We Tested Over 50 Online Therapy Companies — These Are The 9 Therapists Recommend

After thousands of hours of research, a survey of 1,500 users, and personally testing over 50 platforms with the help of eight licensed therapists and dozens of expert mental health journalists, these are the 9 online therapy companies we recommend.

With the rise of virtual therapy, you no longer have to travel to a therapist’s office to prioritize your mental health: You can meet with your therapist from anywhere as long as you have internet access. This means that therapy is now available to more people than ever, including those who work unconventional hours, don’t have access to reliable transportation, and even people who live in areas with few local therapy practices nearby. Online therapy is also sometimes more affordable, depending on your chosen service and your health insurance. And let’s face it, it’s also “just easier than in-person care for many people,” says Nora Feldpausch, MD, a psychiatrist in Colorado and the medical director of Mantra Health.

But not all online therapy services are created equal, and some might be better for your needs than others. Some accept insurance, while others offer payment plans or sliding-scale fees. Others are specialized, focusing on pediatric or LGBTQ+ affirming care, psychiatry, or conditions like OCD and ADHD. To help you find the providers in the country, we surveyed 1,500 current and former therapy users, consulted with six therapists and psychiatrists, and tested out several services ourselves. Here are the ones we liked the best.

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The 9 Expert-Approved Online Therapy Services We Tested

  • Best for anxiety and depression: Brightside
  • Best for talk therapy: BetterHelp
  • Best with insurance: Talkspace
  • Best for psychiatry: Talkiatry
  • Best for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Online-Therapy.com
  • Most affordable: Calmerry
  • Best for teens: Teen Counseling
  • Best for couples therapy: ReGain
  • Best therapist directory for LGBTQ+ BIPOC:?National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN)
Brightside transparent logo

Best for Anxiety and Depression

Brightside

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Use Brightside promo code “EDH60” for $60 off your first month of cash plans.
EDH60

Pros

  • Offers talk therapy and psychiatry
  • Specializes in treating anxiety and depression
  • Provider matches occur within one business day
  • Accepts insurance
  • All medications ship to your home for free

Cons

  • Psychiatry subscription fee doesn’t include medication costs
  • No phone or chat-based therapy sessions
  • Session types: Video; unlimited messaging between sessions
  • Price: $95 per month for psychiatry; $299 for therapy; $349 for therapy plus psychiatry
  • Accepts insurance: Yes
Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health conditions in the United States, and Brightside just so happens to specialize in both.

By offering three different plans — talk therapy, psychiatry, or therapy and psychiatry together — it ensures that you can get the level of care you need according to the severity of your symptoms.

When you sign up, you’ll be matched with a provider depending on where you live and how well the provider’s availability matches your schedule. You’ll receive your match within one business day, but if you don’t like the therapist or psychiatrist you are matched with, we found out during our testing that you can easily switch at any time by contacting customer service. We also appreciated that all providers are either licensed therapists with at least a master’s degree, or board-certified psychiatrists, physicians or psychiatric nurse practitioners, making us feel confident that we were receiving quality mental health services.

All talk therapy sessions are 45 minutes, which is standard. Psychiatry plans include one 30-minute consultation, a clinical assessment, and follow-ups as needed once you receive your prescription, which ships for free. In between sessions, you’ll also be able to track your symptoms in your patient dashboard. Best of all, Brightside does accept many insurance plans, allowing you to save on out-of-pocket costs.

Of the Brightside users we surveyed, 63 percent were satisfied or mostly satisfied with their experience.

For more information about Brightside, check out our review.

Best for Talk Therapy

BetterHelp

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Use BetterHelp promo code “EVERYDAYHEALTH” for 20 percent off your first month.
EVERYDAYHEALTH

Pros

  • One all-inclusive therapy subscription
  • Includes unlimited messaging with your therapist
  • Optional weekly group sessions
  • Financial assistance available
  • Available in all 50 states and internationally

Cons

  • No medication management or psychiatry
  • Insurance is not accepted
  • Subscription prices vary depending on where you live
  • Session types: Video, phone, chat; unlimited asynchronous messaging
  • Price: Prices vary by location and therapist but start at $65 per week
  • Accepts insurance: No

When you’re new to therapy,?the search for a therapist that suits your needs can be overwhelming, but BetterHelp aims to make things a little easier, especially for therapy newbies. The single all-inclusive plan guarantees you four weekly sessions with your therapist, unlimited asynchronous messaging with your therapist between sessions, and optional group therapy sessions.

Plus, BetterHelp saves you the hassle of having to read through a lot of therapist profiles to find the right practitioner: All you have to do is fill out the intake questionnaire and it will match you to a therapist licensed in your state that matches your preferences, values, schedule, and needs. Better yet, this matching usually takes only a few hours; when we tried it, it took us just two hours to get our match.

If you don’t like the therapist BetterHelp recommends, it’s no sweat to change. In fact, it’s incredibly common to do so: 77 percent of the users switched therapists, with one person saying they switched four times.

When we tried the service, we were particularly impressed with the group sessions. There were groups covering a wide range of issues, from art therapy to exploring neurodivergence. It also appears we weren’t the only ones that enjoyed these sessions: 94 percent of the users we surveyed said they attended at least once a month.

Overall, 80 percent of the users we surveyed reported a mostly positive or positive customer service experience with BetterHelp, and 74 percent resolved customer service issues within a business day.

For more information about BetterHelp, check out our full review.

Talkspace

Best With Insurance

Talkspace

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Use Talkspace promo code “EVERYDAY85” for $85 off your first month.
EVERYDAY85

Pros

  • Accepts insurance
  • Multiple therapy plans allow for flexibility
  • Psychiatry offered as add-on service
  • Couples and teen therapy plans available
  • Affordable messaging-only therapy plan available

Cons

  • Therapy sessions capped at only 30 minutes
  • Psychiatric appointments are pricey without insurance
  • Session types: Video, phone, chat; unlimited messaging between sessions; live workshops
  • Price: Prices vary by plan and where you live but start at $69 per week for the messaging-only plan and $109 per week for the video sessions, messaging, and workshop plan. Psychiatry is billed as an add-on service at $299 initial visit and $175 for follow-ups.
  • Accepts insurance: Yes
If you have health insurance, mental health treatment is considered “an essential health benefit,” which means you can use your insurance benefits to lower your out-of-pocket costs for therapy or psychiatry if you sign up for a company like Talkspace that accepts insurance.

And that’s what made this service stand out to us the most: Not only are its therapy subscription plans more affordable than most in-person therapy sessions, but if you have health insurance, you can reduce your cost even more to a simple copay or co-insurance payment. That’s likely why 60 percent of the Talkspace users we surveyed told us they used their insurance to pay for their therapy.

We also appreciate that Talkspace offers a wide variety of mental health plans so you can find the right one for your needs and schedule. All plans include unlimited asynchronous messaging with your therapist, and you’re guaranteed at least two responses a day, five days a week. But if you want more, such as video sessions, you can sign up for a variety of different plans, with the most expensive plan also including live educational workshops. You can also sign up for couples therapy and teen therapy or add on psychiatry appointments to get a prescription for a mental health medication. In addition, when we surveyed therapy users at Talkspace, 70 percent of respondents indicated that customer service resolved any issues they had within one business day or sooner.

For more about Talkspace, check out our review.

Talkiatrry transparent logo

Best for Psychiatry

Talkiatry

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Pros

  • Treatment available for adults and children
  • Can prescribe some controlled substances if needed
  • In-depth initial consultation included
  • Accepts insurance
  • All sessions with board-certified psychiatrists
  • Medication sent to a pharmacy near you

Cons

  • Insurance required; no self-pay option
  • Talk therapy available by referral only
  • Not suitable for substance use disorders
  • Session types: Video; unlimited messaging between sessions
  • Price and payment options: Varies depending on your insurance plan
  • Accepts insurance: Yes

Our experience: Our tester appreciated Talkiatry’s one-hour initial consultation, which is longer than the intake appointment on other platforms. They were also impressed by the range of specialists available for LGBTQ+ needs, children, and perinatal mental health. On the downside, you can’t choose your own provider and have to contact customer service to switch providers.

Psychiatrists are significantly less likely than other types of specialist physicians in the United States to accept insurance, which is why a service like Talkiatry stands out so much.

All its psychiatrists accept insurance if you’re admitted as a patient at this online therapy service, which makes psychiatric care significantly more affordable and accessible to most people. Talkiatry works with psychiatrists that are in-network with most major insurance providers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Cigna, Humana, and Medicare.

Talkiatry also stood out to us because it treats children ages 5 and up — and it was the only one to do so of all the online therapy services we reviewed.

When you sign up for Talkiatry, you will fill out an intake questionnaire that will help match you with three available providers, but which one you decide to work with is up to you. Then, you will receive a one-hour consultation with your chosen provider so that they can diagnose you and prescribe you medication, if they deem you to be a good fit. On occasion, as happened with one of our testers, they may schedule a follow-up before you receive a prescription too if necessary. We appreciated this thoroughness in the company’s prescribing practices, especially since this company can prescribe some controlled substances.

online therapy com logo

Best for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Online-Therapy.com

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Pros

  • Every counselor has CBT training
  • You can choose your therapist
  • Offers individual and couples therapy
  • Therapists respond to messages within 24 hours on weekdays
  • Comes with self-help worksheets, journaling, and yoga videos

Cons

  • No psychiatry offered
  • Does not accept insurance
  • Session types: Video, phone, chat; unlimited messaging between sessions
  • Price: Three subscription levels: Basic provides unlimited messaging with a therapist and self-guided CBT program for $50 per week, Standard includes one 45-minute live therapy session a week for $80 per week, Premium includes two 45-minute live sessions a week for $110 per week; Couples therapy includes one 45-minute live session a week for $110 per week
  • Accepts insurance: No

Our experience: Our Online-Therapy.com tester found the platform easy to use and appreciated the ability to choose their therapist. Their therapist set them up with worksheets that took about 20 minutes to complete and would respond to or comment on them within a day.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a widely used type of psychological treatment to help people experiencing conditions such as anxiety, depression, anger issues, relationship issues, or stress, which is why an online therapy service that specializes in this treatment method caught our eye.

It offers CBT-focused individual or couples therapy — and it allows you to get started right from the moment you sign up and pick your therapist.

You’ll be able to choose from a variety of subscription plans at Online-Therapy.com and, in addition to your sessions, you’ll be able to message your therapist between sessions and access a variety of self-help tools, including worksheets, journaling prompts, and yoga instruction videos.

Of the 185 Online-Therapy.com users we surveyed, 83 percent reported a mostly positive or positive overall experience with the platform. It is worth noting that Online-Therapy.com operates in just?40 states.

For more information, check out our full Online-Therapy.com review.

Calmerry transparent logo

Most Affordable

Calmerry

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Use Calmerry promo code “HEALTH25” for 25 percent off your first month.
HEALTH25

Pros

  • Affordable out-of-pocket subscription plan
  • Get matched with a therapist in just a few hours

Cons

  • Therapists can’t make diagnoses or write prescriptions
  • Phone therapy sessions not available
  • You can’t pause subscriptions
  • Session types: Video; unlimited messaging
  • Price: $50 to $90 per week
  • Accepts insurance: No

Our experience: Our tester appreciated the platform’s easy therapist matching and shorter 30-minute sessions. They enjoyed special features like the therapy plan and mood journal. Unfortunately, they also experienced mid-session disconnections and buttons that didn’t work until refreshing the page.

If you’re looking for affordable online therapy and prefer writing versus speaking directly with a therapist, Calmerry might be the best online therapy provider for you. Calmerry offers unlimited asynchronous messaging with a therapist for $50 per week. Therapists reply to messages once or twice per day on weekdays. There’s an option to add a 30-minute video therapy session monthly or weekly for $75 or $90 per week, respectively.

As with other companies on our list, if your assigned therapist isn’t the best fit, you can request to change counselors. Several users we spoke to reported good experiences with switching therapists. It’s worth noting though that while you can change plans or cancel service, you can’t pause your subscription. You might be assigned a different counselor if you cancel and rejoin later.

When we tested the service, one of the things we particularly liked was that the therapy plan is that you get access to a handy mood channel. When we surveyed Calmerry users, we also found that most had an overall positive experience with the platform.

For more info, head over to our Calmerry review.

Teen Counseling transparent logo

Best for Teens

Teen Counseling

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Pros

  • Parents and teens can contact therapist independently
  • Sessions can occur via video call, phone, or live chat
  • Asynchronous messaging with therapist available
  • Financial-hardship discounts available

Cons

  • Insurance not accepted
  • App can be glitchy at times
  • Session types: Video, phone, chat; unlimited messaging between sessions
  • Price: $60 to $90 per week
  • Accepts insurance: No

If you’re looking for therapy for your teen, we recommend Teen Counseling. Because it is owned by BetterHelp, it has many of the same advantages as its parent company: unlimited asynchronous messaging, therapy sessions that can be conducted by phone, video call, or live chat, and a convenient app. But this platform is specifically aimed at helping teens and their parents access convenient mental health care. All therapists specialize in common adolescent issues, such as coping skills, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, depression, bullying, anger, and eating disorders.

Like with its parent company, the therapist-matching process typically takes one to three days. Once the parent approves a counselor, the teen starts one-on-one sessions (or you can request two sessions with your teen). In addition, parents get their own messaging room to communicate with the therapist.

For more, read our full Teen Counseling review.

Regain transparent logo

Best for Couples Therapy

ReGain Counseling

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Use ReGain promo code “EVERYDAYHEALTH-RG” for 20 percent off your first month.
everydayhealth-rg

Pros

  • Therapy designed specifically for couples
  • Can request an LGBTQ+ therapist
  • Inclusive intake form with expansive options for gender and sexual identity
  • May be more affordable than in-person couples therapy
  • Income-based financial assistance available

Cons

  • Insurance is not accepted
  • Has some negative customer reviews
  • Our testers had trouble matching with suitable counselors
  • Session types: Video, phone, live chat; unlimited messaging between sessions
  • Price: $60 to $90 per week
  • Accepts insurance: No

Our experience: Our testers, a couple, said they liked that ReGain offered a wide variety of therapists, varying in specialty and expertise. They also appreciated that they could choose a therapist from a list. They find the interface intuitive and easy to use. Unfortunately, they struggled to find a therapist with enough availability to accommodate their schedules.

Also owned by BetterHelp, ReGain specializes in couples therapy. When you sign up, it matches you and your partner with a therapist within three days, though you can of course change at any time. When we tried it, we found there to be a wide variety of therapists with different expertise, though we had to switch a few times until we found a therapist with enough availability to accommodate and the app and website were both really easy to use.

Both you and your partner will be able to message your therapist asynchronously in between sessions (you get four a month), but bear in mind that you share a chat room so you can both see the messages sent. You can also join your weekly video sessions from separate locations if you need to, which is a great feature for long distance couples.

Bear in mind, however, that ReGain doesn’t accept insurance, though this is not unusual for couples therapy in general. Most insurance won’t pay for it. Of the 37 ReGain users we surveyed, 70 percent reported their overall experience as mostly positive or positive.

For more about ReGain, check out our full review.

Best Therapist Directory for LGBTQ+ BIPOC

National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN)

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Pros

  • All therapists are LGBTQ+ affirming
  • You can choose your own therapist
  • Sliding-scale payment available with some therapists
  • Insurance accepted by some therapists
  • Financial aid funds available

Cons

  • Therapists not available in all states
  • Few search filter options
  • No built-in therapy app or platform
  • Session type: Varies by provider
  • Price: Varies by provider
  • Accepts insurance: Varies by provider

Seeking therapy as a queer person of color can be daunting, because not all therapists are LGBTQ+-affirming. The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN)?can help. It’s a directory that includes over 300 independent online therapists in 30 states. The types of therapy, specialties, and fees vary based on your location, the therapist, and whether they accept insurance.

Each therapist’s profile includes their contact info, areas of expertise, credentials, average cost per session, therapeutic approach, payment methods, and insurance accepted, as well as personal details like their gender identity, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic background, and pronouns. You can message most providers directly from their profiles to book your sessions. Some states have only a few providers accepting new patients, while others have a lot of availability.

NQTTCN also manages a mental health fund that offers financial support to queer and trans Black, Indigenous, and people of color (QTBIPOC) who couldn’t otherwise afford to access mental health services. The fund covers up to eight sessions with a licensed or pre-licensed psychotherapist. Assistance is by application, and applications may close once funding runs out for the year.

Compare Online Therapy Providers

Provider
Best for
Cost
Session Types
Best for talk therapy
Prices vary and start at $65/week
Video, phone, text, and unlimited messaging
Calmerry transparent logo
Most affordable
$50–$90/week
Unlimited messaging
online therapy com logo
Best for cognitive behavioral therapy
$50–$110/week
Video, phone, text, and unlimited messaging
Talkspace
Best with insurance
$69–$109/week for therapy, $299 for initial psychiatry appointment and $175 for each follow-up
Video, phone, and text sessions, unlimited messaging, live workshops
Brightside transparent logo
Best for anxiety and depression
$75–$88/week; $95/month plus $15 per medication for psychiatry plan only
Video and unlimited messaging
Talkiatry transparent logo
Best for psychiatry
$30 average copay per session, varies by insurance
Video plus unlimited messaging
Teen Counseling transparent logo
Best for teens
$60–$90/week
Video, phone, text, and unlimited messaging
Regain transparent logo
Best for couples therapy
$60–$90/week
Unlimited messaging
Best therapist directory for LGBTQ+ BIPOC
Varies by provider
Varies by provider

How We Tested Online Therapy Companies

Our team extensively scrutinizes online therapy platforms to ensure we only recommend those we believe will provide quality services to our readers. According to our June 2023 survey, trust is the second most crucial factor behind affordability when choosing an online therapy platform. We tested eight online therapy platforms, conducted in-depth interviews with focus groups, and surveyed 1,500 users. We also consulted independent mental health professionals to better understand why people seek out online therapy.

We used our collected data to develop a scorecard to evaluate the platforms we tested ourselves. We choose our top picks based on the service’s overall quality, customer service, cost, accessibility and user-friendliness, therapist matching process, insurance acceptance, conditions treated, therapeutic modalities, therapist credentials, and medication management. We selected the best platforms to meet various mental health needs, preferences, identities, cultural backgrounds, and budgets. Read more about how we researched and tested online therapy platforms in our online therapy review methodology.

What to Look for When Signing Up for Online Therapy

When choosing which online therapy subscription is right for you, consider these elements:

  • Your budget and insurance coverage: Therapy subscription plans range from $50 to over $100 a week, depending on the service and how you want to communicate with your therapist. If you can’t afford these costs, inquire about financial aid at your platform of choice. If you plan to use insurance, ensure the service you choose is in-network and ask your insurance company what’s required for the service to be covered (often, a diagnosis is needed).
  • Your preferred session type and therapeutic modality: Be sure the service you choose has the kind of sessions you prefer, such as video or phone, and that its treatment approach, like CBT or psychoanalysis, aligns with yours.
  • Your treatment needs: If you’re looking for an official diagnosis, look for a service that asserts it can provide one. If you have been previously diagnosed, look for a service that lists your condition as one it can treat.
  • Your potential medication needs: If you need medication or want to explore mental health medication options, look for platforms offering medication management services.
  • Your space: You’ll need a quiet, private space for online therapy sessions. If you’re struggling to find one, consider a service that offers live chat therapy sessions. One focus group participant told us, “Being able to have a full-text session for an hour was better than trying to discuss sensitive topics where I could be overheard by my family.”

Should I Sign Up for Psychiatry or Therapy?

If you are only interested in talk therapy, look for an online therapy service that employs professionals such as psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), or licensed professional counselors (LPC). These providers can offer counseling services but cannot prescribe medications. (In certain states, psychologists may be able to prescribe medications.)

The providers who can diagnose and prescribe medication are board-certified psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, general practitioners, and physician assistants. Look for a psychiatry service or a platform that offers both medication management and therapy services if:

  • You already take medication for a mental health condition but are interested in switching to an online provider
  • You do not have a prior diagnosis but are interested in trying out mental health medication

Am I a Good Candidate for Online Therapy?

Online therapy has proven effective in treating many mental health conditions, such as anxiety and panic disorders, depression, traumatic stress disorders, and grief, as well as relationship and family issues. It can work well for some substance use and eating disorders, though these conditions are often best served by specialized platforms with programs specifically tailored to their needs. Online availability makes therapy more accessible and convenient by widening the net of providers you can visit and removing barriers such as driving to a therapist’s office or needing childcare (though depending on the length of your appointment and the age of your children, you may still want a babysitter during your online session).

Online therapy is not appropriate for all mental health situations. According to an article published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, people with severe mental disorders, those who are highly dysfunctional, and those who pose a threat to themselves or others should seek in-person treatment. In addition, some instances of substance use disorder do better with in-person treatment. Those experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm should seek emergency healthcare services.

Is Online Therapy Confidential?

Patient confidentiality is vital to building trust in therapy. Your therapist will not share what you discuss outside of your sessions unless they determine you are a threat to yourself or others or they find evidence of abuse or neglect of a minor or elderly or disabled person. Other providers on the platform may view text chats or messages to your therapist, but the service should always let you know beforehand.

Online therapy platforms gather data from all website visitors and collect and store patient health information. Be sure you understand a company’s privacy policies before signing up, including whether it shares any data with third parties and what kind of data. Look for companies with clearly spelled-out privacy policies and security practices that are HIPAA-compliant and adhere to state and national privacy laws. HIPAA compliance means the platform maintains a certain security standard by using data and communication encryption protocols to protect patient health information from breaches and unauthorized access.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does online therapy usually cost?
Online therapy costs vary, with subscription-based plans available for $50 to $110 per week and per-session offerings ranging from $70 to $300 per appointment, depending on the platform, location, therapist credentials, and communication method. With insurance coverage, copays are typically between $0 to $50 per session. In our survey of 1,000 online therapy users, 44 percent of respondents paid between $100 and $200 a month.?
Is online therapy effective?

Online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy. A systematic review showed online CBT was as effective as in-person CBT in the treatment of depression, if not slightly more so. An analysis of 103 studies comparing the effectiveness of video and in-person therapy concluded: “Clinically, therapy is no less efficacious when delivered via videoconferencing than in-person, with efficacy being most pronounced in CBT for affective disorders.” The effectiveness of treatment depends on many factors, including your therapist’s expertise, whether you and your therapist are a good fit, and how invested you are in the process.

Does insurance cover online therapy?

Many online therapy platforms accept insurance, but not all. If you want to access care via your insurance, contact your insurance provider to determine the requirements for coverage. Most insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis for therapy to be covered, and some require therapists to have certain credentials. A small number of online therapy platforms accept Medicare and Medicaid. Talkspace, for instance, accepts both Medicare?and Medicaid, while Talkiatry only accepts Medicare.

How do I communicate with my online therapist?
Most online therapy platforms offer sessions via video. Many also provide phone and live chat therapy sessions, allowing you to message your therapist anytime outside of sessions. Response times will vary depending on the platform. Some platforms only allow you to message customer service agents outside of sessions with your provider.

Why Trust Everyday Health

We independently investigate and recommend products and services we believe will enrich the lives of our readers and meet their specific needs. You can trust our reviews because we do the legwork for you. Read more about why you can trust us.
Our Experts

Olivia Campbell

Author

Olivia Campbell is the New York Times bestselling author of?Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine?and?Sisters in Science: How Four Women Physicists Escaped Nazi Germany and Made Scientific History. She is a freelance editor at Dotdash Meredith and a freelance journalist. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, National Geographic, New York Magazine, Health, Parents, History, and The Guardian, among other outlets.

Campbell received a journalism degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's in science writing from Johns Hopkins University, where she now acts as a thesis advisor. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.

Campbell lives outside Philadelphia with her husband, three children, and two cats.

Simone Scully

Author

Simone Scully is the editorial director for service commerce and marketplace content at Everyday Health. She has nearly 15 years of experience as a professional health and science journalist, covering topics such as the psychological impacts of living with chronic conditions, nationwide gaps in menopause healthcare, grief, neonatal loss, and the latest wellness trends over her career. Her byline has been published by over 35 publications, including Healthline, Well+Good, InStyle, Psych Central, Romper, Narratively, Nautilus magazine, and more.

Before joining Everyday Health, Simone was an editorial director of health and parenting commerce and service content at Dotdash Meredith. She oversaw a team of editors and writers that published content across nine different sites, including the Verywells, Parents, Health, and Shape. Prior to this, she also worked as an editor at The Weather Channel's Weather.com, Upworthy, theSkimm, and Business Insider. A project Simone oversaw at Weather.com on the health and environmental impacts of global water shortages won several awards in 2020, including the CMA award for Best Series of Articles, an IAC award, and an Eppy award, among others.

Simone received a master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, where she focused on science and health long-form reporting and photojournalism. Her master's thesis explored the treatment of prolonged grief disorder following a miscarriage or the loss of a child. She was also awarded the John Horgan Award for Critical Science and Health Journalism at graduation.

Born in Minnesota, Simone lived 14 years in France until she graduated high school, then three years in London to get her bachelor's degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She currently lives in the Hudson Valley of New York with her husband, son, dog, and cats. When she's not working, you can find her writing fiction or plays, hiking in national parks, or tending to her garden and indoor plants.

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Seth Gillihan, PhD

Medical Reviewer
Seth Gillihan, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, who helps people find personal growth by making important changes in their thoughts and habits. His work includes books, podcasts, and one-on-one sessions. He is the the host of the Think Act Be podcast and author of multiple books on mindfulness and CBT, including Retrain Your Brain, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple, and Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

He completed a doctorate in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania where he continued as a full-time faculty member from 2008 to 2012. He has been in private practice since 2012.

Julia Childs Heyl, MSW

Tester

Julia Childs Heyl, MSW, is a California-based clinical social worker and mental health writer. Her writing often focuses on mental health disparities and uses critical race theory as her preferred theoretical framework. She has been published by Verywell Mind, Health, Parents, Shape, Yahoo, and more.

In her clinical work, Julia specializes in treating people of color experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma through depth therapy and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) trauma therapy. Identifying as a holistic-minded clinician, Julia views mental health as a relationship between the soul, self, and systemic structures in our lives. Her formative training includes developing mental health programming specifically for Black survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and conducting research on generational trauma within the Black community.

Amy Marschall, PsyD

Tester

Amy Marschall, PsyD, is a freelance mental health writer and a licensed clinical psychologist.

She received her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut, in 2015. She completed her pre-doctoral internship through the National Psychology Training Consortium (Central Region) and her post-doctoral residency at Family Psychological Center P.A. in Harrison, Arkansas.

Dr. Marschall has been a licensed psychologist since 2016 and currently owns a private practice,?RMH-Therapy, where she provides therapy primarily to children and adolescents and does psychological evaluations. Her clinical specializations include trauma-informed care, neurodiversity-affirming care, rural mental health, and tele–mental health. She is licensed to practice psychology in Florida, Montana, New York, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, and is in the process of registering with?PsyPact. She is also a?registered psychologist?in New Zealand and provides ADHD assessments through?ADHD Online?and therapy services through?Spring Health,?Lyra Health, and?Modern Health.

She is also the clinical director of?A Change for Better, an organization promoting affordable and accessible mental health care and resources, and the chair of the clinical committee at the?ACFB Fund, a charitable organization that funds mental health services. She is also the resident neurodiversity expert with?Grayce.

As a mental health writer, she has contributed to Parents, Health, and Spring Health, among other outlets.

In her spare time, Marschall enjoys reading, making jewelry, and spending time with her cats.

Riley Blanton, MS, LMFT

Tester

Riley Blanton, MS, LMFT, is a clinician specializing in reproductive mental health care in Wichita, Kansas, and an experienced freelance health writer. Her articles have covered topics such as mental health, pregnancy, perinatal and postpartum health, abortion care, the foster care system and adoption, women's health, and the care of children with disabilities. Her work has been published in?Health, Parents, Verywell Mind, and Verywell Health.

Riley served as the communications director for the Kansas State Chapter of Postpartum Support International, an organization that aims to promote the awareness, education, prevention, and treatment of perinatal mental health issues affecting parents, families, and caregivers and she remains a member of this organization. She is also the founder of the research-based website Postpartum Brain and a private practice, Holding New Therapy, that specializes in perinatal mental health.

She received a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from Friends University, where her thesis focused on the relationship stressors that can arise with child-bearing couples. She also received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Old Dominion University.

In her free time, Riley enjoys reading voraciously, baking with rambunctious toddlers, and writing poetry.

Erin Heger

Tester

Erin Heger is a freelance journalist with more than 10 years combined experience in health writing and healthcare advocacy. Her reporting and essays have covered mental health, wellness, fitness, nutrition, and healthcare policy. You can find her byline in The Atlantic, Business Insider, HuffPost, and many other publications.

Before freelancing full time, Erin worked in healthcare advocacy as a community organizer for a reproductive rights organization and as a health insurance navigator at a community health center.

As a writer, Erin strives to empower readers with clear, accessible information to help readers make the best choices for themselves and their families.

Outside of work, Erin enjoys reading fiction, listening to podcasts, running, and watching reality TV. She lives in Kansas City with her husband and three children.

Raki Swanson

Tester

Raki Swanson is a?Minnesota-based freelance health writer and married mother to two adult children. She has experience covering mental health, fitness, food, and lifestyle topics, as well as significant experience reviewing and testing products for the Marketplace team, including online therapy, fitness gear, and food.

She received a bachelor's degree in applied psychology from St. Cloud University in Minnesota. She has also worked as a business development manager at a Fortune 500 company in Minnesota, and spent several years living in the south of France while growing up, which inspired her love of travel and food.

When she's not writing, you can find her reading, blogging, and enjoying being an empty nester with her husband, two dogs, and tabby cat named Kevin.

Mary Dennis

Tester

Mary Dennis is a Singaporean American health and science writer based in New York. Her work has been published in the Beijinger, Nautilus, South China Morning Post, Motherly, and Verywell Mind.

Her interest in covering mental health increased after the pandemic revealed our society's increasing need for care and information about how to manage our emotional health. She is passionate about maternal mental health issues in particular, and is the founder of Postpartum Brain, a website designed to educate and encourage people to learn more about perinatal mental health issues.

Mary has a masters degree in science journalism from Columbia University.

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Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

Sources

  1. Statistics. National Institute of Mental Health.
  2. Does the Affordable Care Act cover individuals with mental health problems? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. April 20, 2023.
  3. Bishop TF et al. Acceptance of Insurance by Psychiatrists and the Implications for Access to Mental Health Care. JAMA Psychiatry. February 1, 2014.

Resources

  • What You Need to Know Before Choosing Online Therapy. American Psychological Association. 2015.
  • The Mental Health and Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
  • What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? American Psychological Association. July 2017.
  • Prescribing Controlled Substances Via Telehealth. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. January 28, 2021.
  • Fernandez E et al. Live Psychotherapy by Video Versus In-Person: A Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Its Relationship to Types and Targets of Treatment. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. November 2021.
  • Pescatello MS et al. Treatment Engagement and Effectiveness of an Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program at a University Counseling Center. Psychotherapy Research. October 2020.
  • Professional Requirements for Online Prescribing. Center for Connected Health Policy. 2022.
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 14, 2018.
  • Obtaining Informed Consent. Health Resources & Services Administration. June 2022.
  • Device Software Functions Including Mobile Medical Applications. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. August 2022.
  • Code of Ethics. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. 2023.
  • Luo C et al. A Comparison of Electronically-Delivered and Face to Face Behavioural Therapies in Depressive Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. eClinicalMedicine. July 2020.
  • Stoll J et al. Ethical Issues in Online Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry. February 2020.
  • Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology. American Psychological Association.
  • AUDIT: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: Guidelines for Use in Primary Health Care. World Health Organization. November 18, 2001.
  • Online Therapy Survey. 1,000 respondents. Conducted using Pollfish. Launched April 11, 2022.
  • Chokshi S et al. A Comparative Evaluation of Measurement-Based Psychiatric Care Delivered via Specialized Telemental Health Platform Versus Treatment as Usual: A Retrospective Analysis.?Cureus. January 2022.
  • Online Therapy Focus Group: Current Online Therapy Users. Nine Participants. Conducted Using Google Meet. January 25, 2023.
  • BetterHelp Survey. 200 Respondents. Conducted Using Pollfish. Launched January 9, 2023.
  • Talkspace Survey. 200 Respondents. Conducted Using Pollfish. Launched January 17, 2023.
  • Brightside Survey. 200 Respondents. Conducted Using Pollfish. Launched January 9, 2023.
  • Online Therapy Survey. 1,000 Respondents. Conducted Using Pollfish. Launched June 13, 2023.
  • Batastini A et al. Are Videoconferenced Mental and Behavioral Health Services Just as Good as In-person? A Meta-Analysis of a Fast-Growing Practice. Clinical Psychology Review. November 17, 2020.
  • Moeller A et al. Patients' Experiences of Home-Based Psychotherapy via Videoconference: A Qualitative Study. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. August 2022.
  • Dowling D et al. Better Than Expected: Client and Clinician Experiences of Videoconferencing Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Cambridge University Press. May 17, 2022.
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