BetterHelpReviews of betterhelp.com

I was really looking forward to starting counseling again, but this service proved to be mostly a disappointment. When I first signed up I was supposed to get a free week, then my monthly payments would start, but it took a few days for me to even be matched with a counselor. When I was and I sent them a message, they responded with an apology saying there must have been a mistake but she actually wasn't available for counseling. So then I had to do the change my counselor option and that took another several days to fit me with a second counselor. By the time I was matched with one, my free week was over. When I emailed Better Help about this the inherently just told me there was nothing they could do, but they would be sure to send my complaint into management (you know when a company tells you that, they never do). I have liked my new counselor, but the way scheduling is set up on this site is honestly just stupid. You select a day/time from your counselor's schedule, and once the appointment is made, you can't make another or even view their schedule until that appointment is over. So while I'm paying for an unlimited plan, I actually still only get one session a week because often I'll make the appointment, have to wait until it's over to make another, and my counselor won't be available until the next week. So why am I paying for an "unlimited" subscription? The sessions also are only 30 minutes long-- 30 minutes once a week is next to nothing when it comes to being helpful. Mostly it just feels like I talk the whole time trying to explain what's going on with me, and my counselor just kind of rephrases what I've said in a concise way, and then the sessions over. Definitely won't be recommending this service to anyone.

I get the impression this service can be a hit or miss and it's all based on luck. But since we're dealing with mental health matters here, there should be more efforts put to ensure better quality of service!! The info provided in the 'general' page is what people usually read prior to deciding to sign up, unfortunately it's not as detailed and informative as their Policy and Terms. Its stated that your Subscription begins when you're matched with a Therapist and things go smoothly from there. I was charged $240 immediately after I signed up and I wasnt matched with a therapist yet. Although the confirmation email assured me the subscription period wouldn't start until therapist is matched, I was still very uneasy with how eager they were to charge me. This prompted me to look further into their Terms and Services then read up on their reviews on here, then I quickly regretted my decision. Yes your subscription period may start when a therapist is matched, but their terms and services pretty much imply BetterHelp provides the platform for therapist to provide their services however, there is no oversight on the quality of service they provide. So you pay for 4 weeks upfront but if the therapist is slack and decides to cancel or reschedule every week then there goes your money! That's way too big of a gamble for me when I'm already in such a poor state of mind. I only gave them a 2 stars because I decided to immediately request for a full refund without having used any of their service and they fulfilled that. But I warn others to do their due diligence before signing up.

My first therapist was a dud. She spent most of her time trying to corral her dog. The second therapist was awesome however finding the money to continue paying for service became a problem. I qualified for a while $1 off of services with my limited income. Bottom line, if you don’t have money, you won’t get the help you need. Give them a whirl if you can afford it. If you can’t, online support groups or PHD students may be your best bet.

I was optimistic that BetterHelp would be an innovative way to receiving counseling that is affordable and accessible. I was particularly looking forward to using their video chat feature from home. I tried to use the video chat feature several times with my assigned therapist and we were not able to connect, not even once. I also found it very difficult to find therapists with an MD or PhD in psychiatry or psychology. 99% + of the therapists available have a master's degree at best, which I've historically found to be inadequate expertise for effective therapy. If you need lighter counseling help for simple life questions, and don't mind being limited to texting or having brief (max 30 minute) sessions with a counselor who is not an advanced therapist, then this might work well for you. The accessibility could be great for some people.

Didn't get started as she asked really person questions

I understand the concept of Betterhelp but it’s been more of a headache. Counselors either cancel or don’t show up. The rejection and the disappointment is actually not beneficial for people who are facing mental health issues. Wouldn’t recommend to anyone.

I went to vacation in a place, where I had no network, so I could not use the facilities at all. Just kept paying for all the sessions. Also counselor couldn't help me. She just kept sending messages from her side. I was unable to extend the period to later months, so that I can use my sessions and money. I wrote this request to betterhelp, but didn't receive any response

I used Betterhelp for 2 months and my feelings are mixed. The first therapist focused on yoga, meditation and alternative beliefs and while I found some help in that, it wasn't for me. The second one was absolutely terrible and I never even had a chance to speak to her. She sent a multi-page bio and somewhere in it she said she specified she only does therapy by messages. I still don't see whee it said that and was able to setup a meeting two times and both were canceled. I'd rather continue with my issues than deal with even more frustration in life.