Editorial rating:
Editor's Note
In 2023, it was announced that Sesh Groups was acquired by Caraway, an online healthcare company. Caraway now hosts the group therapy offerings that Sesh offered previously.2 For more group therapy options, visit our full list of the best online group therapy and support groups.
The Sesh app provides online support groups covering a wide range of topics, like parenting, depression, anxiety, and wellness. Sesh members can access unlimited support groups that are available multiple times a day and are led by experienced licensed therapists. The Sesh app costs $60 monthly and includes a 14-day free trial. They do not accept insurance.
Rating of the Sesh App
I have spent a considerable amount of time researching and reviewing online group therapy and support group companies to ensure consumers are finding exceptional services. In my independent review of Sesh, they scored high in Variety of Topics category due to their wide range of group discussions. However, they lost points in our Cost category for charging participants for not showing up to meetings or canceling last minute.
Pros & Cons of the Sesh App
The Sesh app provides easy access to online support groups led by licensed therapists. Membership includes a 14-day free trial and unlimited access to support group meetings called “seshs”. Unfortunately, they do not accept insurance, and you will be charged an additional $20 fee if you cancel less than six hours before a session begins.
Sesh App Key Takeaways
- The Sesh app provides access to online support groups, but this is not considered group therapy. Although, Sesh would be a great supplement to individual therapy.
- The Sesh app covers a wide range of mental health topics, like anxiety disorders, grief and loss, depression, and addiction. They also offer personal development and self-care groups, like improving communication and guided meditations.
- They offer a free “Intro to Sesh” meeting that lasts about 20-30 minutes. A Sesh team member walks you through the app and explains the support group guidelines.
- Once you register for a support group meeting, you will be charged a $20 fee for not attending or canceling within six hours of the start time.
- You can use a nickname if you’d like to remain anonymous in the support groups. However, Sesh facilitators encourage everyone to keep their cameras on and participate.
Final Verdict on the Sesh App
Sesh can be an extraordinary resource for anyone seeking convenient access to support groups. Several support groups are offered daily, and users can attend as many meetings as they wish. I had an excellent experience using the app and attending various seshs. However, the only significant downside I faced was navigating the $20 cancellation fee for canceling within a six-hour window.
You never know when your day will take a surprising turn, so I was hesitant to register too early and risk being charged the cancellation fee. Thankfully, you can sign-up for a session within an hour before it starts, so I was able to register for groups that I was confident I could attend. Overall, I highly recommend Sesh to those seeking mental health support in an online group setting.
What Is Sesh?
Sesh is an app that provides unlimited access to support groups run by licensed therapists. Sesh support groups cover a variety of topics, like depression, anxiety, chronic illness, and self-care. Sesh costs $60 monthly and offers a 14-day free trial. They do not accept insurance at this time.
Once you download the app, you’ll be asked to create an account and answer a few questions about the current state of your mental health. The questions are designed to help you gauge the level of care you might need, not to place you in a specific group. At the end of the questionnaire, Sesh provides contact information for resources that can be helpful if users decide that they’re in a critical stage and need more substantial mental health support.
Once your account is created, you’ll be taken to the “Explore” tab, which categorizes all of the upcoming support group meetings by topic. Topics include “Anxiety,” “Body Image/Self Esteem,” “Parenthood,” “Communication,” “Depression,” “Trauma,” and more. First you’ll attend the “Intro to Sesh” meeting hosted by a Sesh support team member. This introductory meeting gives users the opportunity to ask questions, exchange expectations, and discuss how the app works.
Once you feel comfortable with Sesh’s support group and guidelines and the app’s interface, you can start to reserve a spot in meetings. Registering for meetings you’re confident you can attend is important because there is a $20 cancellation fee. You’ll only be charged if you’re a no-show or if you cancel within six hours of the start of the support group meeting.
You can find all of your scheduled meetings under the “My Sessions” tab. You can attend your support group meeting by using the app or accessing your Sesh account from any web browser. You can use a nickname when attending a meeting, but facilitators will ask that you turn on your camera and participate in the discussion. After each meeting, you’ll be sent a link for you to provide feedback to the Sesh support team.
How Much Does Sesh Cost?
The Sesh app costs $60 monthly and includes a 14-day free trial.
How to Get Started with the Sesh App
To get started with the Sesh app, simply follow the steps below to attend your first online support group.
- Visit the Sesh website or download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Enter your personal information.
- Answer a few questions about the current state of your mental health.
- Click ‘Begin Free Trial.’
- Register for your “Intro to Sesh” session.
- Browse all of Sesh’s support groups’ topics and find one that interests you and fits into your schedule.
- Attend your first Sesh support group.
Sesh App Key Features
The Sesh app provides online support group meetings run by vetted licensed therapists. The meetings, also called “seshs”, cover a wide range of topics, and members can attend as many as they wish. Sesh subscriptions cost $60 monthly and include a 14-day free trial. They do not accept insurance.
Live Support Group Meetings – Seshs
The Sesh app keeps things simple and straightforward with one key feature — live support group meetings, also known as “seshs.” With my free “Intro to Sesh” meeting, I learned how to register for the seshs, guidelines for attendance, and how to make Sesh work best for my personal goals. I felt like the introductory course was a great way to set members up for success.
My Experience with the Sesh App
I attended a sesh called “Calming Your Anxiety and Worry” with three other members. I was the first to join, so I had the opportunity to have a quick one-on-one chat with the therapist. She was professional, kind, and welcoming. I thought she did a wonderful job leading the group and helping us understand how anxiety impacts the mind and body. My sesh was a perfect balance of sharing, learning, and listening to others’ experiences.
I really appreciated the way she emphasized that we live in an anxiety-inducing world, and it’s perfectly normal to feel anxious. Towards the end of the meeting, the therapist took us through a series of breathwork exercises that we can do to manage anxiety, especially during emergencies or panic attacks. She was very knowledgeable and made everyone comfortable discussing the topic. Afterward, members are given a survey for feedback. Our therapist stressed that they take feedback seriously at Sesh and encouraged all members to submit one.
Who Is the Sesh Right For?
The Sesh app is a great choice for anyone who’s looking for a support group over group therapy, a supplement to individual therapy, or courses on personal development and self-care.
You Want Support Groups, Not Group Therapy
Sesh offers unlimited access to support groups, which are different from group therapy. Group therapy is run by licensed therapists, has more structure, and typically revolves around mental health conditions. While all of Sesh’s sessions are run by licensed therapists, their support groups are more informal. In addition, support groups, like the ones offered with Sesh, are often more affordable than group therapy.
You Want to Supplement Individual Therapy
The support team member that hosted my “Intro to Sesh” meeting was very clear about Sesh not being traditional therapy but stated that members often use Sesh as a supplement to individual therapy. Sesh would be a great resource to use between therapy appointments because you’re meeting with others who share similar experiences and learning coping tools from licensed therapists, which can contribute to your overall well-being and mental health.
You’re Interested in Personal Development & Self-Care
I was happy to see a wide variety of sessions that cater to personal development and self-care, like “How to Push Past Procrastination” and “Mental Health Mornings” with guided meditations. Some therapists will include more open discussions, while others share more skill-building exercises and educational tools. If you’re interested in learning new skills and self-care techniques along with your group work, Sesh is a great choice.
Who May Want an Alternative to Sesh?
You may want an alternative to the Sesh app if you’re seeking traditional group therapy or if you’re looking for more peer-to-peer interaction. Also, anyone suffering from a mental health crisis should look to other options offering more support.
You Want Online Group Therapy
As mentioned above, group therapy differs from Sesh’s support group services. If you’re looking for more traditional group therapy in an online setting, you may want to give Grouport a try. All of their sessions are run by licensed therapists, and they encourage you to commit to a group date and time so you can build a rapport with the therapist and other members.
To learn more about this platform, check out our in-depth review of Grouport.
You’re Looking for More Peer-to-Peer Interaction
Sesh does not include any interaction with other members outside of the group sessions, so if you’re hoping to build relationships with users sharing similar experiences, you may want to try the Circles app. Circles has group message board forums and even allows members to run their own support groups.
To learn more, check out our independent review of the Circles app.
You’re Facing a Mental Health Crisis
While Sesh can supplement your overall mental health care routine, it shouldn’t be the only solution in a crisis. If you’re struggling with something more critical and you’re seeking group support, you may want to try Mindfulcare. Mindfulcare is an online platform that provides a wide range of mental health services, like addiction recovery and psychiatry, as well as a group therapy program called MindFit.
What Users Are Saying About the Sesh App
The Sesh app has 3.5 out of 5 stars from 124 reviewers in the Google Play Store and 4.7 out of 5 stars from 34 reviewers in the Apple App Store. Many positive reviews mentioned Sesh providing safe sharing spaces and being a more affordable and convenient option for therapy. However, there were a few complaints about being unfairly charged throughout the free trial period.
Provides Safe Spaces for Sharing
A few of the positive reviews included statements about feeling safe in the Sesh spaces. Some stated that they were surprised by how comfortable they felt sharing in their support groups —even in their very first seshs. Therapists create a welcoming environment and encourage members to express themselves without fear of judgment.
More Affordable & Convenient Option for Therapy
Several reviewers expressed appreciation for the convenience and affordability of Sesh. Many discussed previously paying incredibly high prices for group or individual therapy, and Sesh provided them with the support they were looking for that also matched their budget.
Billing Issues
Quite a few Android users reported being unfairly billed during their free trial period, although some appeared to be confused about how long their free trial lasted. I did not experience any billing issues when using the Sesh app, but I’m also an iPhone user.
Sesh Vs. Competitor
Sesh is just one of the many mental health tech companies offering online support groups. Below you’ll find a brief head-to-head comparison of the key features and prices of two of Sesh’s top competitors.
Sesh App Vs. Circles App
Sesh and Circles are apps that provide similar support group services. Both offer unlimited access to online support group meetings run by mental health professionals covering various topics. However, Circles has a few more extras, while Sesh is a one-feature service. Circles includes Masterclass workshops that lean more towards educational skill-building courses and community message board forums.
As you can see from our Circles app review, they allow other members to run online support group meetings, so there’s a lot more interaction between peers. In addition, online support groups with Circles are audio-only, so staying anonymous is a little easier.
Neither Sesh nor Circles take insurance because they consider themselves support groups, not group therapy. Circles subscriptions cost $29.99 monthly and include a seven-day free trial, making it significantly more affordable.
Sesh App Vs. Pace App
The Sesh and Pace apps have a lot in common. They both offer online support group experiences led by experts. However, Sesh gives you unlimited access to meetings, Pace only allows users to join up to three core groups. While Sesh and Pace have groups that offer mental health support, Pace has meetings that simply encourage members to get to know each other and from a community, like morning coffee talk groups.
Like Sesh, Pace offers new users a live orientation with a support team specialist so you can learn how to get the most out of the app. Pace costs $89 a month, does not include a free trial, and does not accept insurance. If you’re feeling lonely or isolated and looking for an app to help you socialize, Pace is a better choice.
History of Sesh
The Sesh app was founded in 2019 by Vittoria Lecomte (CEO) and Alyssa Musket. Mustket told Forbes, “In 2020, we met, set up, and started running our entire company online, launched our mobile application, hosted over 1,000 virtual support groups, and closed a $3 million seed round. We were also named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 this month in the Social Impact category.” The two women started the group because they realized how beneficial group work was in the mental health space and how unaccessible support groups often are. They wanted to create something more affordable and inclusive.1
In September 2023, it was announced that Sesh was acquired by Caraway. Caraway now hosts the group therapy options that Sesh offered previously.2
Frequently Asked Questions About the Sesh App
What’s the Difference Between Group Therapy and Support Groups?
Group therapy sessions are run by licensed mental health providers who aim to provide solutions, tools, or treatment for mental health conditions in a group setting. A support group’s goal is to provide comfort and help those experiencing similar situations learn to cope.
Can You Remain Anonymous on the Sesh App?
Yes, you can use a nickname or a different name when you register, and you don’t have to share your real name when participating in a support group. However, keep in mind that you will be on camera.
Who Are the Moderators?
The Sesh app’s moderators are all licensed mental health therapists that have experience running groups.
Is the Sesh App Legit?
Yes, I used the Sesh app and can confirm that it’s a legitimate company providing online support group services.
Does Sesh Have an Age Limit?
You must be 18 or older to use the Sesh app.
How Do I Cancel My Sesh App Subscription?
You can cancel your Sesh app subscription at any time by going to your phone’s app settings and choosing ‘Cancel Subscription.’
Does Sesh Offer Refunds?
Sesh will offer refunds in certain circumstances. Please visit Sesh’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for more information.
