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Some of the main hurdles when you are looking for quality care are access and pricing. In recent years, however, people have started to turn to online platforms as they look for easy access to mental health services. Online platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace have emerged as reliable sources of affordable therapy. While telehealth comes with many benefits, there has been a surge in the number of websites offering counseling services. That means that clients have several options to consider as they look for mental health professionals that can offer therapy within the comfort of their homes.
Although there are many websites offering access to online therapy, not all of them provide similar quality at affordable pricing. As a client, you want to make sure that you will get appropriate care and support when you decide to use an online therapy platform. To help you choose a good telehealth service provider, we have created this review that contains unbiased information on two well-known companies — BetterHelp and Talkspace. The goal of our review is to offer a balanced comparison that covers such elements as pricing, signing up processes, ease of use, and client privacy and confidentiality.
Comparison of Pricing
When it comes to reviewing the services provided by telehealth platforms, pricing is one of the important considerations. People prefer to choose online therapy because this option offers convenience as well as cost savings. So, if you are looking for a platform that offers the cheaper options between BetterHelp and Talkspace, you should consider choosing Talkspace. By charging a flat rate of $60 per week, Talkspace can be said to be relatively more affordable in terms of pricing.
In a technical sense, BetterHelp does provide a subscription plan that can come down to rates as low as $65 per week. However, this approach only applies if one chooses the annual payment alternative that is paid at once. According to reviews from past clients, BetterHelp charges around $65 for every week billed on a monthly basis. When billed weekly, the price comes to $90 per week. The good thing with BetterHelp is that whatever plan you choose, there are unlimited text messages, video sessions, phone calls, and live chat options.
Types of Services Offered
BetterHelp offers a simple and intuitive platform where therapists communicate with clients. The customer is allowed to choose a preferred mode of interacting with a care provider. Users can choose between video sessions, texts, live chat, or phone calls, according to their preferences and personal circumstances. All the plans provided by BetterHelp include phone sessions and unlimited messaging. Unlike BetterHelp, Talkspace only provides live sessions for clients with premium plans. Also, clients only get one or four live sessions every month.
Level of Commitment from Clients
Compared to Talkspace, BetterHelp requires less commitment as the client is given an opportunity to sign up for a membership on a weekly basis to try the platform. Talkspace, on the other hand, demands more long-term commitment, as the minimum billing period is one month. This means that to access therapy, a client needs to subscribe for therapy for at least one month.
Quality of Therapy Offered
Both Talkspace and BetterHelp platforms offer easy-to-use and standard systems for interacting with therapists. Clients can write messages when they feel they need help and then wait for a response. In terms of quality, the services offered on both platforms are rather good since therapists have strict qualification requirements. Both BetterHelp and Talkspace have fully-licensed counselors with proven work experience.
How to Choose Between Talkspace and BetterHelp
While both platforms offer quality therapy, there are some differences that should help you make a decision on a preferred provider. For instance, if you would like to commit to a monthly plan or you only want to use audio, video, or text messages and do not need frequent live or phone sessions, then consider Talkspace. However, if you don’t want to be bogged down with a long-term commitment and would prefer a weekly payment plan to try out the platform, or if you want unlimited live sessions and phone calls, then choose BetterHelp. The platform offers some flexibility in terms of payment.
BetterHelp Key Processes
So, what happens when a client chooses BetterHelp? Here is what you can expect when you pay for the subscription.
You Undergo In-Depth Intake
The signup process at BetterHelp is simple. The client is asked to answer a set of questions, including those relating to relationship status and emotional state. The purpose of the signup process is to learn more about mental health problems you want to address, with several questions to offer guidance.
Get Matched with a Counselor
Once you have filled the forms and answered the questions, you will have to pay for your subscription and will be matched with a therapist according to your needs. They use an algorithm to match the client with a licensed therapist. Of course, if you feel that the assigned therapist is not an ideal fit, you can always ask to be matched with another.
Benefit from 24/7 Access to a Live Chatroom
After being matched with a therapist, the client can reach out to the mental health professional at any time. There is a private messaging room to facilitate communication.
Receive Responses Once a Day
If you leave messages for the therapist, expect responses once a day from Monday through to Friday. If you want immediate responses, it is a good idea to schedule video, phone, or live chat sessions ahead of time.
Talkspace Key Processes
If you choose Talkspace, here is what you can expect.
Speedy Signup
There is a survey with few questions you have to complete when signing up. You should answer them in detail because that will help during the matching process.
Get Matched with 3 Therapists
The algorithm used by Talkspace matches clients to 3 licensed therapists, allowing the client to choose.
Enjoy 24/7 Access to a Private Room
Once the client is matched with a therapist, they get access to a private and secure therapy room. This is a space where you can send messages around the clock, either using audio, text, or video.
Receive Responses During Business Hours
Talkspace does not have real-time live chat, meaning that responses are seldom instant. You will be expected to leave your messages and wait for responses from therapists. These come mostly during business hours.
