BetterHelp Reviews

BetterHelp states it was “founded in 2013 to remove the traditional barriers to therapy and make mental health care more accessible to everyone. … providing professional, affordable and personalized therapy in a convenient online format.” It’s available in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Australia and the United Kingdom.

BetterHelp utilizes only licensed, trained, experienced and accredited mental health professionals, according to a company spokesperson. Therapists must have state board licensing, at least three years of experience and at least 2,000 hours of hands-on experience.

BetterHelp offers sessions for adults, couples and children (with parental or guardian consent). Patients can communicate through their choice of channels, including text, live chat, video and phone sessions. BetterHelp therapists can diagnose a number of mental health issues, including ADHD, depression, anxiety and more.

Start by visiting BetterHelp and click “Get started” in the top right corner. Complete the questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist. The questionnaire includes questions about your demographics and what led you to consider therapy.

BetterHelp also asks about the type of therapist you’re looking for (e.g., great listener, proactively checking in, gentle vs. direct, etc.). BetterHelp explains that these questions help match you with a therapist suited to your individual preferences and needs but doesn’t promise it can accommodate them all.

Next, you’ll complete the sign-up process by entering your payment details. Then you’ll be forwarded to your personal therapy portal. The matching process usually takes 24 to 48 hours. You will receive an email once you’re matched.

While waiting to be matched, you can join a group session. All subscriptions include one weekly live therapy session and one weekly group session. You can also continue to send messages and include more information for your therapist. BetterHelp also provides an online journal with daily prompts. If you don’t like the prompts, you can choose different ones.

Once you receive a personalized match with a licensed therapist, they’ll review what you’ve shared and reach out to you to schedule your therapy sessions. You can choose between text, live chat, video and phone sessions. Switching between communication methods is allowed.

BetterHelp uses its own live and video chat rooms, which are similar to Skype and Zoom. It claims these avenues are secure and compliant with HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. You can access all of your past messages through the patient portal and highlight messages you’d like to go back to later.

You can also switch therapists at any time if you decide it's not a good fit or their availability doesn’t work with yours. BetterHelp assures there are no hard feelings, and you can switch therapists with or without reason whenever you want, with no additional fees required. Note that any unused sessions do not roll over to the next month.

BetterHelp typically costs between $260 and $400 per month. Your subscription cost depends on your location. For example, ConsumerAffairs went through the process and got a quote of $65 per week for therapy in Mississippi or for a low-income individual in New York.

Payment details are required to complete the sign-up process. You can select a weekly, biweekly or monthly subscription, and the first payment is charged immediately. Subscriptions automatically renew until canceled. Cancellations must occur before the billing cycle renews. Patients may cancel their subscriptions at any time for any reason.

At the time of publishing, veterans get a free one-month trial as well as potential discounts between 10% and 40% depending on their financial situation. BetterHelp adds that it occasionally offers free one-month trials for other potential users, as well. It also partners with businesses to provide therapy as an employee benefit.

Yes, BetterHelp is a legitimate online therapy service. Founded in 2013, it claims to have served millions of users in line with its mission to provide accessible, affordable and professional mental health care for everyone. Its publicly available Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy reflect a commitment to transparency.

BetterHelp’s social impact program states it is “committed to making therapy equitable and accessible to under-resourced communities and individuals in need,” indicating a genuine desire to help those struggling with their mental health. BetterHelp appears to be a credible resource for individuals, couples and children seeking therapy.