The world is going through tough times. Economic crises, military conflicts, the Covid-19 pandemic – all of them have their effect on each and every one of us. We are often in a state of worry, either for ourselves and our uncertain future or for our loved ones.
In such a situation, many people feel that their mental health needs some support. Sometimes, it is impossible to cope on your own. For some people, it is enough to talk to a friend, take a vacation with family, or spend some time with someone they care about. Others, though, need professional help.
Their number is high and growing. In the USA, 64.5% of people received mental health services in 2020. With the demand for professional mental therapy rising, it may become a challenge to provide assistance to everyone who needs it. Moreover, the Covid-related restrictions requiring the minimization of social contacts are still there, which makes in-person visits to mental counselors more difficult.
This is where teletherapy comes in handy. When mental counseling is provided over phone, audio, or video channel, it becomes much more available and accessible for a wider circle of patients. Patients are getting to recognize the obvious benefits of teletherapy, too – the demand went up 302% compared to pre-Covid times.
These trends called for an increased demand for special mental counselling apps that allow patients to receive help without visiting a therapist in person. Let’s see why these apps are so popular and which of them are the current market leaders.
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Benefits of teletherapy
Like other technology innovations, teletherapy changes the ways of mental health counseling bringing multiple benefits to both patients and counselors.
- Better access to counseling services. As we mentioned, the number of people needing mental therapy increases, while the number of professionals capable of providing it does not grow at the same rate. As a result, many individuals are forced to wait for an available slot in the counselor’s schedule or do not receive quality care at all.
Teletherapy helps to resolve the accessibility problem by giving individuals the opportunity to “visit” therapists located outside their area. People in remote rural districts can get counseling by therapists without having to travel.
Teletherapy is also a solution for people with low mobility for whom personal visits are a major challenge. They can receive counseling from the comfort of their homes. - Higher patient satisfaction. Many people still regard mental health counseling as a stigmatizing activity. While recognizing the need for professional help, they are nevertheless ashamed of visiting psychotherapists and afraid of being seen by others.
Teletherapy allows individuals to receive mental health support without leaving their homes. They can connect to a psychotherapist via a communication channel and their session remains entirely private and confidential.
In addition, many individuals find it easier to talk to counselors in the comfortable atmosphere of their homes. In familiar surroundings, they can more easily open up to the therapy enjoying the benefits sooner. - Higher counselor productivity. In-person visits always have a higher risk of delays and no-shows for reasons often beyond both the patient’s and the therapist’s control. As a result, the therapist’s schedule accrues gaps and overlaps causing them to see fewer patients than they could have.
Teletherapy excludes the need to travel minimizing all the related risks. Thus, remote counselors can have a better-organized schedule that accommodates more individuals. - Higher service affordability. Online therapy sessions usually cost less than in-person visits. In the USA, a single visit to a therapist can cost as much as $250, while therapy apps charge around $120 per session and sometimes offer a weekly subscription.
How to choose the teletherapy app
As with any software product, there are certain criteria that you should look for when choosing the best mental health therapy app for yourself. An optimal teletherapy platform should have the performance, features, and security sufficient to serve people seeking mental help. Here are some points worth considering:
- User-friendliness. An app should be intuitive and easy to use. It shouldn’t make the user struggle with complicated non-transparent flows. The simpler, the better. Of course, a good onboarding process is a definite plus.
- The right feature list. Depending on whether you want to speak with a counselor via audio, chat messaging, or video chat, make sure you select the app that has your preferred communication channel and features.
- Insurance covered. If you plan to use health insurance to cover the cost of psychotherapy, then be sure to choose an app recognized and approved by health insurers.
Learn more about: Compliant Cloud Hosting for German Digital Health Applications (DiGAs)
- Payment & Use model: Most teletherapy apps offer a subscription based model, whereby you pay a set fee for a set number of contact minutes/hours each month. Others offer a pay-as-you-go model, whereby you can pay per session as and when you need. Think carefully about your particular support needs and how you plan to use the service.
- Security. If you are concerned about chat and data security, find out about the level of encryption and HIPAA compliance your potential app offers.
Learn more about: Top HIPAA Compliant Chat Apps in 2022
In addition to the design and functionality of the tool itself, pay attention to the quality of the service.
- Provider professionalism. Even with digital online therapy, there is still a trained professional providing a service behind the app. Make sure that the therapist counselling you has sufficient expertise in the issues you are facing.
- Provider experience with telemedicine. Provision of quality teletherapy services requires confident use of the tool used in the process. When the therapist is a confident user of the telemedicine tool, they can make the most of its features to create a positive patient experience and better health outcomes.
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Best teletherapy apps on the market
We have selected five teletherapy apps that we consider worth checking if you are looking for a way to get remote mental health counselling.
BetterHelp
BetterHelp assists its users with a number of psychological conditions – including grief, anxiety, and depression. When you start using the app, you are offered a questionnaire that becomes a basis for matching you with one of BetterHelp’s licensed professional therapists. Then, you have multiple options to connect – instant messaging, live chat, audio or video calls. For messaging, you do not need any prior scheduling – you can message your counsellor whenever you feel the need to.
The cost of BetterHelp services ranges from $60 to $90 per week depending on your location and the availability of the counsellor. You can change therapists or cancel your subscription at any time. On the con side, BetterHelp does not accept insurance.
LiveHealth Online
LiveHealth Online is not purely a mental health app. It offers a whole range of telemedical services, psychotherapy being one of them. You can schedule a session with a licensed therapist and get help with stress, anxiety, and a number of other issues. When you request help, you get a 45-minute real-time session when you are one-on-one with your counsellor. If you find that you are more comfortable to talk to a particular therapist, you can see them repeatedly.
LiveHealth Online has no monthly subscription, you only pay per visit which costs $80. The service works with a number of insurance companies, so that you can cover the costs from your insurance.
Amwell
Amwell is another telemedicine platform offering multiple medical services to patients. Among them, there are consultations by psychotherapists and psychiatrists, which can be obtained online in an audio or video call. The counsellors are licensed professionals with doctor’s or master’s degrees who can provide help with many issues including PTSD, stress, and insomnia.
You do not need a regular subscription to use Amwell. Whenever you need help, just schedule an appointment with your counsellor. The cost ranges from $109 per visit with a therapist with a master’s degree to $129 with a doctor’s degree.
Talkspace
Talkspace offers a number of therapy and psychiatry services including couple therapy and support for panic attacks and depression. After filing a brief questionnaire, you are matched with a counsellor who has the best expertise for your case. You can switch providers, too, if you wish.
Once you are assigned to a therapist, you can connect with them over an audio, video, or messaging channel. Talkspace is subscription-based, meaning that once you have signed up, you can message your therapist at any time. The price depends on the communication method you choose: for messaging, including audio and video messages, you will need to pay $69 per week, for live therapy sessions (up to 4 per month) – $99 per week, and for messaging and live therapy combined – $129 per week. Talkspace accepts insurance, too.
MDLIVE
MDLIVE helps patients with many health issues, mental health included. Certified doctors can assist patients with many problems, from addictions to parenting challenges. In urgent cases, you can see a doctor 15 minutes after signing up for MDLIVE, otherwise, you can schedule an appointment at the time convenient for you.
At MDLIVE, you receive consultations over the phone or online. Sessions usually last 45-60 minutes and can be held even on weekends or during the nighttime. The cost of each session is up to $108 but it can be fully or partially covered by insurance.
Getting mental health support is easier than you think
Online medicine makes healthcare much more accessible and affordable. Through secure apps, people can get support for dealing with mental health issues and enjoy a better quality of life. If you are looking for a mental therapy app, we hope our list can make your search a little easier. You don’t need to suffer alone, reach out and get help.
