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How Much Is BetterHelp? The Value, Benefits, And Cost Of Therapy

Reviewed by Rashonda Douthit, LCSW · July 19, 2022 ·

Online therapy through BetterHelp can be an affordable, convenient way to work with a licensed mental health professional. People often question how they’ll pay for healthcare services, including mental health services such as therapy. Through BetterHelp, therapy may cost a fraction of what people often pay for in-person treatment. BetterHelp provides a great value, and therapy can be a beneficial investment in your mental health.

Understanding The Logistics Of BetterHelp Therapy Sessions

How Much Is BetterHelp A Month? BetterHelp is billed every 4 weeks, and the cost starts at $65 per week (costs vary according to factors like your preferences for a therapist and the therapist’s availability). The BetterHelp costs are typically more affordable than in-person, traditional therapy sessions, which can cost $150 or more each visit per week even with health insurance or financial aid. Research has shown that online therapy is at least as effective as in-person therapy. Sometimes, you can get therapy benefits in a convenient format and at an affordable cost through BetterHelp’s online platform, without the long waitlists that in person therapy can come with or having to deal with an outside insurance company to get assistance. Many people have found online therapy to be preferable because of its convenience.

How Many Sessions Do You Get With BetterHelp? With BetterHelp, each client and their therapist can work together to find a personalized therapy plan that’s right for the client. Clients may have one live therapy session a week with their therapist. Live therapy sessions are scheduled and can take place by video call, phone call, or live chat. The total number of online counseling and therapy sessions clients want or need varies widely and is personal, usually depending on the client’s goals for therapy and their treatment plan. You and a licensed mental health professional can work together during live chat sessions to figure out the right individualized therapeutic plan for you. It doesn’t matter if you need couples therapy, general stress management, or advice on how to overcome a chronic mental health disorder, BetterHelp will assist you every step of the way.

What Is BetterHelp’s Messaging Option? Many clients use BetterHelp’s messaging option between live video and phone sessions to communicate with their therapist. Messaging is not live, so you don’t have to worry about when you message your therapist. You can send a message at any time outside of your normal therapy sessions, and they’ll respond when they are available. 

How Long Are BetterHelp Sessions? BetterHelp online therapy sessions are usually scheduled in 30-minute blocks. Sometimes the sessions are longer (45 minutes per session) or are scheduled for two blocks (one hour per session). This usually depends on the client and therapist and what will be most effective for the client and the therapist’s availability.

Can I Cancel BetterHelp? You can cancel BetterHelp at any time and for any reason.

How Can I Get Started On BetterHelp? This helps BetterHelp match you with a therapist who will be a good fit for you according to individual characteristics, such as your goals for therapy, your preferences and mental health needs, and your values and background.

Who Will Be My Therapist? Your therapist that BetterHelp offers you will be a licensed mental health professional who you are matched with, though you also have the option to change therapists at any time. Every BetterHelp therapist is experienced and licensed. BetterHelp therapists are licensed professional counselors, licensed psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, or licensed mental health counselors. Each holds an advanced degree in their field (a master’s degree, a doctoral degree, or both). To become a therapist on BetterHelp, a licensed mental health professional must complete a rigorous vetting process. For instance, they must complete a case study exam and be evaluated in a video session before they can provide online counseling services to clients. Each BetterHelp therapist has at least 1,000 hours and three years of professional therapy experience.

Is BetterHelp Available In The U.K.? You can use BetterHelp in the U.K. The online platform makes connecting with a therapist a convenient and comfortable option from wherever you are. 

Which Is Better, 7 Cups Or BetterHelp? Choosing a therapist who is a good fit for you is a personal choice. You can be heard through chat by a trained volunteer who will listen for no cost. These free online chatrooms can offer a sense of support for mental illness and other difficulties. It can be important to understand that the 7 Cups option to chat online with volunteers is not the same (and is not a substitute for) therapy with a licensed mental health professional on online therapy platforms like BetterHelp. All therapists on BetterHelp are licensed and experienced mental healthcare providers. Finding support and a therapist who is a good fit for you can help you on the path to feeling better.

Is There A Free Psychologist? Can I Get Free Counseling Online? You may be able to receive financial aid and access low-cost or no-cost mental health care through community healthcare centers in your area. Your primary healthcare provider may be able to offer you more information about counseling services in your area. You can also search for treatment options through SAMHSA (the U.S. federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Some of these treatment providers may offer online counseling and therapy services or get you connected to group therapy which tends to be more affordable than individual sessions. Most importantly, you get the help you need, so please reach out if you are struggling with mental illness or other challenges you need immediate help with.

People often ask these questions about the service:

How much does BetterHelp charge per month?

Is BetterHelp actually affordable?

Is Talkspace or BetterHelp cheaper?

Is it hard to cancel BetterHelp?

Does BetterHelp have a free trial?

How long are BetterHelp sessions?

How legit is BetterHelp?

Can you cancel BetterHelp at any time?

How does BetterHelp billing work?

Can you claim BetterHelp on insurance?

 

The Benefits And Value Of BetterHelp Therapy

Affordability And Valuable Benefits: Value can have many meanings—and at least two of them apply to therapy through BetterHelp. “Value” can refer to a fair return for what you pay for something. BetterHelp can be a good financial value, providing therapy at a fair price and at a lower expense than what traditional, in-person therapy typically costs even with financial assistance or health insurance. Perhaps most importantly, BetterHelp therapy can add value to your life. It can be a valuable step for feeling better, managing mental health concerns, finding more positive ways of thinking, feeling, behaving, etc.

Seeking Effective Treatment For Mental Health Disorders Or Behavioral Issues: Therapy can be an important, effective part of a treatment plan for managing mental health and behavioral health.

Learning Effective Strategies To Enhance And Manage Areas Of Life: Even if you aren’t experiencing a mental health disorder, therapy can be a productive, effective way to help you find more positive, healthy thoughts, behaviors, coping skills, feelings, and relationships.

Addressing Relationship Concerns Or Enhancing Relationships: In relationship counseling, a therapist can work with an individual client or a couple to address relationship concerns and find healthy ways to move forward in their mental health journey.

Strengthening Family Dynamics: In family therapy, family members can work to resolve conflicts and strengthen bonds in healthy ways.

Learning Healthy Coping Strategies: Coping skills help us manage and work through situations that we find difficult, stressful, or particularly challenging. Life is full of these types of situations, both big and small, that can affect our mental health. A person with good coping skills may feel more in control and less helpless in the face of challenges. Some healthy coping strategies that you can work on in therapy include stress management, time management, medication management, problem-solving, decision making, and healthy lifestyle management.

Building Resilience: Resilience is adapting in the face of adversity. It involves having strengths and healthy coping skills to meet challenges and be able to bounce back from difficulties, including mental health conditions. People can learn how to be resilient, and virtual therapy can be a good place to learn this skill. Ways to build resilience include: identifying and having confidence in your strengths and abilities, having a positive view of yourself, learning healthy communication and problem-solving skills, learning to manage impulses and feelings in healthy ways, accepting and adapting to change, keeping a healthy perspective, building healthy connections with others, developing and maintaining a hopeful outlook, and using good self-care strategies. A therapist can offer support as you go through your mental health journey and work on strengthening these skills.

Developing Positive, Effective Communication Skills: Good communication skills can help you in virtually all areas of life. Essentially, verbal and non-verbal communication skills involve giving and receiving information. Communication is vital in relationships, whether at work or at home. In therapy, you can learn ways to communicate more effectively with the guidance of mental health counselors. Healthy communication involves speaking clearly and speaking respectfully, being a good listener, and using and understanding body language. With effective communication skills learned from therapy you may be able to prevent or solve problems, strengthen and navigate relationships, provide and get clarity and feedback, build trust and a sense of collaboration, negotiate, and assert yourself effectively.

Healing From Trauma: Traumatic experiences may come from feeling threatened, unsafe, or isolated, either physically or emotionally. Trauma can affect nervous symptoms. It can lead to emotional and physical distress. Symptoms may include fear, helplessness, disbelief, mood swings, anxiety, guilt, shame, withdrawal, sadness, hopelessness, numbness, isolation, fatigue, insomnia, edginess, muscle tension, easily startled, difficulty concentrating, etc. A therapist who has experience treating trauma can help you feel safe and take proactive steps to avoid re-traumatization as you approach the healing process. 

Coping With Loss And Managing Grief: Grief is a reaction to lose. It can encompass a range of feelings, such as sadness, shock, guilt, and anger. Loss is experienced differently by different people. Therapy for grief and loss can help you learn healthy ways to grieve, better understand your emotions, and navigate the healing process.

Recovering From Eating Disorders Or Substance Use Disorders: Therapists can offer professional support for recovery from an eating disorder or substance use disorder. Often a therapist is part of a team of treatment providers. Therapy can offer support and tools for making positive emotional and behavioral changes.

Increasing Joy And Contentment: In therapy, you can find ways to feel better, which can help you feel a greater sense of joy, contentment, and fulfillment.

The Value Of Therapy Through BetterHelp

Online therapy through BetterHelp can be a true value. BetterHelp offers an affordable option for therapy with a licensed mental health professional; it can also be a valuable tool for strengthening your wellness. On the BetterHelp platform, you can connect with a therapist who’s a good fit for you. BetterHelp and their mental health professionals can lead you to better healing, better feelings, and better living.

Below are some commonly asked questions on this topic:

How much does BetterHelp charge per month?

Is BetterHelp actually affordable?

How much does BetterHelp actually cost?

Is Talkspace or BetterHelp cheaper?

Does BetterHelp have a free trial?

How long is a BetterHelp session?

Can you do BetterHelp once a month?

Does BetterHelp accept insurance?

 

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