BetterHelpReviews of betterhelp.com

Slow response time, not worth pricing, better apps available.

All of the counsellors are in America so if you are in a different time zone do not expect a response any time soon. If you have seen the Instagram or Facebook adverts, which suggest a quick response you will be disappointed. This service is not as advertised.

I'd been meaning to pursue therapy for quite some time but due to several reasons I'd put it off. However, I recently experienced a debilitating panic attack and once it passed I decided to sign up for BetterHelp considering seeing a live therapist during COVID-19 isn't feasible. It was only after I submitted a lengthy questionnaire, as well as the mandatory few explanation sentences, that I was informed there is in fact a fee. As well, the fee is billed monthly, which means you have no choice but to pay hundreds of dollars upfront as opposed to weekly, like every other therapist (or at least the ones I've seen; my experiences are admittedly not universal). The price is mentioned in the FAQs, so I will take responsibility for not looking a bit deeper. However, I firmly believe BetterHelp should make their pricing transparent, and I will explain why below. Simply out of curiosity, I sent an extremely short message via their contact page asking if there is any possibility of weekly over monthly payment. Nothing else, just that one question. I did not expect an answer until tomorrow considering the page stated that messages received after 5pm have little likelihood of being answered the same day. So imagine my shock when I immediately got an email stating that I had been matched with a counsellor. My first thought was that BetterHelp was offering a try-before-you-buy session or something to that extent. I found it admirably compassionate, and I felt confident. How wrong I was. I clicked the link in the email and it took me to a live chat log with a counsellor, who had already sent a greeting message asking me to describe my problem. After meticulously writing out what I wanted to say, I attempted to click the 'send' button... and a pop-up appeared prompting me to input my payment method. To say I was shocked is to put it lightly; I felt confused, embarrassed, and hurt. I am not ashamed to admit I experienced another (albeit minor) panic attack, as finances are a deep-rooted source of my anxiety. It came off as though BetterHelp meant to bait vulnerable individuals into paying fees by exposing them to a seemingly well-meaning counsellor. If BetterHelp wanted to improve, they should make you aware of the cost before you take their questionnaire, and DEFINITELY before they match you with a counsellor. I respect their reduced pricing for those impacted by COVID-19, but I cannot stress enough how vital it is that the payment is made black-and-white, especially for students who are particularly susceptible to financial issues and subsequent mental health issues at a time like this. I assumed BetterHelp would understand that finances contributes significantly to mental health and thus would have more tact with their methods but apparently not. As a college student with zero income and a host of crippling problems, I am asking BetterHelp to treat all visitors with tact and compassion, not just the paying ones.

After a long time of having to complete questionnaires,signing up etc i finally get to the chat. I write down a long message of all that's troubling me, I need immediate help. And then as i press send: i am asked to pay. I was looking for a free alternative, and was under the impression this was one. Struggling with money is one of my main issues (as indicated in the questionnaire) and this website only caused my mental situation be even worse...i really needed the help in the moment

Unethical. I was a counselor with Betterhelp for a few years. Please know that the pay-rate is horrendous, and I made about $20 per hour with them after obtaining my Ph.D. in 2019. Counselors are paid per word only after a minimum word count, (and per minute during phone or video calls) so they will want you to write a lot, talk a lot, and fill out a bunch of forms for which they can get paid, so they can cover their bills. All of this is highly unethical but it is the sad reality of this platform. Most therapists now offer the same service online through your insurance and are compensated in a much more fair way, so they can truly work for you. Not recommended.

What was the point of the questionnaire if the counselor asks you the same questions? Its $55/week if you go with the lowest commitment. I found nothing of use for my first week. Just was asked the same questions I already gave the system when signing up. I really needed help and I didn't get any. Just round and round with such vague surface level questions. Plus the counselor I was given had some serious typos which make me question his professionalism. If I say "my work ethics are holding me back", don't say "oh no they're not" ...I am sure you should be asking "why do you think that?". Also, their website is so limited, if you are asking people for around $200/mo, make the chat easier to use and make a mobile app. People want to use their smartphones, I don't want to get up and read an email that doesn't already populate the response and login into your really limited, non-mobile friendly website. Otherwise, you guys need better help.

I used betterhelp, then found out my insurance company would pay 80% of the payments if I could provide diagnosis codes, and other information. Betterhelp refused to provide any of this info. I was not asking betterhelp for my money back from them, this would have cost them nothing! they said I would have to rejoin to speak with a counselor to see if the counselor would "allow" me to get such information! ALLOW ME, What does that mean??? in their FAQ they state that if you go through insurance that it goes on your record. Are they intimating people??? That kind of statement by them , sets mental health issues back 100 years. BETTERHELP is NO HELP

This company doesn’t answer issues immediately especially pertaining to canceling subscription, getting a refund, and stopping future payments. The representatives that answer the phone, can not assist you regarding simple issues like these mentioned, they can only advise you to email. I feel that this company is lacking customer service skills that should be at the top of this companies list, being that real people seeking help from a therapist, should be able to have personal, and financial issues resolved immediately, and address emails immediately especially since money is involved. Remember if you quit through the portal and send email, and cancel future payments and service, you will still be charged, no one really reviews your account thoroughly to resolve concerns.