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The COVID-19 pandemic has made it challenging for people to access quality mental healthcare. Still, many strive to improve their well-being and seek professional mental health support. It’s not to mention the devastating toll of the pandemic on people’s mental health worldwide: several surveys revealed that symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression increased considerably in US adults since the outbreak of COVID-19.
However, technology provides more freedom for everyone to access mental health services, find the right therapist, and start improving the quality of life. Online therapy platforms may be the solution for those who need professional help for mental health and can’t access it due to many reasons. Besides, online therapy has been proven to be as effective as traditional one.
However, if you need immediate help, call 911 or reach out to emergency resources.
To help people decide what platforms to try therapy on, Dr.Mental — the tester and aggregator of unbiased reviews of online therapy sites — announced top platforms for 2021 with detailed reviews on them, highlighting their pros and cons.
We have analyzed them and can list 5 best online therapy platforms in 2021:
- Calmerry
- Online-Therapy
- BetterHelp
- Talkspace
- Pride Counseling
This list and description of each site are backed by the top picks of other reviewers — Top10 and Therapy-Reviews. So, what are the features of each platform? Have a look below.
1. Calmerry
Pros:
● Fully licensed and thoroughly background-checked therapists
● Unlimited messaging therapy
● Affordable plans
● Fast, 24/7 client support
● You can switch therapist anytime for free
● Free mobile app for Android & iOS
● Easy cancellation
Cons:
● Relatively new
● No phone therapy sessions
About the Platform
Calmerry is a HIPAA-compliant platform that matches people with fully licensed counselors. They cover a wide range of specialties for almost all kinds of mental health issues.
They try to make evidence-based therapy affordable and accessible for everyone — from any device, anytime, in any place. You can text your counselor every day or have 30-minute live video calls using their website or free app. Calmerry guarantees text responses from counselors at least once a day. Also, you can schedule live text/video sessions.
How to Start Therapy on Calmerry
Below is a brief walkthrough of how the platform works.
Step 1: Take an Assessment
You’ll have to complete a short survey before getting matched with your therapist. Calmerry states that all information is confidential and necessary for matching you with the right mental health professional, so be free to share what and how you really feel.
Step 2: Select a Plan and Get Matched with Your Therapist
Pick the most suitable plan for yourself. Then, Calmerry’s trained agents will match you with the mental health professional based on your answers and indicated preferences.
Step 3: Talk to Your Therapist
Connect with your mental health professional using a suitable communication mode. Get professional mental health support when you need it and lead a better life.
Who Can Benefit From Online Therapy There?
Calmerry carefully vets licensed mental health professionals in your state: LMHC, LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC, LMFT, etc. They are experienced in CBT, DBT, EMDR, SFT, and other modern therapeutic approaches.
They specialize in:
● Depression
● Anxiety
● Eating disorders
● Stress
● Relationship issues
● Grief & trauma
● Career counseling
● Family therapy
● PTSD
● OCD
● Self-esteem issues
● LGBTQA+ therapy
● Emotional abuse therapy, etc.
Prices
You can pay weekly or monthly. The prices start from $42 per week with $90 off the first month.
2. Online-Therapy
Pros:
● Easy to schedule chats
● Licensed CBT therapists
● Yoga and meditation videos
● Supplemental wellness tools
● Balance of independent work and in tandem with a therapist
Cons:
● Therapists are available only 8 hours a day on weekdays
● No apps
● They don’t accept insurances
About the Platform
The Online-Therapy platform was established in 2009 to support people in overcoming emotional issues with the help of their 8-section program. Their licensed counselors use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and self-assessment tools, worksheets, journaling, CBT activities, yoga, and meditation videos to help clients improve their mental health.
How to Start Therapy on Online-Therapy
Follow these steps:
Step 1
Determine the areas of your concern that you want to work on to get matched with the right mental health professional.
Step 2
Select a subscription plan that will suit your needs.
Step 3
Upon signing up, you’ll get instant access to your online therapy program, including 8 sections with worksheets, journaling, yoga, and more.
Step 4
Meet your therapist and start communication with them through chat, worksheets, or live video sessions. You’ll have access to only 1 live session per week: via text, video, or voice.
Who Can Benefit From Online Therapy There?
Online-Therapy’s licensed CBT therapists specialize in treating:
● Depression
● Phobias
● Stress
● Addictions
● Anger management issues
● OCD
● Sleeping disorders
● Eating disorders
● Relationship issues
● Procrastination
● Weight management issues, etc.
Prices
Choose a preferable plan:
● The Basic plan ($39.95/week)
● The Standard ($59.95/week)
● The Premium ($79.95/week)
For the first month, Online-Therapy gives 20% off.
3. BetterHelp
Pros:
● Various communication channels with therapists
● User-friendly interface
● Financial aid option
● Desktop and mobile app versions available
● Multiple pricing plans
Cons:
● No visible prices before signing up
● Clients report unresponsive customer service
● Live videos are not included in the standard plan
About the Platform
BetterHelp is a popular online counseling service that has been in operation since 2013. They are on a mission to make therapy affordable to help people overcome mental health problems, and their active marketing contributes to ending the stigma behind seeking mental health services. BetterHelp claims they have gathered over 19,000 fully licensed therapists to provide mental health support in many areas.
How to start Therapy on BetterHelp
Step 1
Fill out a brief questionnaire before getting matched with the best counselor for you. Indicate your needs, preferences, and problems, and requirements regarding a counselor.
Step 2
Create a personal account, choose a suitable plan, and confirm your payment.
Step 3
Get matched with your mental health professional within 24 hours.
Step 4
Start a conversation with your assigned counselor. Schedule live sessions and get online mental health support.
Who Can Benefit From Online Therapy There?
BetterHelp licensed therapists are experienced in treating a wide range of mental health issues:
● Anger management
● Anxiety
● Couples counseling
● Trauma and abuse counseling
● Intimacy issues
● Career counseling
● Eating disorders
● Family counseling
● Grief counseling
● Sleep disorders
● Teen counseling, etc.
Prices
From $60 to $90 per week. You can be billed monthly, quarterly, or yearly.
4. Talkspace
Pros:
● Multiple counseling options: text, audio, video sessions
● Unlimited messaging therapy
● Individual, couples, teen counseling, and psychiatry services.
● They hire only licensed therapists
Cons:
● Getting a mental health professional can take up to several days
● No refund for the unused counseling time
● No free trials
About the Platform
Talkspace is one of the most popular online counseling platforms. The company began operations in 2012 and claims that it has already helped over a million people overcome mental health issues. It has been reviewed by major media such as CNN and Fox News.
How to Start Online Therapy on Talkspace
Step 1
Create an account and take a questionnaire providing honest answers about you, your needs, preferences, goals, etc.
Step 2
Get matched with a therapist in a few steps:
1. You can have a free consultation with a licensed therapist who acts as an expert matching agent. They will help you know what mental health professional you need and whether the platform is right for you.
2. You can choose your therapist from the list of algorithmically recommended mental health professionals with their extended bios and other important information to help you decide.
The matching process can take some time, up to several days.
Step 3
Communicate with your matched therapist 5 days/week through messages, video, or phone.
Who Can Benefit From Online Therapy There?
The platform’s mental health professionals cover a great spectrum of mental health issues. Here are some of them:
● Parenting
● Depression
● Relationship issues
● LGBTQIA+
● Chronic illness
● Anxiety
● Eating disorders
● Childhood abuse
● Mood disorders
● Anger management
● OCD
● Trauma & grief, etc.
Prices
There are 3 subscription plans (from $65 to $99 weekly) plus Couples therapy and Teen counseling options. You can be billed monthly, quarterly, and biannually.
As for the Psychiatry services, the initial evaluation costs $199, and every consequent visit is $125.
5. Pride Counseling
Pros:
● LGBT community-focused platform
● Licensed therapists
● Total confidentiality
● Cancel anytime
Cons:
● It takes longer to join the platform
● No money-back guarantee
● No customer support live chat
● Matching with a counselor may take up to a few days
About the Platform
Pride Counseling is a safe online therapy platform that provides mental health support and advice for people who belong to the LGBTQ+ community. Their licensed counselors help them overcome issues LGBTQ+ members face daily and provide the support they need the most.
It’s important to note that Pride Counseling is the platform for all though it has a special emphasis on helping people of the LGBTQ+ community.
How to Start Online Therapy on Pride Counseling
Step 1
Click “Get started” and take a questionnaire. It involves many personal questions, for example, about your age, identity, pronouns, orientation, how you feel, what symptoms you experience, etc.
This is the longest part of joining the platform — the survey is quite lengthy, but it’ll help to choose the best counselor for you.
Step 2
Verify your email and finish the setup of your account.
Step 3
Wait from a few hours to a few days until the representatives of Pride Counseling match you with your counselor. Start communicating with them.
Who Can Benefit From Online Therapy There?
Pride Counseling is the online therapy for everyone. However, it’s specifically focused on the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Their trained mental health professionals can help overcome:
● Relationships issues
● Parenting issues
● Coming out issues
● Self-esteem issues
● Stress
● Trauma
● Anxiety
● Depression
● Addictions
● Sleeping and eating problems
● Grief
Prices
From $60 to $90 per week — billed monthly. You can get a discount if you want to use Pride Counseling for over 3 months.
Conclusion
According to the online therapy platforms, tester Dr.Mental, and backed by the picks of Top10 and Therapy-Reviews, such e-therapy sites as Calmerry, Online-Therapy, BetterHelp, Talkspace, and Pride Counseling are announced the best 5 platforms for online therapy in 2021.
These platforms have made therapy more accessible to people who can’t reach a therapist and get professional mental health support. Online therapy may be the option for accessing help when it’s needed — anytime, in any place.
Media contacts:
Website: https://drmental.org/
Original Source of the original story >> 5 Top Online Therapy Platforms Revealed in 2021
Updated: April 20th, 2021
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