If you’re among the 17 percent of U.S. adults who are considered to be in good mental health (according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), congratulations. But if you’re a member of the majority who deal with depression, anxiety or any of several other mental illnesses, you might benefit from talk therapy.
The days of sprawling on a leather chaise in a mahogany-paneled office, while a therapist on a nearby chair jots notes on a clipboard, are over for many people seeking the assistance of a therapist.
Online options, including texting and video chat, among other methods, have increased accessibility and affordability of mental health counseling. Anyone with a smartphone with a data plan or a computer with a reliable Internet connection, plus some disposable income, can seek help online.
Online options aren’t ideal in all situations, such as acute crises or situations where someone might be at risk of harm. Better Help, one online counseling service, specifies on its website that its services aren’t sufficient “if you are in a crisis or if you or any other person may be in danger.” The company provides a link to several resources for crisis situations, including numbers to call, numbers to text and websites to visit for emergency help.
Crisis situations aside, research has shown online therapy can be as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy. A 2013 study from the University of Zurich followed 62 patients, the majority of whom were diagnosed with moderate depression, through eight therapy sessions. The patients were randomly divided into two equal groups — one group underwent online therapy, while the other group was treated via face-to-face therapy.
“At the end of the treatment, no more depression could be diagnosed in 53 percent of the patients who underwent online therapy — compared to 50 percent for face-to-face therapy,” a ScienceDaily.com article says. “Three months after completing the treatment, the depression in patients treated online even decreased whereas those treated conventionally only displayed a minimal decline: no more depression could be detected in 57 percent of patients from online therapy compared to 42 percent with conventional therapy.”
When seeking online therapy, as with any online transaction, be cautious about who you’re dealing with and make sure you work with reputable companies.
One popular online counseling option is BetterHelp. BetterHelp’s online counselors are licensed and board-accredited professionals who each have a master’s or doctorate degree in their field. BetterHelp says its counselors have various specialties, including stress, anxiety, relationships, parenting, depression, addictions, eating, sleeping, trauma, anger, family conflicts, LGBT matters, grief, religion, self-esteem and more.
After signing up, a user’s objectives and preferences will be assessed, so BetterHelp can match them to a counselor. If it’s a bad fit, the site user can request a new match.
Each user and counselor will be assigned a “room” where they meet; this room is open 24-7 for users and counselors to exchange messages one-on-one.
After a free seven-day trial period, counseling is charged per week, billed monthly, and includes unlimited online counseling and a monthly 15-minute phone session. Plans start at $35 per week. BetterHelp can be used on a smartphone, tablet or computer.
Another option, called Breakthrough, lets users search for therapists by location, insurance or specialty, and the site also offers self-assessment tools. Users can then message their prospective therapist for a preliminary conversation to check compatibility before scheduling an appointment.
Using an online calendar, Breakthrough users can request appointments ranging from 15 minutes to an hour. Counseling is done via video chat on a computer, but it’s not yet available on smartphones and tablets.
Therapists set their own rates, but some accept insurance.
A third choice, called Talkspace, says it’s “just like texting with a close friend.” With Talkspace, users can send text messages, audio messages, pictures and videos in a private chat room that only the user and the therapist can access.
Talkspace has about 300 therapists across the country who are fully licensed and have more than 3,000 hours of clinical experience. Talkspace also has a board of advisors that works to ensure the service is effective for users.
Various subscription-type plans are available for Talkspace users at different price points, and there is no free trial offered.
Talkspace is available via computer, smartphone and tablet.
