Talkspace Review Summary
Summary
Overall, customers have positive reviews of Talkspace. Most found the therapy they received useful. A benefit of the company is that it takes insurances in certain cases, reducing the cost to $0. However, some reviewers report technical difficulties or issues with their assigned therapists.
7 Facts about our Talkspace Review
- Location: New York, New York
- Services: Various online therapy options, including those for individuals, couples, and teens. It also offers psychiatric services
- Cost: $0-$69 weekly
- Technology: An online platform where users communicate with licensed therapists through live sessions and ongoing messaging
- Counseling available: Yes
- How to order: Users check their insurance coverage, get matched with a therapist, and then beginning their therapy through live sessions, messaging, or both
- Other Products: Nebula Genomics offers 30X Whole Genome Sequencing that decodes 100% of your DNA and gives reports on diet and much more!
This review is written with the intent to be as unbiased as possible. However, it represents the opinion of an individual reviewer and is therefore subjective. Furthermore, at Nebula Genomics we seek to educate the public about the benefits of Whole Genome Sequencing. Information about our Whole Genome Sequencing DNA test is therefore incorporated into the review.
January 17, 2024
Table of contents
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Therapy available in all 50 states
- Individual, Couples, and Teen (13+) therapy available
- Psychiatric services with medication management available
- Accepts insurance
Cons
- Some customers report insurance, technical, and therapist communication issues
- Not available internationally
- Exact monthly cost depends on location
- Therapy and psychiatry are separate services
Introduction
Talkspace provides online therapy, providing affordable, effective, and convenient mental health services tailored to meet the diverse needs of individuals. Catering to various demographics, including couples, teens, and veterans, it crafts a safe, virtual space where conversations about mental health are normalized, confidential, and seamlessly integrated into daily life. Unlike in-person therapy, Talkspace advertises that it can provide access to therapists anytime and anywhere.
The company also offers psychiatry, a type of mental health in which a clinician can diagnose mental health disorders and provide treatment options, including medications. Patients do not need referrals to see a Talkspace psychiatrist.
Oren and Roni Frank co-founded Talkspace in 2012. It was inspired by the couple’s transformative experience with marriage counseling, which not only saved their relationship but also introduced them to the therapeutic world. Oren, with a background in the high-tech industry, and Roni, a former graphic designer, combined their diverse skill sets to create a platform that democratizes therapy, making it accessible, affordable, and applicable to modern-day living.
Their mission was clear: to provide a space where anyone, anywhere, could easily and securely connect with a Talkspace therapist. Under their leadership, Talkspace has grown exponentially, extending its reach to assist numerous individuals in navigating their mental health journeys.
Talkspace is available in all 50 states.
The Science Behind Talkspace
Talkspace operates on the foundation of traditional therapeutic methodologies adapted for a digital format. The platform leverages the science of various established psychotherapy approaches, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and others, depending on the therapist’s specialization and the client’s needs.
Numerous studies have supported online therapy’s efficacy, indicating that it can be as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy for many mental health issues. Talkspace itself partners with major research institutions to validate their service. For example, a 2020 article published in BMC Psychiatry showed that psychotherapy delivered through messaging successfully achieved remission of depression and anxiety symptoms.
Review of Talkspace Services
Talkspace provides many online therapy, medication management, and personalized treatment options. Additionally, there are sections for individuals, clinicians, and businesses.
Individuals
Individual therapy is the company’s largest service for individuals. It is online counseling with a licensed therapist that patients access on their device. Therapists have experience with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, trauma, couples therapy, and more.
Patients can access the service through the Talkspace app or a web browser and can interact with their therapist through text, audio, or live video sessions. There are certain sections of the website for special groups, specifically the LGBTQIA+ community, veterans, and teens.
Unlimited Messaging Therapy™
Talkspace users receive a free private space that they can send a message to their therapist 24/7. Then, the therapist will respond to messages throughout the day Monday-Friday. There’s no limit to how many messages a user can send and the history is stored in their space for users to review. In addition to text, users can send audio messages and video messages as well.
The App
The Talkspace app includes additional ways patients can advance their mental health. One way is through the in-app assessments and clinical progress tracking tool. Here, patients can set goals, take assessements, and track their progress. The app also includes mental health exercises and workshops. Designed for everyone, licensed therapists host workshops via Zoom to address areas like communication, empathy building, gender identity, anxiety, depression, burnout, work stress, and parenting. Participation is anonymous and the workshops are recorded for on demand use for Talkspace clients. There are over 100 workshops available online.
Other Therapy Types
Couples Therapy: Designed for partners seeking to navigate relationship challenges, this service provides professional guidance to both individuals in a relationship, helping them work through conflicts or other relational issues.
Talkspace offers relationship, marriage, and premarital counseling.
Psychiatric Services: This involves connecting individuals with a psychiatrist who can diagnose and treat mental health condition. Unlike liscened therapists, psychiatrists can prescribe medication. Talkspace diagnoses and treats:
- Stress
- Anxiety Disorder & Social Anxiety
- Depression
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Insomnia
- Panic Disorder
It prescribes SSRIs (such as Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac), SNRIs (such as Cymbalta, Effexor), Wellbutrin, Buspar, Trazodone, Abilify, Strattera, and any medication that is not a controlled substance and is deemed medically appropriate by your Talkspace psychiatric prescriber. It does not prescribe stimulants, sedatives, or controlled substances.
Patients do not need a referral to use Talkspace’s online psychiatric services.
Companies can also choose to partner with Talkspace to offer mental health services to their employees at no cost. Subscription plans for the business depend on the number of employees.
Starting a Talkspace Service
To begin the sign up process, users will first check their coverage to determine how much insurance will cover Talkspace. Then, they will answer a few questions, and an algorithm match them with potential therapists, usually within 48 hours. Users must then choose a therapist from the ones suggested. If the user finds that the match is not a good fit, they can switch therapists at any time for no additional cost.
The user and therapist will communicate with each other via text, audio, or video using Talkspace’s secure app or website. Live sessions are 45 minutes.
Review of Talkspace Cost
The cost can depend on a few factors, such as how you pay. Some employers cover Talkspace for free. Additionally, Talkspace accepts many major health insurance plans for mental health care and therapy services. If in-network, most covered members pay only a copay, typically around $30.
If you opt to pay out-of-pocket, Talkspace therapy plans begin at $69 per week. Psychiatric services cost $60-$100 per month. The platform provides therapy for individuals, couples, and teens, as well as Talkspace psychiatry services, each potentially having different pricing structures.
Review of Talkspace Privacy Policy
Talkspace’s Privacy Policy, updated on May 19, 2023, underscores a robust commitment to user privacy, detailing their practices related to the collection, utilization, sharing, and protection of personal and medical information.
The platform employs advanced data-driven tools to personalize care and enhance various aspects of service delivery, such as care continuity and outcomes metrics. The medical information provided by users and therapists is retained, with adherence to HIPAA and HITECH Act provisions for US subscribers. The policy also elaborates on the processing of personal data for various purposes, including research and service improvement, while providing users with choices regarding their information.
Other Talkspace Reviews
On its website, Talkspace claims to have more than 60,000 5-star reviews featuring numerous positive testimonials emphasizing the platform’s convenience and accessibility for therapy sessions. Users across various platforms, including the App Store and Google Play Store, have highlighted its stress-free approach to accessing mental health services. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that these reviews are hosted on its website, which may introduce a positive bias.
Talkspace has mixed reviews on Trustpilot with a rating of 2.8 stars and over 250 reviews. Users have praised its convenience, therapist matching, and accessibility, especially during the pandemic. However, criticisms have been voiced regarding therapist responsiveness, customer service, technical glitches, billing issues after being signed up for Talkspace, and the quality of therapist interactions.
Talkspace in the News
In November of 2021, founders, Roni and Oren Frank resigned, followed by the acting CEO Mark Hirschhorn. As of November 2022, Jon Cohen has been named CEO of Talkspace after becoming a publically traded company in 2021.
More recently, the company has been making partnerships aimed at increasing its reach and expanding its mental health services. For example, in 2023, Talkspace made a $26 million contract with New York City to provide free virtual mental health services to more than 400,000 teens. The program is called TeenSpace and is open to anyone between the ages of 13 and 17 in New York City.
Also in 2023, Talkspace partnered with Evernow, a digital menopause care organization. Evernow’s members will now have access to free mental health resources on Talkspace. These include self-guided therapy sessions with relevant information for those experiencing perimenopause and menopause.
Nebula Genomics
For some, Talkspace may present a better way to get therapy and psychiatric services. Mental illness is common and having more accessible treatment options may lead to better adherence and overall outcomes. Various things influence mental health and genetics is one of them as many mental health disorders run in families.
Nebula Genomics believes that the latest genetic technology offers the best advantage to users looking to improve their health. That’s why Nebula provides a comprehensive test highlighting predispositions related to diet, fitness, disease, and much more, including mental health disorders. By sequencing your genome, you can find out if you have certain variants that may predispose you. With 30x Whole-Genome Sequencing, Nebula sequences 100% of your DNA to get to the root cause of every biological inclination.
The test is incredibly accurate and includes other additions, including ancestry reporting and genome exploration tools. Regularly updated reports ensure that you will not miss the latest genetic research.
Nebula is not a diagnostic test, but the results are of the highest quality and can be used in consultation with health care professionals.
For only $299 or less, customers will get access to their entire genome, allowing them to continue to ask more questions as more research is conducted.
Did you like our Talkspace review? You can read more reviews on our blog and check out our complete guide to the best DNA test kit and other home tests.
You may also be interested in these other online therapy reviews:
- BetterHelp (various online therapy types)
- Brightside [coming soon]
- Calmerry [coming soon]
- Cerebral [coming soon]
- Pride Counseling [coming soon]
- Regain Therapy (focuses on relationships)
- Talkiatry [coming soon]
- Teen Counseling [coming soon]
