3 Online Therapy Programs to Try if You’re Feeling Stressed or Depressed

It has proven to be quite a stressful year and we’re just half-way 2020. We’re all dealing with so many complicated emotions right now, having been quarantined for several months and engaging with the state of the world as it stands today. We recognize that now more than ever, it’s important that we’re doing our very best to take care of ourselves and our mental health. While we may not be able to necessarily go to a doctor’s office for therapy, there are several online resources available to us now that can help us do just that.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress or depressive emotions, now is the time to use the resources available to address those feelings rather than glaze over them and try to soldier on. We at FIRST are here for you, so we rounded up a few online therapy programs you can start taking advantage of today. Check them out below.

Better Help

Betterhelp.com is an online counseling platform that offers individual counseling, couples counseling, and counseling for teenagers (in case you have or know a child in need). They offer a live chat feature which allows users to chat with “licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (PhD/PsyD), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW/LMSW), and board licensed professional counselors (LPC),” so that you can get whatever kind of help you need in this trying time. In terms of cost, sessions range from $60 to $80 per week, and users who sign up are billed monthly. You can cancel your membership at any time for any reason without consequence.

Talkspace

Talkspace is yet another platform that offers online counseling services, and they tend to be the highest ranked among their competitors. You’ll begin by making an account and completing a brief assessment about what you would like to talk about or accomplish in your therapy sessions. Based on the assessment, Talkspace will match you with a selection of licensed therapists that could help you address your individual needs, at which point the user chooses whom they would like to work with. You’ll then be able to message your therapist and set up times  to speak whether it be by video, live chat, or audio sessions.

Talkspace offers a variety of plans to choose from depending on what your preferences are, including the Live Talk Therapy Ultimate where you get 4 live sessions per month and unlimited messaging (to which your therapist will respond daily 5 days per week) at a cost of $396/month, the Unlimited Messaging Therapy Premium which includes on live session per month and unlimited daily messaging for $316 per month, and the Unlimited Messaging Therapy per month which only includes unlimited daily messaging (no live sessions) for $260 per month. 

7 Cups

7cups.com is an online therapy platform that’s a little more price-friendly than Talkspace. This platform not only connects you with licensed therapists (at the cost of a $150 per month membership),  but it also gives you access to chatrooms of volunteer “listeners” who are there to talk to 24/7. The “listeners” feature is completely free, you can remain anonymous if you so choose, and all volunteer listeners are trained by 7 cups in dealing with complex issues and lending a helpful ear. It also offers listeners and licensed counselors for teens that are struggling.

So if you feel overwhelmed and  you need someone to talk to, reach out to one of these organizations and seek the help that is waiting for you. We all deserve to be our healthiest, happiest selves, and no one is on this journey alone.

If you or someone you know is struggling deeply with mental wellbeing or thoughts of suicide, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255 or reaching out to them via their live chat feature on their website. 

We hope that in even the most trying times, you’ll prioritize self care over everything.