An in-depth review of BetterHelp (Updated 2022)

In this post, we examine BetterHelp, a therapy platform with the largest selection of therapists.

Founded in 2013, BetterHelp has taken off as one of the leading providers of online therapy. Over 25,000 qualified experts at BetterHelp provide support for the most common mental health and wellness concerns. Their solution has been used by more than 2 million people, but it’s not just the size of the solution. Due to their ability to offer a reliable, straightforward, and cost-effective treatment solution, they have become the benchmark.

Overview of BetterHelp

BetterHelp was launched in 2013. The company was acquired by Teladoc, the largest telehealth provider in the nation, less than two years after experiencing rapid growth. With the Teladoc staff and resources behind them, BetterHelp has been able to focus on making their system the best in every way. -Besides that, BetterHelp recognizes that human to human contact does not need to be replaced. As a result, they are simply leveraging modern technology to satisfy the expectations of today’s consumers.

Getting Started with BetterHelp

You need not look elsewhere if usability is your concern. I found BetterHelp to be one of the most intuitive platforms I have examined. As a first step, you will need to sign up. Your real name and any other credentials are not necessary. Feel free to use a pen name if you don’t feel comfortable using your real name. As soon as you sign up, you will be asked to fill out a quick set of multiple-choice questions.

BetterHelp Matching Process
After completing the survey you will be directed to a secure payment page. Then, with the aid of their back end algorithm, BetterHelp matches you with the best therapist based on your service requirements. In general, BetterHelp consumers are likely to be satisfied with whom the algorithm has paired them with. However, you can always request another specialist if you are not satisfied. You will receive a secure, specialized chatroom immediately after you are paired with a therapist. You are the only two individuals who will have access to it. Additionally, this area is active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

BetterHelp’s therapists make every effort to respond to chats as soon as possible, despite the fact that chats aren’t always in real-time. If you want a real ‘live conversation,’ you need to arrange it in advance with your therapist. The same applies to real-time telephone and live video clip sessions. Our plans all include unlimited chatting– using desktop, mobile, and also video– the best in the industry (other online treatment providers typically charge extra for phone and video conferencing). We also offer online telephone sessions. Before getting phone counseling, you need to schedule a date and time with your counselor.
BetterHelp Chatroom

Plans and Pricing for BetterHelp

I was initially expecting this service to cost hundreds of dollars per month, considering exactly what I have actually learned is the average cost of in-person therapy. However, it turns out that BetterHelp is one of the more cost-effective online counseling services available and also significantly cheaper than any kind of in-person consultation I have seen. It costs around $80 to $90 a week, though they vary their prices frequently and can sometimes go up to $100 per week. You can save some money by registering for longer periods of time.

You can also apply for financial aid if you qualify. The plan offers unlimited therapy via messaging with a dedicated therapist, as well as live sessions by video or voice conferencing that usually last 30 to 45 minutes.

BetterHelp Checkout Page

User-Friendliness

BetterHelp’s platform is very user-friendly. You are directed straight to your specialized chatroom when you go to your account. If you have ever used any other conversation solution (like Google Conversation or Skype), BetterHelp’s performance is similar to those. You can send messages with the click of a button, while your therapist will reply as soon as he or she sees your message. Additionally, you do not need to be logged into the BetterHelp system at all times. You will certainly receive an email notification when your therapist replies. Their system can be accessed from both your desktop and mobile devices. Both iPhone and Android applications are available.

Different options are available for interacting with the specialists on BetterHelp. On top of text-based messages that are part of every plan, live sessions can be conducted via online chat as well as video clip on both desktops and mobile devices, as well as over the phone.

How does BetterHelp Therapy work?

Therapy can not be as helpful online as it could be in person. There are plenty of factors that determine how valuable a specialist can be, many of which are linked to the actual session itself (and not the distance between you and your specialist). Knowing this, I kept an open mind when BetterHelp matched me with Idiana Morales. As I currently live in Florida, BetterHelp matched me with Mrs. Morales, who is a Certified Mental Health Counselor (MS, LMHC) in the state of Florida.

With myself feeling burnt out and distressed for nearly a year, I immediately felt some sense of comfort when I saw Mrs. Morales’ credentials. In addition to anxiety, she specializes in stress, relationship, household, and rage (with experience in other areas too)– basically the areas I had trouble with. In a straightforward review like this, it is difficult to explain how practical Idiana remained. However, I will certainly make every effort to provide the best coverage and expertise.

My personality is Type-B. I am never bothered excessively. Then, after 8 years of marriage, I began feeling distressed and dissatisfied with a family member. Idiana defused many scenarios as well as enabled me to take on underlying concerns directly, in a mindful, timely and specialist manner. She provided exceptional assistance.
 

Privacy and Confidentiality

Online treatment is not considered safe by some people. No one is safe in the electronic age, say these naysayers. This may be true, but how safe are “in-office” appointments? Although your specific sessions may not be saved, your data as well as summaries of your sessions are highly likely to be saved on the computer in your therapist’s office. It is equally vulnerable to attack as BetterHelp; however, a cyberpunk would probably have an easier time accessing your specialist’s office computer than BetterHelp’s innovative firewalls.

Taking numerous precautions to ensure anonymity and discretion, BetterHelp is serious about privacy. Our BetterHelp browsing security system (SSL) is supplied by Comodo, a world leader in information security, and all messages between you and your counselor are encrypted with bank-grade 256-bit encryption. Furthermore, all BetterHelp counselors are state-certified and subject to strict privacy legislation, including HIPAA (Health Insurance Mobility and Accountability Act). Because BetterHelp does not accept insurance companies, your medical and various other health information will remain private.

Due to its use of demographic targeting tools on platforms like Meta (previously Facebook), the business has been criticised for its data sharing practices and also customer privacy. However, it seems that using anonymized customer information by this business is no different from the majority of business advertising on social media networks.

How Qualified is Your Counselor

BetterHelp counselors are certified, educated, and nationally accredited, and each holds either a Masters Level or a Doctorate Degree in their corresponding field. In addition, each of them has a minimum of three years’ experience and 1,000 hours of hands-on training. They may be psychotherapists, household therapists, professional social workers or qualified specialist therapists with a wide range of experience.

BetterHelp Counselor

Expertise and Specialties

The major advantage of using BetterHelp is that they cover pretty much all of the areas in which people might need help. This may seem like a given, but it isn’t. Numerous on-line therapy services do not offer a complete range of areas of expertise. Below are a few of the main topics BetterHelp covers:

  • All Addictions
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar
  • Career
  • Chronic Impulsivity
  • Conflict
  • Depression
  • Eating
  • Educational Assessments
  • Family
  • Grief
  • Health
  • Intimacy
  • LGBTQ
  • Life Transitions
  • Parenting
  • Relationships
  • Religion
  • Self-Esteem
  • Sleeping
  • Social Behavior
  • Stress
  • Substance Abuse
  • Trauma & Abuse

Media

As a result of their extensive coverage in the media, BetterHelp has been a recognized brand for many years. Additionally, there are national TV ads and partnerships with celebrities and athletes, such as Ariana Grande as well as Venus Williams.

However, their coverage in journalism has not always been proclaimed. Recently, there have been a couple of scandals in which some of their partnerships were suspected of being misleading or having been exploited by prone people who trusted online influencers and also celebrities. Speaking for BetterHelp, these concerns have mostly focused on the company’s principles instead of the quality of its service.

In Summary

BetterHelp is one of the leading online treatment solutions for numerous reasons. Professionals with experience and certifications, low monthly costs, thorough screening of specialists, as well as a user-friendly interface make them a practical option. Despite being the focus of some controversy throughout the years, they have not been hindered from expanding, and also continue to be the leading online therapy option.

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