2023 BetterHelp Online Therapy Review (2023)

FAQs

2023 BetterHelp Online Therapy Review? ›

However, of the users we surveyed, 77% said they were satisfied or very satisfied by the therapist options provided by BetterHelp. Sixty-five percent of users tried only one therapist, which is a higher percentage than its competitors.

However, of the users we surveyed, 77% said they were satisfied or very satisfied by the therapist options provided by BetterHelp. Sixty-five percent of users tried only one therapist, which is a higher percentage than its competitors.

With so many online counseling platforms, you might be wondering which ones are legit. BetterHelp is a legitimate company that's been accredited by the BBB since 2015. BetterHelp technology is compliant with privacy laws, and it provides a secure platform for users to interact with a counselor.

BetterHelp offers professional counseling from accredited psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists and board-licensed professional counselors. All BetterHelp counselors have a master's degree or doctorate in their field and at least three years and 1,000 hours of experience.

You'll be matched with a counselor in your state (if you live in the U.S.). Individuals from outside of the U.S. will be matched with an individual in a state. BetterHelp states it takes, on average, about 24 hours to be matched with a counselor.

There are no psychiatrists on staff, so clients cannot receive prescriptions for medications. BetterHelp therapists will not diagnose conditions. Your insurance may not cover the costs of BetterHelp. The platform doesn't give its users control over the therapist it selects for them (though you can switch).

FTC says online counseling service BetterHelp pushed people into handing over health information – and broke its privacy promises. In the hierarchy of confidential data, health information ranks right up there.

BetterHelp's basic plan includes one live session per week. BetterHelp does not set an absolute limit on session length but indicates that most live sessions last 30 to 45 minutes. BetterHelp defines a live session as being either a live video session, a live audio (or phone) session, or a live chat session.

Oh and I was wondering if BetterHelp records calls, but the only recording from your conversations with your counselor is from the written texts (as they're in writing), but Connie assured me that the phone calls are never recorded or shared with anyone else, phew.

While online therapy may not be the right fit for everyone, it can make it easier for some people to access help for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. There are multiple studies that suggest online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for certain issues.

How often do you talk to a therapist on BetterHelp? ›

With BetterHelp, you can have a live session every week. Your live session can be via video, phone , or live chat. You also have unlimited messaging with your therapist. This means that you can share a concern or a journal entry with her, and she will get back to you within 24 hours often much sooner.

You may choose to communicate with your therapist via online counseling chat or text messaging or schedule a virtual appointment for a phone call or live video chat on the platform.

If you decide you want to cancel your BetterHelp subscription, you may do so at any time. Follow these steps to cancel your subscription: Login to your BetterHelp account. If you are currently receiving therapy, head to Menu>My Account >Payment Settings >Quit therapy.

With at least 24 hours notice, sessions can be cancelled or rescheduled free of charge (you'll get an automated reminder 48 hours out from your session, so you should have plenty of time to regroup and reschedule, if needed).

You also know therapy is working if you're using the skills you learned in session, outside of session. For example, are you better able to set boundaries with others, prioritize your own needs and demands, and effectively deal with situations without spiraling into a panic attack? These are great signs of progress.

Consider returning to your previous THERAPIST.

There's a benefit in returning to your previous therapist for a few reasons. First, you already have an established relationship with this person, and they already know about your history and patterns. Also, your therapist WANTS to help you.

BetterHelp online therapy plans start at as low as $60 per week, adding up to about $240 per month. This cuts the cost of therapy significantly for many people, particularly those who have paid for in-person or traditional therapy without reduced out-of-pocket fees.

Unfortunately, BetterHelp is not covered by any insurance provider. However, BetterHelp offers financial aid for which you can contact their customer success team. If you seek providers covered by your insurance, you can get the member line on the back of your insurance card.

The key difference between BetterHelp and BetterUp is that the former provides online therapy, while the latter provides coaching services. BetterHelp is a top, online therapy platform that connects individuals with licensed therapists.

Is BetterHelp protected by HIPAA? ›

BetterHelp displayed HIPAA seals on numerous web pages. Also, its sales representatives told consumers that the company was "HIPAA certified." The FTC viewed this as deceptive to the extent that the company was signaling to consumers that its practices met HIPAA's requirements.

A weekly session is a great place to start when beginning therapy. Generally, most patients will start with this frequency, then increase or decrease as needed. A weekly session is ideal for people who want to build skills related to things like mindfulness, coping, and communication.

Therapy has been found to be most productive when incorporated into a client's lifestyle for approximately 12-16 sessions, most typically delivered in once weekly sessions for 45 minutes each. For most folks that turns out to be about 3-4 months of once weekly sessions.

While once weekly sessions are generally the best, your therapist may determine that you could still benefit from less frequent sessions, and biweekly sessions makes sense, or if you require more frequent sessions.

Getting therapy with BetterHelp can be a cheaper option than traditional in-office therapy. The average cost for a traditional therapy session is $100 to $200, while BetterHelp's pricing ranges from $60 to $90 per week. You can also apply for financial aid to reduce the cost of BetterHelp sessions.

You can use messaging (like text), real time text chatting, voice calls, and video sessions. All are done through the Better Help platform which can be accessed from your phone or your computer.

With free anonymous chat rooms, you can start chatting with people online, anyone from random strangers to friends online.

Not Appropriate for Serious Psychiatric Illnesses

For example, if you have a serious addiction or have more severe or complex symptoms of a mental health condition, online therapy may not be recommended unless other in-person therapies or treatments are also involved in your plan.

How many clients should I see a day as a therapist? ›

The number of clients a full-time therapist sees in a week depends on the therapist and the number of hours you want to work per week. If you aim for a 40-hour workweek, you could see up to 30 clients per week and then spend 10 hours writing notes and doing other paperwork.

During sessions, participants can explore past childhood experiences they believe shaped their personalities and behaviors. By sharing these experiences and behaviors, group therapy participants can learn new habits from others that are more effective, positive, and empowering.

Hello! Yes, you can work it out with your therapist to set up more than one live session a month. Many clients will do one session per week. Also, depending on your therapist's schedule, some therapists are open to including 50-minute sessions as well as the standard 30-minute sessions.

Many therapists use texting to schedule sessions with clients. But beyond that, professionals are divided as to whether it's a good idea to text clients between sessions about issues that are bridged in therapy itself.

Some therapists use texting for scheduling and other practical matters. Other therapists only want to use email or phone calls. In general, texting or other forms of communication between sessions should be on an as needed basis and should not be social in nature. It's best to address therapeutic matters in session.

You can mark your message as "urgent" so your counselor will know they need to attend to it quickly. However, if you do mark a message as urgent, we would suggest other resources in cases of emergency or crisis.

In order to receive a license; therapists have to go through a lot of training and years before they can actually work. Lastly, counseling is expensive because there are many bills to pay: Rent and utilities. State licensure fees, each licensure requires annual fees to be paid.

Some of it depends on the therapist's tolerance level, of course. If you're okay with a client canceling at the last minute or showing up 20 minutes late for a session then theoretically, there's no problem.

Yes, it's completely normal and very common for therapists to charge the full of the cost of a session if it's missed.

This disappearing act has entered our lexicon as “ghosting.” Some call ghosting a byproduct of diminishing face-to-face interaction. Others say it's because we're simply too busy to give priority to the small things. Unsurprisingly, many therapists now encounter clients who may even ghost therapy.

Is crying in therapy a breakthrough? ›

In these instances, tears indicate that the person is at least temporarily giving up the struggle. Although this is commonly thought of as a “breakdown,” we optimistically consider it a potential breakthrough.

About 75 percent of people who enter psychotherapy show some benefit from it. Psychotherapy has been shown to improve emotional and psychological well-being and is linked with positive changes in the brain and body.

Reasons, such as lack of trust or feeling misunderstood, may make you feel like therapy isn't helping. Here's how you can improve your experience. There are many reasons why therapy may not be working for you. Your therapist, the type of therapy they provide, and how they relate to you may be the reasons.

Turns out it's pretty easy to find resources and articles that say no, it's not recommended. The reasons given (often by therapists) include splitting, conflicting treatment plans, creating secrets (especially if they aren't aware of each other or aren't in communication).

Can You Be Friends With a Former Therapist? While not common, a friendship can develop when you've finished therapy. There are no official rules or ethical guidelines from either the American Psychological Associated or American Psychiatric Association regarding friendships with former clients.

Progress notes contain information directly relevant to treatment, such as a diagnosis, prescription for medication, type of therapy, or mental health symptoms. You might share this information with your client, family members they allow you to disclose to, and your client's other care providers.

We change the way people approach their mental health and help them tackle life's challenges by providing accessible and affordable care. With BetterHelp, you can message a professional therapist anytime, anywhere.

A missed session is a loss to everyone.

With at least 24 hours notice, sessions can be cancelled or rescheduled free of charge (you'll get an automated reminder 48 hours out from your session, so you should have plenty of time to regroup and reschedule, if needed).

Canceling BetterHelp is easy. Just follow these steps: Click on the drop-down arrow next to your name and profile photo, then select “Account Settings.” Under “Payment Settings,” click on “Change Plan/Quit Counseling.” A pop-up menu opens that lists different choices for changing your subscription.

While BetterHelp is not free therapy, the platform does offer affordable therapy, particularly when compared to traditional counseling. With BetterHelp, online therapy costs $60 to $90 per week (billed every 4 weeks) without insurance.