BetterHelp Reviews - See What Customers Are Saying

In a very, very painful and dark time in my life, I spent the last of my money in my bank account to sign up for BetterHelp. I've been in and out of therapy my entire life because it's been an eventful life, to say the least. I was diagnosed with depression almost 20 years ago and every time I think I'm on top of it, it evolves. It evolved again in early 2018 and I couldn't cope anymore. I was having suicidal thoughts, my life wasn't at all how I thought it would be at this point in my life, I was feeling abandoned by my friends and family, and being in my first long-term relationship was bringing up a lot of my past I thought I had put to rest. I was lost and I didn't even know who I was anymore. I wasn't acting like myself, I wasn't doing the things I loved, and I wasn't getting any better.

Traditional face-to-face therapy was too expensive at this time in my life and I couldn't afford to pay for appointments I didn't show up for because my depression wouldn't let me out of bed that day. I've wasted so much money on paying for therapy I didn't even go to. I heard about BetterHelp through a YouTube ad and thought it couldn't hurt to try.

It was very easy to sign up for and I was immediately paired with my therapist, Nikeisha. One month of sessions with her cost the same as one SINGLE session with my last therapist. In the beginning, Nikeisha did a lot of listening as I needed to do a lot of emotional purging. I had isolated myself and had nobody in my personal life to talk to about my deeper pain. Talking about it with someone I could trust was helpful in and of itself.

I decided to do my therapy with her via phone call, not video call, because in traditional therapy I would have anxiety about seeing my therapist write something about me down. I can't see her over the phone so I'm more focused on me than what she's writing.

Because I can do therapy from my bed, I don't have to worry about getting out of it to get to my session so I miss less appointments. Scheduling with BetterHelp is easy to work around my work and personal schedule and I don't have to worry about factoring in a commute to get to therapy, which is also nice. There are times I've done therapy on a park bench or in my car after work. It's so convenient and not any less personal than face-to-face therapy.

Through working with Nikeisha, we identified that I was dealing with a lot of extreme anxiety and that I've probably been struggling with it a lot longer than I thought. I just thought these feelings of anxiety were part of my depression diagnosis. We also identified that I was going through a genuine identity crisis and that we needed to do work toward getting me to feel like "me" again. I described the life that I wanted to work toward in therapy and she connected that to Brené Brown's work, The Gifts of Imperfection, and what Brown calls a "wholehearted" life. We've been working through the book for about a year now, spending about a month on each guidepost/chapter, and it has changed my life for the better.

I no longer struggle with anxiety. I still have worries, yes, but not extreme and irrational anxiety. My depression is manageable, I can recognize my different moods, and I have become "me" again! I feel great! I'm not 100% where I want to be quite yet but I'm closer than I ever have been. I feel like I'm in good hands with Nikeisha, BetterHelp, and the team behind this amazing resource.

I've had 2 major breakthroughs in my time using this medium for therapy that I never came close to when I was doing traditional, face-to-face, therapy. Don't get me wrong, if for some reason I couldn't work with Nikeisha, I would absolutely be open to face-to-face therapy again. But I think, for me, what's very important in therapy is consistency and it's just so easy to stay consistent when BetterHelp fits into my schedule no matter how much my schedule changes.

It's also VERY nice to be able to message my therapist before our session to let her know what my main concerns and issues for that week are so she can prepare some topics or exercises for us to go through. She also researches resources for videos, talks, even events that might help me toward my goals.

If you're at all concerned if this type of therapy can work, I'm here, as living proof, to tell you that it absolutely can! My relationships with my family, friends, and my significant other have improved 100 times over. I'm working toward my passions in life again, I'm able to live a productive and active life again, I'm not crippled by anxiety and fear, and I finally understand the underlying root of all my anxiety and fear which has helped me to overcome it. No doubt it will mutate and come back but I feel ready for it with Nikeisha and BetterHelp in my corner. Life might not be perfect but it is enjoyable again and I'm so thankful for this amazing resource and this amazing team of people who made BetterHelp a reality.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Worth every dollar to get help on my time schedule with the professional care I was searching for. I can be picky at most times and BetterHelp hit a home run with their service. The counselor they match me with helps me get through a lot of trouble I was facing inside of me.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I am so very happy to have found BetterHelp.com. I feel like I am finally actually getting the help I have needed for so long. I have been to counseling at different times in my life and this is infinitely better. It's all online and I can choose the method in which I would like to communicate - online chat, phone call, or video call. My counselor, Jennifer, is kind, understanding, insightful, and seems to truly care about what she does and her clients. I feel like this is such a safe space to share, understand how my past affects my present and work toward real solutions. The platform is safe and secure, is extremely convenient and accessible and is also much more affordable than face-to-face counseling. I think this method of counseling could work with small issues or large ones. I am very grateful and am looking forward to using this service into the future.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Told us we're manipulating her in "pulling out personalities", that's not how DID works...Called us dumb amongst other things and showed YouTube links as "help". I don't need to pay someone to do that.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I've greatly enjoyed my experience working with BetterHelp to manage my concerns with anxiety and depression. I've also needed help for marriage counseling and this site has been a godsend. Highly recommended and best online counseling site in comparison to a few of the others.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

BetterHelp is one of the best mental health sites I have ever paid for. The price is absolutely worth it and it can cost less than going out to a therapist every week. Besides having a professional of your choosing being there for you, there are webinars, journaling, and the opportunity to change who you're working with in a matter of minutes. This site is really convenient as well and your therapist can reach out to you on the site and on their app. You can talk over Messenger, text, phone call, or even video call! No matter where you are, BetterHelp is never far away. 10/10 would recommend (and have) to everyone I know and meet!

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I have really appreciated BetterHelp as a service and have recommended it to a number of people. Managed care has made quality mental health care so difficult to access, but this type of service makes quality, evidence-based therapy accessible (and it is not cost-prohibitive). I am able to make choices based on my mental health needs, rather than the availability of providers within my insurance network/within the constraints of the insurance network's policy. I actually feel supported, and I definitely recommend BetterHelp to anyone who has struggled to find therapy in the past.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I first encountered BetterHelp through an ad in my Facebook feed. I decided to try it out because it seemed like a good fit to talk to someone while remaining anonymous, and easier to fit into my schedule since I didn’t have to take time out to go to an office somewhere for talk therapy. It is also cheaper than having a therapist in person and is more accessible. For someone who has received a lot of judgement and avoidance when reaching out for help or has an inadequate or nonexistent support system, this may help.

I want to stress that BetterHelp is not meant to replace in person therapy or in depth professional psychotherapy and psychiatry or someone who is in an acute psychiatric situation (including people who may have untreated personality disorders). I personally use it because I need a safe space to express myself without judgement and because it validates me and makes me feel listened to as a highly sensitive person who is prone to get depressed easily. It also gives me an easily accessible resource to help me cope with issues and relationships and other things in my life. During the times that I’ve gone through a more dangerous mental state, I did not use the app and took myself to the hospital. The app specifically states this upon making an account. If someone lacks the self-awareness when to take yourself to the hospital or is mentally unable to do so, then this app is not for you. If you are in an acute psychiatric situation or have some type of untreated personality disorder, then you’d probably benefit from in-person therapy and talking to a doctor who is qualified to deal with those issues. I overall am high functioning even through my depressive episodes so I like this app because it helps prevent me from getting in a low mood and helps me cope with things in life that may trigger this.

I tried BetterHelp when I was in an emotionally vulnerable time in my life and wanted some self-improvement. The first therapist I had was great and helped me through that vulnerable time and I got to the point where I didn’t need to use the app anymore. The good thing about BetterHelp is that they have different types of payment plan options (weekly, monthly, biannual, and annual, if I’m not mistaken) and you can easily stop the payments in your profile to discontinue the therapy.

I’m currently using BetterHelp again due to needing more coping mechanisms for drastic changes in my life and my current therapist is great and helping me through that.

Upon signing up, the app matches you with a therapist and you can see their profile and their credentials. In the case that you’re not satisfied with your therapist, you have the option to change the therapist at any time to find a better match for you. I haven’t had any issues with the two therapists I’ve had or with the payment system. The good thing about the app is that there are also group therapy sessions you can sign up for, however, I did have an issue navigating this and with the group session I signed up for, the person hosting either never showed up or the program wasn’t working properly.

Overall I’d give BetterHelp 4 stars. It’s good for people who tend to be busier and work more and need someone unbiased to talk to to get through a tough time, or for someone who doesn’t have many understanding or nice people in their life and need someone to vent a little and lean on through harder days. The therapists overall seemed qualified to me and communicated effectively and were very validating and empathetic. However, I do feel like this will unintentionally open doors to people who may not be in the right mental state to know the difference and may mistake this for replacing medical attention. I’m sure BetterHelp and the counselors there will redirect these people, but there’s no real way to completely safeguard that. They also need to improve the group sessions part of the app to either make it easier to navigate or check the conscientiousness of the hosts.

It’s been a good support system for me though! Would recommend it to most people!

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

After having thirty years of therapy, I found this excellent new approach to managing my mental health and life issues, it is called BetterHelp.com! Wow, what a game changer! Instead of rearranging your life around someone’s practice, start enjoying the time you save in commuting by nurturing your life through the new skills you will learn in this wonderful online therapy presented through live Video Chat! I love my therapist, Cherie, Better Health, the best group therapy through Groupinars, and my new life! Can’t say enough about this skilled, accomplished community of therapists! Have not had one negative experience yet with my online therapy! You not only interact with your therapist, the group leader, but a wonderful community of interesting people who freely share their coping skills! So far I have met a creative community of people who are artists, musicians, actors, writers, from all walks of life!

Great place to mix it up with interesting people, and fascinating life situations. Never boring and very caring!

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I think BetterHelp's process of matching you with a counselor misses the mark. I asked for a life-coach type of counselor and was paired with a woman who specialized in treating teens and young adults, as well as narcotic/alcohol abusers. This is not at all what I described I was looking for. I got paired again with THE perfect counselor and WOW has it made a difference - and it has only been two weeks! My counselor genuinely cares and checks on me throughout the week. I absolutely love and rave about BetterHelp and my counselor.

I emailed BetterHelp about my previous counselor and the two weeks that I had essentially not used, and they happily gave me a two-week extension to reimburse. The ease and positivity of my interactions with BetterHelp make me feel like they genuinely care.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I have found the help I really need through BetterHelp and being matched with Lauren Northrup. I honestly don’t know if I would have ever found such a great fit for me in a traditional setting like a single referral from a doctor's office. It’s on my time in my home with someone who cares about what I’m saying.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I came from a traditional therapy setting and I loved my therapist; however, online therapy is far more convenient for me. I can update my therapist with a journal or a message when I'm feeling down (instead of having to try and remember during a weekly session). She is very encouraging and it's a great supplement to our weekly video sessions. I still prefer the traditional therapy weekly face to face type of sessions so having both options is really great. BetterHelp has these great group webinars available every week that help me not only understand more about keeping myself mentally healthy but also allow me to communicate with a very supportive community of people.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

BetterHelp is a fantastic service for any person wanting counseling and to improve their life. It offers a good range of different counsellors with different levels of expertise to cater to what's needed by the person needing the service. I would definitely recommend BetterHelp to anyone, even for the encouragement of dealing with life-affecting circumstances.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

BetterHelp is amazing. It was super easy to find a counselor that fit and was knowledgeable of my needs and ways of expressing myself. They matched me with an amazing doctor who has gotten me on to the path of better mental health.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

BetterHelp has been incredibly helpful. They are not just a company advertising to help people, they are really here to help. They offer financial aid on top of their already low subscription for people who are in serious need of help but don't have the means. They also offer a one-week free trial so that you can get in contact with your matched counselor and test for yourself if it would be a good fit before you pay for their services. They also moved my payment date one day further to help accommodate my needs. I cannot express enough how genuine this company is.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

BetterHelp is exactly what I was looking for and needed. Pricing is great and worth it. You literally have mental health help at the tip of your fingers. The counselors are knowledgeable, kind and matched well. I would highly recommend BetterHelp to my family and friends.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Using BetterHelp and specifically my counselor, Brittany B., has been an incredible assistance to me during a very difficult time in my life. Being able to go online at any time is so convenient and actually rewarding via the written word. It works in an honest approach so as to develop a close relationship as patient/counselor. Writing is much more therapeutic and helps to explore feelings so much more in-depth. I feel like I am in very good hands, respected and validated.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

The web app is easy to navigate. You get assigned a counselor right away. The LSW I have been paired with is a great match for my needs. Overall, I would recommend that anyone wanting therapy but has scheduling issues try BetterHealth. It's been a convenient comfort. I only wish insurance covered it.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I started using BetterHelp because it was free with my insurance; however, it doesn't feel right or helpful.

In its defense, I have never received counseling of any type, but the two counselors with which I've interacted felt distant and superficially sincere. In a way, BetterHelp feels like a forum for providing counselors an opportunity to connect with clients for the counselor's benefit (I'm guessing monetarily) rather than a forum for patients to connect with counselors.

I realize the last sentence seems inherently problematic, but I stand by it. My first counselor was not available for phone of video chat. When I expressed my desire for those options I was told "I don't do that," and "my profile said that before you picked me". Which (for the record), I did not pick her. The website paired us up after I requested a gay, male, counselor with experiences in relationship and intimacy issues (this counselor was not male or a member of the Queer community or knowledgeable about male intimacy problems)...interesting...

My second counselor (picked by me) was available for phone and video communication, but had limited opportunities (scheduling more than a week out for any appointments, and 2 or more weeks for some times). Though she was also not gay, or male, or a member of the Queer Community, I picked her because she has a Ph.D. (one of my current struggles) and experience with "men's issues" (thinking this was a euphemism for Erectile Disfunction). Ultimately, I found out she "phoned-in" her Ph.D. by having a third party collect data for her, though she was proud to tell me she "didn't pay for [the third party] to do her data analysis". She also didn't have a clear grasp of qualitative research, which is my current area of focus.

Both of these last paragraphs are about the people, and not the service, but in many ways, they go hand in hand. BetterHelp is a platform that connects people. If the pool of possible applicants is rubbish, [spoken in best Yoda voice]...so too the service shall be.

It's important to know the platform on the computer and the phone look and work great! They send you notifications, you can schedule and discuss online, and journal your thoughts and feelings. Ultimately, it should be great. But if you're looking for a deep, and meaningful connection with someone who wants to understand you or provide additional support, this might not be the place.

For example, I have no idea how counselors are paid on this platform, but I received several "hallmark-esk" motivational greetings from both counselors which held no bearing on my current situation. One example was...

"Write in your journal every day. Focus on writing your story. Write down three things you are grateful for every day. The three things I am grateful for today are: my amazing family and friends, my love for writing, [and] my faith."

Seriously?! Which card/commercial did she take this from? Are you getting paid per text? Because I haven't talked to you in a week. Also, I requested a non-religious counselor. Not that my counselor can't be thankful for her faith, but she did use it as a lens through which to understand my relationship...which was ultimately problematic as we have differing views on open-relationships, polyamory, and marriage. The counselor was accepting of my beliefs and respectful, but our interactions required continual correction regarding the fundamental nature of relationships and marriage, etc.

My irritation with specific counselors aside, her message has nothing to do with me or my care. I objectively do not journal and have not talked to my counselor about journalling. I can extrapolate the expression "Write your story" to my life, but in the same way I can extrapolate any promotional slogan: "Just do it", "Dew the do", and "Have it your way". These sentences are effectively superficial pleasantries which make me feel I'm not unique in any way.

Overall, BetterHelp feels like a great opportunity for individuals looking to make some money on the said as a counselor, and therefore, the candidate pool of counselors is pretty shallow.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

I have a medical situation at the moment not making it possible to drive. I very much wanted to pick back up with counseling, without having to wait until I am able to drive again. I went online and looked at options. Ultimately I decided to try BetterHelp, and I am SO glad I did. Good counselors are very hard to find, so my expectations were not too high...Defying all expectations. My counselor is one of the best I have ever had. I highly recommend giving it a try!

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I first started using this app because I was searching for a counselor that took my insurance in my city but it was I couldn't find anyone that fit me nor could I get calls back from those I left messages for. I finally saw a promotion for BetterHelp and thought at least I should try it for the first three months while it was free to see if it would help. I'm so thankful that I did this. My wonderful counselor has helped me overcome my first major panic attack and is always there to remind me of the importance of my mental health. It has been a wonderful experience so far and I highly recommend giving it a try.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

I found BetterHelp online and decided to give it a go. I found the service very helpful and was surprised by how attentive the counselor and the representatives were.

Although online therapy/counseling wasn't for me, I'd definitely recommend this service to anyone looking for help and unsure of where to start.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Tried to schedule three times and the counselors didn't show up every single time. These people don't care about your mental health, they care about making money out of people in need, seeking help. This is horrible.

Bottom Line: No, I would not recommend this to a friend

This is a great service. I do wish it was more affordable on my part. Even with the discount they gave it is just out of reach for me. I did get a very generous one-month trial that piqued my interest and showed me that if I ever am in a good enough financial position to put my mental health at the forefront, this is a great way to start. I have been very satisfied with the first counselor I was assigned, but I imagine that if I wasn't it would be a pretty easy process to get another one. That is very unlike real world counselors where I would have to pay AT LEAST 60 bucks to find out if I mesh with someone and usually you need to go more than once to get a good vibe. Again, if money was no option, I would sign up in a heartbeat, but with our first baby in the way, we need to prioritize our finances.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

BetterHelp is a very useful app. You can choose whom you'd like to be serviced by instead of being given to a random person. I like the fact that I get to choose whom can service me.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

My overall experience with BetterHelp has been positive because the customer care team is committed to making things right and they respond quickly.

The first time I got matched with a counselor, it was not a good fit. I also tried a second counselor on the platform and found that I was not benefiting from that either. Then I tried a third counselor and the match was amazing. Being able to connect to the right counselor for me was less difficult because when you do find that you need to change, it is a simple and fairly quick process.

I also like that your live sessions can be chat, phone, or video. So far I've tried the phone and chat. I was really nervous about using the phone, but it went really well and the call was very clear. I feel listened to and heard and I also feel like I'm getting the support I need to heal and live a more fulfilling life.

I highly recommend using this platform, just be honest about what you need and avail yourself of all the resources offered to help you get that. The more you put into the process, the better it works.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

BetterHelp is great for anyone who needs affordable, and flexible counseling. Here when I have something on my mind, I can send it to my counselor at any time. I hear from my counselor every day pretty much. When I tried to squeeze everything into 1 hour once a week or every two weeks, it was hard to remember everything I wanted to talk about. With my Counselor Kalii, I am able to give thoughts everyday and she responds and then we can schedule a live chat, a phone call, and a live video chat when I want to do that. When we do our lives she has already seen all my thoughts and questions all week and is able to see how everything is going or how I things are when she has recommended something I should try to help with my stress, my marriage, my kids. This is the new way of counseling in my eyes. Definitely glad I chose BetterHelp.

Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend