Comparing BetterHelp and Talkspace: A Guide to Your Therapy Decision
In the modern world, mental health care is becoming increasingly accessible through online platforms. Two popular options for individuals seeking therapy are Talkspace and BetterHelp. Here, we compare these services to help you make an informed decision.
Communication Methods
Both Talkspace and BetterHelp offer various ways to communicate with therapists. These include live video sessions, audio and video messaging, phone calls, and live online text chats.
Therapist Qualifications
Talkspace therapists are licensed and meet the standards of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). On the other hand, BetterHelp therapists must have a master's or doctorate degree in their field and at least 3 years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience.
Group Sessions
BetterHelp offers group sessions, while Talkspace does not.
Psychiatry Services
Talkspace offers online psychiatry services, meaning it can provide psychiatric evaluation and prescribe medication. This is a notable feature beyond just talk therapy. BetterHelp, on the other hand, primarily provides therapy (talk therapy) with licensed therapists but does not widely advertise psychiatry or medication management services.
Insurance Coverage
Talkspace accepts many major insurance plans, including Premera, Optum, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and others. They also accept Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA). BetterHelp, however, generally does not accept insurance. Its pricing is usually out-of-pocket, billed weekly or monthly, without insurance reimbursement options mentioned prominently.
Cost
BetterHelp typically costs between $70 to $100 per week, billed monthly. Costs vary by state, with some reports of fees being as high as $100 per week. Talkspace costs range more widely but typically fall between $276 to $436 per month ($69 to over $100 per week), depending on the package (messaging only, messaging + live video, or including psychiatry). Co-pays for insured users can be $25 or less.
Additional Distinctions
BetterHelp boasts a large pool of therapists with a matching system and mainly focuses on therapy via video, phone, and messaging. Talkspace is regarded as more comprehensive, providing therapy to individuals, couples, teens, and specialized services including culturally competent therapy and veteran therapy.
In summary, Talkspace integrates medical psychiatric services and insurance acceptance, while BetterHelp focuses on therapy with broader therapist availability but no insurance coverage or psychiatry services.
| Aspect | BetterHelp | Talkspace | |--------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Psychiatry | No widespread psychiatry/medication management | Yes, offers psychiatry with prescription ability | | Insurance | Generally no insurance accepted | Many major insurers accepted, plus FSA/HSA | | Cost | $70–$100/week, billed monthly, out-of-pocket | $69+/week; $276–$436/month; $25 copays possible if insured | | Therapy Formats | Video, phone, messaging | Video, phone, messaging, audio messaging | | Target Users | Individuals mostly | Individuals, couples, teens, veterans, LGBTQIA+ |
For individuals with insurance, Talkspace can drop the cost to a copay of about $30 per session.
- In the realm of online mental health services, both Talkspace and BetterHelp employ various technological platforms for communication, such as live video sessions, audio and video messaging, phone calls, and live online text chats.
- The professionals at Talkspace are licensed therapists, certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), while BetterHelp therapists hold either a master's or doctorate degree, along with at least three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience.
- For those seeking group therapy in their health-and-wellness journey, BetterHelp offers such sessions, whereas Talkspace does not.
- On the subject of education-and-self-development, Talkspace stands out with its provision of online psychiatry services, which goes beyond traditional talk therapy and includes psychiatric evaluations and medication prescriptions, whereas BetterHelp primarily offers therapy services with licensed therapists, but it does not widely advertise psychiatry or medication management services.
