At first glance, Brightside and BetterHelps price points are similar. All rights reserved. Once youve paid for your first month, week or quarter, BetterHelp assigns you an online room where you can exchange private messages with your counselor. (2019). Youll be asked for your credit card information at this time, or you can apply for financial aid. We dont publish any health content until our. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. Our editorial content is based on thorough research and guidance from the, Partner Offers feature brands who paid Forbes Health to appear at the top of our list. BetterHelp does not take insurance, and clients pay out of pocket. She specializes in aging, long-term care, caregiving, retirement and a variety of other health and retirement topics. BetterHelps site was also more intuitive, while with Brightside, I was occasionally left wondering where to find resources I needed. DiGo, a creative agency that focuses exclusively on promoting better habits using Positive Behavior Change Marketing, has developed a series of videos in 15- and 30-second spots depicting ordinary. . BetterHelp also states on its FAQs page that all of its providers are fully licensed and in good standing.. In addition to screening BetterHelp using our intensive vetting process, we also looked at their medical credibility, business practices, and social impact. MediaRadar helps advertising sales teams reach the key decision makers at brands. Overall, we preferred Brightside for its consistent, highly specific care from a team of well-qualified therapists. We include products we think are useful for our readers. Brightside vs. BetterHelp: Types of Therapy, Brightside vs. BetterHelp: How Therapy Sessions Work, Brightside vs. BetterHelp: Therapist Qualifications, Brightside vs. BetterHelp: Switching Therapists, Brightside vs. BetterHelp: Privacy Policies, Brightside vs. BetterHelp: User Satisfaction, Daily Tips for a Healthy Mind to Your Inbox, Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry. You can work with a therapist via your computer, smartphone, or tablet. BetterHelp automatically matches you with the counselor it determines is a good match. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Our Story The service is generally more affordable than in-person therapy. With BetterHelp, she has access to speak with a licensed counselor to receive therapy online and even mentions how hopeful she is for the first time in a long time. Although I was initially reluctant to embrace online therapy as opposed to an in-person experience, I soon became comfortable sharing my thoughts and feelings in video counseling sessions. The opinions expressed are the authors alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers. . While traditional therapy offers the quiet comfort of facial expressions and affirmations, in todays tech-centric world, even that can be closely mimicked through BetterHelps live video sessions. Turgoose D, et al. You can choose to do your therapy sessions via video chat, phone call, live chat, or messaging similar to email. 7 Cups provides mental-health care through mindfulness exercises, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and interpersonal exercises, along with support for a variety of different needs: 7 Cups matches you with a therapist, so you will not have the option of choosing your therapist. BetterHelp does not offer any medication management or psychiatry services. Youll be billed monthly. Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. If youre someone who enjoys the ease of texting, 24/7 communication, and never leaving the house, BetterHelp is a great fit for you. . BetterHelp is an entirely online therapy service, so there are some key differences to keep in mind when comparing online and in-person therapy. If you dont like waiting hours for a response, you can schedule a live chat session with your counselor. If you're feeling stressed, drinking a hot (or cold) cup of tea may help. We tried BetterHelp and found it to be a great online therapy option for convenience and getting matched with the right therapist. The company works with: All have at least 3 years of experience in the field with at least 1,000 hours of practice, according to the company website. Q1. Mobile apps for BetterHelp are available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. We follow an advertising policy . . Talkspace is a text-based therapy platform. They offer a variety of different services, and their monthly membership payment plan is flexible so you can cancel anytime. BetterHelp offers professional counseling from accredited psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists and board-licensed professional counselors. Get help, you deserve to be happy! Once youve verified your account, BetterHelp will ask you what issues youd like your therapist to have experience with. We use our own and third-party cookies and web beacons to deliver a faster and safer experience, to monitor and analyze usage, to comply with laws, and for advertising purposes. Youll also have an opportunity to describe, in your own words, why youre seeking therapy. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Keep in mind, Brightsides choice to mandate video connection for all sessions might be a quality issue rather than a lack of resourcesmany reputable therapists consider live chat or phone sessions to lack the level of connection necessary for a productive therapy session. We researched news about both companies, including any controversy around prescriptions or advertising, investor and performance news, and company history. Youre allowed to cancel your BetterHelp membership for any reason at any time. Brightsides sign-up process is more in-depth than BetterHelpsit gives you a second, more detailed questionnaire that is just for matching purposes after youve already signed up, entered your portal, and chosen your plan. 2005-2023 Psych Central a Red Ventures Company. BetterHelp hosts sessions inside its portal (app or website), giving users more options as to the format of their session. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. I also found BetterHelp customer service to be responsive and helpful. It also. BetterHelp makes professional therapy available anywhere through a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Financial aid is available to users who cant afford the standard price. Discover our top picks and the best online therapy to fit your needs and preferences. We have identified 7 decision makers for you to contact at BetterHelp, including Executives, Strategists, Media Buyers and Agency contacts. Another report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found the pandemic also created new barriers to help for people who already faced substance abuse or other mental health issues[2]The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. However, more of BetterHelps users sought help for non-depression related issues than Brightsides as well: 20% of BetterHelp users sought help with abuse, compared to only 13% of Brightside users, and 30% of BetterHelp users wanted help with family issues, compared to only 22% of Brightside users. Even once you subscribe to a plan, you can cancel your membership at any time if youre unsatisfied. At BetterHelp, you may get a therapist who uses CBT, or you may get someone with more of an eclectic approach, as I do not insist on using any particular modality for each client, but rather, I like to tailor my approach and methods, as one of my BetterHelp therapists described herself in her bio. Plus 13 Best Services for 2023, 7 Tips for Finding a Culturally Competent Therapist from Someone Who's Been There, 10 Best Places for Guided Meditation Online, The Top 9 Online Psychiatry Services for 2023, people without insurance (or who dont have mental health coverage) who are looking for an affordable way to access 24/7 mental health care, people looking for a per-appointment (not subscription) virtual service, $65$129 per week for therapy; $249 for initial psychiatry and $125 for follow-up sessions, people looking for 24/7 counseling that might be covered by insurance and that you can access via video, phone, or chat, insurance accepted, but limited mental health professionals, people who prefer to chat with a therapist only through text, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, depression, LGBTQIA+ counseling, and grief counseling, your eating habits, including alcohol consumption, how you prefer to communicate with your therapist. We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. Here are some cons to consider before trying BetterHelp: You can connect to BetterHelp on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. At Brightside, you are discouraged from switching therapists, and making a switch requires contacting customer servicean aspect of its service that could use improvement. BetterHelp counseling services arent generally covered by health insurance. My counselor made suggestions without pushing me to follow them and offered ways I could cope with anxiety, such as breathing exercises and journaling techniques for perceiving fears or worries in a more realistic and logical way. A subscription ranges from $60 to $90 a week, billed monthly. Have questions about this ad or our catalog? I can also change how I contact him at any point, so I can decide [if] Id rather have a call or just chat throughout the week, she says. BetterHelp pairs users with licensed therapists for web-based therapy sessions. Marcelle ET, et al. The therapists credentials and experience level determine how much you pay for your visits. BetterHelp costs $240 - $360 monthly (advertised as $60 - $90 weekly), making it an affordable out-of-pocket therapy option. Insurance covers both its therapy and psychiatry services. Research on telehealth has shown it may be effective for people with many mental health conditions. BetterHelp does collect data on its clients, but it doesnt sell this data for marketing. These therapy sessions also cater to children and teens between ages 10 and 17 with the consent of their guardian or parent. Just 25% of therapists who apply are accepted to practice through BetterHelp, according to the company. Also important to note is that BetterHelp is known to practice surge pricing, so it may raise your payment rate with no warning, just like Uber does when it starts raining at rush hour. I received a notification via email and on the desktop platform, she says. Receive the help you deserve. Depending on what youre looking for, BetterHelp offers counseling for individuals, couples, or families. Brightside prescriptions focus primarily on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which are standard medications used for treating depression. (2017). BetterHelp includes an online journal thats yours and yours alone. Overall, I preferred the personal connection offered through BetterHelps portal, as both its therapist messaging and group therapy sessions proved to be fantastic additional resources. BetterHelp therapists will not diagnose conditions. Once verified, the information you provide will be displayed on our site. Brightsides messaging feature goes to both your therapist and your care coordinator, and is intended more as a customer service helpline than for actual therapeutic exchanges. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy in the treatment of psychiatric illness. For more in-depth information, continue reading. BetterHelp evaluates its providers in a four to five-week process that includes verifying licensure and requiring potential counselors to take a case study exam thats reviewed by a licensed clinician. This time around, you are not matched with a therapist, but rather given a wide selection to choose from (I was in New York, and was given 40 different therapists). Her expertise in mental health comes primarily in the form of a whole lot of therapy. The system does not share your personal phone number with the counselor everything is done through the BetterHelp app. If you cancel, you will receive a prorated refund for any unused services for which youve already paid. It wont be visible to anyone else unless you choose to share it. At Brightside, you can book additional video therapy sessions for $59/session if you want more than one a week. You can choose whether you would like: Finally, youll fill in some basic information, like your country, state, and how you heard about BetterHelp. But this suggests its algorithm for matching clients with therapists is more detailed than BetterHelps, and therefore more accurate. You can remain anonymous with your therapist if you prefer. Overall, users were very satisfied with both platforms, and the companies received similar ratings in most categories: 90% of Brightside users rated it good to excellent overall, while 86% of BetterHelp users did the same. Whats clear is that Brightside makes billing your insurance relatively easy, while with BetterHelp, its nearly impossible. Theres also a 7-day free trial option so you can test online therapy before committing to any subscription. The company offers a free 7-day trial, so you could consider signing up for this to sample the service at no cost to see if it may be a good fit for you. Yes! Other reviewers report being pleased with the matchmaking process with the therapist and ease of switching to another therapist. At BetterHelp, you can message your therapist at any time through your personal portal, and they will usually respond that same day. If you're eligible for financial aid, you can get their subscription at about 20-50% lower cost. Therapy offers a broad array of benefits for all of us. You can also schedule one 30-minute live phone, chat or video session a week, although longer sessions can be approved by each counselor. BetterHelps sign-up process is quicker all around. At this writing, the platform says it has more than 24,000 licensed therapists and has hosted more than 202 million messages, live chats, phone calls, and video sessions. We also reviewed results from a survey of 105 users across 55 online therapy companies, including BetterHelp and Brightside. Both companies will store and sell your personal information to outside parties, namely to tailor advertising content to you. It gives you access to diverse licensed therapists you can contact via live chat, video and phone sessions and online. Simone is the health editorial director for performance marketing at Verywell. Facing obstacles . Last medically reviewed on February 2, 2022. The California-based company launched in 2013. Interested in trying BetterHelp? Therapists are licensed, trained and experienced in their respective fields, all having either a masters or doctorate degree. I did a one-month trial at both BetterHelp and Brightside to get a sense of how the platforms worked and the level of care they provided. I felt my therapist was an excellent counselor and a good match for the issues that brought me to therapy. Powell was matched with a therapist within a day. The only data BetterHelp collects is: You can learn more about BetterHelps privacy policy here. Last medically reviewed on February 6, 2023. While our team of, Best Hearing Aids for Severe Hearing Loss. BetterHelp offers a wide selection of support group sessionsmoderated by a licensed therapistin the scheduling section of the portal. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Youll be asked to fill out a questionnaire to check your eligibility. Your counselor will reply with questions, guidance, homework, or feedback. Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. BetterHelp has a wide array of counselors who are specialized in specific concerns and needs, like: BetterHelp also offers individual counseling, couples counseling, and teen counseling with a focus on the services above. Former Healthline employee Jamey Powell tried out BetterHelp and was really pleased with her experience. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional. On Google Play, the BetterHelp app received 4.7 stars from more than 26,000 reviews. As a result, many people experiencing mental health issues turned to online therapy platforms like BetterHelp. BetterHelp is part of Teladoc Health Inc.. Marcelle ET, et al. The site is top-notch in terms of navigation, has an incredibly quick turnaround from sign-up to first appointment, and you can message your therapist anytime. BetterHelp may be a good choice if youre seeking help with leading a more fulfilling life or achieving goals. Check out our FAQ Page. For $150 a month, you get unlimited access to a therapist. While it's not the most convenient or flexible model, I cant argue with thismany top-of-the-line therapists who primarily treat patients in-person refuse to treat patients over the phone or via live chat, on the grounds that it does not allow them enough of a connection with the client to do their job properly. You can try the service for free for 7 days. Therapeutic contact is limited to your weekly video sessions. It found that 37.8% of participants had improved significantly, 62% had a partial response, and 19.8% were classified as being in remission after receiving therapy from BetterHelp for 3 months. Not too far behind, 69% of Brightside users felt the same way. In addition, therapists must have received certification from the professional board in their state, which requires standard education, exams, and practice. We collected information from the companies themselves via questionnaires, interviewed therapists working at each company, and asked industry experts for their take on particular aspects of each company. However, check with your health insurance provider to see whether BetterHelp services could be reimbursed under your policys mental health coverage. Overall, Acadia reported a total of $675.3 million in revenue in the fourth quarter, a 13.8% increase year over year. Theres also an option for group therapy, known as groupinars. Teletherapy was found to be just as effective as in-person therapy, so it can be a good option when an in-person meeting with a therapist is not possible. Affordable, Private Therapy Anytime, Anywhere. In the last year, we identified 28,239 new product launches overall. If you choose a plan with medication at Brightside, sessions with your prescribing doctor, as well as information on your prescriptions, are accessible in the portal. Since theres no commuting for online therapy, it tends to be easier to fit into clients schedules than in-person therapy. Brightside, on the other hand, has managed to keep its company profile squeaky clean, which, warranted or not, makes me marginally more comfortable trusting them with my personal data. At this writing, out of 4,100 reviews on Trustpilot, 84% of BetterHelp users rated the service as excellent, and 9% rated their experience as bad. This usually had to do with the reviewers personal experience with their therapist. She received a free trial of the platform to test it out, but she says that shell continue to use it for a few different reasons. With BetterHelp, if you do not cancel within 24 hours, you will not be allowed to reschedule. Headquartered in California, BetterHelp has treated nearly 3.2 million people since its founding. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. McLean SA, et al. For those who prefer working through problems out loud, its possible to schedule a phone call with your counselor. BetterHelp is a popular mental health platform right now in 2022. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Brightside also gives you the option of adding prescription medication to your plan for an extra $50 a month, while BetterHelp does not. Efficacy of synchronous telepsychology interventions for people with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and adjustment disorder: A rapid evidence assessment. On a separate occasion, when I submitted a question via the platforms support messaging, I received a satisfactory reply to my question within a few hours. Read more about BetterHelp insurance coverage. You may also begin registration by clicking the Get Started button in the top right corner of the site. If youre looking for a mental health provider, what type of treatment are you looking for? Lin T, et al. The company operates through thousands of therapists who can. Since BetterHelp is online, there are more therapists to choose from, and finding a compatible therapist may take significantly less time and effort. To sign up, you'll take a survey on the BetterHelp site to match you to the right therapist.. 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