3 BetterHelp Alternatives for Online and In-Person Therapy

With the rising demand for online therapy, BetterHelp has emerged as a popular platform that offers this service. You can communicate with your therapist through video, live text chats, phone calls, or instant messaging, providing you with multiple convenient ways to reach them. 

But BetterHelp isn’t without its drawbacks. It doesn’t offer in-person therapy options and is a digital-only therapy provider. BetterHelp does not accept insurance plans and relies on a subscription model, which can have an impact on your accessibility to care. In addition, BetterHelp directs you to partner sites for services like teen counseling and couples therapy. It also doesn’t provide other types of mental health care services like psychiatric care or medication management. 

These limitations might mean that BetterHelp isn’t the best therapy platform for you. However, there are plenty of other services to choose from that may be better suited to your needs. SonderMind can connect you with a therapist who’s a good fit for you, whether you’re seeking online therapy, in-person therapy, or both. In addition, SonderMind partners with nearly 90% of major, commercial insurance carriers in each area we offer care. SonderMind also offers numerous additional mental health care offerings, including psychiatric care in many states. 

What to look for in a BetterHelp alternative 

Finding the best telehealth platform for your needs is a crucial part of achieving your therapeutic goals. Whether you want to address a specific concern, such as anxiety or depression, or want more general help improving your overall mental wellness, the right platform can give you the foundation you need. 

BetterHelp might not offer exactly what you need for your unique mental health journey. As you compare alternatives, it’s important to know what you need out of a platform. In the following sections, we’ll walk you through what to be on the lookout for in a BetterHelp alternative. 

In-person and online therapy 

In-person therapy sessions are the traditional way to get support from a therapist, often through talk therapy (sometimes called “psychotherapy”). You can talk face to face, which might be easier for building a rapport. You might also feel more comfortable discussing personal matters or concerns in person rather than online. 

But with in-person therapy, you need to be able to get to and from your sessions. This could be a challenge if there aren’t many providers in your area or if you have mobility or transportation issues. 

Online therapy or teletherapy gives you the opportunity to talk with a therapist from home. You don’t have to find ways to travel to and from your therapist’s office. And you also have more flexibility in terms of when you schedule your sessions. Online therapy might also make it easier to find a provider if you have limited options in your local area. 

But online counseling has its challenges. You might not be comfortable talking about your thoughts, feelings or experiences with an online therapist in a virtual setting if it feels more impersonal to you. Or you might have concerns about security and privacy. Consider your individual preferences and what you’re comfortable with, which will help determine whether you need a platform that offers in-person support or only teletherapy. SonderMind offers the flexibility of connecting you with a therapist who offers in-person therapy, online therapy, or both to meet the needs of your unique mental health journey.

Psychiatric care and medication management 

Some platforms offer psychiatric services in addition to therapy. These might include psychiatric evaluations or medication management for those who take prescription medications for mental health conditions. 

Licensed psychiatric practitioners can provide this kind of care in a virtual setting. This may make it easier to have prescriptions refilled or adjusted as needed. Instead of having to wait and visit a provider in person, you can conveniently receive the care you need. This helps ensure that you’re able to get your medication without any interruptions. 

SonderMind psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners help manage a variety of mental health conditions, with and without medication. Because the real key to helping you feel better is finding the right provider with the right care plan. Psychiatric care with SonderMind is covered by most major insurance plans, and offers the flexibility of meetings online or in-person. 

Types of therapy 

What kind of therapy do you need? It’s important to know that BetterHelp only offers individual therapy. But depending on your needs or situation, you might be looking for family therapy, group therapy, or couples therapy. These therapy types all have different uses and are designed to help with different kinds of challenges, mental health concerns, or relationship dynamics. 

As you research a therapy platform, be sure that the platform you choose offers the services you’re hoping to benefit from. If you need support with your marriage and wish to pursue couples therapy, BetterHelp may not be the best resource for you.

Privacy and confidentiality 

Keeping clients’ information private and confidential is essential in the mental healthcare field — in fact, it’s required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). When you’re looking for online therapy platforms, check the security measures each one takes to protect your information. This includes personal and health information you provide on forms, along with the discussions between you and your therapist during your sessions. 

Online therapy platforms should have strong protections in place to safeguard your privacy and confidentiality. All video, text, and audio communication and data should be encrypted. If you’re meeting with your therapist for live video sessions, these should be done using HIPAA-compliant technology to ensure secure communication. 

Feedback-informed treatment 

Knowing whether or not you’re making progress in therapy may be challenging without feedback. A feedback-informed treatment approach helps your provider determine if any changes should be made to your treatment plan. 

This might involve filling out a simple questionnaire at the beginning of your sessions. Or your provider might use a more conversational approach to gather feedback from you. This approach ensures that your treatment continues to meet your needs as they change and will help you reach your therapeutic goals. 

In-network with major insurance providers 

How do you plan to pay for therapy? Is affordability a concern due to your budget? Look for an online telehealth platform that’s in-network with your insurance plan. Some platforms, like SonderMind, take insurance plans from major insurance providers and also offer affordable self-pay options for those without therapy to keep therapy costs down. 

Using your insurance can be cost-effective and convenient. However, be sure to check with your insurance provider to see how much you’re responsible for paying based on your deductible, copays, and other details of your coverage. Note that BetterHelp doesn’t accept insurance, though they do accept HSA/FSA cards for payment. 

The 3 best alternatives to BetterHelp 

If you’ve determined that BetterHelp doesn’t offer what you need, it’s time to find an alternative that does. But which online therapy platform is the most suitable choice for you? Overall, that depends on your individual needs, such as why you’re seeking therapy and what kinds of goals you have. 

The right platform for you also depends on a few practical factors, like your schedule, finances, and location. To help you understand your options, we’ve put together a list of the best BetterHelp alternatives to consider. 

1.  SonderMind 

SonderMind offers many types of therapy in both in-person and online settings, including medication management and other psychiatry services if needed. SonderMind quickly connects you with a licensed mental health professional who aligns with your unique preferences and goals — simply tell us a bit about your goals and needs and we’ll take care of the rest.

Why it’s a great BetterHelp alternative 

• Offers both live sessions online and in-person therapy in many states
• Offers psychiatry services, including medication management 
• Offers several services, such as individual therapy, couples and marriage counseling, therapy for adolescents, group sessions, and more 
• Provides care for a variety of mental health conditions, including eating disorders, ADHD, anxiety, and depression
• Uses an effective and proven evidence-based approach that results in improved therapy outcomes 
• Provides affordable mental health care services with competitive self-pay rates for those not using insurance, and accepts many major health insurance plans, including Medicare, EAP, FSA, and HSA
• Provides the ability to schedule sessions when you want for more flexibility, while BetterHelp uses a weekly/monthly subscription model with limited flexibility 
• Gets you into your first session quickly, with the average time between finding a therapist and meeting with them being 9.8 days (compared to a 28-day average in the industry overall)
• Uses a personalized approach to care with the use of educational tools and data science, leading to better outcomes  

2.  Alma 

BetterHelp and Talkspace tend to focus on text messaging therapy. Alma is a platform that focuses more on live virtual therapy sessions and in-person options. This platform also offers medication management services and a variety of services, including individual therapy, family therapy, couples therapy, and child and adolescent therapy. 

You can choose a provider from the list Alma gives you based on your filter selections. This platform also provides a few ways to communicate with your provider, such as phone and messaging. Alma accepts some major health insurance plans, but for those without insurance, provider fees may vary widely. This may make Alma a more expensive option compared to BetterHelp if you’re not planning to use insurance. 

3.  Talkspace 

Looking for a platform that’s similar to BetterHelp, but offers more counseling services and options? Talkspace may be a good alternative for you. This platform has you provide some information to connect you with a therapist or another mental health professional. Unlike BetterHelp, Talkspace offers medication management and talk therapy services. 

Talkspace doesn’t provide options for in-person therapy. But you do have multiple ways to communicate with your therapist, such as live chat, video chat, phone, and unlimited messaging. Depending on the subscription you choose, you might also have live weekly sessions with your provider. 

Talkspace offers couples and teen therapy, which aren’t available through BetterHelp. This platform also accepts insurance plans from major insurers. Note that it doesn’t offer low-cost sliding scale fees, while BetterHelp does offer financial aid for eligible subscribers. 

Connect with a provider today with SonderMind 

BetterHelp may offer suitable therapy services for some, however their limited therapy offerings, subscription-based model, and lack of insurance options may not make it an ideal choice for other therapy seekers.

If you prefer having online and in-person therapy options as part of your therapy plan, or need a wider range of therapy types or medication management, you’ll need to look beyond BetterHelp. 

Let SonderMind connect you with the right therapist today to be one step closer to getting the care you need.