Online text therapy

Text-based therapy is online therapy that enables you to message your therapist at any time, from any place, on any device with a mobile connection. You can message your therapist in a secure, private space 24/7 right when you have something you want to get out, and your therapist will reply within 24 hours, 5 days a week. 

With online text therapy at Talkspace, you are messaging with a real licensed therapist and not an AI tool. AI mental health apps or guides can be helpful supplemental tools in some cases, but they’re not a replacement for therapy with a human, licensed therapist with years of clinical experience.

Unlike traditional therapy, text-based therapy gives you the freedom to have your therapeutic discussion throughout the day or week without needing to wait until you can book an appointment to be in the same physical location as your therapist. You’ll simply login to an app and send messages to your therapist, who will see them and respond throughout the day. If you prefer another medium over texting, you can send messages via audio and video messaging. Similar to traditional therapy, your counselor will get to know you, dig into what inspired you to seek counseling, and work with you to help you set & meet goals. From there, you’ll have regular check-ins and work with your therapist on anything new you’d like to focus on.

Online therapy is proven to be as effective, if not more effective than face-to-face therapy, with important benefits that bring the experience into the modern era. A study conducted by Talkspace & the Journal of Telemedicine and e-Health showed text-based therapy through Talkspace to be highly effective and comparable to traditional therapy. When compared with traditional therapy, Talkspace also generated greater satisfaction in terms of its delivery, its accessibility, and affordability. Learn more from studies on how Talkspace improves mental health.

Text-based therapy gives you the freedom to have your therapeutic discussion throughout the day or week. No limits, and no waiting for weeks to address an issue, as you would when something came up between traditional sessions. Your therapist is always quick to respond, and text lets you cut straight to the point. For the socially anxious, it can be an especially convenient way to get mental health support because you don’t face anxiety-inducing face-to-face conversations.

Text therapy is also cost effective – in many cases online therapy costs less than the insurance co-pay for a weekly session of traditional therapy.

At Talkspace, online therapy is covered by insurance. We partner with health plans across the United States to make text therapy affordable and accessible. Currently, we accept insurance from Premera, Cigna, Optum, Gatorcare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and more.

If you are not covered by insurance, know that Talkspace is more affordable than most co-pays for in-person “traditional therapy.” Unlimited messaging therapy at Talkspace is $69 per week through out-of-pocket pricing.

You can also pay for text therapy with an FSA/HSA card or look for coverage options offered through employers, educational institutions, and other large member organizations. Talkspace also offers an affordable therapy app that allows individuals to access online therapy on-the-go and at their own pace. It’s a flexible way to complete a clinically-supported program designed to help participants prioritize their mental well-being, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Yes, online text therapy can be covered by insurance like other telehealth options. Talkspace online therapy is covered by many major insurance plans, and most insured members have a $0 copay. 

Learn more about insurance coverage and whether your health insurance plan covers online text therapy from Talkspace.

Online text therapy at Talkspace isn’t live texting; it is asynchronous, which means you can send text, voice, or video messages whenever you want and your therapist will message you back as soon as they can. This is typically within 24 hours, 5 days a week. Make sure to discuss expectations with your therapist when your first start online text therapy so both you and your therapist know the best cadence to communicate together.

Yes, online text therapy through Talkspace is private and secure. The only one who has access to your messages is yourself and your therapist. All data on our servers and communication between software and the servers is encrypted. Talkspace is fully compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and uses a variety of techniques to protect your data and ensure privacy, alongside annual third party assessments of these controls. 

Talkspace will not share or disclose your personal information to anyone, including your organization and other 3rd parties if you sign up through them. However, we do require every member to submit emergency contact information, which is only utilized according to safety and reporting mandates.

Yes, you can use both online text therapy and live video sessions at Talkspace. You can select from plans that include messaging only, messaging and live sessions, or messaging, live sessions and workshops. With messaging and live online therapy sessions, you can send unlimited messages between sessions, with up to 4 live sessions per month. Learn more about out-of-pocket pricing options.