BetterHelp Review 2024: My Honest Thoughts After 2 Years Of Online Therapy
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If you’re here because you’re looking for an authentic BetterHelp review, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been using BetterHelp as my source of online therapy for the last two years, and I have lots of thoughts. By the time I actually started online therapy, I was way overdue.
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For years and years (since high school!) I grappled with anxiety, stress, and periods of what my now therapist says is situational depression. It was mid-2020, and the pandemic had exacerbated all of my issues (I wasn’t the only one—according to the WHO, the pandemic caused a 25 percent uptick in anxiety and depression in adults, worldwide).
Since in-person therapy wasn’t an option, I opted for online therapy and tried a couple different services. It took three platforms and three therapists until I landed on a platform that felt really right for me, and that ended up being BetterHelp.
By the time I started BetterHelp, it was 2021. I had figured out what I wanted and what I didn’t in a therapy service. What I wanted: The ability to choose my own therapist versus getting automatically paired with one, one video session a week, and unlimited chat abilities with my therapist. Plus, and I’ll get into this more below, the pricing and convenience of the platform is what really sold me (along with finding a therapist who really got me—very important!). I’ve been using BetterHelp ever since, and can honestly say it’s such a key part of my self-care.
BetterHelp Subscription: Use code “stylecaster” for 25% off your first month (new members only)
BetterHelp Pros & Cons
Pros
It’s convenient
Message your therapist anytime
It’s easy to cancel your membership if you want
If you don’t like your therapist, you can easily switch
It can be a more affordable option for some people
Cons
Insurance isn’t accepted
Your therapist can’t prescribe medication
It doesn’t offer therapy for children
What Is BetterHelp?
BetterHelp is an online therapy service for individual adults (although if you’re looking for couples therapy or therapy for your teen, these are options through their sub-brands, Regain and TeenCounseling) that’s designed to provide a more convenient and (for some) affordable alternative to traditional, in-person therapy. BetterHelp, which you can access through desktop or mobile, matches you to a therapist whom you can have regular sessions with via live video or phone calls (you also have the option to live chat with your therapist). The platform also features group sessions and a private journal. BetterHelp therapists are all licensed, trained, and accredited, and are equipped to help users manage a variety of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, and bipolar disorder, as well as life’s various stresses such as grief, loneliness, and trauma.
How Does BetterHelp Work?
Getting started on BetterHelp is seamless—which is so important, because oftentimes, people (like me!) avoid therapy because finding the right therapist can cause more anxiety and frustration. Finding a therapist near me — let alone a therapist who’s accepting new patients — is no small feat.
Here’s how it works: After selecting the “individual” therapy option, you’re then prompted to fill out a questionnaire about yourself (this includes a series of questions, including your gender, sexuality, spirituality/religious beliefs, age, relationship status, why you’re seeking therapy, and what expectations you have of your therapist—this will probably take you a couple minutes). Depending on your location and needs, BetterHelp will then give you your monthly rate. If you choose to move forward with it, you’ll be prompted for your payment information. Once the payment goes through, BetterHelp lets you know that in as little as 48 hours, you’ll be matched with a therapist. I don’t remember the exact time it took to match me with mine, but it didn’t take a full 24 hours.
The way BetterHelp is set up is that you’re initially matched with a therapist based on that questionnaire you fill out in the beginning. However, if you try this route a couple of times and find that the platform is just not finding the right person for you, you can do what I did and “shop” for a therapist on your own, based on their qualifications, bio, and availability. For instance, I knew I needed a therapist who had a lot of experience with working with patients with anxiety and situational depression. I also needed a therapist who’d be available in the afternoon hours and/or weekends (yup—you can find a therapist who can meet with you on the weekend if weekdays are too tough with work).
If you want to choose your own therapist, you simply have to select “Find my therapist” which is located on the homepage.
BetterHelp vs. In-Person Therapy
The most obvious difference between BetterHelp and in-person therapy is that BetterHelp is completely online and accessed through your laptop, phone, or tablet, whereas in-person therapy is, well, in person. With in-person therapy, you have to physically meet with your therapist, and most often, you’re the one who chooses who you’ll be working with. BetterHelp, on the other hand, matches you with a therapist based on your needs and the therapists in their network, so it basically does the homework for you. BetterHelp also differs from many in-person therapists and programs in that it doesn’t accept insurance.
As for whether in-person therapy is better or worse than online therapy—that totally depends on individual preference. Since it’s completely online and through a platform, you get services like a private chatroom that you likely wouldn’t get with a therapist. Here are a few more features BetterHelp provides that aren’t standard for an in-person therapist:
Live video sessions on desktop or in the mobile app
The standard BetterHelp plan includes one video session per week and asynchronous messaging (we’ll get to that in a second), but you can also select the maintenance plan (which includes asynchronous messaging, but only one video session per month). I have the standard plan, so I get one live session with my therapist per week, which works really well for me. You can use your phone to chat with your therapist via a video call, or desktop, and the session lasts 45 minutes.
Live phone and chat sessions
Live phone and chat sessions are the same as video sessions in the sense that your therapist is available to you for 45 minutes and responds in real-time. The one time I used a live phone session was when I was in Mexico on vacation and didn’t have the best service. I haven’t used the live chat function, since I prefer to get some face-time with my therapist, but it’s a really great option if you’re someone who gets stressed or anxious about talking to people “face-to-face” or on the phone.
A discrete chat room
The moment you’re paired with your therapist, you can start chatting with them in a discrete chat room — both on desktop or in the app you can download (which I did, so I can chat with my therapist on the go). In my experience, my therapist has always responded within a few hours, and even sooner if I tell her it’s an emergency. This is also where your therapist will drop journaling prompts and a weekly wellness assessment that basically asks how you’re doing that week and kind of sets the tone for your next session.
Group Classes
BetterHelp’s Classes aren’t something I’ve personally tried yet, but my therapist recommended it and told me it’s really helpful for some people. The feature is essentially an online, live seminar you can attend with other folks. Some topics on my dashboard include: Setting Boundaries: The Power of the Door, Narcissistic Personality Disorder: When Self-Love Is Not Love, and Understanding and Living With Depressive Disorders.
Journaling
The platform provides you with a totally private journal that you can use if that helps you. My therapist will give me prompts that I can use, and if I want, I can share my journal entries with her.
How to Change Therapists on BetterHelp
The way BetterHelp is set up is that you’re initially matched with a therapist based on that questionnaire you fill out in the beginning. However, if you try this route a few times and find that the platform is just not finding the right person for you, you can do what I did and “shop” for a therapist on your own, based on their qualifications, bio, and availability. For instance, I knew I needed a therapist who had a lot of experience with working with patients with anxiety and situational depression. I also needed a therapist who’d be available in the afternoon hours and/or weekends (yup—you can find a therapist who can meet with you on the weekend if weekdays are too tough with work).
If you want to choose your own therapist, you simply have to select “Find my therapist” which is located on the homepage.
Is BetterHelp Worth It?
Online therapy wasn’t an immediate success story for me. I didn’t match with the right therapist right away, and I ended up trying a few different platforms! So if you’re in that boat, trust me, I get it. But once I did match with my current therapist, I finally understood why seemingly every person in LA swears by therapy (this is only partially a joke). Here’s what made BetterHelp worth it for me:
1. It’s really convenient.
I work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., so I really needed a therapist who could work later hours or even be available on weekends. My therapist works afternoons to evenings, so there have been times I’ve had 6 p.m. sessions with her, and it works for both of us. Since we’ve worked together so long, she makes sure to save later slots for me and is really understanding if I message her and tell her I need to switch days because I’m on deadline or have a last-minute work event I need to go to.
And I really love that it’s online. I usually take the calls in my bedroom where I’m really comfy, am cocooned in a blanket, have my mug of tea, and can wear my sweats. Therapy being completely online takes the stress out of having to drive somewhere, which is a huge plus for me. The times I’ve been on vacation, I didn’t have to reschedule or miss any sessions because I called through the app.
2. I love that you can message your therapist whenever.
I’m a big texter. I’m probably more communicative through text than I am in person on calls. It’s my favorite way to vent. So if I’m having a rough day or I’m feeling anxious, I’ll just type out my thoughts in the chat room, and just that alone is really therapeutic. Within a couple of hours, my therapist will respond back, usually either with validation, questions, or suggestions. I always feel supported and seen.
3. It’s given me a healthy outlet.
When I’m anxious or stressed out, my husband gets to hear me compulsively catastrophize for hours and hours, and while having a partner who’s there for me and hears me out is amazing (and I’m very grateful)—it helps to have a professional who can also hear me out, and give me the tools I need to deal with those fears and worries in a way that sets me up for long-term success. It’s also just nice to have another person who I can vent to!
4. For me, it’s a more affordable option than traditional therapy.
Everyone’s access to therapy looks different. Some people have insurance that covers it completely, some don’t. For a long time, I didn’t have insurance that fully covered mental health services, so online therapy ended up being the more affordable option. For full transparency, I pay $260 a month, which nets out to $65 a session (with all the other features and functionalities of the platform).
5. My therapist really listens to me, and my mental health is better for it.
After working together for a couple of years, my therapist knows my background, my stressors, and in general, what’s been going on in my life. Working with her has been instrumental in helping me manage my anxiety and figuring out what my triggers are and how to deal with them. A big “ah-ha” moment was when we both realized I’m really sensitive to changes in my routine — a set schedule makes me feel more grounded and “in control.” Some major events in my life the last few years include moving and starting a new job, and my therapist helped me deal with the stress of both events by providing practical exercises but also just by listening and validating my feelings. She was also the one who told me I likely have situational depression, and that medication could help (spoiler alert: it did!).
How Much Is BetterHelp?
BetterHelp pricing depends on therapist availability, where you live, and your personal preferences, but in general subscriptions range from $60 to $90 per week (so from $240 to $360 per month). While BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance, it does provide financial assistance if you qualify.
Plus, StyleCaster readers who are new to BetterHelp get 25 percent off their first month when they use code “stylecaster.”
Who Should Use BetterHelp
BetterHelp is great for the person who wants therapy that’s super convenient, and a therapist who has the platform to respond to you consistently. And since it’s remote, it’s ideal for folks who feel more comfortable talking to a therapist in their own space versus someone else’s office.
Who Shouldn’t Use BetterHelp
Like pretty much all things on earth, not everyone benefits from online therapy. People who prefer in-person communication may not get the most out of a service like BetterHelp. Also if you have a bad internet connection, online therapy could be difficult.
FAQs
Some common questions about BetterHelp that we can help answer.
Is BetterHelp legit?
BetterHelp *is* legit. You really are paired with vetted, trained, and accredited psychologists who work with you on your mental health and provide you with a wide variety of resources and tools so that you’re able to better manage what made you sign up in the first place.
Does BetterHelp Take Insurance?
BetterHelp doesn’t take insurance — the platform does provide financial assistance if you qualify, though.
Can BetterHelp Prescribe Medication?
BetterHelp doesn’t prescribe medication — you either have to find another service that specifically pairs you with a psychiatrist who has the ability to prescribe you medication through the platform, or make an appointment with your medical provider or psychiatrist.
How to Cancel BetterHelp
Canceling BetterHelp is easy. You just go to “My Account” or “Account Settings,” then select “Payment Settings,” and then from there, “Cancel Membership.”
Are BetterHelp Therapists Licensed?
All BetterHelp therapists are licensed, trained, and accredited psychologists.
Does BetterHelp Have Psychiatrists?
BetterHelp doesn’t have any psychiatrists in their network.
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