You may not have heard of BetterHelp but this is one company we should all know about.
If you’ve been following the trend of technology-based therapy, then you may have heard about online therapy. Online therapy is a relatively new branch of therapy that allows people to connect with counsellors and therapists all around the world, wherever there’s an internet connection.
Online therapy companies like BetterHelp are changing the therapy field — and the world at large. Telehealth is clearly the way of the future, and brands like this are helping to usher in that future.
BetterHelp and its Role in Telehealth
BetterHelp is owned by Teledoc — one of the pioneers in the area of telehealth. Telehealth is defined as the delivery and administration of health-related services involving the use of information technology, including the telephone or the internet.
BetterHelp is considered their crown jewel and is by far their most popular service these days. Services like these are allowing people much greater access to therapy than the world has ever seen.
- People with physical disabilities can now reach a therapist from the comfort of their home
- People who live in areas where there are no therapists can now get help
- People who are uncomfortable about the stigma surrounding mental health could seek help in relative privacy
These are just a few of the reasons that telehealth services are fantastic, especially for the younger generation that is fascinated by technology. When therapy becomes available in the form of a smartphone app, it becomes much more approachable for the youth as well as people in general.
Is BetterHelp Better?
So online therapy sounds fantastic, right? But there are dozens of online therapy brands out there. Is BetterHelp really special?
There are a couple of things that have set them a bit above the bar.
- BetterHelp has conducted more than 38 million therapy sessions with its users.
- BetterHelp has more than 3,000 licensed therapists working for them.
- BetterHelp has a large number of exceedingly positive reviews.
In regard to their reviews, many users seem to be pleased with different aspects of the program. There are thousands of reviews available on their website, and each individual counsellor has their own set of reviews.
The majority of these reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with some clients referring to their counsellor as ‘a gem’, and others saying that they are ‘a pleasure to work with’.
The Downsides
For the most part, online therapy seems to be painted in a very positive light. However, there are some downsides and even dangers to it, even for a company like Betterhelp. These include no face-to-face sessions (generally speaking), encryption issues, identity fraud, technological failures, loss of licensing by the mental health professional, and several other issues. Online therapy may be considered the wave of the future, but those seeking this specific type of help should take the associated risks into account.
The Future of Therapy
Even with the above mentioned risks, BetterHelp and other online therapy companies are helping to craft a more practical and approachable future for therapy. Things aren’t just improving for the clients, either: the landscape is looking a little greener for therapists, as well.
The average therapist is making less than $50,000 a year. Because companies like BetterHelp have different payment structures and allow you to set your own hours, it’s very possible that therapists would be able to make a higher starting wage.
Furthermore, with more and more people becoming aware of services like this and working to overcome their mental health problems, there’s little doubt that this modern form of therapy is on the rise.
