HowdoesTalkspacework?

Text-based therapy is online therapy that enables you to message your therapist at any time, from any place, on any device with a mobile connection.

Unlike traditional therapy, text-based therapy gives you the freedom to have your therapeutic discussion throughout the day or week without needing to wait until you can book an appointment to be in the same physical location as your therapist. You’ll simply login to an app and send messages to your therapist, who will see them and respond throughout the day. If you prefer another medium over texting, you can send messages via audio and video messaging. Similar to traditional therapy, your counselor will get to know you, dig into what inspired you to seek counseling, and work with you to help you set & meet goals. From there, you’ll have regular check-ins and work with your therapist on anything new you’d like to focus on.

Online therapy is proven to be as effective, if not more effective than face-to-face therapy, with important benefits that bring the experience into the modern era. A study conducted by Talkspace & the Journal of Telemedicine and e-Health showed text-based therapy through Talkspace to be highly effective and comparable to traditional therapy. When compared with traditional therapy, Talkspace also generated greater satisfaction in terms of its delivery, its accessibility, and affordability. Learn more from studies on how Talkspace improves mental health.

Text-based therapy gives you the freedom to have your therapeutic discussion throughout the day or week. No limits, and no waiting for weeks to address an issue, as you would when something came up between traditional sessions. Your therapist is always quick to respond, and text lets you cut straight to the point. For the socially anxious, it can be an especially convenient way to get mental health support because you don’t face anxiety-inducing face-to-face conversations.

Text therapy is also cost effective – in many cases online therapy costs less than the insurance co-pay for a weekly session of traditional therapy.

Yes, online therapy can be covered by insurance. In fact, some insurance plans will cover up to 100% of monthly Talkspace plan costs.

Some of the mental health treatments most often covered by insurance include:

• Co-occurring behavioral health and medical conditions (common mental health conditions treated include anxiety, depression, phobias, acute stress, and/or insufficient sleep syndrome)
• Psychiatric emergency care
• Talk therapy – cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy sessions
• Telemedicine or virtual therapy
• Outpatient therapy sessions
• Addiction treatment and detox services

Learn whether your health insurance plan covers text therapy.

At Talkspace, online therapy is covered by insurance. We partner with health plans across the United States to make text therapy affordable and accessible. Currently, we accept insurance from Premera, Cigna, Optum, Gatorcare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and more.

If you are not covered by insurance, know that Talkspace is more affordable than most co-pays for in-person “traditional therapy.” You can also pay for text therapy with an FSA/HSA card or look for coverage options offered through employers, educational institutions, and other large member organizations. Talkspace also offers an affordable therapy app that allows individuals to access online therapy on-the-go and at their own pace. It’s a flexible way to complete a clinically-supported program designed to help participants prioritize their mental well-being, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

With Talkspace, online therapy is there for you whenever and wherever you need it. Meet with a licensed therapist through text, audio, or video. The choice of how you talk to your therapist is yours.

• Text-based therapy: With text therapy, you can send messages and your therapist will respond a little bit later throughout the day. Post and reply to messages in your chat room 24/7. If you text semi-regularly, this adds up to what you’d cover in a 45 minute in-person therapist session.
• Audio messaging: Don’t feel like texting? Leave an audio message. Quickly record a message to your therapist and receive responses from your therapist in the same way.
• Video messaging: If you’re looking for face-to-face discussions with your therapist, Talkspace offers two video options: video messaging, where you record a video and share your message, or live face-to-face video therapy sessions.

Yes! Meeting with a licensed therapist virtually offers choices and flexibility while providing optimal mental health care. Many people utilize online therapy to supplement their in-person sessions, especially for those who don’t have time to schedule a face-to-face therapy session or for those looking for immediate, on-the-go check-ins. Send unlimited messages at any time of day, wherever you are. A licensed therapist is only a few taps or clicks away.