Betterhelp Review (2023): Is This Online Therapy Worth It?

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Mental health conditions are common throughout society. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience mental health conditions each year, as do 1 in 6 children and adolescents ages 6–17 years.

BetterHelp may help people manage their mental health condition. This article provides an in-depth look into the BetterHelp brand, its services, and who it might suit.

As with any form of treatment, online therapy has both positive and negative aspects. Below are the pros and cons of BetterHelp.

Founded in 2013, BetterHelp is based in Silicon Valley. In 2015, a major telehealth company called Teladoc acquired it but kept the original brand name.

The BetterHelp online platform makes it possible for a person to access professional counselors from any place and at any time. Individuals can use a computer, tablet, or smartphone to seek counseling services, which makes the process more convenient, flexible, and affordable than in-person appointments. It also allows a person to maintain their privacy while receiving therapy.

Medical News Today has carefully vetted BetterHelp to ensure that there are no safety risks for individuals.

The vetting team looked at several factors before writing this article, such as:

• Medical accuracy and integrity: BetterHelp is transparent about the coverage it can provide and its standard of care.
• Best practices: The company uses licensed healthcare professionals and complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Indicators of trust: BetterHelp has third-party regulation and certification of security standards.
• Reputation: The company has not received any warning letters from the Federal Trade Commission, has no pending lawsuits, and has a high rating on its Better Business Bureau (BBB) page.

At the time of publication, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has given BetterHelp an A- rating. The company has been accredited with BBB since 2015. The average customer rating is 4.07 out of 5 stars, based on over 530 reviews.

The BBB bases its rating on such factors as the amount of time a company has been in business, the number of complaints filed and resolved, transparency of business practices, and the presence of any licensing or government actions against the company.

Positive reviews on the BBB website mention compatibility with counselors and how easy it is to use the BetterHelp online platform. Less favorable reviews note billing problems, reimbursement issues, and a lack of counselor availability.

People also report difficulty reaching an agreement on the counseling format, with the company offering some individuals live chat sessions when they requested phone or video appointments.

On Trustpilot, BetterHelp has an average customer rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. There are over 6,000 reviews, with favorable comments mentioning positive experiences with therapists, the convenience of the service, and flexibility in finding the right therapist.

More critical reviews raise complaints about unexpected charges, and a lack of regular appointments with therapists, and some customers found it difficult to find therapists with experience in certain areas, such as concerns affecting LGBTQIA+ individuals.

BetterHelp reviews on the company website are generally positive, with customers noting that they enjoy the ease, convenience, and flexibility that the platform offers.

However, other reviews report issues with therapist availability, billing, and reimbursement. Moreover, some individuals felt that it was difficult to connect with a therapist using the live chat feature, with a few users also reporting that they were discouraged from scheduling video or phone sessions.

BetterHelp is a suitable therapy service for people who cannot easily access in-person therapy sessions due to location or health conditions. It is also well matched to people who need flexibility in their schedule, as users can choose mental health care professionals that are available when they need them.

According to BetterHelp, its counselors can help those wanting to address something that may be keeping them from enjoying their life or meeting their goals.

People can choose from counselors who specialize in many key areas, such as:

• addiction
• anxiety
• stress
• trauma
• relationships

People who are in a mental health crisis or need urgent support should not use BetterHelp or any other online therapy service.

BetterHelp writes that its services are also unsuitable for:

• minors or those under the care of a legal guardian
• those with court orders to attend therapy
• people without access to a reliable internet connection

BetterHelp provides counseling services for adults, couples, teenagers, first responders, and veterans, among others.

The company works with thousands of licensed counselors, all of whom have a master’s or doctoral degree in their fields, as well as at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience.

Counselors come from the following backgrounds:

• marriage and family therapy
• psychology
• clinical social work
• professional counseling

BetterHelp pairs individuals with therapists based on how they respond to an online multiple-choice questionnaire. If a person is unhappy with their match, they can ask to change therapists.

The company will then assign a person to a private online chat room that only they and their therapist can access. The chat room is always “open” for the counselor and client. Individuals have unlimited chat time with their counselors through their chat rooms, although the chats are not usually live.

BetterHelp offers people one live session with their counselor each week. These live sessions can be online chats, phone calls, or video sessions that individuals can schedule with their counselors in their chat rooms.

BetterHelp features

BetterHelp offers various features that people can use to access its services.

Chat room

A person can opt to talk with their designated therapist via a chat room at any time. While people can access this messaging service whenever they wish to, a therapist may not respond immediately.

Live chat

Individuals can schedule a session with their therapist through the live chat function. This feature is similar to the chat room feature. However, people can message their therapist and receive responses in real time.

A person can return to and view this message exchange whenever they like.

Phone session

BetterHelp also offers phone sessions.

To use this feature, a person needs to schedule a session with their therapist. Then, they need to log in to their BetterHelp therapy room, and the system will ask for their phone number. The system then calls this number and connects the person with their therapist.

Video session

Alternatively, a person may schedule a live video session with their therapist so they can speak face to face. As with the phone session, a person signs into their therapy room at the appropriate time.

The therapist sends an invitation to begin a video chat. Once the participant accepts the invitation, the session will begin.

Journaling

BetterHelp provides a journaling option for people who want to write down and explore their thoughts and feelings. Prompts can help people guide their journaling practice.

BetterHelp works on a subscription basis and offers a 7-day free trial. Subscribers pay $60–$90 per week after this trial period. The exact price depends on a person’s location and preferences and therapist availability.

The company sends bills every 4 weeks. The bills are payable by credit card or PayPal. A person can cancel their subscription at any time.

BetterHelp financial aid

BetterHelp may offer some financial aid. In the initial questionnaire, BetterHelp will ask for information about a person’s financial position. A person can also reach out to the company’s customer service to apply.

When a person selects their plan, they can apply for financial aid.

Does BetterHelp accept insurance?

BetterHelp states that the company and therapists do not submit claims to Medicare, Medicaid, or health insurance companies.

While some health insurers may cover part of the costs of the BetterHelp platform, the company warns that a person’s copay may be more expensive than the cost of using the services without insurance.

If an individual has insurance and wishes to use it, they should check whether their provider offers coverage for BetterHelp.

Learn more about whether insurance covers BetterHelp.

Does BetterHelp offer discounts?

At the time of publication, BetterHelp offers a 25% discount for the first month of counseling to support people through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Changing or canceling a subscription

A person can change or cancel their BetterHelp subscription whenever they wish to.

Additionally, people can switch which therapist they contact, at any time.

BetterHelp offers the following types of therapy:

• Individual: This therapy is suitable for people who wish to discuss their mental health with a professional.
• Couples: This therapy is beneficial for a person and their partner. If a person chooses this option, BetterHelp directs them to ReGain, which it also operates.
• Group therapy: BetterHelp offers group therapy sessions called “groupinars” that focus on specific mental health challenges, such as depression, grief, relationship problems, or substance use disorders. Group sessions can involve up to 15 people.
• Teens: People can choose to set up counseling for teenagers. BetterHelp redirects them to Teen Counseling, which the company also operates.
• Pride: The company can match people with a therapist experienced in LGBTQ matters by directing them to Pride Counseling, which it operates.
• Faithful: The company directs individuals interested in religion-based counseling to Faithful Counseling, which it also operates.
• First responders: This type of counseling is for people who work on the front lines of natural disasters, at crime scenes, and in other potentially traumatic or stressful situations.
• Veterans: This counseling is for people who serve or have served in the military.
• COVID-19: The company offers this counseling to doctors and other healthcare professionals who have worked or are working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The therapists on this platform may have certain specializations, such as anxiety, depression, anger management, and more. A person can choose the areas they would like to focus on when registering with BetterHelp.

In addition to providing counseling for individuals, BetterHelp partners with a variety of organizations to help create effective, affordable, and convenient mental health services in a number of industries. These include the private and nonprofit sectors, educational institutions, and municipalities.

Getting started with BetterHelp involves the following steps:

1. When individuals register online to use BetterHelp, they fill out an online questionnaire that seeks information such as gender, age, sexual orientation, relationship status, and religion.
2. The questionnaire also asks about a person’s objectives in seeking counseling and the types of issues they are experiencing. A person may also select any characteristics they would like in a counselor, such as religion, gender, and ethnicity.
3. BetterHelp reviews a person’s completed questionnaire and then pairs them with an appropriate counselor. This process may take up to a few days.
4. Once the company matches a person with a therapist, that person gains access to a private chat room, where they can communicate with their counselor. People can schedule live messaging, phone, or video sessions through this chat room.

BetterHelp has a large network of qualified therapists. The company claims it ensures that all its therapists are fully trained, licensed, experienced, and accredited and that they have a master’s or doctoral degree in their chosen field.

BetterHelp asks all therapist applicants to verify their identity and provide license documentation. The company then cross-references this information with the therapist’s state licensing board. After BetterHelp verifies this information, the applicants must complete a graded case study and a video interview.

BetterHelp states that this thorough process means that the company only accepts 20% of applicants.

The company uses multiple layers of encryption to safeguard user data, with one layer for general browsing and a second, added layer for subscribers and their counselors.

The company does not share data with insurance companies, and counselors follow all local and federal privacy guidelines, including HIPAA.

Mental health includes a person’s social, emotional, and psychological well-being. Just as an individual can sometimes need professional help to protect and restore their physical health, they can also need support for their mental health.

Mental health can change over time and in response to specific situations. Signs that someone may be facing mental health challenges and could benefit from seeking help include:

• experiencing changes in eating or sleeping habits
• withdrawing from favorite activities
• experiencing frequent, powerful, and uncomfortable feelings, such as hopelessness, fear, confusion, and distress
• feeling more anxious or nervous or worrying more than usual
• feeling a lack of energy
• having difficulty performing daily tasks
• experiencing self-destructive thoughts or behavior, such as substance misuse or self-inflicted injury

A person should contact a doctor or mental health professional as soon as possible if they or someone in their care is experiencing symptoms relating to mental health.

An alternative to BetterHelp can be Talkspace.

This major online therapy provider, which employs thousands of thoroughly evaluated therapists, says that it has served more than 1 million people.

Users start by chatting with a consultation therapist. Based on this conversation, they receive a list of recommended therapists. After making a selection and starting therapy, a user is guaranteed a daily response from their therapist at arranged times.

The company also offers personalized prescription medication management through Talkspace Psychiatry.

The following table compares BetterHelp and Talkspace.

Learn more about the differences between BetterHelp and Talkspace.

Below are a few common questions about BetterHelp.

Does BetterHelp comply with HIPAA?

BetterHelp conforms to all HIPAA guidelines to protect the privacy of users.

According to BetterHelp, all information a person shares with their therapist is confidential, all messages are secured and encrypted, and users have the option to “shred” any message to remove it from their account.

Can BetterHelp prescribe medication?

BetterHelp staff cannot prescribe medications or make an official diagnosis.

Does BetterHelp work?

Although BetterHelp may not be a good fit for everyone, it can be a convenient alternative to traditional therapy and may benefit some people.

A 2019 study found that BetterHelp users experienced a significant reduction in depression symptom severity after using the platform for 3 months.

Is BetterHelp legit?

Yes, BetterHelp is a legitimate company offering therapy from licensed therapists.