Editorial rating:
Sessions Health is an electronic health records (EHR) system for therapists and mental health practitioners that allows practices to manage client caseloads, billing, scheduling, and clinical documentation. Sessions Health earned 4 out of 5 stars in our independent review. Costs start at $39 monthly.
Rating of Sessions Health’s EHR
I have spent countless hours working with all manner of EHR systems throughout my career. I have spent many hours reviewing Sessions Health and all it has to offer. It is a great EHR that would be a good fit for many practices.
Sessions Health truly excels in its relative affordability and the features that are on offer relative to the cost. It has an intuitive calendar and scheduling system, but overall, lacks some of the versatility and customization of other options. Accounting for all of these issues, Sessions Health scored 4 out of 5 stars overall in our EHR scoring criteria.
Pros & Cons of Sessions Health
Sessions Health has a clean design, which helps practices cut out administrative work. Combined with its very affordable price point, it is an alluring option for practices on a tight budget. However, it does lack some customization and can seem a bit barebones in certain areas such as its documentation features.
Resources For Your New Practice SimplePractice – EHR For Therapists has everything you need to run your practice—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing. Try SimplePractice free for up to two months!* Free Trial Grow Therapy – Easy Insurance Acceptance & Client Referrals Get paneled for free with the major payors in your state so you can also start seeing insurance clients. Don’t worry about unpaid claims! Any insurance claims that you submit are guaranteed. Schedule A Call To Learn More * Offer valid only for new clients.
Sessions Health Review – Key Takeaways
- Sessions Health is a great choice for those who want a straightforward, affordable option without a telehealth platform.
- While it isn’t as customizable as some of its competitors, Sessions Health excels in offering simple, no-fuss solutions.
- We encountered some minor technical problems with Sessions Health, but nothing detrimental.
Sessions EHR Final Verdict
Overall, I was impressed by Sessions Health. It offers a good balance of functionality and simplicity which allows common tasks in a mental health practice to be completed efficiently and easily. I encountered a handful of technical issues, but nothing debilitating. While it may not offer the same degree of customization as some of its rivals, it is a great option for a practice that needs a simple and affordable EHR solution.
You should consider signing up for Sessions Health’s free trial if you:
- Are looking for a very affordable mental health EHR
- Need a simple EHR solution
You should consider looking for an alternative to Sessions Health if you:
- Need a broad degree of customization
- Want more uncommon features like marketing assistance
- Need electronic prescription capabilities
What Is Sessions Health?
Sessions Health is an electronic health records (EHR) system that is focused on providing a simple records and practice management solution to mental or behavioral health private practices. Sessions Health allows practices to manage their client caseloads, calendar, and scheduling, as well as clinical documentation and assessment.
Sessions Health provides practices with a clean and simple layout that is easy to implement into a practice either from scratch or when migrating from another system.
Sessions Health Key Features
Sessions Health offers a wide variety of features including client caseload management, intake forms and documentation, scheduling, billing, practice management, an optional telehealth platform, and clinical documentation. A subscription starts at $39 monthly and includes all features available.
Client Management
Sessions Health offers an array of features to help you effectively keep track of the clients in your care. The interface, much like the rest of the software, is very clean, simple, and easy to use. While it may lack some of the unique charms of a digitized chart room, such as that boasted by ICANotes, Sessions Health certainly creates a useful and intuitive space for organizing client documentation. For more information on ICANotes, take a look at our ICANotes review.
Finding and organizing clients is somewhat rudimentary with Sessions, and searching for them can only be done by first or last name, rather than some other parameter. Similarly, the charts lack any kind of generated or custom identifier number. Overall, I feel like this will not prove a limitation for small practices, but practices with a large client caseload may start to struggle with organization.
The client charts themselves do not suffer from the same organizational problems. Upon opening a client chart, a clinician is greeted with all of the appropriate information that one would need, and no more. Client information and functions such as assessments, forms, notes, and so on are organized by tabs for quick access, and there is a handy sidebar for administrative info such as upcoming appointments and billing status.
Bulk client information can be migrated from an existing platform into Sessions Health, however, this must be handled by customer service. A much-appreciated feature is the ability to customize a client’s time zone rather than automatically be based on the practice’s time zone – a rarely seen benefit for telehealth practices.
Considering the lack of options for search queries, but the wealth of other functionality in this area, Sessions Health has been awarded 4 out of 5 stars in the client management category of our scoring criteria.
Client Forms & Intake
Completing a clinical intake in Sessions Health is relatively straightforward. From creating intake sessions on the calendar to performing the intake and documenting it, I encountered very few issues that hindered efficient workflow.
One area where the intake process with Sessions Health somewhat lags behind the competition is clinical assessments. Sessions Health offers a relatively hefty library of 19 different pre-generated assessments, however, they cannot be sent to clients to be completed outside of the session in the client portal. They must be completed by the clinician.
Both clinical and administrative forms are relatively easy to customize and create, although perhaps not to the extensive degree offered by other EHRs, including ICANotes or TherapyAppointment. Due to some of the drawbacks, we have awarded Sessions Health with 4 out of 5 stars in the client forms and intake category of our scoring criteria.
To get an idea of the differences between Sessions Health and some of the competition, take a look at our ICANotes review and our review of TherapyAppointment.
Calendar & Scheduling
Sessions Health boasts a robust and well-designed calendar and scheduling system. On a basic level, the calendar is very easy to read and understand. Different views can be created, color coding is customizable, and adjusting availability is swift. Dragging and dropping appointments across the calendar is supported and always a feature that I appreciate.
Recurrent appointments can be set up, there is full functionality for supporting group or family sessions, and the code type used for the session is clearly labeled. On top of all this, clients can request and book appointments themselves from within their client portal, potentially taking a load off of you or your admin staff.
Additionally, the Sessions Health calendar can sync with external calendar systems. It is capable of two-way syncing, which will allow you to sync your Google Calendar to your Sessions Health calendar and vice versa. This is a rare feature for EHRs and one that is helpful for users who prefer a particular calendar over another.
With its robust set of features and ease of use, we have awarded Sessions Health with 5 out of 5 stars in the calendar and scheduling category of our scoring criteria.
Treatment Planning & Notetaking
The design for treatment planning and notetaking within Sessions Health seems to be created around the idea of quick access and speed. Clinical notes can be documented from the appointment view of the calendar, saving clinicians the need for multiple clicks to get to documentation.
As with the rest of Sessions Health, the documentation system is refined and simplified, which is a great benefit to users new to EHR systems but also creates some drawbacks in terms of the breadth of customization. The only note templates included from the outset are SOAP and DAP notes, as well as a simple note with a text box. Other note templates can be created, but I felt like it would have been nice to have a note creation wizard with drop-downs and selections rather than having to type everything by hand.
Treatment planning is a bit easier with Sessions, as it allows for more drop-down menus and pre-generated options, however, there is still a good bit of typing involved in the process. A mental health status exam is included, however, there doesn’t seem to be any pre-generated forms for suicidality or safety.
With its impressive simplicity, yet lack of innovative features, we have awarded Sessions Health with 4 out of 5 stars in the treatment planning and notetaking category of our scoring criteria.
Telehealth
Sessions Health offers an optional integrated telehealth platform with a built-in waiting room and dedicated access link to share with clients. Integrated telehealth can only be used for one-on-one sessions, so it wouldn’t be possible to use this for facilitating couples’ or group sessions. The platform does offer screen-sharing and file-sharing capabilities.
Telehealth is one of the only features that is not included in the base price of Sessions Health. Sessions Health’s pricing for its integrated telehealth platform is an additional $10 monthly per practitioner needing access.
Sessions Health’s telehealth platform is not the most innovative we’ve seen and it lacks group session capabilities. Due to its drawbacks, we have awarded it with 3 out of 5 stars in the telehealth category of our scoring criteria.
Insurance Billing
Sessions Health helps to make insurance billing much simpler – the system fully integrates their partnered clearinghouse with the EHR so clinicians can submit claims, keep track of status, submit eligibility requests, and more.
The system helps to make the process of insurance billing as easy as possible by allowing clinicians to automate the invoicing and claims process so that it occurs automatically at whatever interval of time is appropriate. One handy feature is the ability to generate an invoice with a single click after creating the clinical note for the session.
Overall, Sessions Health creates an easy-to-use tool for insurance billing. We have awarded Sessions Health with 4 out of 5 stars in the insurance billing category of our scoring criteria.
Do you bill insurance or plan to bill insurance? SimplePractice is the top rated EHR for practices that bill insurance.* It has everything you need to run your practice—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing. Try SimplePractice free for up to two months!** *According to Best Mental Health EHRs. **Offer valid only for new clients.
Client Payment Methods, Collection, & Processing
Much like insurance billing, Sessions Health has created a set of tools that handles billing tasks with minimal input from the practitioner. Accepting client payments is simple, and Sessions Health uses Stripe to process credit, debit, and HSA cards. The cost of credit card processing is 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
Invoices and bills can be created automatically or manually and sent directly to clients. Payments can be collected in person, or clients can pay their bills through the client portal – a very useful feature that helps to decrease administrative workload.
Since it provides practices with easy-to-use automated features but lacks innovative features or design, we have awarded Sessions Health with 4 out of 5 stars in the client payment methods category of our scoring criteria.
Practice Management & Reports
Group Practices:
Sessions Health allows practices to assign varying levels of access to staff members, so schedulers and billers don’t have the same access to clinical documentation as a therapist would. Still, Sessions Health does lag behind the likes of SimplePractice or CounSol.com a bit in the customization of these options.
For more comparison with alternatives, take a look at our review of TheraPlatform and our review of CounSol.com
Solo Practices:
For both solo and group practices, Sessions Health offers an analytics dashboard that provides practices with business insights such as revenue over time, insurance billing status, and appointment data.
All in all, practice management and reports within Sessions Health is on par with many of the best mental health EHRs, but it doesn’t offer anything extraordinary. As such, we have awarded Sessions Health with 4 out of 5 stars in the practice management and reports category of our scoring criteria.
Customer Service & Training
Throughout my time testing Sessions Health, I did not find it necessary to reach out to customer service, as I did not encounter any issues needing intervention. However, if I were to need to, Sessions Health provided clear routes of how to get into contact.
I found that customer service is not required for minor issues with the EHR, due to the robust help center that Sessions Health maintains. The help center provides written articles and video tutorials for just about every issue someone might encounter with the system.
After setting up my trial account initially, I did receive an email with details on how to schedule a live demo of the platform wherein I would be able to ask questions and get to know the system more intimately. This is an additional opportunity to address any issues with the EHR or set up with a live person.
Because of its great implementation and attention to detail, we have awarded Sessions Health with 5 out of 5 stars in the customer service and training category of our scoring criteria.
How Much Does Sessions Health Cost?
Sessions Health costs $39 monthly. A refreshingly simple pricing model means that all features are in one single base price. This price covers unlimited clients and all of the features of the EHR for one clinician. Every clinician thereafter is an additional $29 monthly. Sessions Health includes a full 30-day free trial.
Sessions Health Pricing
Sessions Health’s base price of $39 monthly includes the following features:
- Full EHR access for 1 clinician
- Client portal access
- Unlimited clients, sessions, and document storage
Sessions Health Add-Ons & Other Fees
Sessions Health has no premium add-on features, but there are a few optional fees that might come up, depending on your practice:
- Integrated telehealth platform – $10 monthly, per practitioner
- Credit card processing – 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, depending on current rates
- Insurance claims – $0.25 per claim
- Insurance eligibility checks – $0.15 per request
- Additional clinicians – $29 monthly, per additional practitioner
Do you bill insurance or plan to bill insurance? SimplePractice is the top rated EHR for practices that bill insurance.* It has everything you need to run your practice—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing. Try SimplePractice free for up to two months!** *According to Best Mental Health EHRs. **Offer valid only for new clients.
How to Sign Up for Sessions Health
To sign up for a 30-day free trial, simply navigate to the Sessions Health website and select “Try for Free.” You will be prompted to input a few pieces of information about your practice and yourself, however, a credit card is not required for the trial.
Who is Sessions Health Right For?
Sessions Health has a lot to offer – practices that might find it most beneficial include those that value a simple interface, practices that are on a tight budget, and those that have a particularly large caseload
Practices that Want a Simple Solution
Sessions Health offers one of the simplest and cleanest-looking interfaces of any EHR I’ve tested. Sessions Health allows practices to enter client information quickly, and implement forms for intake and documentation with a few simple clicks. If you put a high value on ease of use and quick, simple deployment, Sessions Health may be a good pick for your practice.
Practices that Want the Most Affordable Option
Sessions Health is very affordable for small or solo practices. A single provider can get started and get full access to the system for $39 monthly. That’s a ton of functionality for one of the lowest price points on the market. It’s also worth noting that there is a “Freemium” price tier that allows a single practitioner to have up to 3 clients for completely free, forever. However, since most practices are going to have more than three clients, this likely won’t be used much.
Practices that Have a Large Caseload Or are Growing Quickly
Unlike some other options, Sessions Health does not increase its price as your caseload grows. This allows practices to grow indefinitely at the same cost they started.
Marketing Resources Wix – Create A Website For Your Private Practice. Get Started with a free plan. Upgrade to have your own custom domain ( www.yourpracticename.com) for as little as $16 per month. Start Building Choosing Therapy Directory (FREE) – Thousands of potential patients come to the directory each month. Once your profile on the Choosing Therapy Directory is active, you will have leads emailed to you when a potential client is interested. Sign Up
Who May Want an Alternative to Sessions Health?
While it has a lot to offer, Sessions Health isn’t for everyone – if you need extensive customization options, a bundled telehealth platform, or years of experience and longevity, there may be better options for you.
Practices that Need a More Capable Telehealth Platform
While Sessions Health does have a basic telehealth platform, it’s not very advanced. If your practice needs a more capable telehealth platform, TheraPlatform has one of the best and most innovative systems I’ve seen – offering resource sharing and the ability to play engaging, therapy-centric games from within the telehealth window.
For more insight into its features, take a look at our in-depth TheraPlatform review.
Practices that Need In-Depth Customization
With mental health EHRs, there is almost always a tradeoff between simplicity and customization. If you’re looking for an option that offers a huge degree of customization, you may be better off with an EHR like ICANotes – its clinical documentation system is set up in a unique flowchart-like fashion that allows for endless customization.
For more information on our thoughts about it, look at our comprehensive ICANotes review.
Practices that Prescribe Medication
Sessions Health does not offer any support for electronic prescriptions. If your practice prescribes medication electronically often, you may want to consider alternatives. TherapyNotes is a great option that offers e-prescribing features. Rarely offered in mental health EHRs, TherapyNotes allows medication prescribers to send electronic prescriptions without the need for an external application.
For more information on its features, take a look at our review of TherapyNotes.
Practices that Want a More Established Company
Having been founded just in 2018, Sessions Health is definitely one of the new kids on the block in mental health EHRs. If you’re looking for longevity, check out CounSol.com, or if brand recognition is more important to you, then SimplePractice may be a good option for you.
Check out our CounSol.com review and SimplePractice review for more details.
What Users Are Saying About Sessions Health
User reviews for Sessions Health are not as widespread as other EHRs. With TrustPilot, Sessions Health tends to receive relatively high praise. It is important to look at a variety of user review sites to get a full picture of what is being said, but in this instance, there aren’t widespread reviews available to assess.
The Good:
Very Affordable
Many reviews point out just how affordable Sessions Health is compared to other options. Many users praised the amount of functionality you receive for the relatively low cost – after testing the service, I certainly agree.
Excellent Customer Service
Many users pointed out that any time they needed support, Sessions Health customer support was able to quickly solve their issues effectively, in a friendly manner.
LGBTQ+ Friendly
Many users noticed that Sessions Health goes out of its way to ensure pronouns are open-ended and gender questions are handled with sensitivity and inclusivity.
The Bad:
Occasional Bugs
Some users noticed occasional bugs such as page refreshes that deleted progress, or the inability to sign and date certain forms that led to the practitioner going through extra steps to print and sign the forms. Throughout our review, I did experience two instances wherein work was lost due to a page reload – in one instance, I was adding a large amount of client data at once, and was forced to start over from scratch.
Sessions Health Vs. SimplePractice
SimplePractice, similar to Sessions Health, offers a refined and simplified user interface. However, SimplePractice offers more in the way of premium features such as a website builder and the option to add Wiley Treatment Planners. Of course, these premium features do add considerable cost.
A few key differences between Session Health and SimplePractice include:
- Sessions Health and SimplePractice have a similar design, but SimplePractice includes more advanced features like marketing and a website builder.
- SimplePractice is more customizable and allows for Wiley Treatment Planner integration.
- Sessions Health charges a flat rate of $39 monthly, whereas SimplePractice costs range from $29 – $99+ monthly. Pound-for-pound, Sessions Health offers more functionality than SimplePractice at a lower price overall.
For more information on its features, take a look at our detailed SimplePractice review as well as our full review of SimplePractice’s website builder.
Do you bill insurance or plan to bill insurance? SimplePractice is the top rated EHR for practices that bill insurance.* It has everything you need to run your practice—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing. Try SimplePractice free for up to two months!** *According to Best Mental Health EHRs. **Offer valid only for new clients.
Sessions Health Vs. TherapyAppointment
SessionsHealth and TherapyAppointment are quite similar. Both offer similar functionality in a refined package. TherapyAppointment’s pricing model is based on client volume rather than being a set price as Session Health’s is.
A few key differences between Sessions Health and TherapyAppointment include:
- Sessions Health has a somewhat simpler interface than TherapyAppointment
- TherapyAppointment may be more affordable than Sessions Health overall for low client volume practices.
- TherapyAppointment’s telehealth platform is more capable than Session Health’s
For a deeper look at our thoughts, take a look at our TherapyAppointment review.
History of Sessions Health
Sessions Health was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. The Sessions Health About Page outlines some of the company’s values and philosophies. Interestingly, its statement of ethics directly mirrors the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics.
FAQs
How Do I Cancel My Sessions Health Subscription?
To cancel your Sessions Health subscription, simply login to the platform, navigate to account settings, scroll to the bottom, and select “Close this account.”
Does Sessions Health Offer Refunds?
No, Sessions Health does not offer refunds.
Please visit Sessions Health Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for more information.
Is Sessions Health Cloud-Based?
Yes. Sessions Health is cloud-based, meaning that you can use it from anywhere in the world without being restricted to a geographic location.
Additional Resources
To help our readers take the next step in their mental health journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy is compensated for marketing by the companies included below.
Grow Therapy – Easy Insurance Acceptance & Client Referrals Get paneled for free with the major payors in your state so you can also start seeing insurance clients. Don’t worry about unpaid claims! Any insurance claims that you submit are guaranteed. Schedule A Call To Learn More
EHR For Therapists
SimplePractice has everything you need to run your practice—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing. Try SimplePractice free for up to two months!* Free Trial
Practice Website
TherapySites – Websites For Therapists Made Simple. Choose from a selection of high-end, mobile-friendly website designs created just for therapists. Attracting new clients is easy with a professional online presence. The first two months of website hosting services are Free. Learn More
Therapist Newsletter
Sign up for Choosing Therapy’s free Therapist Newsletter. Receive encouragement, info, and tips on building your private practice. Twice-weekly newsletter.
Free Directory Listing
Choosing Therapy Directory – Thousands of potential patients come to the directory each month. Once your profile on the Choosing Therapy Directory is active, you will have leads emailed to you when a potential client is interested. Profiles are free through 2023. Sign Up
*Offer valid for new clients only.
For Further Reading
Free CE Courses How to Start a Private Practice on the Side