While an Online-Therapy.com customer service representative told our reviews team that it offers services in all 50 states, they noted that they might not have therapists available in some states. The customer service representative did not indicate the states in which the platform lacked licensed therapists.
Initial Questionnaire
To get started with Online-Therapy.com, you’ll first complete a short questionnaire that asks what conditions you’re seeking help with, such as the following:
Anger managementAnxietyChronic painCompassion fatigueDepressionGriefInsomniaObsessive-compulsive disorderPanic disorderPost-traumatic stress disorderStressTrauma
The questionnaire asks if you have any therapist gender preferences and whether you prefer your sessions to be via live video, voice only, or by text. Every therapist on Online-Therapy.com has preferences on their profile for what type of therapy they’re willing to provide. Some, for example, will only provide therapy via text messaging. If you don’t indicate any preferences, you’ll be matched with a therapist who offers support through live sessions (video, voice, or text), worksheet responses, and unlimited text messaging. After indicating your therapist preferences, you’ll be prompted to create an account by entering your email address, password, state of residence, and name or nickname. By using a nickname, you can stay anonymous if you choose, but you will need to provide Online-Therapy.com with your emergency contact information.
Therapist Matching
You can see your therapist match instantly after creating your account. You can pick from a list of alternative counselors if you don’t like your initial match. After matching you to a therapist, Online-Therapy.com will ask you to choose a plan and enter your payment information. The program includes 25 worksheets divided into eight sections, starting with an introduction to CBT. Every section is presented like chapters in an interactive book and available through text, audio, or video. When you complete a worksheet, your therapist will receive a notification and leave feedback on your worksheet within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. You will receive an email once your therapist replies.
Your Journal
You can use an online journal to log entries about your feelings and progress and to reflect on past entries. You can access it at any time through your Online-Therapy.com portal. Your journal entries are stored for up to two years, then deleted if you choose not to resume your subscription. According to customer service, you cannot export your journal entries at the end of your membership.
Activity Plan
With your activity plan, you can schedule activities that bring joy to your life, like taking your dog on a walk or having dinner with a friend. This tool could help you follow through with doing something that brings you joy daily. You can also check off each activity as you complete it, which could help motivate you to continue doing the activities that bring you joy.
Yoga and Meditation Videos
Every membership includes yoga and meditation videos hosted by Petra, the platform’s dedicated yoga teacher. These are designed to help supplement the new practices and behaviors you learn from your self-guided program and worksheets.
Unlimited Messaging
Every Online-Therapy.com membership includes unlimited text messaging with your therapist. The Online-Therapy.com How It Works webpage states that your therapist will take less than 24 hours to provide feedback on your CBT worksheets, but it doesn’t state how long you can expect to wait for text message responses. According to our online therapy survey, 30 percent of the 184 Online-Therapy.com customers received text message responses from their therapist within a day, 15 percent received responses within a few days, and 41 percent received responses within a week. It regularly took more than a week for 14 percent of users to receive a response to their text messages. If you choose the premium plan, you will have access to express replies. According to customer service, these messages are seen by your therapist sooner than messages from the basic and standard plans, but they don’t guarantee a quicker response.
Couples Therapy
To use Online-Therapy.com for couples therapy, you will go through the same process as individual therapy and have access to the same materials in the standard plan. You will be able to invite your partner to share a joint account using their name and email address. Online-Therapy.com can help couples with relationship issues, such as the following:
Rediscovering your love for each otherResolving conflictsImproving communicationImproving your sex life and intimacyOvercoming infidelity
Basic $200 per month
A self-guided CBT program, yoga and meditation videos, an online journal, and an activity plannerUnlimited messaging with your therapist, with responses within a maximum of 24 hours, Monday through FridayNo live therapy sessions
Standard $320 per month
One live 45-minute video, audio, or text therapy session per weekA self-guided CBT program, yoga and meditation videos, an online journal, and an activity plannerUnlimited messaging with your therapist, with responses within a maximum of 24 hours, Monday through Friday
Premium $440 per month
Two live 45-minute video, audio, or text therapy sessions per weekA self-guided CBT program, yoga and meditation videos, an online journal, and an activity plannerUnlimited messaging with your therapist, with responses within a maximum of 24 hours, Monday through FridayIncludes express replies to messages
Couples Therapy $440 per month
One live 45-minute video, audio, or text therapy session per weekA self-guided CBT program, yoga and meditation videos, a journal, and an activity plannerA joint account shared with your partnerUnlimited messaging with your therapist, with responses within a maximum of 24 hours, Monday through FridayIncludes express replies to messages
Online-Therapy.com accepts PayPal and credit and debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. It also accepts health savings account and flexible spending account cards. You can cancel your subscription at any time. If you want to pause your subscription, you can contact support@online-therapy.com. Online-Therapy.com refunds are given on a case-by-case basis. Online-Therapy.com features four- and five-star therapist reviews from the past year on its website. It discloses that the reviews are only a portion of those it has helped, so the featured reviews may be biased. According to our online therapy survey, 84 percent of Online-Therapy.com users had a positive overall experience with the platform.
Engaged in ongoing independent researchMystery shopped each of the brandsContacted brands’ customer service teams to ask questions and gauge responsivenessConsulted six leading psychologists and psychiatristsBecame customers of online therapy providers ourselvesReviewed academic research about the efficacy of online therapy versus in-person therapy
Online-Therapy.com may be worth it for couples looking for therapy, but its $440 price tag is $80 more than the maximum you would pay for relationship therapy from ReGain, which costs between $240 and $360 per month, depending on your preferences, location, and therapist availability. You can also reach out to the SAMHSA National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357). The SAMHSA help line is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-days-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals facing mental or substance abuse disorders.
