Talkspace is one of the internet’s best-rated and best-known online therapy platforms.
The platform offers therapy for individuals, couples, and teens. You can also talk to a psychiatrist through Talkspace to manage your medication.
Is Talkspace legit? Should you get therapy through Talkspace? Please keep reading to discover everything you need about today’s popular therapy platform in our review.
What is Talkspace?
Talkspace is a mental health platform found online.
After completing an initial assessment on their official website, you’re connected with a therapist within 48 hours. You can interact with that therapist via messaging, audio, or video calls. Subscription prices vary from $70 to $110 per week. Talkspace also offers online psychiatry services at a higher price.
The platform accepts most major insurance, and covered members typically pay around $30 for a co-pay.
Whether you require therapy for yourself, therapy as a couple, therapy for teenagers, or a consultation with a psychiatrist for medication management, Talkspace provides access to the necessary therapy services.
Talkspace Benefits
Talkspace is one of many online therapy platforms available today. Some of the unique benefits of Talkspace include:
- Network of therapists licensed in all 50 US states and Canada
- Works with major insurance providers
- Average co-pay of $30 or less
- Clinically proven to perform equal to or better than in-person therapy
- Therapy for individuals, couples, teens, veterans, LGBTQIA+, and more
- Online psychiatry services are available
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How Does Talkspace Work?
Talkspace simplifies the process of obtaining online therapy services. You can complete a short assessment, receive a tailored match with a therapist who suits your needs, and begin your therapy online.
Here’s how Talkspace works:
- Step 1) Complete a brief assessment, answering questions about yourself and your preferences.
- Step 2) Let Talkspace connect you with a personalized match. Typically, Talkspace connects you with a provider within 48 hours.
- Step 3) Start therapy by voice, video call, or messaging.
You access Talkspace services via a subscription. Your subscription can include weekly messaging sessions, video calls, or audio calls, depending on your therapist and the desired type of treatment. You can pause or cancel subscriptions, save money by paying quarterly or annually, and customize your Talkspace experience in other ways.
Some customers pay out of pocket, while others use insurance. If paying out of pocket, you could pay between $70 and $110 per week for Talkspace – or more for psychiatry services. However, those with insurance pay an average co-pay of $30 per session, according to Talkspace.
Learn more on the official website >>>
Types of Therapy from Talkspace
Talkspace offers four broad types of therapy, including:
- Online therapy for individuals
- Couples therapy for you and your partner
- Teen therapy for teens ages 13 to 17
- Psychiatry services for evaluations and medication management
You can communicate with therapists via video, audio chat, or messaging. Plus, therapists specialize in different areas, making picking one best suited to your unique mental health concerns easy.
Talkspace Areas of Specialization
Whether dealing with OCD, grief, eating disorders, parenting concerns, depression, or other concerns, you can find a range of specialists through Talkspace.
The platform’s licensed therapists specialists in all of the following areas:
- Depression
- Relationships
- Anxiety and stress
- Parenting
- LGBTQIA+
- Chronic illness
- Eating disorders
- Anger management
- Childhood abuse
- Mood disorders
- OCD
- Trauma and grief
- Family conflict
- And more
Most specialists cover multiple areas. Some generalists cover everything, while others focus specifically on one or two areas of mental health.
Discover life-changing therapy with Talkspace. Sign up now!
Talkspace Features
There are other online therapy platforms available today. Although Talkspace is one of the biggest and best-known platforms, it also offers unique features not seen in different media.
Discover the benefits that Talkspace has to offer with these features:
Available by Video Chat, Messaging, or Phone
Some people like to communicate with a therapist face to face. Others prefer audio calls or messaging. At Talkspace, you can choose three ways to speak with a therapist based on your preferences.
Network of Licensed Providers
Talkspace maintains a network of licensed providers across the United States. Therapists specialize in mental health and wellness – from OCD to grief to eating disorders. All therapists within Talkspace’s network are licensed, and the company has thousands of licensed therapists across all 50 US States and Canada.
FSA / HSA Approved
You can use healthcare savings accounts to pay for Talkspace therapy, and the platform is FSA / HSA-approved.
Talkspace: Your first step to emotional well-being. Join now!
HIPAA Compliant
Talkspace is serious about customer privacy, and the company abides by HIPAA regulations.
Therapists with 9 Years of Experience, On Average
According to Talkspace, the average therapist on the platform has 9+ years of experience as a mental healthcare provider, making the company’s therapists some of the most experienced online.
Covered by Insurance
Talkspace accepts insurance, including Cigna, Optum, Aetna, and other major insurance plans. According to Talkspace, covered members pay an average co-pay of $30.
Personalized Therapist Match
Instead of scrolling through therapists’ pages to find one that looks good, you get a personalized match via Talkspace after completing a brief assessment. You answer a few questions about yourself and your therapy goals, and Talkspace provides a counselor within 48 hours.
No In-Clinic Visits or Commute
Connect with a Talkspace therapist from anywhere. There’s no need to drive to a clinic for an in-person appointment.
Works with Your Schedule
Talkspace offers flexible plans to meet your needs and lifestyle. Whether you want to meet with a therapist early in the morning, late at night, or off and on throughout the year, you can find various options with Talkspace.
Empower yourself with Talkspace. Begin your therapy journey today!
Seamlessly Switch Providers at No Added Cost
If you want to switch therapists with Talkspace, you can do so at no added cost.
Save Money Without Compromising on Quality Care
Talkspace emphasizes affordability, connecting you with professional therapists at a competitive price. You can receive therapy services that are both convenient and high-quality without any compromise on the care you receive.
Proven to Work
Talkspace claims to offer clinically proven results. Citing studies published in the Journal of Telemedicine e-Health and the Journal of Clinical Psychology, Talkspace claims 80% of participants find Talkspace to be as effective or more effective than traditional therapy, with 98% of people finding Talkspace to be more convenient than conventional therapy.
Those studies also found 44% of Talkspace customers experience clinically significant change within eight weeks, compared to just 25% of face-to-face customers. After three months, 59% of Talkspace customers experience clinically meaningful change, compared to 50% of in-person customers.
Online Psychiatry Appointments
In addition to offering therapy, Talkspace offers online psychiatry appointments, allowing you to receive an assessment, manage medication, and talk to a licensed psychiatrist about your concerns.
Prescription Medications Available
At Talkspace, you can obtain prescriptions for necessary medications. If you talk to a licensed psychiatrist through the platform, that psychiatrist can prescribe all medicines other than controlled substances.
Available to Teens
Talkspace offers therapy services specifically for teenagers, including therapy services for those ages 13 to 17.
Partnered with Businesses
Talkspace partners with employers, health plans, and schools.
Endorsed by Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps has been outspoken about his mental health challenges and credits therapy with helping save his life. Michael Phelps has officially endorsed Talkspace, and his image appears across the Talkspace website.
Free Mental Health Tests
Talkspace makes its online assessment available for free. You can complete an evaluation to determine if you should seek help from a licensed therapist. Talkspace’s mental health tests evaluate anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, social anxiety, panic disorder, borderline personality disorder, postpartum depression, and insomnia.
Feeling overwhelmed? Talkspace therapists are here to help!
Mobile App Support
Talkspace has top-rated mobile apps for iOS and Android, making it easy to interact with your therapist anytime, anywhere, from the convenience of your mobile device. Talkspace has over 5,800 5-star reviews across the iOS App Store and Google Play Store.
LGBTQIA+ Community
Talkspace offers special services for the LBGTQIA+ community, and the company has a diverse provider network of licensed therapists with experience across all types of concerns. The platform provides therapists specializing in counseling, couples therapy, psychiatry, and teen therapy for the LBGTQIA+ community.
Therapy for Veterans
Talkspace offers specialized therapy services for veterans. The company believes every veteran deserves access to affordable, confidential therapy. Thousands of veterans have used Talkspace to achieve clinically significant results.
Publicly Traded Company
Talkspace is a publicly-traded company. The company had its IPO on June 23, 2021, at a share price of $8.90 and a valuation of $1.4 billion. As of July 2023, the company’s stock (NASDAQ: TALK) is priced at around $1.70 per share.
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Couples Therapy
Talkspace was founded by a husband-and-wife team who were so impressed with the results of couples therapy they decided to launch their therapy platform. Today, Talkspace continues to offer top-rated couples counseling. You and your partner can sign into a shared therapy room while enjoying the same benefits.
Scientific Evidence for Talkspace
Online therapy is proven to work. Talkspace may be more effective than in-person therapy.
Talkspace provides evidence of its effectiveness through studies published in the Journal of Telemedicine e-Health and the Journal of Clinical Psychology, which compared them to traditional face-to-face therapy. Here’s what those studies found:
- 80% of patients found Talkspace “as effective or more effective than traditional therapy.”
- 98% of patients found Talkspace to be more convenient than traditional therapy.
- After eight weeks of therapy, 44% of Talkspace patients experienced clinically significant change compared to 25% of face-to-face patients.
- After three months of therapy, 59% of Talkspace patients experienced clinically significant change compared to 50% of face-to-face patients.
These studies suggest Talkspace is more effective than in-person, face-to-face therapy. Anecdotally, many patients also claim to have experienced significant changes via Talkspace, and the platform is backed by thousands of positive reviews online.
Also Read: Hers Mental Health – FDA-Approved Anxiety and Depression Medication Treatment
Talkspace Reviews: What Do Customers Say?
Talkspace has strong reviews from thousands of customers, including over 50,000+ 5-star reviews from people worldwide, celebrity and athlete endorsements, and industry professionals publishing thousands of reviews from verified patients at its official website here. Generally, patients have good things to say about Talkspace’s convenience, affordability, and overall experience.
Talkspace’s mobile applications are highly rated in the online therapy industry. The iOS app has an average rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 with 21,000+ reviews, for example, while the Android app has a 4.4-star rating with 6,600+ reviews.
Talkspace has strong reviews from therapy industry media, including top scores from Choosing Therapy, Psych Central, Verywell Mind, and other respected sources.
Talkspace has an average score of 1.5 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot with 180+ reviews. 90% of customers have given the company a 1-star rating. Customers express issues with Talkspace’s customer support system, problems dealing with insurance and payments, and issues regarding the quality of care.
Talkspace is facing a class action lawsuit challenging some of the claims made on its website. The class action lawsuit claims prospective patients are not actually “matched” with a qualified therapist customized to their unique needs; instead, the lawsuit alleges Talkspace has fewer qualified therapists available to meet demand. The case also expresses issues with Talkspace’s subscription model, claiming the company prioritizes profits over patients.
Some customers express dissatisfaction with the expensive pricing and the requirement to commit to subscription plans. Some customers were unaware of how much their therapy would cost, for example, until they started to receive larger-than-expected bills.
Talkspace is generally highly rated; most patients report being content with their treatment. Although costs may be higher, many patients are covered by insurance, making it easy to get the mental health services you need through Talkspace with reasonable co-pays and recommendations. We’ll summarize those reviews below.
Find out what makes Talkspace so great!
Talkspace Pricing
The average in-person therapy appointment costs $175 to $500 per session. Talkspace costs from $69 to $109 per week, depending on the specific type of therapy you require. Plus, most people with insurance can have appointments covered, and you could pay as little as $20 to $40 for your co-pay.
Talkspace may be covered by insurance, and Talkspace accepts most major insurance plans. According to Talkspace, the average co-pay is around $30.
If you’re paying out of pocket with Talkspace, however, then you’ll pay the following rates:
- Messaging Therapy: Starting at $69 per week: Includes daily responses five days a week and the ability to message your therapist any time
- Video + Messaging Therapy: Starting at $99 per week: Video sessions and messaging, including the ability to send messages and schedule video calls
- Video + Messaging + Workshops: Starting at $109 per week: Access to everything Talkspace offers, including the ability to send messages, meet live, and attend weekly workshops
- Psychiatry Sessions: $299 for an initial evaluation, then $175 per session for follow-ups: Session-based psychiatry services for assessments and medication management
- Couples Therapy: $396 per month and $65 per session for additional live sessions: Includes live sessions and unlimited messaging with your provider
An average appointment with a licensed therapist costs $175 to $500 per session. Talkspace provides a more affordable option than traditional face-to-face therapy sessions.
If you agree to be billed quarterly or annually by Talkspace, you can save even more money over the above prices, dropping your total by 10% to 20%.
Get Talkspace for the best price today!
About Talkspace
Talkspace is an online therapy company founded in New York City in 2012 by Roni and Oren Frank.
Roni and Oren Frank experienced a transformative change in couples therapy, and they attributed it to saving their marriage. The therapy results were so meaningful that Roni and Oren wanted to share it with others. Roni pursued a master’s degree in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, and the two later launched Talkspace.
Talkspace initially started by offering group therapy. 2014 the company launched messaging therapy, followed by the introduction of couples therapy in 2015. Over the last decade, the company has steadily grown, and thousands of people have experienced transformative change via Talkspace.
You can contact Talkspace via the following:
- Online Form: help.talkspace.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
- Live Chat: Talkspace.com
- Registered Address: 578 Broadway #607 New York, NY 10025
Talkspace is headquartered in New York City.
Final Word on Talkspace
A leader in online therapy, Talkspace offers individual counseling, couples counseling, therapy for teens, online psychiatry services, and more.
With a network of licensed therapists across all 50 US states and Canada, Talkspace continues to score top marks for its quality, convenience, and overall therapy experience.
You can visit their official website today to learn more about Talkspace or sign up for therapy through their service.
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