Talkspace Review: The Right Online Therapy Service for You?

Balancing between work, finances, family time, and home maintenance is challenging for all of us. I can’t think of a single person in my life who hasn’t felt overwhelmed and struggled to prioritize their mental health, and I’m sure you can say the same.

I’ve had clients tell me they’ve hesitated to get started with therapy because of its costs and inaccessibility. This is part of why I think online therapy platforms like Talkspace are worth exploring.

Whether you’re experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, bereavement, or PTSD, therapy services can significantly improve your quality of life.

I reviewed Talkspace because it is one of the most popular virtual therapy platforms, offering various services to make mental health more manageable. Keep reading to review Talkspace’s features and discover if it lives up to its reputation.

What Is Talkspace?

Talkspace is an online therapy platform that provides text, video, and audio messaging through the Talkspace website and app. Co-founders Oren and Roni Frank founded the New York-based company in 2012 after a positive experience with couples therapy that saved their marriage.

Talkspace was initially a group therapy with the mission to increase the availability of high-quality therapy for the general public. From a medical perspective, it’s encouraging that the motivation behind Talkspace was inclusivity.

Rather than traveling to attend in-person therapy sessions, Talkspace users can benefit from online therapy sessions from home. You can send your therapist messages anytime and schedule live video sessions for face-to-face interaction.

I think Talkspace has potential because it offers services for a broad spectrum of issues. Individual therapy is one of its most significant sectors, but teens aged 13–17 can receive specialist care, and couples can participate in joint sessions.

Talkspace represents a potential future for therapy and mental healthcare. In-person therapy isn’t always realistic and achievable for so many, and online therapy could cultivate a healthy mindset in the modern day.

⭐ Rating	4.2
✅ Pros	Qualified therapists, flexible plans, and convenient
❌ Cons	No free trial, may not be for everyone
📱Therapy type	Text, video, and audio messaging
🧰️ Accepts insurance?	Yes
💰 Price	From $276 per month
🔔 How to get started	talkspace.com

Who Is Talkspace for?

Talkspace is for anyone who wants to engage in online therapy with licensed therapists, especially if they prefer a virtual service instead of physically visiting a therapist’s office.

It can be especially helpful for people who are uncomfortable discussing issues face-to-face or who live in remote areas with limited transportation.

Talkspace offers individual therapy, couples therapy, and therapy for teens as well as veterans. The Talkspace therapists have training in multiple fields:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Addiction
• Abuse
• Eating disorders
• OCD
• LGBTQIA+ sensitive issues
• PTSD
• Chronic illness
• Trauma and grief

Furthermore, Talkspace offers psychiatric services for those who require evaluations, mental health treatment, and medication management.

It’s worth noting that Talkspace therapy for teens requires parental consent for 13–17-year-olds, an appealing safeguarding feature.

How to Get Started With Talkspace

Talkspace offers online therapy services that use algorithms to match you with the right therapist. A quiz system helps you explore the services and payment options and get started on your journey.

I entered information for a theoretical client struggling with stress from work. I found the process straightforward, and those struggling with technology would also find it easy.

The quiz prompted me to rate my sleeping habits, physical health, gender identity, and preferences for my therapist’s gender.

Once you select your US state or country outside the US, you can choose the right plan and find an appropriate therapist. Based on my work-stress input, the recommended plans I received included a mixture of live therapy sessions and messaging using text, video, and audio.

Once the sign-up process is complete, clients use a secure virtual room to meet with consultants. Talkspace has an extensive network of licensed therapists who practice various forms of therapy, with approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and emotion-focused therapy (EFT).

You can view information about each therapist, including specialties and clinical approach. Let’s delve deeper into how Talkspace actually works.

An Initial Session With Talkspace 

I thought I’d briefly cover what you can expect from an initial live session with a service like Talkspace. Online therapy is similar to traditional therapy in the early stages. When I first meet a client, I want to get to know them a little. 

Before diving into why they decided to engage in therapy, I’ll ask a little about their interests and develop a rapport. Talkspace therapists will likely also use the first session to get to know you and ensure you feel understood.

Another crucial aspect of the first therapy session is to lay out what clients can and can’t expect from their course of treatment. I use the first session to establish trust and transparency with my clients. They should know what to expect in future sessions and how to prepare themselves for a successful experience. 

Equally, I want my clients to know that therapy doesn’t work instantly, and it isn’t always easy to discuss personal experiences openly. This is where I would critique Talkspace for only offering 30-minute sessions. That’s not enough time to cover some topics with the sensitivity they need.

Your first session with Talkspace should make you feel comfortable and informed about what you can expect from the online therapy service. You will also get to discuss why you want to engage in therapy.

How Does Talkspace Work? 5 Key Features

With the sign-up process out of the way, it’s time to review what mental health professionals can offer on the Talkspace platform.

#1 Multiple subscription plans

One feature worth highlighting is the option to choose from multiple different subscriptions. Each one has a different price point, which I think encourages more people to seek out professional help for various mental health conditions.

#2 Various therapy options

It’s also easier to choose which services you’d prefer. Some plans come with live video sessions, while others use a messaging therapy plan, ideal for those who struggle to talk with video chat features. Whether you prefer an unlimited messaging therapy plan or you’d rather your therapy session was a live video session, Talkspace has it all.

#3 Virtual therapy sessions

The most significant feature of online therapy companies – Talkspace included – is virtual sessions. Professionally, this is an excellent service for clients who struggle to get out of the house, have limited mobility, or prefer to use digital platforms over in-person therapy.

#4 Messaging with the therapist

Every client using Talkspace has access to a secure digital room for messaging their therapist 24 hours a day. Access to your conversations with your therapist makes it easier for many clients to keep track of their current issues and worries.

#5 Easy to switch therapists if needed

I agree with Talkspace’s recommendation that clients take time to get to know their therapists and build rapport. You can switch therapists if you’re unhappy working with your original therapist. Talkspace will then work to find you a new therapist who is a better match.

Learn more: Best 10 Talkspace Alternatives in 2023

What I Liked About Talkspace

Next up, in the Talkspace online therapy review, I will discuss the aspects of the provider I like the most.

#1 It offers psychiatry services

Beyond talk therapy services, Talkspace’s online therapy provides psychiatry to its clients. For me, this puts Talkspace ahead of many other online therapy providers. Clients can receive prescriptions for mental health medication through secure, HIPAA-compliant means that they can collect at a local pharmacy.

#2 Several therapy modes are available

I particularly enjoy the number of therapy modes available at Talkspace. Clients can choose between video chats, phone calls, and messages to communicate with their therapist. I enjoy this because I am used to physical, face-to-face therapy sessions, but I’m aware that others might prefer to engage in therapy from the comfort of their homes.

#3 Flexible payment plans

I mentioned in the introduction to this article that some of my clients delay seeking out therapy out of concern for the costs. Talkspace offers flexible payment plans that I think will allow more people to access therapy without adding stress to their lives with intimidating bills. The flexible payment plans even incorporate insurance coverage, making therapy something everyone can experience.

#4 You can reach your therapist from wherever

I openly admit that one drawback to traditional therapy is that office hours create a barrier between therapists and clients. With online therapy from Talkspace, clients can reach out to their therapists on computers and mobile devices at all hours. 

I think this can provide significant comfort for clients who prefer to reach out at unusual hours. I also think it’s easier for clients to keep track of the issues they’d like to discuss in their next session.

#5 It offers couples and teen therapy

Finally, the mental health services available to couples and teens on Talkspace are an excellent platform quality. Teens especially benefit from using digital media to talk to a professional about the stresses of their lives, and I feel that couples may find the digital platform more intimate because they can do it from the comfort of their own homes.

What I Didn’t Like About Talkspace

Although I have many positive things to say about Talkspace, there are less positive aspects I’d like to cover here.

#1 Live sessions last for only 30 minutes

Although some subscription plans have as many as 4 live therapy sessions per week, the live sessions on Talkspace only last 30 minutes. In my experience, clients need more time to open up comfortably, and they need more time to make genuine progress on many dense topics. Boosting to 60-minute sessions would be an improvement.

#2 The messaging-only option may not be for everyone

The cheapest tier available at Talkspace is a messaging-only option. My concern is that many users will feel uncomfortable expressing themselves purely through text. It’s also more challenging to create a positive relationship between client and therapist solely through messaging. Ideally, each tier would be more mixed.

#3 No group sessions are available

Families and those who need to engage in group sessions can’t get much use out of Talkspace’s platform. Without the possibility to engage in group sessions, many may struggle to overcome their differences. If Talkspace navigated the practicalities of supporting group sessions, it could significantly impact many clients.

#4 It chooses the therapist for you

The algorithm automatically matches clients with a therapist. Although switching therapists is possible whenever clients need to, it may be a less efficient system than simply letting clients reach out to their preferred professional. 

I am dubious about a computer assigning clients to therapists. However, clients can always request a different therapist if they don’t connect well with their initial selection.

#5 There’s no free trial

Professionally, I understand that offering free trials is complex for something like therapy. However, that means it’s up to clients to sacrifice a certain investment and discover whether Talkspace works for them. I would recommend Talkspace more if they offered free trial periods to new clients.

How Much Does Talkspace Cost?

There are multiple price tiers for Talkspace, each charged monthly. Review this breakdown of the costs below. Talkspace is a fairly affordable option for many considering therapy.

The recommended plan I received from Talkspace offers one live session per month and guaranteed daily responses to messages 5 days a week for $59 per week. 

The usual price for this service is $79 each week, but discounts for new clients are common. If I decide I don’t want video sessions with my therapist, however, the $45 per week plan can save some money.

Equally, as I know many clients prefer live sessions, they can choose the most expensive plan and receive 4 live therapy sessions per month. The discounted cost for this plan is $79 per week, but it usually costs $99 each week. 

I think this is a high price to pay for just 4 sessions that are 30 minutes each. However, remembering that some users much prefer text, video, and audio messaging to face-to-face digital sessions explains the popularity of these tariffs.

What Do Other Users Think About Talkspace?

Talkspace boasts more than 60,000 5-star reviews on its website. However, across platforms like the Google Play Store, the App Store, and Twitter, clients have shared mixed feelings about their experiences with Talkspace.

Apart from highly positive interactions, there are also users who cite problems with the customer service, billing, and the overall suitability of the therapist.

The provider also categorizes its reviews into 5 topics: convenience, affordability, real-time modality, privacy, and well-being. Each quality has excellent reviews.

Talkspace vs. the Alternatives

How I Tested Talkspace

Testing Talkspace is essential to identify the pros and cons of the platform. You can decide based on the relevant information before committing to a recurring subscription. Reviewing 4 categories in detail helped us bring you our opinion on this product. You can find these categories below:

Quality 8/10

Talkspace’s value comes from its high-quality features and fully licensed therapists. You can contact your therapist 24/7, get an assessment, and receive specialized treatment for various issues. The process of being matched with a therapist is also a well-designed feature.

Effectiveness 7/10

I’m challenged to define how effective Talkspace is because of how objective therapy is overall. However, the testimonials of Talkspace clients suggest that it’s a valuable tool for many. However, some clients still prefer face-to-face therapy. One reason this section has a lower score is that each live session is limited to 30 minutes, leaving little time for clients to make a significant impact.

Price 6/10

Although Talkspace is generally much cheaper than traditional therapy, it is still costly. There are cheaper rates available, but many people still cannot afford these services. Equally, the lack of a free trial drags this grade down further.

Brand reputation 9/10

It’s been clear from the start what the mission statement is behind Talkspace. Its founders wanted to make therapy more affordable and accessible. Eliminating the stigma around therapy is crucial, and so Talkspace gets a high mark here.

FAQs

Final Verdict: Is Talkspace Online Therapy for You?

It’s challenging to say whether or not Talkspace services are right for everyone. However, the range of services it provides offers some hope that it can help many clients with a host of mental health problems.

It faces similar issues to other online mental health providers, like lacking free trials, but it also offers robust services from qualified professionals.

If you have the time and resources to try Talkspace, you may find that it significantly helps your mental state. Ultimately, I think it’s worth trying, especially if you’re unsure about traditional therapy methods or prefer to receive care from home.