Choosing the Best Online Therapy Platform in 2022

Although mental health is an incredibly important issue for many Americans, it’s still surrounded by stigma so it often gets overlooked. Many people with depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders don’t receive proper treatment so their symptoms get worse and their quality of life declines dramatically.

Some people feel uncomfortable when sharing the details of their mental health with others. Besides, some people are afraid to admit that they have any problem, in the first place. People don’t want others to think they’re “insane,” even though everyone may face emotional struggles sometimes.

Stress, depression, anxiety, and many other mental health problems don’t discriminate. Such issues are relevant for people of all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities. Not everyone, however, receives the so-needed help.

Although talk therapy has proven to be effective when treating many kinds of mental health problems, some people hesitate to try it because they feel uncomfortable when sharing personal information. In this case, it’s important to keep in mind that licensed mental health professionals put a lot of effort into creating a safe space for clients to share their worries without judgment.

This isn’t, however, the only factor that may stop people from going to therapy. Quite often, people just don’t have enough time to commute to a therapist’s office because of a busy work schedule. That’s where online therapy platforms can help.

Thanks to online therapy, you don’t need to sit in your therapist’s office. Instead, you can schedule video calls or even send text messages whenever you want to share something. Along with online therapy, some platforms also give their users access to various informational resources and self-care tools to speed up the treatment process.

Here are the 5 best online therapy platforms in 2022. We analyzed reviews from clients and compared features, prices, and the convenience of different platforms so that you can choose the one that meets your needs.

The 5 Best Online Therapy Services

When choosing an online therapy provider, the main factors for most clients are convenience and accessibility. Although online therapy appeared not so long ago, there are many companies that claim to offer similar benefits, so let’s take a closer look at them and figure out what makes them unique.

1. Calmerry

This is a relatively young company that has already proven its reliability and helped hundreds of clients get the so-needed mental health help. Calmerry has a big team of therapists, all of which are licensed to practice in their states and have all the necessary credentials.

On this online therapy platform, you can get OCD online therapy, depression therapy, relationship counseling, and many other types of professional mental health help. Given that Calmerry has mental health professionals with different backgrounds, here you can get help with anxiety, relationship problems, grief, trauma, and many other mental health issues.

Clients can send unlimited messages to their therapists, and they can also schedule video online therapy sessions. Besides, Calmerry gives all its users access to an extensive self-care library and various free tools. For instance, instead of traditional journaling, you can use a unique mood-tracking chatbot.

You can choose from among several subscription plans, with the cheapest one starting at $50 per week. Calmerry also often offers good discounts so you may be able to start online therapy without breaking the bank. When creating an account, you should complete a quick questionnaire. After this, you’ll get matched with a licensed therapist from your state based on your answers.

Pros

• Free therapist switching

• Free self-care tools

• Multiple communication channels

• iOS and Android apps

• Several subscription plans

Cons

• Psychiatry services aren’t available

• The services aren’t covered by insurance

2. TalkSpace

This is one of the most popular online therapy companies that provides a vast range of services, including psychiatry consultations. So, this platform might be appreciated not only by those who are looking for talk therapy but also those who seek medication treatment.

TalkSpace quickly became incredibly popular because of its well-thought marketing campaign and endorsements from celebrities. This online therapy platform has a rather good reputation, although not all reviews from clients are positive.

Clients are matched with therapists by an algorithm. There are several online therapy packages available, and the cheapest one costs $69 per week. This plan, however, doesn’t feature psychiatry services, so if that’s what you’re looking for, you will have to pay extra fees. The basic plan features text messages only.

Pros

• Can be covered by insurance

• Teen counseling

• Psychiatry services

Cons

• Psychiatry services aren’t featured in subscription plans

• The prices are relatively high

3. BetterHelp

This is another popular online therapy company with a nice reputation. You can check out therapists’ credentials and backgrounds on the website, and if the team meets your requirements, you can create an account. The registration process is pretty simple and it doesn’t take much time.

To start online therapy with a therapist who has the necessary experience and qualifications, you can use search filters. If for some reason, you’re not satisfied with your therapy experience, you can contact the support team and ask them to switch therapists.

There are over 21,000 therapists on this online therapy platform so clients can get help with many problems, including anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues, etc. The cheapest subscription plan costs $60 per week.

Pros

• A mobile app

• Therapist switching

• Multiple communication channels

Cons

• No free trial versions

• Services aren’t covered by insurance

• The basic plan has no video sessions

4. Pride Counseling

While many online therapy platforms provide a safe, judgment-free environment, not all of them have therapists familiar with the specifics of the LGBTQ+ community. Pride Counseling is a unique online therapy platform because it was created specifically for LGBTQ+.

All therapists have experience working with gay, lesbian, trans, and non-binary individuals, and they are licensed to practice in their states. All conversations between clients and therapists are strictly confidential. Online therapy is available in different formats. The cost of subscription plans starts at $60 per week.

Pros

• A mobile app

• Unlimited text messaging

Cons

• Services aren’t covered by insurance

5. TeenCounseling

This is another online therapy platform intended for a specific category of clients, and this time, these are teenagers. Teenagers often deal with mental health issues so they need therapy as much as everyone else. Not all platforms, however, work with teens. TeenCounseling decided to fill this niche.

Here, teenage clients can get online therapy to deal with many issues, including bullying, anxiety, shaming, stress, etc. Thanks to flexible scheduling, teenagers and their parents can easily adjust sessions to their needs. This online therapy platform offers both text messaging and video calls. The basic online therapy plan costs $60 per week.

Pros

• Confidentiality

• Therapists are familiar with issues common among teenagers

Cons

• Services aren’t covered by insurance

Wrapping Up

Thanks to online therapy, mental health care is now more accessible than ever. People who need help with their emotional problems don’t have to commute to a therapist’s office anymore because they can receive all the necessary support from home.

Online therapy has proven to be as effective as traditional in-person sessions. While offering flexibility and accessibility, online therapy also allows clients to connect with experienced professionals who are familiar with their issues and ready to help.

Some online therapy platforms, like Calmerry, offer not only video online therapy and unlimited text messaging but also various self-care tools and informational resources that can help you learn more about mental health and improve your well-being.

No matter what your problem is, you can find a platform that fits your needs on our list. You can choose services that fit your budget or online therapy platforms intended for a specific category of clients.

All our reviews are based on the information available on the companies’ official websites and reviews from clients on third-party sources. We don’t receive any compensation for our reviews and we only provide independent opinions.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes