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- 4 million+ people helped
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- Message your therapist anytime
- 20% off your first month
- Counseling from a Biblical perspective
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- All counselors are practicing Christians
- Individual and couples counseling
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- 3-way call for couples in separate locations
- Supports equality and acceptance
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- Commitment-free service
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- Get 20% off your first month
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- Flexible plans, cancel anytime
- Wide variety of therapy styles
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- Get matched with a therapist in 24 hours
- 20% off 1st month with code: TOP20OFF
- Expert sessions for partners & individuals
- Designed for busy schedules
- Couples & individual therapy available
- Text, voice, & live video plans
- $85 off your first month with code TOP85
- Accepts most major insurance plans
- Virtual or in-person therapy
- See a therapist within 2 days
- Free emotional assessment
- Discuss progress & learn new skills
- Video and phone appointments
- 4 million+ people helped
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- Message your therapist anytime
- 20% off your first month
Natural Intelligence does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or your local emergency number immediately.
What Is Online Therapy?
Like the name suggests, online therapy is a term used to describe mental health counseling that you can receive from the comfort of your own home in front of your PC or on your smartphone through a therapy app.
Often referred to as “e-therapy” or “internet therapy,” online therapy isn’t meant for people who are in the midst of a mental health emergency or who need urgent medical care. Instead, it’s a way for people to get easy, convenient, and reliable counseling that tends to be much cheaper than in-person therapy. In addition, it can also be a real help for people who have mobility issues or simply live too far away from a licensed therapist for it to be convenient.
The best counseling apps and therapy platforms offer secure and confidential access to licensed therapists who offer many types of support for everything from depression and anxiety to marital issues.
How Does Online Therapy Work?
Most online therapy companies offer 3 main types of counseling: real-time chat, video chat, and phone chat.
Email and text message counseling is popular with people who want to be able to think out their questions and write them out before asking. These tend to not be free-flowing conversations like with phone or video chats, but being able to write out what you want to say can be preferable. Typically these chats are done through your personal email to a special, secure email provided through the site, which can help safeguard your anonymity.
Video chat will require a reliable internet connection and will allow you to speak with a counselor face-to-face, if not in the same room. It’s intimate, personal, and allows you to establish a rapport that can be more difficult with the written word.
Real time chat puts you into a secure line and allows you to chat back and forth with a counselor in real time. Think of it like having your own personal, private chat room with a counselor who’s there to listen to what ails you.
When you sign up for an online therapy service, you’ll typically be asked to take a short quiz to determine which sorts of issues you’re dealing with, which can be used to help the service match you with a counselor who may specialize in your concerns. If you’re seeking out online counseling for your child, the quiz will ask you a lot of questions about what you think the child needs help with, before sending the child an invitation on your behalf.
How Much Does it Cost?
The prices vary by company, but typically online therapy services charge a monthly fee to use the service, and don't charge by minute or hour or text. For instance, BetterHelp, one of the bigger names in the industry, charges a flat fee of between $40-$70 per week, including all messaging, chats, phone, and video sessions. Many platforms offer a free counseling app that you can download if you prefer to communicate via your smartphone or tablet rather than over your computer.
These memberships tend to be quite flexible, and allow you to quit at any time.
Most online counseling is not covered by insurance, so while it’s cheaper than in-person therapists, you will typically have to pay out of pocket.
How to Choose the Right Online Therapy App
Before you sign up for an online therapy service, do a little research. Take a look at how the company screens its counselors and if their certification checks out. You can also look at online testimonials by customers to get an idea about the quality of service.
You’ll want to decide which types of counseling you want—chat, video, or email—and if they’re available through the service. If you’re interested in using the service on your smartphone, see if the company has an app and if you’re allowed to have sessions with your counselor by chat on your phone. The best apps for therapy include secure and private portals where you can chat, email, and video conference directly with your therapist.
In addition, check what type of security they provide and if your chats will be encrypted, and if you’ll have the ability to remain anonymous to your counselor.
Look at the price also, and see if it fits your budget. In addition, see if you can quit the membership at any time, or if its binding.
Our Top 3 Picks
- 1World's largest network of licensed therapists
- Best for - Messaging your therapist anytime
- Pricing - Prices starting at $65/week
- Modes of communication - Text, live chat, video call, phone call
World's largest network of licensed therapistsDescriptionRead BetterHelp ReviewBetterHelp - Best online therapy site overall
BetterHelp is one of the largest providers of online therapy services, letting you get matched with a licensed professional therapist in less than 24 hours. You’ll be able to communicate with your therapist by phone, video call, live chat, or text messaging.
While the platform doesn’t take insurance, it does offer financial aid for patients with tighter budgets.
Why we chose BetterHelp: BetterHelp’s app and online platform are both user-friendly, giving you access to self-help worksheets on various topics, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and conflict resolution.
Our experience: BetterHelp reviews are positive and the service is reasonably priced. We like the fact that BetterHelp counselors each go through a rigorous vetting process.
Pros & ConsBetterHelp Pros & Cons
PROS
Message your therapist anytimeStudies show the platform is effectiveOperates in 200+ countries and 82 languagesCONS
Therapists can’t prescribe medicationHarder to find specialized therapists - 2A faith-based approach to clinical therapy
- Best for - Clinical therapy that includes biblical teachings
- Pricing - Prices starting at $65/week
- Modes of communication - Video, phone, message, live chat
A faith-based approach to clinical therapyDescriptionRead Faithful Counseling ReviewFaithful Counseling - Best for faith-based therapy for Christians
As of recent, Faithful Counseling merged with Betterhelp, which also delivers clinical therapy for Christians. Its therapists are all licensed and certified within their field and submit declarations as to their beliefs to ensure they conform to the statement of faith. When signing up for the service, you will be directed to fill out a questionnaire that will properly match you with a suitable Christian therapist.
A sophisticated matching process is employed to connect you with a therapist specializing in your mental health difficulties and your branch of Christianity. This means it’s a suitable platform if your faith is important and you wish to include biblical teachings in your therapy. Its easy sign-up process, clear and appealing display, and simple functionality in terms of booking appointments make it easy for Christians who want faith-based counseling.
Why we chose Faithful Counseling: Though Faithful Counseling merged with Betterhelp, Christian-centered therapy practices are still easy to access. The platform uniquely integrates clinical therapy with Christianity, ensuring a harmonious blend of faith and mental health support. Various Christian denominations are catered to, including Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, and others, allowing users to find counselors who resonate with their specific faith traditions. Spiritual practices like prayer, meditation, and scripture reading are also integrated. This online therapy provider is an ideal choice for believers who want to incorporate biblical principles into their counseling sessions.
Pros & ConsFaithful Counseling Pros & Cons
PROS
6,000+ therapists specializing in Christianity-based counseling24/7 messaging servicesAccessible via website or the free appCONS
Matching process can take 1-2 daysCan’t choose a specific therapist - 3Dedicated online relationship therapy
- Best for - Therapists that specialize in relationship therapy
- Pricing - $65-$100/week
- Modes of communication - Video, phone, message, live chat
Dedicated online relationship therapyDescriptionRead ReGain ReviewReGain - Best for online relationship therapy
ReGain offers convenient online relationship therapy for couples and individuals. Their service matches you with a licensed therapist specifically chosen to address your needs and goals. Its monthly subscription grants one live video or phone session per week, along with 24/7 access to an online therapist.
Why we chose ReGain: ReGain understands everyone’s situation is different and offers reduced fees to those with financial difficulties or disabilities.
Our experience: With ReGain, you can pick and choose your therapy appointments entirely around your schedule. This makes it a particularly convenient option if you are restricted in time.
Pros & ConsReGain Pros & Cons
PROS
Therapists specialize in a wide range of relationship issuesUser-friendly appDiscount available to those in needCONS
Not appropriate for crisis situationsDoes not work in-network with insurance providers