BetterHelp review: What Black women should know before signing up

Finding a therapist you actually connect with is hard enough. BetterHelp tries to simplify the process—here’s whether it delivers.

BetterHelp is one of several online therapy companies making it easier to seek help from the comfort of your own home. Here’s what you need to know about BetterHelp’s services, prices, and platform features to help you determine if it’s right for you.

What is BetterHelp?

BetterHelp connects individuals to licensed therapists who can hold sessions right on the platform. The process is simple—answer questions to match you with someone who meets your needs. 

Once matched, you can schedule live sessions with your therapist through video, phone, or chat. BetterHelp also offers unlimited messaging with your therapist, which can be a gentle way to ease into therapy. 

Members pay, on average, $70 to $100 per week for a BetterHelp subscription, giving access to all features. The platform also accepts select insurance plans.

Using insurance is separate from purchasing a subscription, and your eligibility, costs, and available services can depend on your specific plan and location.

Where BetterHelp shines

If you don’t want to sift through therapist profiles, BetterHelp can match you to one that gets you. Use the onboarding questionnaire to list your symptoms, goals, and therapist preferences. And if you’d rather be in control and select your own therapist, BetterHelp has that option, too.

You can filter your therapist preferences, including gender and religion—and yes, you can seek out a Black woman therapist if that’s what you want.

You can communicate with your BetterHelp therapist in quite a few ways. If you’re new to therapy and not quite ready for face-to-face (even video) conversations, messaging or chatting can ease you into the process.

Where BetterHelp can improve

At $70 to $100 per week, a BetterHelp subscription can cost around $280 to $400 per month. That can put ongoing therapy out of reach for many of us, particularly if you’re paying entirely out of pocket.

BetterHelp now accepts select insurance plans, which could make therapy significantly more affordable if you have insurance that’s accepted. However, the exact amount you’ll pay depends on factors like your health plan, location, deductible, and therapist availability. And some features might be unavailable.

BetterHelp does offer financial aid to some people who qualify, which may help lower the cost. 

BetterHelp features

BetterHelp’s features bring convenience and accessibility to therapy. Here’s what you can expect.

Questionnaire

BetterHelp uses a brief questionnaire to understand why you’re exploring therapy and the type of counseling and therapist you prefer. You can get specific about your needs, indicating the preferred age, gender, orientation, and religion of the person you trust to support you. 

Therapists

With over 30,000 licensed therapists, BetterHelp says it is the largest therapy service. You’ll find a variety of mental health professionals, like psychologists (PhD, PsyD), clinical social workers (LCSW), and professional counselors (LPC), who have completed their background check and selection process. 

BetterHelp does not have psychiatrists (MD, DO), which are medical doctors who can diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication.

Scheduling a session

Once you’re matched with a therapist, you can schedule live sessions from your dashboard. Most sessions are 30 minutes, but you may find a therapist who offers 45-minute sessions. 

BetterHelp only allows you to schedule one session at a time. You can work with your therapist to establish a recurring schedule.

Live sessions

You can hold a live session with your therapist within the BetterHelp platform through chat or video. There’s also a phone option, but you’ll still need to log in to your dashboard to start the session. Your membership typically includes one live session per week. Additional sessions may incur a fee.

Messaging

The messaging feature is different from a live chat since it’s not a real-time conversation. You can message your therapist at any time and wait for a response. BetterHelp membership plans include unlimited messaging to ask questions and share challenges or other details with your therapist.

Journaling

BetterHelp’s mobile app for Android and iOS has a journal feature where you can document your thoughts, feelings, and experiences throughout the day. This isn’t a personal journal. Your therapist would have access to it and may use it for homework assignments or practicing certain skills you discuss in your sessions.

Switching therapists

If you want to try a different therapist for any reason, you can switch therapists on BetterHelp with the click of a button. You don’t have to let your current therapist know if you don’t want to. BetterHelp can match you with a new therapist, or you can browse through their directory of over 30,000 licensed therapists. 

Canceling service

You can cancel your subscription if you decide BetterHelp is not for you. It’s a two-step process. You’ll first log in, head to Payment Settings, and then Quit Therapy if you have sessions scheduled. Then, go to My Account, click Personal Information, and Request Erasure.

How much does BetterHelp cost?

Updated to reflect BetterHelp’s new insurance options.

BetterHelp costs $70 to $100 per week. You’re billed every four weeks, so expect to pay around $280 to $400 per month for a subscription.

A subscription includes one live session per week, along with access to features like messaging your therapist, group sessions, worksheets, and a digital journal.

If you’re using insurance, you don’t pay for a subscription. BetterHelp says insured members pay an average copay of about $23 per session, but your costs will depend on your plan, deductible, and coverage. Just double-check which BetterHelp features are included with your insurance coverage.

BetterHelp pros and cons

There are advantages and drawbacks to BetterHelp, as with any other online therapy service. Here are a few pros and cons to consider.

BetterHelp pros

• Finding and switching therapists: Members can find their own therapist or let BetterHelp match them. To switch therapists, you can simply notify BetterHelp that you’d like a change.
• Flexible live-session options: Join a live session through video for an in-person feel. If that feels intimidating, try a live chat or a phone call with your therapist.
• Unlimited messaging to your therapist: Most membership plans cover one weekly live session, but you can message your therapist as much as you want whenever you want.

BetterHelp cons

• Can be expensive without insurance: A BetterHelp subscription costs $70 to $100 per week, which is your option if you don’t have insurance or your plan isn’t accepted.
• Features may be limited with insurance: If you use insurance instead of purchasing a BetterHelp subscription, some features and services may not be available. Check what’s included with your coverage before signing up.
• Limited therapy services: BetterHelp doesn’t have psychiatrists. You’ll need a different online therapy platform for a mental health diagnosis or prescription medication.

Is BetterHelp right for you?

BetterHelp can be a good fit if you’re looking for a flexible and convenient way to explore therapy, especially if it’s your first time. The website is easy to navigate and can match you with a therapist if that’s what you want.

If you have insurance that’s accepted by the platform, using BetterHelp can also be much more affordable than paying out of pocket. Without insurance, it’s a bit pricey.

If you’re using insurance, you can schedule sessions without committing to a subscription. Or, you can sign up for a membership and cancel at any time. What’s most important—especially for those of us used to being overlooked—is that you connect with a licensed therapist who sees you, hears you, and helps you get the mental health help you need.

If you want to learn more, visit the BetterHelp website or email [email protected] with questions.

BetterHelp therapy reviews FAQs

Is BetterHelp therapy Legit?

BetterHelp is a legitimate online therapy platform that connects users to therapists across the U.S. The company was founded in 2013 and now has over 30,000 licensed therapists and serves over 5 million users through a monthly membership.

What are the disadvantages of BetterHelp?

A BetterHelp subscription, which gives you access to all its features, can be pretty expensive. You can save significantly if you use an accepted insurance plan, although some BetterHelp features may not be available through your insurance coverage. BetterHelp also doesn’t offer psychiatry services, so you’ll need to look elsewhere if you need a mental health diagnosis or prescription medication.

What is the lawsuit against BetterHelp?

In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleged that BetterHelp shared consumer data, like “email addresses, IP addresses, and answers to personal health questions,” with Facebook, Snapchat, and others, even though their privacy policy says they use this data for limited purposes, like counseling. BetterHelp agreed to pay $7.8 million in settlement in May 2024 but said in a statement that they do not and have never shared members’ private information “with advertisers, publishers, social media platforms, or any other similar third parties.”

Does BetterHelp accept insurance?

BetterHelp now accepts insurance through major providers like Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna. According to its website, insured members pay around $23 per session on average. However, your actual cost will depend on your specific plan, coverage, and deductible.

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Methodology

The Love Your Mind Project evaluates mental wellness products and services using thorough research, expert insights, and personal experience. We look at key factors to understand the product or service quality, price, ease of use, and overall user experience. This website may consult mental health professionals and other experts to gain additional perspective. The goal is to provide an honest, well-rounded review to help you make an informed decision about your mental wellness journey.