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- No referral required
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- Message your therapist anytime
- 20% off your first month
- Individual and couples counselling
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- 3-way call for couples in separate locations
- Couples & individual therapy available
- Most insured members have a $0 copay
- $85 off your first month with code TOP85
- Counselling from a Biblical perspective
- Video, phone, live chat, messaging
- All counsellors are practicing Christians
- 20% off 1st month with code: TOP20OFF
- Expert sessions for partners & individuals
- Designed for busy schedules
- Individual and couples therapy
- Licensed psychotherapists & psychologists
- Pay-as-you-go and bundle options
- 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
- No referral required
- 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 counselling that you can receive from the comfort of your own home in front of your PC or right at your fingertips on your smartphone.
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 counselling that tends to be much cheaper than in-person therapy. In addition, having an online therapist can 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.
Online therapy has surged in popularity over the last few years, and for good reason: it has made finding a therapist easier, more affordable, and for many people, more comfortable than asking for referrals or visiting a therapist in an office. If you’re curious about online therapy but have questions, read on for a closer look at how it works and how it may help you.
How Does Online Therapy Work?
Most online therapy companies offer 3 main types of counselling: real-time chat, video chat, and phone chat.
Email and text message counselling 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 virtual therapist 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 counsellor in real time. Think of it like having your own chat room with a counsellor 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 counsellor who may specialise in your concerns. If you’re seeking out online counselling 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.
These memberships tend to be quite flexible, and allow you to quit at any time.
Most online counselling is not covered by private 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 Service
Before you sign up for an online therapy service, do a little research. Take a look at how the company screens its counsellors and if their certification checks out. You can also look at online testimonials by clients to get an idea about the quality of service.
You’ll want to decide which types of counselling 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 counsellor by chat on your phone.
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 counsellor.
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.
How to Choose an Online Therapist
Once you’ve decided on an online therapy platform, your next step is to choose a therapist.
Most online therapy sites let you view all of the counsellors available on the platform. Since many sites have hundreds of available counsellors, you’ll want to narrow down your options, which you can do by considering what you need from a therapist and then reading their bios to find the best fit.
Since every person requires something slightly different from a counsellor, it’s a good idea to know at least to some degree what you’re looking for in a counsellor. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Specialism: Online therapists specialise in everything from anxiety and depression to couples counselling. Make sure to choose a counsellor whose specialisms support your goals and needs.
Approach: Counsellors offer everything from traditional talk therapy to CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and more. Consider your needs, read up on the different approaches if you need to, and choose a counsellor who offers the support that will best serve you.
Accessibility: Make sure to choose a therapist whose schedule aligns with yours. It’s also a good idea to make sure they conduct therapy over your preferred medium, be it live video, phone, or email.
Our Top 3 Picks
- 1World's largest network of licensed therapists
- Best for - Messaging your therapist anytime
- Pricing - From £60/week
- Modes of communication - Text, live chat, video call, phone call
World's largest network of licensed therapistsDescriptionRead BetterHelp ReviewBetterHelp 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 private 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 behavioural therapy (CBT) and conflict resolution.
Our experience: BetterHelp reviews are positive and the service is reasonably priced. We like the fact that BetterHelp counsellors each go through a rigorous vetting process.
Pros & ConsBetterHelp Pros & Cons
PROS
Unlimited messages to your therapistStudies show the platform is effectiveOperates in 200+ countries and 82 languagesCONS
Therapists can’t prescribe medicationHarder to find specialised therapists - 2Dedicated online relationship therapy
- Best for - Therapists that specialize in relationship therapy
- Pricing - £45-£60/week
- Modes of communication - Video, phone, message, live chat
Dedicated online relationship therapyDescriptionRead ReGain ReviewReGain 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 specialise in a wide range of relationship issuesUser-friendly appDiscount available to those in needCONS
Not appropriate for crisis situationsDoes not work in-network with private insurance providers - 3Specialized online therapy to meet your needs
- Best for - Online therapy and psychiatry services
- Pricing - $69-$129
- Modes of communication - Video, phone, message, live chat
Specialized online therapy to meet your needsDescriptionRead Talkspace ReviewTalkspace is an e-therapy platform that offers counseling and psychiatric treatment for teens, adults, and couples. They employ a detailed matching process to connect you with a licensed and experienced therapist based on your circumstances.
They accept insurance and offer three weekly payment plans. The two higher-tier plans include live sessions, but only the highest tier plan includes therapy via messaging with guaranteed daily text responses to any questions you may have.
Why we chose Talkspace: Talkspace specializes in over 40 areas of clinical therapy, so you can feel confident that your needs will be met.
Our experience: We were impressed by the expedient response times that Talkspace therapists and counselors demonstrate. Whenever you need the help, their care providers are available to lend support.
Pros & ConsTalkspace Pros & Cons
PROS
Over 40 clinical approaches and treatmentsSuitable for adults, teens, and couplesCan offer prescriptions through its psychiatry servicesCONS
Requires internet connectionLive sessions only available on more expensive plans