Best Online Therapy Services of 2022 to Get Your Life Better

Online therapy isn’t new, but it increased in popularity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With nearly 70% of people not having access to in-office treatment, online therapy has helped millions worldwide feel their best. 

Fortunately, the growing tech industry has made it easier and more cost-effective to get mental health care. Usually, such a program involves therapy sessions that you can either attend via email, chat rooms, telephone, or video calls.

Best 7 Online Therapy Services

One of the most remarkable things about online therapy is its accessibility. Online therapy sessions mean you can access many professional therapists and counselors without transportation costs. But as online therapy becomes widely popular, more options are cropping up. In our quest for the best online therapy services to improve your life, we've used the following criteria: cost, ease of use, user reviews, vetting, insurance, and clinician qualifications.

BetterHelp

If you've already done your homework about online therapy, you're well aware that BetterHelp is one of the most reliable therapy platforms. With more than 12,000 health professionals, the platform helps you match the right therapist or counselor within a day. Every therapist has a minimum of 1,000 hours of hands-on experience, helping those struggling with addictions, anger issues, anxiety, depression, stress, eating disorders, LGBTQ-related issues, or PTSD. 

If you're not comfortable talking with a therapist or being on a video call, the platform offers a live chat alternative where you can send and receive messages. Moreover, you can write at any hour, and the therapy provider will reply as soon as possible. But if you're opting for an audio or video call, you'll have to mark your appointment using the calendar function.  

Regarding pricing, BetterHelp has a payment plan you can easily subscribe to. The prices may vary due to your location, therapist availability, and preferences, but they usually lie anywhere from $60 to $90 per week. Unfortunately, insurance companies don't usually cover the platform's services, but BetterHelp provides financial aid options for those who cannot afford services. 

Price: $240 to $600+ per month

Talkspace

Not everyone feels comfortable sharing health details face-face. Luckily, with Talkspace, you don't have to. The platform focuses on message-based therapy while providing various services, such as medication management. You can message your counselor daily — they usually reply within a day — or set up a weekly time to connect. What's more, some online therapy services could be covered by insurance.

Talkspace is one of the most versatile therapy platforms, also providing psychiatry support and services for insomnia. Talkspace's services include various specializations, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, or PTSD. However, consider that online therapy through text-based messaging could make it challenging to develop a solid therapeutic relationship.

Price: $260 to $400 a month; $125-$199 for psychiatric services

Amwell

You may schedule an online therapy session to discuss your anxiety and see a physician for your soar throat. With Amwell, you'll not only get access to online therapy sessions with counselors, but you can also get in touch with psychiatrists, lactation consultants, nutritionists, or urgent care for non-emergency medical issues. This means that Amwell might be your one-stop resource for getting your life better and keeping up with your physical and mental health. 

Amwell offers video therapy for various conditions, including insomnia, eating disorders, PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. However, you cannot message your therapist between sessions, and you'll most likely be charged per session, not a monthly subscription fee. Most insurance providers cover online sessions, so your costs are kept down or even null. 

Price: $109+ per session

ReGain

ReGain has been explicitly built with couples in mind, providing confidential counseling to improve relationships for everyone. Couples that struggle with issues related to loss of spark, infidelity, or lack of communication can reach out to the licensed therapists of ReGain. You can either schedule video sessions with your therapist or message them throughout the day to overcome relationship challenges as they appear. 

The online therapy platform also provides a 24/7 private chat room where you can discuss any relationship issues that may arise with your therapist. Unfortunately, insurance doesn't cover any ReGain services. During a live session, you and your partner must be in the same place. While it's not the best option for long-distance relationships, it can still benefit most couples as online therapy can focus on relationships in real-time. Sometimes, couples can’t find a way to save their relationship on their own, and a little extra help is needed.

Price: $240 to $320 per month

Pride Counseling

Pride Counseling is a one-of-a-kind counseling and online therapy platform, as it has been built especially for the LGBTQ community. While most LGBTQ members embrace their identity and sexual orientation in front of the world, they are too often severely bullied or treated as pariahs. 

Such events take a considerable toll on their mental health, and many struggles with PTSD or succumb to depression. Such instances and conditions can be life-threatening. Pride Counseling's primary goal is to offer the emotional support every individual needs for as long as they need to.

That's why Pride Counseling provides various communication options, including an unlimited messaging feature, a 24/7 private chat room, live video, and audio calls. In addition, the therapists and counselors at Pride Counseling offer different types of online therapy, such as therapy for trauma, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, depression, PTSD, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, or anger management. 

On the other hand, most of their therapists cannot provide a letter of recommendation for hormone replacement therapy and do not accept insurance.

Price: $240 to $360 per month

Teen Counseling

BetterHelp's sister site is the most incredible live therapy option for teens and young adults. Over 9,7% of teenagers face mental health issues such as depression, suicidal tendencies, anxiety, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and anger management. That's why offering proper counseling and guidance to teenagers is critical. Teen Counseling is a unique online therapy platform that connects teens and parents with licensed therapists through live chat, messaging, video conference, or phone calls. 

Better yet, Teen Counseling provides separate chat rooms for teens and parents where they can message the therapists privately. On the other hand, the services are not available for court-ordered therapy, do not accept insurance, and therapists cannot prescribe medications or diagnose conditions.

Price: $240 to $600+ per month

Online-Therapy.com

Online-Therapy.com focuses exclusively on providing quality cognitive behavioral therapy online to treat depression. Their services teach you how to recognize and avoid unpleasant thoughts and behavior patterns that can negatively affect your life. 

Besides traditional talk therapy, Online-Therapy.com provides licensed and specialized training courses to help you control mental health issues like anger, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. The platform also offers various meditation and yoga videos, an activity plan, and a digital journal to keep your progress on track. 

While they offer first-month discounts, only the Premium plan involves express replies from therapists. Moreover, Online-Therapy.com doesn't take insurance and has no medication management services.

Price: $160-$320 per month

Is Online Therapy Effective?

Online therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face meetings. According to the Behaviour Research and Therapy report, cognitive behavioral therapy has effectively treated anxiety disorders. Another study from the Journal of Affective Disorders has shown that online therapy and treatment for depression were as effective as in-person therapy. 

A 2018 study found that online cognitive behavioral therapy was as efficient as in-person treatment for major depression, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. There's a proven upward trajectory in cases of depression, suicide, anxiety disorders, and other mental health conditions during the last decade.

Counseling and online therapy can be considerably beneficial for your mental health. However, finding the perfect match may be challenging due to the vast options available. All platforms can vary in strengths and weaknesses, so when choosing the best online therapy service, it's vital to know your most critical needs. 

Before making your choice, you'll want to consider your goal, budget, insurance, the therapists' credentials, user reviews, and privacy. Most virtual therapy platforms take extra precautionary steps, allowing you to delete messages after they've been read. However, before signing up, make sure to read the privacy policies of each online therapy service. 

As a bottom line, online therapy can provide you with the support and guidance you need to get your life better or work through life challenges. The proper support can make a big difference. While online therapy may not be ideal for everyone, acknowledging your issues and taking the first steps is excellent. So, before venturing into this new digital era of healing, pat yourself on the back for trying to overcome all the internal battles you fight daily.