80% of people found Talkspace online therapy as effective as in-person sessions

When it comes to therapy, accessibility is still a huge issue whether that’s securing an appointment or paying for it. Fortunately, companies are using technology to change how people access mental health support, and Talkspace is one of them. This online mental health platform allows people to begin a flexible therapy plan completely online — and according to a study, 80% of people found it just as effective as traditional therapy. And unlike some other web-based options, Talkspace not only offers talk therapy to individuals, but offers therapy for couples and psychiatry, if you’re interested in exploring prescription support.

FAST FACTS:

• Matches you with a licensed therapist or psychiatrist
• Offers ongoing support via messaging, live video calls, or workshops — all accessible electronically
• Specialists for teens, couples, members of LGBTQ+ communities, veterans, and more available
• Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications after a live video call evaluation
• Switch therapists at any time at no cost
• Plans start at $69 a week
• May be covered under certain insurance or office benefit plans
• HIPAA-compliant

Does online therapy work?

Even if you’re only interested in messaging with a therapist, science suggests that online therapy does make a noticeable difference. A study in the Journal of Telemedicine e-Health noted that when receiving therapy from licensed professionals via texting, 46% of participants experienced significant symptom remission.

And according to Talkspace, 80% of patients found Talkspace to be as effective (if not more so) than traditional therapy — and 98% of people found it to be more convenient. In addition, within three months, 59% of clients experienced a clinically significant change from using Talkspace, as opposed to 50% of patients attending face-to-face sessions.

How does Talkspace work?

Talkspace helps you begin therapy without ever leaving your home: First, start by completing the online assessment, which takes about a minute. Questions include which type of service you’re looking for, which symptoms/hardships you’ve been experiencing, your date of birth, which state you live in, and your gender identity. Shortly after, you’ll be paired with a licensed therapist or psychiatrist. (That said, you can switch providers at any time throughout the process.)

After that, you’ll pick the plan that’s best suited to the level of support you’re looking for and budget. From there, you can access high-quality therapy through the app, including daily messaging, video sessions, and weekly workshops, depending on your plan and needs.

What services does Talkspace offer?

If you’re simply looking for someone to talk to, Talkspace will match you with a licensed counselor for online therapy. You can also seek couples therapy with your partner, or speak with a psychiatrist to get the prescriptions you need. (In some cases, you may even be able to get your medication delivered straight to your door.)

Talkspace also offers specialized help including teen therapy (with a guardian’s consent), experienced support for those in LGBTQ+ communities, and therapy for veterans. Finally, while Talkspace primarily offers services in English, the provider network covers 32 other languages as well.

What are reviewers saying?

Talkspace has plenty of reviews, both on the site and in the app store. “The ability to reach out and receive help instantly and from home was amazing,” one client wrote. “The convenience is unmatched,” another noted. Others have called it the “best option for busy people” and report that the “extremely well-priced [subscription] has changed [their] relationship with therapy.”

Most importantly, clients are “already seeing patterns in [their] thoughts that [they] didn't even know were there,” and they’ve found their therapist to be “genuinely empathetic” and “brilliant” when it comes to providing support and direction.

In other words, if you don’t have time for in-person therapy or just like the comfort of being able to do it from home and having someone to message without having set appointments, Talkspace may be worth a try.

How much does it cost?

For most services, Talkspace uses a subscription model and plans are automatically billed on a monthly, quarterly, or biannual basis. The cost of the service depends on which specific plan you choose. According to its FAQ, this is the approximate pricing for starting different tiers of services in three categories:

Talk Therapy/Psychotherapy:

• $69 a week for messaging therapy
• $99 a week for video and messaging therapy
• $109 a week for messaging therapy, video therapy, and workshops

Psychiatry (new clients):

• $365 for initial evaluation and 1 follow-up session
• $565 for initial evaluation and 3 follow-up sessions
• $849 for initial evaluation and 6 follow-up sessions

Couples therapy:

• $396 a month for live sessions and unlimited messaging
• $65 per session for additional live sessions

Is Talkspace covered by insurance?

Talkspace is partnered with certain employers, U.S. health plans, educational organizations, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). You can take a look at Talkspace’s current partners to see if your plan is covered or contact your benefits department or call the number on the back of your insurance card.

If you’re uninsured or if your plan isn’t included, you may be able to use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Saving Account (HSA) to cover a portion of your therapy services. That being said, all questions about eligibility should be directed to your provider.