How do I find online therapy?

We’ve all heard the ads for online therapy, or perhaps you know someone who used it and felt like it really suited their needs. So, is online therapy for you? And how do you go about finding out more?

What is online therapy?

There are a few different types of online therapy: text, voice, and video. Most sites use a hybrid approach, which means a mix of text and voice, or text and video. Right now, only weekly therapy sessions conducted over video have been found to be effective. But, research is ongoing and lots of people report satisfaction through some level of contact with an online therapist.

What if I’m under 18?

If you are under 18, you cannot get online therapy on your own. You will need the permission of a parent or guardian to sign up. If you are concerned about asking your parents or guardians to sign you up for therapy, check our FAQ Where do I go to get help if I am under 18? to help you prepare to have that conversation. And you may want to check in with any therapist you are talking with about what they are required to tell parents and guardians about your counseling sessions.

Choosing an app

Typically therapists on these apps are licensed social workers or therapists - meaning they have a masters degree and have also been licensed in their state. Someone with a PhD distinction may also be able to prescribe medications as needed, and they are more often referred to as a psychiatrist or psychologist as opposed to a therapist. At least two of the below apps may offer both of these services too.

Your health information is private. There is actually a federal law which mandates that any healthcare provider take all necessary steps to ensure your info is completely safe and inaccessible to data mining and identity theft. After looking into all the sites out there right now, the ones listed below are those that take safety seriously. *We aren't affiliated with these apps though and we can't speak to the user experience or their overall effectiveness.

Amwell: weekly 45 minute therapy sessions, most like a “real therapist” because you can hide self-view. Out of pocket up to $130, also takes some insurance, accredited by URAC which means that your video sessions are *truly* private and not recorded. Sees children 10-17. Option to add on a session with a psychiatrist which offers the option to have medication managed and/or prescribed.

Teladoc: weekly 45 minute therapy sessions, $99 out of pocket, some insurance, not accredited, must be 13+. Option to add on a session with a psychiatrist which offers the option to have medication managed and/or prescribed. Therapists through Teladoc have LCSW, LPCC, or LMFT certification as applicable by state for independent practice.

Talkspace: weekly 30-minute video therapy sessions, also unlimited text support throughout the week. Only video calls from mobile devices. Not accredited. Subscription plan costs vary. Must be 13+ to use.

This Wirecutter article gave us a great overview of the current issues facing online therapy. Though this article is geared towards adults, it may be helpful to browse after narrowing down your choices. You may also want to share it with any adult who is helping you pick an online therapy company. An article from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) also has some great resources to look through. They explain the process well, and it may also be a helpful article to browse as you take next steps: Online Resource for Therapy/Support Groups.

Please know that your health insurance might also offer online services such as paying for sessions with an accredited therapist. Many insurance plans offer video calls with medical providers, including therapists, as a part of their plan. Many times this offer is completely free. Since this might already be a resource available to you through your health insurance it is worth looking on the site, or having a parent help you log in so you can learn more.

I’ve chosen an app and signed up. Now what?

You will have a session where you meet each other and begin gently talking about why you’re looking for therapy. This therapist should explain how they work and what you can expect. If you and this therapist seem like a good match and you feel comfortable with them, then you can set up a schedule that suits your needs where you see this therapist each time. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, you can pick another therapist and try the process over again. You should expect to communicate with the same therapist every time. All the sites we’ve seen have simple and easy ways to switch therapists if you’d like to try someone else.

Now that I have an online therapist…what can we talk about?

Many online therapists provide more general types of therapy. They may not be specialized in sexual concerns. If you want to talk to a therapist about sexuality related issues then it can be a good idea to talk to them about this more generally in the beginning. You can ask, “If a patient has questions about sexuality, sexual behaviors, and attraction, how could you offer help?”

As you start talking with the therapist, notice how you feel when you’re talking to them about this. If they are knowledgeable and you feel heard, respected and even perhaps hopeful, then this is a signal that this therapist might be a good match, and able to support you in exploring your sexual development, feelings and behaviors based concerns. If a therapist gets short, seems uncomfortable, doesn’t answer questions fully, or even just plain tells you, “I don’t have knowledge in that area”, then this would signal that this isn’t a topic where they can be helpful in a deep way.

What to expect from online therapy:

Since online therapy happens wherever you are, as opposed to a therapist’s office, it is generally not as private as traditional therapy. Before your first session, think about how to get as much privacy as you can. If you’re able to, talk to the other people in your home. Explain that you have therapy and you’d really appreciate everyone respecting your privacy during that time, maybe even staying in a certain part of the house away from where you’ll be talking. If the weather is nice and you have a good internet connection you may find that talking outside, like in your backyard, gives you enough privacy. Other people choose to be in their closet, a bathroom, or even in a car. It may take some creativity, but there are lots of options to carve out some privacy for yourself. It would also be a good idea to talk about this to the therapist if you have any worries about privacy. They may have some great ideas around how to get the security you need to speak freely.

No therapist should ever pressure you for information or specifics. You always have a right to decide what you do and don’t want to share. Even though the therapist is an expert in what they do, you are still the best expert about your own life. You get to decide what you share, when, and with whom. Reach out to our WhatsOK counselors if you have any questions about finding or working with a therapist.