Talkspace Online Therapy Review- Benefits, Cost and Who Should Consider It - CNET
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Article updated on May 10, 2022 at 7:00 AM PDT
Talkspace Online Therapy Review: Benefits, Cost and Who Should Consider It
Talkspace offers a convenient way to access licensed therapists at any time. Here s what you need to know before deciding to sign up.
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Nasha Addarich Mart nez
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Nasha Addarich Mart nez Managing Editor Nasha is a Managing Editor for CNET, overseeing our sleep and wellness verticals. She is a nutrition, mental health, fitness and sleep science enthusiast. Her passion for mindful and holistic practices transcends her personal life and profoundly influences her editorial approach, as she weaves evidence-based insights with practical advice to inspire readers to lead healthier, more balanced lives. Throughout her career, she s covered various topics including financial services, technology, travel and wellness. Expertise Sleep | Mental health | Personal care | Fitness | Nutrition Credentials Sleep Science Coach Certification from The Spencer Institute.
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16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space CNET s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. Luis Alvarez/GettySince the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for has increased exponentially. In a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 96% of psychologists polled reported that they were . The numbers broke down to 64% treating all patients remotely and 32% using a hybrid treatment plan, treating some patients in person and others remotely. is a great way to take care of your mental health if time, distance or life in general make it difficult to see a therapist in person. is an online therapy platform that matches you with a licensed counselor in your state. You can schedule your sessions and meet with your therapist from the comfort of your home.For this review I considered a number of factors including the services Talkspace offers, its special features, benefits, pricing and therapist qualifications. What is Talkspace?Oren and Roni Frank in 2012. The platform s goal is to provide access to mental health care to those who otherwise do not have access to quality mental health services. Through Talkspace, you can connect with therapists with backgrounds and expertise that align best with your needs. These mental health care professionals offer virtual psychology and psychiatry support to individuals, couples and teens through its and . The platform also offers services for a wide range of mental health needs like anxiety, depression, relationships, trauma, substance abuse, parenting, eating disorders, chronic illness and hardships that the LGBTQ community often faces. What makes Talkspace shine is that licensed professionals can prescribe medications through its psychiatric services. A service that its counterparts, such as , have yet to offer. Read more: Five/GettyHow does Talkspace work?Talkspace s sign-up process is straightforward. You can sign up through or app. Here s what subscribing to Talkspace looks like:1. Answer the assessment: When you click the button to get started, you ll be prompted to answer a few questions about the type of therapy you are looking for, your demographics, lifestyle, physical health and preferences. You ll also create your user account.2. Choose your plan: Next, you can select which plan you d like to buy. You can choose from the Messaging therapy plan, Live Plan or the Live plus messaging Plan.3. Get matched: At this stage, Talkspace will suggest three therapists with experience that match your needs. Here, you can choose which one you d like to work with. You can expect to get matched within 48 hours of signing up.4. Start therapy: Once you choose your preferred therapist, they will contact you. Depending on the plan you select, you can schedule weekly or monthly live sessions with your counselor. Westend6/GettyHow much does Talkspace cost?We mentioned that there are three plans available through Talkspace; let s compare pricing for each and what they offer.Messaging therapy: This plan includes unlimited messaging therapy. You can send text, audio and video messages to your therapist any day, any time. It guarantees daily responses five days a week. You ll pay $69 a week for this plan.Live therapy: This plan includes four 45-minute live sessions a month. The price for this plan is $99 a week.Live plus messaging therapy: Get the best of both worlds with live and messaging therapy. It offers unlimited text, audio and video messaging plus four 45-minute live sessions a month. This plan will set you back $129 a week.You can choose to pay any of these plans monthly, every three months (will save you 10%) or every six months (will save you 20%).Read more: Does Talkspace take insurance?In the words of Michael Phelps, I have really good news for . In 2020, Talkspace expanded accessible mental health care coverage for millions of Americans via . Major insurance companies like Cigna, , Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield and Humana cover mental health services on Talkspace.To determine if your insurance policy covers Talkspace, you can check your insurance coverage eligibility through your insurer or on . Does Talkspace offer financial aid?At the time of writing, I couldn t find any information about financial aid on Talkspace. However, if you have insurance, you might have coverage and may only need to pay a deductible or copay. I also found an offer code in the Talkspace app for $100 off your first month with the code SPACE.Talkspace communication methodsOnce you re matched with your therapist, you ll have access to a private room where you can contact them. You can access this room via Talkspace s website or on the app. You can also select your preferred method of communication. Video messagingYou can communicate with your counselor through video messages, but it s important to note live video sessions are only available on the Premium and Ultimate plans. Depending on your plan, you can schedule a weekly or monthly live video session with your therapist. If you choose the Plus plan, you can still send video messages to your therapist; it just won t be in real-time.Voice MessageMuch like sending a voice message to a friend through , you can send audio messages to your therapist at any time of day, seven days a week. Even though you can contact your therapist at any time, that doesn t mean they ll respond immediately or every day. You can expect therapists to reply five days a week. Westend61/GettyText messageIf you are most comfortable reaching out via text, this is the best option for you. Just enter the chat room and reach out to your therapist the same way you would reach out to a friend. You can send unlimited text messages at any time of day.Talkspace treatment methodsWhen it comes to therapy, there are many approaches you can take. The best one for you will depend on your needs and goals. You can talk to your counselor to see which options are available. The most common types of treatments found on Talkspace include:Emotion-focused therapy Dialectical behavioral therapy Talk therapySomatic therapyHumanistic therapyMentalization therapyExposure therapyPsychodynamic therapyGrief counseling Atstock Production/GettyTalkspace featuresBesides unlimited texting and video sessions with your therapist, Talkspace offers some cool features to help you stay on track with your mental health journey.Progress tracker: Talkspace offers a great way to visualize your progress through its therapy progress tracker. As you start to foster a relationship with your counselor, you can click on client journey in the app to view your timeline. You can set goals with your therapist and see how well you are doing.Mental health tools and resources: If you want to put what you ve learned to practice, check out Talkspace s self-help exercises. It offers many resources to help you navigate different situations including stress, anxiety and negative thought patterns. You can also find other useful tools such as for when you re feeling stressed. Most of the exercises are from 1 to 15 minutes long, making them convenient for when you re short on time.These resources are available to you at any time. You can find them on your dashboard under Therapy Tools. Live chat: For those who have plans that include live chat, you can schedule them in advance through your calendar. The live feature allows you to chat in real-time with your therapist through your preferred communication method: text, audio or video. These live sessions have a duration of 30 minutes.Benefits of TalkspaceBesides providing access to mental health professionals, some other things make Talkspace stand out:Access to psychiatric careIf working with a psychiatrist, they can prescribe and manage medicationA vast network of licensed therapistsMany large health insurers cover services offered on TalkspaceAbility to message your therapist at any timeThe flexibility of choosing weekly or monthly live sessionsTalkspace will match you with three therapists, and you can choose which one you d like to work withIf you re unhappy with your therapist, you can change them at any time at no extra costDisadvantages of TalkspaceThere s a lot to like about Talkspace, but there are a few things that you should consider before deciding if it s the right fit for you:Medicare and Medicaid don t cover the cost of therapy on TalkspaceNo therapy options for children ages 12 and youngerNegative about billing and customer serviceSimilar to other online therapy platforms, therapists on Talkspace can t diagnose mental health disordersTalkspace therapist qualificationsTalkspace therapists are highly skilled and qualified. According to the website, to become a member of the clinical network, all mental health professionals must possess an LCSW, LMFT, LPCC or Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and must be licensed in the state they practice.Talkspace verifies all therapists credentials and runs a background check upon hire. Talkspace s privacy policyWhen you sign up with Talkspace, you share a lot of personal data, including credit card information, legal name and medical records. You might be wondering, is my information safe?According to the website, Talkspace may collect, retain, analyze and use any personal information you provide. The company provides a lot of insight into . Although this might sound scary, it s not uncommon for platforms to store and use for marketing purposes and to tailor your services.What s most important is that the information shared with your therapist is safe. When you message your therapist, all of the information is encrypted -- meaning that your messages are only readable to you and your therapist.To ensure that your medical information remains private, Talkspace is compliant with the . GCShutter/GettyTalkspace customer reviewsOn paper, Talkspace has a lot to offer -- convenient scheduling, online resources and tools and access to qualified therapists. But when it comes to customer reviews, the company . Talkspace holds a on Trustpilot, an independent review platform where consumers can review services and products. Most clients have complaints about unauthorized charges, billing issues, subpar customer services and difficulty navigating the app. note that they ve had good experiences with therapists, but not with Talkspace as a company.Is Talkspace right for you?If you re looking to start taking care of your mental health or need help facing difficult life changes, Talkspace may be a good online therapy option. It offers flexible scheduling and access to a diverse network of licensed therapists. It s also one of the few online therapy platforms that offer psychiatric services and medication prescriptions. However, good experiences with Talkspace may be a hit or miss. It does not boast great reviews amongst its customers. Since the platform is subscription-based, you can try it out to see if you are matched with a therapist that aligns with your needs, and if you don t like them, you can either request a change or cancel your membership.If you have thoughts about hurting yourself, Talkspace is not the appropriate channel. If you have an emergency or are in a life-threatening situation, please contact your local police, the nearest emergency room or call the at 1-800-273-8255.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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