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Are You BetterHelp curious?

Maybe you've seen it mentioned in the news or heard people talking, and you're wondering what it's all about. 

Chances are, you have friends or family members who are already using it. After all, BetterHelp is the world's largest therapy service. BetterHelp has already helped more than 5 million people worldwide. Could it help you, too?

First and foremost, BetterHelp is real therapy—completely online. BetterHelp's massive network of counselors can help adults, teens, and couples or families with a slew of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, addiction, self-esteem issues, parenting, relationship and family conflicts, and many others. 

If your aim is to improve your quality of life by working on some of these issues, BetterHelp might be a good fit. And if you need or want flexibility when it comes to scheduling and interacting with your therapist, you'll likely be pleased with all BetterHelp has to offer.

How Does BetterHelp Work?

To get started, users fill out an online questionnaire. Questions will include personal info such as your age, sexual orientation, relationship status, where you live, and the reasons you're seeking therapy. There are questions about what you're looking for in a therapist. Do you want someone of a specific gender? Someone who is faith-based? 

It might seem like a lot, but there's a good reason: BetterHelp tries to match users with therapists who will work best for them. Different practitioners have different approaches and methods, and the relationship between patient and therapist is extremely important. If you don't trust or feel comfortable with your therapist, you may not be honest with them, which can hinder treatment.

After you fill out the questionnaire, BetterHelp will match you with an accredited counselor who fits your objectives and preferences. Depending on availability in your area, this might take a few minutes to a few days, but it usually takes less than 24 hours.

Once you've subscribed and matched with a therapist, you can begin communicating in four different ways: messaging, where you exchange messages with your therapist; live chatting with your therapist via chat or text; phone conversations with your therapist; or live video conferencing. 

You're free to interact with your therapist in different ways at different times, depending on what works best for you.

How Does BetterHelp Compare with In-Person Therapy?

BetterHelp is similar to in-person therapy in many respects.

Just as in traditional in-person therapy, you'll be dealing with a licensed professional. BetterHelp counselors include psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, licensed mental health counselors, or others with similar credentials required by the state. All BetterHelp therapists have at least 1,000 hours of practical experience and have undergone background checks.

Multiple studies have confirmed the effectiveness of online therapy platforms like BetterHelp for a wide range of mental health concerns like anxiety and depression. One recent study conducted by San Francisco General Hospital and the University of California Berkeley found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform." An analysis of more than 60 studies concluded that "seeing a therapist virtually is just as effective as face-to-face sessions for most people with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder."

While you won't have the option of physically being in the same room as your therapist, many people actually prefer the flexibility of being able to meet with a therapist from home or anywhere you have an internet connection. 

BetterHelp also offers multiple features that are not found in in-person therapy. Scheduling is easily done online. With your BetterHelp login, you'll also have access to group discussions, an online journal, and digital exercises your counselor might recommend. 

Another feature many users like is that you can message your therapist anytime you feel the need. Rather than having to wait until your next in-person appointment to discuss a pressing concern, you can shoot your therapist a note, and they respond as soon as they can.

Many users also appreciate how the process of finding a therapist is more streamlined than with in-person therapy. BetterHelp's smart-provider matching is quick and efficient and saves users from having to ask individual therapists about their methods and specialties. 

Switching providers is also easy. If you start therapy and realize your counselor isn't right for you, you can opt to be rematched with another available therapist. 

Another perk: Online therapy is often significantly cheaper than in-person therapy because counselors generally have lower overhead costs. BetterHelp subscriptions range from $65 to $100 per week, billed monthly, and financial assistance is available. BetterHelp pricing is upfront with no hidden costs, and BetterHelp discount codes can also help lower the bill.

Is BetterHelp Legit?

BetterHelp is not only legit; it consistently ranks near or at the top of the list when it comes to online therapy providers.

In a recent comparison of online therapy platforms, Forbes Health ranked BetterHelp No. 1. Helpguide.org—a nonprofit organization that provides mental health resources—also gave BetterHelp the top spot, writing: "BetterHelp is our best online therapy platform overall due to the site's extensive therapist network, extra features, and competitive pricing."

VeryWell Mind, meanwhile, ranked BetterHelp best overall for availability, noting that BetterHelp is available in all 50 states and 200 countries. "You can expect to have an easy time scheduling and rescheduling appointments and can choose the therapy format that works best for you," they wrote.

And the National Council on Aging awarded its top spot to BetterHelp, saying, "BetterHelp stands out as our best online therapy platform overall. We chose BetterHelp because users can select one of their 35,000 licensed therapists, schedule appointments within 48 hours, and choose a therapy format that works for them."

With ringing endorsements like these, it's easy to see that, yes, BetterHelp is legit.