Both websites are intuitive, simple to use, and provide guidance every step of the way.
The most significant difference between the two is how much lengthier BetterHelps intake questionnaire is than Talkspaces.
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Which One Is More Affordable, Talkspace or BetterHelp?
This means that if you have insurance, Talkspace is probably more affordable.
Keep in mind though that BetterHelp does offer financial assistance if youre unable to afford your subscription price.
To find out if you qualify for BetterHelps financial aid, fill out theapplicationon its website.
Instead, both companies use an algorithm to match you with a therapist based on your intake questionnaire responses.
I personally liked being matched with a therapist.
This is not a guarantee on online therapy directories likeHeadwayorAlma.
I ended up actually doing that at Talkspace after my first session, but more on that below.
Scheduling a Session
Scheduling my first session was easier to do with BetterHelp.
Instead, I messaged her for a few days before getting a video session lined up.
These can be great resources but didnt feel particularly targeted to me and my specific challenges.
My second therapist utilized the messaging tool a lot more before our first session.
She offered to conduct two in a row with me for a full hour of therapy.
BetterHelp
At BetterHelp, my sessions were 45 minutes long.
I also felt more connected to my BetterHelp therapist, who was warm and validating.
This is an advantage for those looking for both treatment and medication management.
However, at Teen Counseling the parent gets a separate messaging channel with the therapist from the teen.
This is different at Talkspace however.
Some teens, including her son, are more comfortable over chat than a video call.
Both platforms also allowed me to easily cancel my services in the user portal.
How Do They Both Compare to Other Therapy Platforms?
And I personally had productive sessions with both BetterHelp and Talkspace therapists.
I also preferred BetterHelps 45-minute sessions over Talkspaces 30 minutes.
But if affordability is an issue, youre not going to go wrong at Talkspace.
What if Im Having Thoughts of Harming Myself?
FAQs
Yes, both platforms abide by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
However, in 2020former employees accused Talkspaceof examining private client and therapist conversations and extracting data from them.
And BetterHelp has been accused ofsharing user information with third parties.
Im a health and wellness writer with over10 yearsof combined experience in health writing and health care advocacy.
I have written about mental health for numerous publications, includingThe Atlantic,Business Insider, and Verywell Health.
Her reporting and essays have covered mental health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, and healthcare policy.
you might find her byline inThe Atlantic, Business Insider, HuffPost, and many other publications.
Outside of work, Erin enjoys reading fiction, listening to podcasts, running, and watching reality TV.
She lives in Kansas City with her husband and three children.
