Talkspace and BetterHealth are two reputable online therapy services, but which one is better? The comparison of Talkspace vs. BetterHealth is close, but there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Here’s a review of these two online therapy services, and everydayhealth.com has another review comparing Talkspace vs. BetterHealth for additional information.
The two services share a few similarities, but not many. The most important similarity is that both utilize licensed medical professionals as therapists, so patients don’t have to worry about getting a counselor who isn’t a professional. Additionally, both Talkspace and BetterHealth offer unlimited messaging as part of their plans, and both services can be accessed via desktop computers and mobile devices.
Advantages of Talkspace
One of the greatest benefits of Talkspace over BetterHealth is that it takes some health insurance plans, but BetterHealth doesn’t take any insurance. Additionally, Talkspace offers psychiatry services, which means it can provide a diagnosis and certain medications. However, it cannot prescribe controlled medications as in-person psychiatrists can. Talkspace Psychiatry requires an additional fee for access.
Another benefit of Talkspace is that it allows patients to select the therapist they would like to work with. When signing up for Talkspace, patients enter a private chat room to meet with a licensed mental health professional who will ask about their needs and goals.
The therapist then gives them several counselors who might be a good match for them, and the patient selects the therapist they want to work with. BetterHealth utilizes a questionnaire to match patients with counselors, which is more impersonal, although the company uses its algorithm to match patients with therapists.
Advantages of BetterHealth
While Talkspace might sound like a good option, there are reasons to opt for BetterHealth instead. For example, although BetterHealth doesn’t take insurance, it is less expensive than Talkspace and offers financial support based on need for patients who can’t afford to pay the full price. If the patient’s insurance plan doesn’t cover counseling or they don’t have insurance, they might want to opt for BetterHealth instead.
Additionally, BetterHealth’s subscription fees include at least one live video session weekly, but Talkspace charges an extra fee for live video sessions. BetterHealth also offers phone sessions, which can be beneficial for those with slow internet connections. Talkspace does not offer phone sessions.
One other difference between Talkspace vs. BetterHealth
BetterHealth’s therapists often use worksheets and homework to help patients work through their problems, which can be an advantage or disadvantage for the platform. Some patients think the homework helps them, while others see it as nothing more than busywork. Whether the worksheets are an advantage or not depends entirely on personal preference, but this is a critical difference between Talkspace vs. BetterHealth.
When looking for an online therapy provider, it’s important to consider various services before deciding. Talkspace and BetterHealth are leaders in their field, so both are excellent choices.
