all allow a variety of masters-level mental health professionals to sign up as providers, including licensed professional clinical counselors , licensed clinical social workers , and licensed marriage and family therapists , as well as psychologists.
Psychologists are unable to prescribe medication. For prescription meds, you need to connect with a health-care provider capable of prescribing medication, such as a psychiatrist. Since psychiatrists tend not to provide therapy, most healthcare professionals suggest seeing both a psychiatrist and a psychologist if you think you might benefit from medication. Ideally the two professionals will work together and can share notes about your progress. Amwell, Teladoc, MDLive, and Doctor On Demand all offer a separate, more expensive option for individuals who wish to see psychiatrists , whereas neither BetterHelp nor Talkspace has a separate option to specifically see a psychiatrist.
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Save Money And Time With Highly Effective Online Therapy
- Internet based therapy found to have same effectiveness and longer duration as face-to-face therapy. -Journal of Affective Disorders, 2014
- A typical 45 minute face-to-face session costs $161 versus $85 on Amwell. You save $76. -Healthcare Bluebook, 2016
- Patients who received online behavioral therapy were 77% more likely to be able to manage their depression over the long term than the control group.-The Lancet, 2009
Online Therapy Appointments Available Now
Improve your mental well being with online therapy. Get access to our therapy program online for $149 for weekly sessions or $169 for a single session. Book a free 15-minute consultation or book your first therapy appointment today.
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Online therapy that fits into your schedule â on web or mobile from the privacy of your device
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95% of therapy patients recommend PlushCare to friends or family
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Save time and money while receiving high-quality online therapy care and support
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What Is Online Therapy
Online therapy provides a private, convenient and often affordable way to access mental health help without requiring you to visit a counseling center or therapists office in person. Instead, you can connect with your therapist via video call, phone call and/or text message conversation, depending on your needs and preferences.
Online therapy is a safe space in which you can address topics like depression, anxiety, stress, anger management, insomnia, panic attacks, eating disorders, trauma, relationship issues, life transitions, bereavement and more.
Different online therapy platforms support different methods of therapy delivery, so first consider the way in which you would like to receive help. The best online therapy options in our evaluation were broad telehealth sites that include therapists: Amwell, Doctor on Demand and MDLive. These services mirror a traditional therapy appointment, focusing on live video sessions with a therapist.
Some platforms, such as Online-Therapy.com, focus heavily on the skill-building components of therapy, offering tools like worksheets that your therapist reviews, journals, activity plans to help you schedule and keep track of certain behaviors, and even yoga videos.
Many online therapy services have their own mobile apps as well.
Just How Online Treatment Functions And Why Its Better Than Standard Therapies
Online treatment is the new pattern in the mental health market. It uses lots of advantages that conventional treatments cant supply.
Online therapy begins with a customer submitting an intake form. This form will include information concerning their psychological state, case history, as well as any other important info that will help the therapist diagnose them appropriately. Once they have actually sent this kind, they will certainly be matched with a therapist that focuses on their particular trouble as well as has experience working with individuals like them. The client can then call or video clip chat with this therapist as frequently as required to discuss their troubles and also receive suggestions on just how to improve their condition. Online Counseling That Accepts Insurance
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Amwell Best Pay Per Meet
Whenever we compare and review online therapy platforms, Amwell is always at the top, especially when it comes to working with insurance companies. Being one of the largest telehealth providers in the country helps a lot, and the process with Amwaell is also much more streamlined and users dont have to deal with any bureaucracy.
Amwell works with the largest number of insurance networks, and also accepts Medicaid and Medicare. When you sign up, youll need to provide the relevant information, and then all your future billings will be automatically based on your copay.
Online therapy at Amwell isnt through a subscription plan but rather a pay-per-meet module. Each therapy session costs between $99 and $119 depending which psychologist you choose and the state you live in. With insurance, clients can expect to pay roughly half that price.
If you are looking for couples therapy or marriage counseling, you probably know these are usually not covered by insurance. That said, Amwell does cover these in some cases, so this might be your best bet at getting that type of online therapy with insurance included in it.
Best For Psychiatry Services: Mdlive
Why we chose it: With MDLive, you can get psychiatry services from its app or website through phone or video sessions. Your initial 45-minute psychiatry consult costs $284, and each 15-minute follow-up session costs $108. If you have insurance, the cost could be less or even free depending on your coverage. And if you need therapy, MDLive offers that, too.
Pros
Can pick up your prescription at a pharmacy of choice
Phone and video options available
Cons
Available appointments vary by location
Limited information on the website without signup
With MDLive, you can start or continue your mental health journey with one of its board-certified psychiatrists. Each psychiatrist has their own profile, including a bio, specialties, qualifications and their next available appointment. If you dont see one that fits your schedule, you can easily contact the provider and see if they have additional appointments.
After your initial 45-minute consult, each follow-up session lasts between 15 and 30 minutes. MDLive claims that 78% of its patients feel better after three sessions.
MDLive psychiatrists can diagnose mental health conditions along with prescribing medication and assessing any youre on currently.
Some conditions MDLive psychiatrists treat include:
- Anxiety
Cant provide letters or recommendations for hormone replacement therapy
Doesnt accept insurance
Must be 18 or older to use
Pride Counseling Pricing and Plans
- Monthly subscription
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On The Internet Therapy As A Remedy For People With Physical Disabilities
In the future, specialists will certainly have the ability to assist people with handicaps by utilizing remote treatment software. This will certainly permit specialists to supply therapy for people that can not take a trip or cant afford it. It will certainly likewise permit therapists to work in locations where few specialists are available.
As innovation advancements, so as well does the world of psychiatric therapy. Remote treatment software application is one development that might alter exactly how we deal with mental health concerns in the future.