Mental wellness is a priority, and one organization is working to ensure those who need therapy can get it conveniently and affordably.
BetterHelp, the world’s largest online therapy platform, offers access to licensed, trained, experienced and accredited mental health professionals including psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and board-licensed professional counselors.
The telehealth platform’s goal is to change the way people get help dealing with challenges in life. That starts by making professional therapy available to those who need it — anytime, anywhere via computer, smartphone, or tablet.
BetterHelp has therapists who specialize in depression, addiction, anxiety, relationships, stress, trauma, LGBTQ+ matters, grief, and more. Consumers can get weekly live therapy in three ways, including chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing. You also get unlimited messaging with your therapist outside of weekly live therapy sessions. Other features include access to group webinars led by licensed mental health professionals, journaling tools, worksheets and more.
Recently, BetterHelp achieved a huge milestone: Over 3 million people have used the platform to connect with a licensed therapist online.
Access to therapy
Therapy can be out of reach for many simply because they can’t afford it. Another challenge is that patients often wait weeks for an in-person appointment, or are concerned about transportation or other logistics. Others worry about privacy.
But BetterHelp closes those gaps. The platform is more affordable than traditional therapy, costing $60-$90 per week; getting started with a therapist can happen within a few hours or days of signing up; and appointments are convenient since they’re virtual and set by the patient.
A patient’s privacy and confidentiality are protected, and users can pick a nickname to identify themselves in the system. Their contact information will only be used for emergencies and everything a patient tells their therapist is confidential.
The membership can be canceled at any time for any reason. The platform doesn’t work with insurance and the provider isn’t able to prescribe medicine or provide clinical diagnoses.
Looking to the future
BetterHelp is supporting the next generation of therapists by investing in the future of mental healthcare providers. That starts with funding “Future of Mental Health Scholarships” — $10,000 academic scholarships to 10 college students majoring in psychology or a mental health-related field during the 2022-23 school year.
“Young people have done tremendous work to reduce the stigma of mental healthcare and advocate for better resources,” said Alon Matas, president and founder of BetterHelp. “We’re excited to launch this first-time scholarship and support future leaders who will no doubt make a huge impact in the mental health space as they build their careers.”
Supporting teachers and students
Many young people are experiencing mental health challenges coming out of the pandemic, including social anxiety, uncertainty, and readjustment concerns.
“We’re looking to help individuals combat those hardships by providing easily accessible mental health services,” said Ciara Kelly, associate program manager of impact, advocacy, and research for BetterHelp.
The virtual mental health platform recently started working with 826LA — a nonprofit that’s dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with creative writing skills, and helping teachers inspire students to write — by offering three months of free therapy to 826LA students and teachers.
Brighter days
BetterHelp is partnering with A Brighter Day, a non-profit focused on helping teens manage stress and depression. The platform is also offering free therapy services to teens experiencing financial difficulties.
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