How Long is a BetterHelp Therapy Session? (Find Out!)

BetterHelp is an online mental health platform that provides consumer services. They offer online therapy and counseling sessions which are done by web-based communications. They also offer calls and texts.

BetterHelp is a popular resource that many people have used, most of whom agree that it has benefited them and their mental health. However, it can also be expensive. So, how long is the session you’re paying so much for?

You probably don’t want to be paying a significant amount for a session that doesn’t get into anything too deep and therefore doesn’t help you. Today we’re looking at how long a BetterHelp therapy session is.

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How Does BetterHelp Work?

Once you navigate to the BetterHelp website, you can immediately start your journey to being matched to a therapist by creating an account. Before you enter any personal information, though, you will need to complete a short questionnaire.

This will ask questions about your religious beliefs, feelings, and lifestyle habits. This is to get a better feel of you and help the website better match you to your therapist.

You will then create an account where you can tell them why you’re here to better match you to your therapist.

Once you have paid and been matched up with a therapist, you have access to them continuously. You can message them anytime, host chat sessions, phone calls, video sessions, and more.

These are all licensed therapists, so you’re getting professional help for a fraction of the cost of seeing a private therapist in the office. Plus, you don’t get all of the added perks you do with BetterHelp, such as group sessions, help from anywhere, digital workshops, and more.

Type Of Help BetterHelp Offers

When you sign up to BetterHelp, you will be paired with a therapist and given an online room where you can communicate. This is both private and secure, so you can say anything here without worrying about the information getting seen by others.

There are a few different ways to order your therapy sessions, either by video chat, where you see the therapist face to face, by phone, in which you will hear each other’s voices or by live chat.

This is an excellent way of doing things as you can keep yourself as anonymous as you want to be without any judgment. Alternatively, you can be as open as you want by video chatting and having a friendly discussion.

Connect one-on-one with a Psychiatrist

If you choose the live chat option, your therapist will respond in real time throughout your live session, so it is similar to having a conversation.

When you message your therapist outside of your live session, you may wait longer for their reply as they will be busy with other clients. Out-of-hours messaging is similar to email, so you’ll have to wait for them to get a free moment to respond to you.

Length Of Sessions

BetterHelp allows you to book a 30-minute session with your therapist, whether in video or phone format. However, depending on your therapist’s schedule, you might be able to go over this allotted time and talk for up to an hour.

There is also the option to schedule weekly live sessions with your therapist, which will be between 30 and 45 minutes long. These are limited to once a week.

The great thing about BetterHelp is that sometimes you don’t need to talk for ages to get the help you need. The weekly live session works as a regular therapy session, and for the rest of the week, you have access to texts and calls with the therapist to keep on top of your mental health.

Check-ins with your therapist might only be five minutes long or even as little as a quick text asking them for reassurance or advice. While this might sound short, that’s sometimes all you need. Plus, this extra help you wouldn’t be getting from a traditional therapist.

Average Cost Of BetterHelp

BetterHelp works on a subscription basis, and you will be billed every four weeks. The average cost of weekly access to the site and all it has to offer is between $60 and $90. The cost you will need to pay will depend on several factors, such as your location, the number of therapists available, and the answers you put in your questionnaire.

While this might seem expensive for a week’s access to BetterHelp, it’s worth noting that a traditional therapy session would cost between $110 and $180 per session. BetterHelp is half the price of a traditional therapy session while giving you much more access to your therapist through calls and messages.

There is also the possibility of getting your BetterHelp subscription at a reduced fee if you are on a low income, a student, a veteran, live with a disability, or have been impacted by COVID-19.

So, while the cost of BetterHelp is quite steep for a weekly requirement, you are getting more care than you would get from a much more expensive private therapist. There is also the option to get it at a rate which is a nice touch for mental health services to be accessible to more people.

Pros And Cons Of BetterHelp

You might still be wondering whether or not BetterHelp is the right choice for you, so here we’ve collated several pros and cons to help you decide.

Pros:

You can message your therapist an unlimited number of times.

You have access online to professional therapists.
You can choose to remain anonymous.
There is the option to change therapists if you’d prefer another.

Easy to use apps and websites.
BetterHelp is available in the United States as well as the United Kingdom.
The price is better than traditional therapy in an office.

Cons:

Therapists at BetterHelp will not diagnose conditions.
Insurance companies might not cover the cost of BetterHelp therapy.
Betterhelp does not prescribe medication.

You cannot choose your therapist, although you can switch to another therapist if you’d prefer.
BetterHelp does not cover court-ordered therapy.
If you don’t have consistent access to internet or phone services, then you might not be able to use BetterHelp to the best of its ability.

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Summary

We hope that this article has been helpful to you and your choice of whether to use BetterHelp or not. Sessions will last 30 minutes, although they can be longer depending on your therapist’s schedule.

Outside of your weekly session, you will still be able to message your therapist, although they might take longer to respond. A 30-minute session might seem short for the cost of BetterHelp, but you are still getting access to your therapist for the entire week and your session.

How long is a typical therapy session on BetterHelp?

Most of their therapists offer sessions that are 45-60 minutes in length. However, some therapists may offer longer or shorter sessions depending on availability and schedule. You can always check with your therapist to see what their policy is regarding session length.

What if I need more time than the allotted session length?

If you feel you need more time than the allotted session length, you can always request additional time from your therapist. In most cases, they will be able to accommodate your request. However, please keep in mind that additional time may incur additional fees.

Can I cancel or reschedule my therapy session?

You can always cancel or reschedule your therapy session if you need to. However, we do ask that you give your therapist at least 24 hours’ notice so they can make the necessary arrangements. You may be charged a late cancellation fee if you do not cancel or reschedule your session at least 24 hours in advance.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule my therapy session, but it’s less than 24 hours before my scheduled time?

If you need to cancel or reschedule your therapy session with less than 24 hours notice, it is best to contact your therapist directly to see if they can accommodate your request. In most cases, they will be able to work with you. However, last-minute cancellations or reschedules may incur additional fees.

I have an emergency and need to cancel or reschedule my therapy session. What should I do?

If you have a mental health emergency, contact your therapist immediately and tell them what’s happening. In most cases, they will be able to accommodate your request and make the necessary arrangements. If you’re unsure how to contact your therapist, call BetterHelp customer support line at 1-800-BetterHelp.