Everyone feels a little sad or anxious at times. For example, you may be nervous about your upcoming wedding or worried about a sick loved one. However, if you have persistent sadness or anxiety, you may benefit from talking to a licensed therapist. Before you choose a provider, use this Hers vs. BetterHelp review to determine if either platform fits your needs.
Introduction to Online Therapy
Therapy has many benefits, such as helping people work through trauma and making it easier to cope with the symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental health conditions. You may also benefit from therapy if you need help changing unwanted behaviors, coping with stress or managing strong emotions.
In the past, the only way to access therapy services was to find a licensed provider in your area and meet with them in person. Although in-person therapy is helpful, many people have trouble finding local therapists who are accepting new patients.
If you work long hours, you may find it challenging to connect with a mental health professional who’s available late in the day or on weekends. Some people also have trouble attending in-person therapy sessions due to chronic health issues or high levels of anxiety.
Online therapy eliminates these barriers, allowing you to connect with a licensed provider via your computer, smartphone or tablet. According to the National Center for Health Research, online therapy and in-person therapy are equally effective for treating depression and PTSD. Additionally, people who receive online therapy are just as satisfied with their treatment as people who receive therapy in person.
Hers vs. BetterHelp
Hers and BetterHelp are online therapy platforms designed to make connecting with a therapist from your home or another private location easier. Hers provides services tailored to women, while BetterHelp offers therapy for men, women and teens. Here are more details about each platform to help you determine which one is right for you.
Hers
Hers offers customized treatment plans for women experiencing stress, burnout, depression, anxiety and trouble focusing. In addition to standard talk therapy, Hers offers online support groups and medication management to help users with their symptoms. Available medications include citalopram, buspirone hydrochloride and mental health supplements.
If you want to sign up, the first step is to complete a short questionnaire, which has just a few questions about why you’re seeking online mental health services. The next step is to provide more information about your symptoms. These are just a few of the questions Hers uses to assess your needs:
- What brings you here today?
- Do any of these factors play a role in how you’ve been feeling lately? Possible answers include relationships, school stress, work stress and being a mom.
- How supported do you feel in your mental health journey?
Once you complete the assessment, you have a chance to search for a provider who’s licensed to practice in your state.
BetterHelp
BetterHelp offers couples counseling, individual therapy and therapy for adults. As of February 2024, the platform doesn’t offer medication management. If you have severe symptoms, you may need to get a prescription from your primary care provider or a local mental health professional.
When you sign up for BetterHelp, you complete a questionnaire similar to the one used by Hers. BetterHelp also asks you about your age, sexual orientation and other demographic factors. This information helps BetterHelp match you with the right provider. If you don’t click with your therapist, you can always request a new one later.
Features Offered
Hers delivers therapy via telephone, video and live chat sessions. You just have to pick the one that’s most convenient for you. For example, if you’re self-conscious about your appearance, you may decide to receive therapy via telephone so that you don’t have to look at yourself in your webcam during every session. If your provider decides that medication is appropriate, Hers will have the medication delivered to your home, making the service even more convenient.
BetterHelp offers text messaging, live chats, video conferencing and telephone sessions. The messaging program allows you to message your therapist as often as needed. They’ll respond to you at least once per day on working days. Many people find this type of therapy more effective than traditional therapy because they get to share their thoughts as they come up instead of waiting for a week or more between sessions.
Pricing
If you’re interested in Hers medication management, you have to sign up for a 3-month subscription. The price works out to $49 per month, as Hers bills $117 for the first order and then $147 ever quarter thereafter. Hers doesn’t have any information on its website about the cost of online therapy.
BetterHelp charges $65 to $90 per week. Note that you must pay for one month of service at a time, so the amount billed ranges from $260 to $360 monthly. This may seem a bit high, but therapists in your area may charge $200 or more for a single in-person therapy session. Therefore, online therapy may be a more affordable option.
Conclusion
Hers and BetterHelp both provide mental health services for people struggling with anxiety and depression. However, Hers is geared toward women, while BetterHelp serves a much broader audience. If you need medication management, Hers may be a better choice, as BetterHelp doesn’t offer any online psychiatry services. BetterHelp may be a better fit if you have a mental health condition other than anxiety or depression.
No matter which platform you choose, signing up for online therapy is a big step forward in your mental health journey. Take pride in your willingness to address your symptoms and improve your life.
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