Existing is expensive. The high cost of living forces many Americans to adhere to strict budgets to cover the bare necessities. “Luxury items,” such as mental health care, are additional costs many of us just can’t afford.
But existing is also challenging. And considering just how common mental health struggles are, therapy isn’t indulgent — it’s essential. Therapy might sound nice, but for many, it’s just not a feasible option — until now.
A Better Option
Maybe you’ve thought about seeking out help before, but aren’t sure where to start. Maybe you think you lack the time or financial resources to afford therapy. Or maybe you’ve thought “there are people out there with bigger issues” as you brush off your emotions. Whoever you are, you deserve the chance to get help, you can afford it, and you can make the time for it. That’s where BetterHelp comes in.
BetterHelp is the world’s largest e-counseling platform. The online mental health provider offers access to licensed, trained, experienced and accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers and board licensed professional counselors. All BetterHelp counselors also possess at least three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. In addition, men, women, POC and other minorities are represented in BetterHelp’s diverse roster of thousands of mental healthcare professionals.
How BetterHelp Works
Signing up for BetterHelp counseling is easy. To get started, follow the prompts for a questionnaire about basic ID information, key health problems you’d like to focus on and any counselor preferences you may have.
The questionnaire is extensive to ensure the most accurate mental health report — and, in turn, the best counselor match — possible. You can choose from a wide range of mental health topics to discuss, from “least important” to “most important.” If your concerns aren’t already listed, there is space to provide a more detailed description of what you’re looking for.
You can also request a counselor of a specific gender, race or religion. Once you’ve submitted your questionnaire, the counselor matchmaking process begins. This process can take a few hours or a few days, depending on availability, and is completely free.
Once matched, you can either opt to begin or request a different counselor. Then, counseling sessions may begin via text, live chat, phone call or video chat. BetterHelp patients can use all forms of communication interchangeably depending on their needs and convenience.
Get started finding your perfect counselor match today!
Comparing Price To Reward
I know what you’re thinking — okay, sounds great, but how much does it cost? As a penny-pincher myself, this was my first question when approaching BetterHelp’s online counseling services.
BetterHelp counseling costs range from $60 to $80 per week, billed every four weeks. These prices fall on the cheaper end of the spectrum.
Furthermore, you can rest assured you’re getting the most bang for your buck. A 2019 study conducted by the University of California found that “users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform.”
Racking Up The Savings
BetterHelp is not only priced lower than most mental healthcare providers in America, but this online counseling service is also teeming with hidden savings, benefits and value.
In addition to its low counseling costs, BetterHelp saves you money on transportation to and from a therapist’s office and expenses associated with leaving the house, like babysitters or having to skip a shift at work.
And remember that positive correlation between mental and physical health? Choosing to invest in your mental health at an affordable rate now has the potential to save you thousands of dollars in medical bills down the road.
Moreover, BetterHelp’s dedication to optimizing counselor-patient compatibility is invaluable when considering the widespread disparities in mental health services across racial and ethnic divides.
Finally, the online counseling sessions are entirely confidential. The session records are encrypted and scrambled, and nothing discussed with a BetterHelp counselor is shared with or made accessible to any insurance companies.
A hassle-free, private, understanding counselor is worth their weight in gold. Fortunately, all BetterHelp is asking for is about $70 a week, or $10 a day, a.k.a. your daily Starbucks run.
Mental health care is for everyone. It is not limited to the wealthy, patients with severe disorders or any particular religion, race or gender.
If you’re a living, breathing human, you deserve therapy and could benefit from it, and BetterHelp is here to get you started.