If there is one thing anyone who has attended therapy knows, it’s that the cost of maintaining your mental health can become so expensive that it is actually detrimental to your mental health. Add to that the stress of having to go out in public for these services and you have yourself one of the medical field’s biggest catch 22s.
So, how do you avoid the double-edged sword that is seeking mental health care? Simple, you utilize online therapy services that provide you low-cost options from the comfort of your home.
One such provider is Online-Therapy. This website has become increasingly popular since their founding in 2009 because their prices are nearly unbeatable. Additionally, they have a large range of membership options that even includes a free alternative to paid counseling. Sound too good to be true? Well take a look at our pricing breakdown and see just how real affordable counseling can be.
2022 Online-Therapy Review Score – 4.9/5
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 5.0/5.0 |
| Features | 4.7/5.0 |
| Cost | 5.0/5.0 |
| Experience | 5.0/5.0 |
| Final Score | 4.9/5.0 |
Contents of our Online-Therapy.com Review
- Pros and Cons of Online-Therapy.com
- Fast Facts About Online-Therapy.com
- The Sign-Up Process
- Services Offered by Online-Therapy.com
- Reviewing Online-Therapy.com Patient Privacy
- Online-Therapy.com Cost and Insurance
- Verdict – Is Online-Therapy.com Worth It?
- Online-Therapy.com FAQ
Pros and Cons of Online-Therapy.com
Pros
- Option to spend $0 for a limited level of service
- Cost of the most expensive tier is still less than the cost of a single traditional counseling session based on the US average
- Uninsured patients are welcome
- Paid service ranges from $39.95-$79.95 per week
- Sign up is fast and easy
- You can remain anonymous while using Online-Therapy
Cons
- You cannot use insurance for these services
- There are no psychiatrists available through Online-Therapy
- You cannot gain access to prescriptions through Online-Therapy
Fast Facts About Online-Therapy.com
- Bases their approach on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Providers range in credentials but are all verified and certified therapists
- Founded in 2009
- Have helped hundreds of thousands of patients
- The website is optimized for mobile, so no app is needed
- Offers court-approved anger management courses
- Services are tiered efficiently so patients can adjust their service to match their needs and their budget.
- Customer service staff is available 24/7
- Therapists are assigned directly, so there is no additional research to be done by the patient
The Sign-Up Process
The Sign-Up Process for Online-Therapy is extremely fast. You simply choose a nickname (yes you can remain anonymous), provide an email, and set a password. You will be redirected to a welcome page with a message from your selected therapist. You can choose to move forward with signing up for a plan, or immediately change your therapist.
Once ready, you will be able to select a membership tier. You can choose to utilize the free services offered to get a feel for the website, or try a paid option for access to therapist feedback, live sessions, and text communications. If you are utilizing the free plan, you don’t actually need to choose anything. Your free offerings will already be available to you.
To cancel your membership or change your membership tier, simply go to the “account” option and select “subscription.” You can also use this menu to access your profile and adjust any of your personal information as you see fit.
Services Offered by Online-Therapy.com
Online-Therapy offers exclusively CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), but does so with various amenity options. The base, free level of service includes worksheets, yoga videos, a journal, activity plan, and tests. Paid tiers begin adding to these choices. Depending on the selected service option you can receive weekly feedback on worksheets, live sessions with your therapist, text communications with your therapist, and even expedited replies.
How Online-Therapy Works
Once you have signed up for your service tier, you will be able to access all the supplemental resources, worksheets, videos, etc. through the links found at the top of the page. Specifically, the therapy toolbox contains most of the materials provided to you.
If you have a paid membership, you can immediately communicate with your therapist through leaving comments on worksheets, sending a message, or booking a live session (if your tier allows) that can be held through video, text, or over the phone. Your therapist will respond to messages and comments within 24 hours and can confirm live sessions just as quickly. However, it is important to note that they operate within typical business hours, so you shouldn’t expect after hours responses.
The best part about Online-Therapy’s website is their 24/7 customer support to help anyone who feels they do not understand the website or how to utilize the service. You can even use the live chat option on the website to immediately chat with a customer service rep about your issues.
The Extras We Found During Our Online-Therapy Review
Online-Therapy has quite a few interesting extras. The one that we can’t stop talking about is their affiliate program. Through this program you can refer friends to the website where they will receive a 20% discount on their service tier. Once they sign up, you receive $100 as a reward for the recommendation.
Another great perk to Online-Therapy is the anger management course. It is court certified and can help those trying to get their lives back on track with a simple and efficient way to complete their therapy. You will receive a certificate at the end of your anger management course and, even more importantly, you will get to move on past the unfortunate incident that put you there in the first place.
The last extra that excites us is the money back guarantee. If you sign up for a paid tier through Online-Therapy and aren’t satisfied with the service within 14 days, you can receive your money back. Not many online therapists offer that!
Reviewing Online-Therapy.com Patient Privacy
Online-Therapy is not only HIPAA compliant and transparent about the use of information gathered on the site, it also allows users to sign up anonymously, which is not an option on most other online therapy platforms. Additionally, Online-Therapy has a fantastic security system that includes end to end encryption on their secure server where only their therapists can access information.
Online-Therapy.com Cost and Insurance
Online-Therapy costs range depending on the service tier you choose. You can pay $0 for access to worksheets, videos, and other therapy tool box items. Alternatively, you could pay up to $79.95 a month on service that includes multiple weekly live sessions, text contact, and expedited communication. Online-Therapy does not accept insurance, but their pricing is so low that they may cost less than some insurance deductibles.
The Cost of Online-Therapy.com
| Plan | Weekly Cost |
|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 |
| Basic Plan | $39.95 per week |
| Standard Plan | $59.95 per week |
| Premium Plan | $79.95 per week |
Key Details About the Pricing at Online-Therapy
- There is a free $0 pricing option with limited amenities
- The cheapest tier that includes live counseling is only $59.95 a week
- The affiliate program can put $100 in your pocket for each referral you make
- The most expensive tier is $79.95 a week and includes multiple live sessions a week and expedited messaging
Does Online-Therapy Offer Financial Assistance?
No. Online-Therapy does not offer any financial assistance. However, you can utilize the affiliate program to get money back, or keep your eyes open for occasional sign up discounts that can lower your weekly cost.
Does Online-Therapy take insurance?
No. Online-Therapy does not accept insurance, nor do they appear to plan on adding this service down the line.
Verdict – Is Online-Therapy.com Worth It?
Yes! Online-Therapy provides some of the most cost-effective counseling options on the internet or in real life. Even those who pay for the top tier service at $79.95/week are spending less on 8 live sessions a month than many Americans pay for a single counseling session in person. However, if you are seeking psychiatric services, Online-Therapy is not going to be a great choice for you as they do not have any psychiatrists available.
Online-Therapy is great for people who:
- Are seeking individual counseling at a great price
- Are over 18
- Want the option of a $0 limited amenity therapy tier
- Want to be able to access their therapist quickly and efficiently
Online-Therapy.com FAQ
Are all of the therapists at Online-Therapy licensed?
Yes! All the therapists on Online-Therapy are licensed and verified through the service before they are allowed to work with patients.
How long does it take at Online-Therapy to get matched with a therapist?
When you sign up, you will be immediately matched with a therapist. You can choose to change your therapist if you desire, or you can begin setting up chat sessions as soon as you pay for your service.
Does Online-Therapy take insurance?
No. Online-Therapy does not accept insurance for their services at this time. They have not expressed any interest in including this option at a later time.
Is Online-Therapy better than MDLive?
It is difficult to compare Online-Therapy and MDLive because they offer different services. If you are seeking counseling, Online-Therapy is far cheaper and can get you seen by a therapist quicker. If you are seeking psychiatric care, MDLive is the better option for you. For more information on MDLive’s services, check out our review.
