Editor's Note
In November 2023, Minded was acquired by UpLift, a company we have since reviewed.6 For more information, read our full review of UpLift, which we gave 3.5 out of 5 stars. For more options, take a look at our list of the best online psychiatry platforms.
Minded is an online psychiatry platform that specializes in women’s mental health that earned 2.5 stars overall during our independent review. It offers medication management to adults 18 years and older via live video visits. Minded costs are $149 – $249 and they are in-network with select insurance companies and available in select states.
Minded At A Glance
Cost: $149 – $249
Insurance Accepted: Yes
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Female-focused mental health care
- Men may use the service as well
- Schedule a psychiatry appointment within a few days of signing up
- Accepts some health insurance plans and has plans to expand their insurance network
Cons
- Does not offer therapy
- No option to select your own provider
- Services are only available in the following states: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia
- Does not offer any in-app features or additional resources
Detailed Review of Minded
Minded is an online psychiatry platform that offers female-centered psychiatric treatment. With Minded, medication management appointments are held through video over the Zoom app. You can also message your provider in between appointments with questions or concerns. The cost of Minded is $149-$249. Some insurance plans, like Aetna and Cigna, are accepted.
Detailed Scoring Breakdown:
Review our scoring criteria for online psychiatry platforms here.
Review our complete editorial policies here.
How to Sign Up for Minded
To sign up for an account, please visit the Minded website.
What is Minded?
Minded is an online psychiatry platform that offers female-centered psychiatric treatment. With Minded, medication management appointments are held through video over the Zoom app. You can also message your provider in between appointments with questions or concerns. The cost of Minded is $149-$249. Some insurance plans, like Aetna and Cigna, are accepted.
Minded is intended for adults ages 18 and older experiencing depression, anxiety, or insomnia. While the platform is specifically for women, men can also sign up. When you sign up with Minded, you are assigned to a psychiatric provider. Minded’s providers include psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. Once you are assigned, you can view their availability and schedule an appointment that works with your schedule. In my case, I was assigned to a nurse practitioner and was able to schedule an appointment in less than a week.
Your first appointment with your Minded provider is a 30-minute initial evaluation. During the evaluation, your provider will ask you questions about your current and past mental health, substance use, family history, and physical health. They will then provide a diagnosis and talk to you about whether you are eligible for medication. Follow-up appointments are typically held every 30 days. Weekend and evening appointments are based on provider availability.
Minded prescribes medications for anxiety, depression, and insomnia, but they do not prescribe controlled medications of any kind. In terms of medications for depression, they typically prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft (sertraline), Lexapro (escitalopram), and Paxil (paroxetine). Providers may also prescribe selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like Cymbalta (duloxetine) or mood stabilizers like Lamictal (lamotrigine).
When it comes to medications for anxiety, Minded only prescribes non-controlled options like Buspar (buspirone) and Vistaril (hydroxyzine). If your Minded provider decides to prescribe you medication, then it will be sent to your local pharmacy for you to pick up. Minded does not offer medication shipping. The cost of the medication will depend on the specific type of medication and your insurance coverage.
Unfortunately, Minded does not offer any additional features like some other mental health treatment platforms. There are no online journals, educational videos, or in-person appointments available. Those who seek out Minded do so for the ease and convenience of accessing online psychiatry.
Who Is Minded Right For?
Minded is an online psychiatry platform that treats depression, anxiety, and insomnia in adults. The company specializes in women’s mental healthcare, but men can also utilize the platform if they wish.
Anxiety, Depression, or Insomnia Treatment for Women
According to Minded, one of the perks of the company is that it offers female-centered psychiatric care. Minded’s providers have specialized training and experience in treating women with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Women who are experiencing emotional concerns related to pregnancy, postpartum, or menopause may find this service especially helpful. Even though Minded specializes in women’s care, men can also sign up for Minded.
Adults Seeking Medication Management in Select States
Minded serves a very specific group of people and at this time is available to adults ages 18 and older residing in California, Florida, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Because of the laws regarding telehealth, you must reside in one of these states in order to meet with a Minded provider. If you are traveling and will not be in one of these states, you cannot schedule an appointment.
Minded Membership: Detailed Review
Minded offers access to female-centered psychiatric treatment online. The company offers treatment for mental health issues that women face throughout their lifespan, including stressors related to menstruation, infertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting. Minded costs $249 for an initial evaluation and $149 for follow-up appointments. Minded does accept insurance from select companies, so actual costs may be lower depending on your coverage.
Minded serves adults ages 18 and older. While Minded specializes in women’s mental health, men can also sign up for and use the platform. Initial appointments are approximately 30 minutes long and follow-up visits for medication refills are 15 minutes. Minded’s psychiatric providers consist of board-certified psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
All psychiatry appointments are held by video through Zoom. You can also communicate with your provider or customer support in-between appointments on the company’s portal. Your messages will be answered Monday-Friday, during normal working hours. When I messaged customer service, I received a response back within a few minutes. However, responses from providers may take longer.
You must attend a follow-up appointment in order to have your medication refilled. Follow-up appointments are typically scheduled every 30 days. My provider was able to schedule my follow-up during my initial visit. Medication delivery is not included with Minded and medications will be sent to your local pharmacy for convenient pick up.
Unlike some other psychiatry platforms, Minded does not have any app or offer any additional features, like mood trackers or webinars.
How Much Does Minded Cost?
Minded costs $249 for an initial appointment and $149 for follow-up appointments. All appointments are held via live video with a licensed psychiatric provider. Appointment fees do not include the cost of medication. Minded is in-network with some health insurance plans, so actual costs may be lower.
Does Minded Accept Insurance?
Yes, Minded is in-network with select insurance plans. They currently accept the following insurance plans:
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Empire Blue Cross
- Optum/United Healthcare.
Out-of-Network Benefits
Minded can assist you with using your out-of-network benefits. If you request it, they will provide you with a detailed invoice, called a superbill, that you can submit to your insurance company. Depending on your plan, you may be reimbursed for all or a portion of the costs.
How to Get Started with Try Minded
Getting prescribed medication with Minded is fairly easy and can be done through their website. The entire sign-up process takes approximately 10 minutes. To start the process of getting medication, you must go to the Minded website and complete the steps below:
- Sign up and create an account on the Minded website
- Complete the initial assessment
- Enter your insurance and billing information
- Get matched with a provider
- Schedule a video session
- Attend your initial appointment and get prescribed medication
- Medication will be sent to your local pharmacy for pick up
- Schedule follow up appointments as needed
Who Does Minded Serve?
Minded serves adults ages 18 and older. Minded offers access to female-centered psychiatric treatment online. The company offers treatment for mental health issues that women face throughout their lifespan, including stressors related to menstruation, infertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting.
User Reviews
Minded has a 3.5-star rating out of 606 reviews on Trust Pilot. Unfortunately Minded does not have an app, so there are no other reviews available. The reviews of Minded included a mixture of positive experiences with providers and negative experiences with billing, customer service, and technology.
Professional & Caring Providers
Many reviewers of Minded’s services noted that psychiatric providers were professional and caring. They felt that their providers listened attentively, provided good feedback, and offered helpful recommendations for medication. This was consistent with my experience of the platform.
My assigned provider was professional and kind. She talked to me about the different medication options available and asked for my opinion. It felt collaborative and there was no pressure to take medication. Overall, my experience was consistent with these positive reviews.
Technical & Billing Issues
Negative reviews were centered around technical and billing issues. Reviewers described problems logging in, incorrect charges to their account, and last-minute appointment cancellations by the platform or provider. Minded’s team responded to most reviews on Trust Pilot with an apology and explanation. Personally, I did not encounter any of these problems.
Compared to its competitors, Minded is a bit more costly and serves a much smaller portion of the United States. It also shares some similarities to its competitors in terms of the mental health conditions and age ranges it serves. Cerebral is an online mental health treatment platform and, like Minded, serves adults over age 18. Unlike Minded, Cerebral is available in all 50 states and offers both therapy and medication management. Cerebral also offers a wider variety of mental health treatments, including ADHD and PTSD. Cerebral is a subscription-based service, which means you pay a monthly fee when you sign up. It costs between $95 – $365 monthly. If Cerebral is in-network with your insurance company, the plans will cost ~$30 monthly. Minded was also previously a subscription-based service, but recently transitioned to charging a flat fee for each appointment. Overall, Cerebral is a better option for anyone seeking therapy and medication together. It is also a good option for those experiencing mental health conditions other than anxiety and depression or living in areas not served by Minded. To learn even more about how their platform works, you can read our comprehensive review of Cerebral. Hims and Hers are two online mental health platforms that specialize in treating men’s and women’s issues, respectively. Like Minded, Hims and Hers serves adults over age 18 experiencing anxiety and depression. However, Hims and Hers is available in all 50 states and also offers therapy in addition to medication management. A key difference with Hims and Hers is that they only offer text-based psychiatry appointments. With Hims and Hers, there are no live, face-to-face appointments with a provider. A provider simply reviews your assessment and messages you with a recommendation and your medication is shipped directly to you. This approach is vastly different from Minded, where you are required to attend a live video session. While Hims and Hers are more affordable, they also do not accept insurance or assist with out-of-network billing. If you are brand new to psychiatry and are seeking medication management, we highly recommend you do not choose these text-based platforms to start out with. For more information on how text-based psychiatry works, you can read our in-depth review of Hims or our review of Hers.Alternatives & Competitors
Best for Insurance - Cerebral
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Best for Quick Refills - Hims & Hers
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Why You Can Trust My Review
“I specialize in perinatal and postpartum mood disorders, grief counseling for individuals who have suffered miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, as well as infertility support and therapy for new parents and seasoned parents. I have written for Choosing Therapy since 2020, and in the summer of 2022, began reviewing online therapy and psychiatry platforms. During my independent review, the company earned 2.5 out of 5 stars overall, performing best in the categories of Online Psychiatry Cost, Insurance & Out-of-Network Benefits, and Customer Service. However, the company underperformed in the categories of Psychiatric Appointment Features and Crisis Management & Patient Safety compared to its competitors.”
History & News About Minded
- Year Founded: 2020
- Founder/s: Chris Dennis, David Ronick, and Gaspard de Dreuzy
- Parent Company/Owner: In November 2023, Minded was acquired by UpLift
Minded was founded in January, 2020 by Chris Dennis, David Ronick, and Gaspard de Dreuzy. The company’s founders were frustrated with the challenges they faced in getting their medications refilled. Minded grew out of this frustration. Initially Minded was launched in New York, but has since expanded to cover additional states.1, 2
According to their website, Minded values compassion, patient-focused care, and women’s empowerment.2 Since its founding, Minded has grown from serving one state to now serving eight states. In 2022, Minded raised $25 million in seed funding.3 Its business approach has also evolved and in April of 2023, Minded transitioned from being a subscription-based service to a fee-for-service model. The company has also started accepting health insurance and has plans to continue to grow by expanding its reach to more states.
In November 2023, Minded was acquired by online therapy and psychiatry company UpLift.6
Frequently Asked Questions
What Credentials Do Minded Providers Hold?
Minded’s treatment team consists of board-certified psychiatrists and licensed psychiatric nurse practitioners. The care team also consists of registered nurses (RNs) who respond to patient questions, but do not prescribe medication. All providers are licensed in the state(s) that they practice. Minded’s providers also have experience and training in treating women’s mental health issues.
How Am I Matched With a Provider on Minded?
Minded matches you with one of their licensed psychiatric providers in your state. There is no option to select your own provider.
Can I Choose a New Provider?
No, there is no way to choose a new provider on your own. If you would like to be assigned to a new provider, you must reach out to Minded directly by emailing [email protected] or calling 909-442-0618.
Who is Eligible for Medication?
You must be at least 18 years old to use Minded’s services.
What Medications are Available?
Minded providers can prescribe medications for depression, anxiety, and insomnia. They frequently prescribe antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and non-controlled anti-anxiety medications. Minded does not prescribe controlled medications of any kind.
Where is Medication Management Available?
Minded is only available in select states. As of 2023, you can sign up for Minded if you live in one of the following states: California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
How Do I Get My Medications?
If your provider prescribes medication, it will be sent to your local pharmacy for you to pick up. The cost of medication will vary depending on the specific medication and your insurance coverage. Minded does not offer medication delivery.
Can I use my FSA or HSA Funds?
Yes, you can use your FSA or HSA funds to pay for Minded.
How Can I Cancel My Account/Subscription with Minded?
To cancel your account with Minded, you can send a secure message through the online portal or email [email protected] with your request.
Does Minded Offer Refunds?
The first month of Minded is non-refundable. If you would like to request a refund for future months or to cancel your account, you can send a secure message or email [email protected].
Is Minded HIPAA Compliant?
Yes, Minded is secure and HIPAA compliant. You can learn more by viewing the Minded’s privacy policy and Minded’s terms and conditions.
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
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Dangor, G. (2021, March 17). This mental health startup is open 24/7 to refill your medications. Forbes. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/graisondangor/2021/03/17/this-mental-health-startup-is-open-247-to-refill-your-medications/?sh=25f41ea61262
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Minded. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved from: https://www.tryminded.com/about-us
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Malik, A. (2022, February 22). Minded, a telehealth platform specializing in managing mental health medication, raises $25M. TechCrunch. Retrieved from: https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/22/minded-a-telehealth-platform-specializing-in-managing-mental-health-medication-raises-25m/
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National Institute of Mental Health. (2023, April). Anxiety disorders. Retrieved from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders
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National Institute of Mental Health. (2023, April). Depression. Retrieved from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression
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Lovett, L. (2023, November 15). Virtual behavioral health provider UpLift acquires Minded. Behavioral Health Business. Retrieved from: https://bhbusiness.com/2023/11/15/virtual-behavioral-health-provider-uplift-health-acquires-minded/
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Lieberman, A. (Oct. 2, 2023) “UpLift Therapy Review 2024: Pros & Cons, Cost, & My Experience.“ https://www.choosingtherapy.com/uplift-therapy-review/
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
Author: Emily Guarnotta, PsyD (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated Editor’s Note about Minded being acquired by UpLift, linking to our review. Added entry to “History & News” section about this acquisition, as well as a source that links to the UpLift review.
Author: Emily Guarnotta, PsyD (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added Editor’s Note about Minded being acquired by UpLift. Added entry to “History & News” section about this acquisition.
Author: Emily Guarnotta, PsyD
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD
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