Talkspace offers online therapy throughout the US and Canada and online psychiatry services to people throughout the US. They make accessing mental healthcare easy and convenient. Therapy on Talkspace costs $69 – $149 per week, depending on your plan, and their online psychiatry costs $249 for an initial appointment with follow-ups costing $125. However, Talkspace is one of the few subscription-based teletherapy companies to accept insurance, so your out of pocket expenses might be significantly less.
Pros & Cons of Talkspace
Talkspace is a user-friendly online therapy platform that makes it easy to find and connect with a licensed therapist in the US and Canada. And with their psychiatry and medication management services for those 18-years and older available to patients in the US, Talkspace may be a one-stop shop for remote mental healthcare for many. On the other hand, prices vary depending on geographic location, their subscription model locks you into a plan that may not be exactly the right fit for everyone’s needs, and there are limits to your choice of therapist.
What Is Talkspace?
Talkspace is an online therapy platform that aims to bring therapy to people 13-years and older and psychiatric care to those 18-years and older. Their services are available across the US and Canada and can help treat those struggling from depression or anxiety to those seeking help for eating disorders or parenting issues.
Talkspace therapists utilize a variety of therapeutic modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, client centered therapy, existential therapy, and others.
Talkspace offers three online therapy subscriptions:
- Messaging Only – This plan gives you access to a dedicated chatroom with options to asynchronously text or send video or audio messages to your therapist at any time. Usually, therapists respond to messages Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, but you can send messages 24/7. If needed, you can always add a live therapy session a la carte for an additional cost. Messaging Only starts at $69 per week (billed monthly at around $276 per month).
- Live Therapy – This plan gives you four, 45-minute video sessions with your therapist every month, as well as the option to text your provider as needed. If you sign up for Live Therapy, you can expect a brief 10-minute ‘get to know you’ session first. You can also expect to complete mental health assessments every three weeks to help your therapist guide you through your treatment. Live Therapy starts at $99 per week (billed monthly at around $396 per month).
- Messaging and Live Therapy – This plan includes everything from the Messaging Only and Live Therapy plans. Messaging and Live Therapy starts at $129 per week (billed monthly at around $516 per month).
Talkspace Psychiatry
Talkspace Psychiatry can connect you with psychiatrists or nurse practitioners who are able to prescribe medication. Psychiatric care is only available to those 18-years and older. Conversations with your provider will mainly revolve around symptom severity, frequency, and durations, medication management, and side effects you may be experiencing. An initial psychiatry appointment with Talkspace costs $249, with follow up appointments costing $125.
Note that those who find they need medication management and therapy will have to sign up for two plans. That could bring the cost of your first month on Talkspace to $525+. Currently, there are no discounts offered if you are already a Talkspace therapy patient.
If you’re ready to get started with Talkspace’s Psychiatry program, you can learn more here.
Talkspace Insomnia
Talkspace offers specialized treatment for people who struggle to get a good night’s sleep with Talkspace Insomnia. This is an eight-week program that utilizes CBT-I to help achieve better sleep through behavioral changes, rather than medication.
Who Is Talkspace Right For?
Talkspace therapy and psychiatry would be great for anyone in need of professional support, those who have no insurance, or those who need medication management.
Individuals, Couples, or Teens Who Are New to Therapy
Talkspace is a great jumping-off point for those who are brand new to therapy. Talkspace has therapists who can work with individuals, couples, teens (13yo – 17yo), people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and those struggling with insomnia. It can be overwhelming trying to find your first therapist and get a first appointment scheduled. Talkspace make it so easy to get started, and sometimes just getting started is the most important thing you can do.
Those Looking for Convenient Medication Management
Talkspace offers online psychiatry and medication management services with a prescribing doctor. Medication can be delivered to your door, or you can pick it up at a local pharmacy.
Who May Want an Alternative to Talkspace
While Talkspace is a great choice for many, those in crisis, who prefer in-person over online therapy, or those under the age of 13 may want to seek out an alternative.
Anyone In Crisis
Talkspace should not be used in the event of a mental health crisis. Those who need immediate assistance should call the 24-hr National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255, call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.
People Who Prefer In-Person Therapy
Online therapy is not going to be the best option for everyone. Some people may find it difficult to feel a connection with their therapist if they’re not in an office with them, and feeling connected with your therapist is important. Also, even though the Talkspace app is very user-friendly, people who have a hard time using mobile apps or computers may want to try and find a therapist who offers in-person appointments. Another group that might want an alternative to Talkspace are those who do not have access to reliable internet and cell service.
Children Under 13
Talkspace does not currently accept patients under the age of 13-years-old.
Talkspace User Reviews
Talkspace has a 4.7-star rating from 6,000+ reviews in the Apple App Store and a 4-star rating from 4,400+ reviews in the Google Play Store. While most of the reviews are favorable, there are some notable issues users have found.
Talkspace is an Affordable Therapy Option
Users pointed out that compared to local in-person therapy in their area, Talkspace was a real bargain, especially for those without insurance. If Talkspace accepts your insurance plan, this could make the cost for therapy even more affordable.
Online Therapy with Talkspace is Convenient
Many mentioned being able to choose appointment times and attend sessions at home was perfect for their schedules. Talkspace also makes therapy more accessible for those who live in more rural areas and have a hard time finding therapists nearby. Talkspace also makes it easier for those who are physically unable to otherwise attend therapy in-person. One user noted that he didn’t have to miss a therapy session while traveling and working overseas.
It Can Be Hard Finding a Good Therapist-Match
Many users mentioned they were matched with therapists that never responded or just stopped communication with them entirely. A couple of people even mentioned they would schedule appointments only to have their therapist cancel or never show up. I actually had a similar experience where I scheduled my introduction session with my therapist and an hour later got a notification that it had been canceled.
Reports of Poor Customer Service
By far the largest amount of complaints about Talkspace come from their customer service, or lack thereof. Many users rightfully pointed out that there is no phone number to call if you are having an issue with your subscription. While there are two email addresses clients can try, [email protected] or [email protected], responses either never come or are lackluster.
How Much Does Talkspace Cost?
Talkspace has three different subscription packages, but ultimately depends on your geographic location and therapist availability. The messaging only package starts at $69 per week, the live therapy package starts at $99 per week, and the messaging + live therapy package starts at $129 per week.
Each subscription package can be paid monthly, quarterly, or biannually. If you choose to pay quarterly, you receive a 10% discount, and if you choose to pay biannually you receive a 20% discount.
Messaging
The Messaging subscription starts at $69 per week and gives you access to a dedicated chatroom where you’re able to have unlimited asynchronous texting, video, or audio messages with your therapist. You are guaranteed a daily response five days a week, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).
Live Therapy
The Live Therapy subscription costs start at $99 per week and include four, 45-minute live video therapy sessions. You can choose to complete these live sessions by instant messaging, phone call, or video chat.
Live Therapy + Messaging
The Live Therapy + Messaging subscription costs start at $129 per week. This includes four, 45 minute live video, phone, or instant messaging sessions per month, as well as a dedicated chatroom with unlimited asynchronous text, video, or audio messaging.
Psychiatry
Talkspace Psychiatry and medication management services are billed per session. The initial evaluation costs $249.00 and all follow-up sessions are $125.00. You can schedule follow-up sessions directly with your psychiatry provider in the app or on the website. All medications will arrive either via mail or by pickup at your local pharmacy. This plan is available online and in the app.
Talkspace for Business
Companies can choose to partner with Talkspace to provide therapy and counseling services to their employees. All therapy subscriptions would be available to employees and cost would vary depending on number of employees. To sign up for a demo of Talkspace Business, visit their website.
Talkspace Discounts
| Talkspace Discounts | Yes/No |
|---|---|
| Free Trial of Subscription | No |
| Free App | No |
| Family Plan | No |
| Student Discount | No |
| Senior Discount | No |
| Financial Aid | No |
Does Talkspace Take Insurance?
Yes, Talkspace takes insurance for therapy from providers like Cigna, Magellan Health, and more. Talkspace partners with many employers, employee assistance programs (EAP), and educational organizations to make therapy available and affordable.
How to Get Started with Talkspace
Getting started from Talkspace’s website is fast and easy. I was able to complete the sign up in less than 5 minutes.
You can get started with Talkspace here. You’ll be prompted to answer a few brief questions that will help Talkspace match you with an appropriate therapist, you’ll select how you plan to pay (cash or insurance), and then you’ll be able to select the subscription you’d like.
If you choose to download the app first and do the sign up process through the app, there are a few more steps:
- Download Talkspace in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
- Create an account by entering your email, password, nickname, and state.
- Confirm your email address using a link that Talkspace sends to the email you’ve provided.
- Once you have confirmed your email, you will be taken into your Talkspace chatroom. You will talk with a matching agent and they will explain how Talkspace works as well as what each subscription plan offers. You can also ask any questions you may have.
- Select a subscription and enter payment information.
- Your matching agent will review the information you provided them and select your top three therapist matches.
- You will be able to select which one you think will suit you the best and schedule a first session.
Please Note: If you do not self-select a match, you will be automatically placed with a therapist. You can switch therapists later if you want to, but it’s best to avoid this by actively selecting someone you prefer from the start.
Talkspace Messaging: Detailed Review
Talkspace’s Messaging only plan allows you to asynchronously text your therapist anytime in a dedicated chatroom. Therapists will respond to messages Monday – Friday and you are guaranteed at least two responses daily.
In your chatroom, you can also send video and audio messages to your therapist, which is great for discussions that require more in-depth responses. Talkspace messaging plan pricing starts at $69 per week, billed monthly.
Feature 1: In-App Assessments
All of the plans will provide you with in-app assessments to complete. These will help you and your therapist to track your progress and growth, as well as help your therapist get to know what your needs are. They are excellent tools to help build a care plan for you and will be completed every three weeks. The ones I had to complete were less than 30 questions and did not take long to finish.
Feature 2: In-App Mental Health Exercises & Tools
Talkspace’s website says there are in-app mental health exercises and tools for you to use and learn from. These include activities like breathwork, appreciating the present, identifying negative thoughts, and more.1
However, these activities do not show up in my app, and when I asked my therapist if there was any in-app homework she told me Talkspace was just a messaging and video platform.
Talkspace Live Therapy: Detailed Review
Talkspace’s Live Therapy plan includes four, 45-minute live sessions with a therapist and the option to send texts when needed. You can choose to have a phone or video session, and some therapists are now providing instant messaging during their live sessions. Live Therapy pricing starts at $99 per week and is billed monthly.
What Is Talkspace Therapy?
Therapy options on Talkspace include live video or phone sessions, with select therapists offering instant messaging as well. New patients can choose a 10-minute introductory session or a 45-minute session. It’s unclear whether the introductory session counts as one of your four sessions per month.
After you complete the sign-up process and match with your therapist, you can begin to asynchronously text with your therapist immediately. On the home screen in the app, you will find six short introduction videos to help you prepare for your first therapy session.
It’s important to note that it took about five days for me to be matched with a therapist, which was longer than I anticipated. When I booked my 10-minute introductory session, I got a notification an hour later that my therapist had declined the appointment.
Therapist Vetting and Credentials
All therapists on Talkspace are fully licensed and board-certified providers. They do not use interns, therapists who are not fully licensed or those who are still under supervision. All therapists have over 3,000 hours of clinical experience as well as additional training in specific therapeutic modalities.
Therapist Matching
Talkspace provides you with your top three matches and you will select the one you think will be the best match. However, if you do not choose within a certain time frame, Talkspace will automatically place you with a therapist.
Can You Choose a New Therapist?
Yes, you can choose a new therapist at any time and Talkspace encourages you to do so if you are not happy. In the app, click the gear in the corner and select “Payment and Plan” then click “Change Provider”. You will update your preferences and select a new therapist.
Talkspace Live Therapy + Messaging: Detailed Review
Talkspace Live Therapy + Messaging plan includes everything from the previous two plans. Pricing starts at $129 per week and is billed monthly.
Talkspace Psychiatry: Detailed Review
Talkspace Psychiatry connects you with licensed psychiatrists or nurse practitioners who specialize in medication management. An initial psychiatric care session is $249, and follow-up appointments are $125. It is easy to sign up on the website, with only basic information needed to connect with a matching agent.
While you will be able to talk with your medication provider about what is going on in your life, this service is not the same as therapy. Those who need medication management and therapy will have to sign up for two separate plans. Currently, there are no discounts offered if you are already a Talkspace therapy patient.
Who is Eligible for Medication?
Currently, only people in the US who are 18 or older are eligible for psychiatric services and medication management with Talkspace.
What Medications are Available?
Talkspace can prescribe medications for anxiety and depression as long as they are not controlled substances. Common controlled substances are medications like Adderall, Klonopin, Valium, and Xanax. If these types of medications are needed, it is best to seek in-person psychiatric treatment.
Where is Medication Management Available?
Psychiatric services are available in all 50 states.
Medication Shipping Costs
Shipping costs will depend on whether your insurance covers medication. If paying out-of-pocket, medication prescriptions will be sent to a local pharmacy for pickup.
Talkspace vs BetterHelp
Talkspace and BetterHelp are both subscription-based online therapy services that connect individuals, couples, and teens with licensed therapists across the US for counseling. Both offer video therapy and text-based therapy options. Talkspace differs from BetterHelp in that Talkspace accepts insurance, has a psychiatric subscription and can prescribe medication, and offers special programs for issues like insomnia, whereas BetterHelp does not.
On the other hand, BetterHelp has a wider selection of in-app activities to help people stay engaged outside of therapy sessions, a journaling tool, and group webinar. Also, BetterHelp may be a little less expensive for those paying out-of-pocket. BetterHelp offers therapy subscriptions that start at $60 per week (roughly $240 per month). BetterHelp also makes its services available around the world, so they may be a better option for international customers. BetterHelp has tens of thousands of therapists on their platform and most people are placed with a therapist within a day or two.
How Talkspace Has Evolved
Talkspace was founded in 2012 by Roni and Oren Frank and at that time it was text-based therapy for $25 per week.2 Then in 2014, Talkspace raised over $2.5 million dollars led by Spark Capital and SoftBank. At this time, they also brought on Ran Harnevo, president of AOL video, to their company’s board.3 This funding allowed Talkspace to hire more staff and more therapists to its platform, which in turn meant more people could have access to mental health care.
However, things have not remained a bed of roses for Talkspace. In November of 2021, founders, Roni and Oren Frank resigned.4 It is thought their resignations came on the heels of less than stellar earnings during the previous period. COO Mark Hirschhorn took over as acting CEO from the Franks, but just a week later he resigned. In a press release from Talkspace, Hirschhorn’s resignation came after a review of his poor conduct in connection with a company offsite.
FAQ About Talkspace
Where is Talkspace Available?
Talkspace’s online therapy is available throughout the US and Canada. Talkspace Psychiatry is only available in the US currently.
Where can I download the Talkspace app?
For those with Apple products, you can download the Talkspace app in the Apple App Store. Those with Android can download the Talkspace app in the Google Play Store.
Is Talkspace HIPAA Compliant?
Yes, Talkspace is HIPAA compliant. Visit Talkspace’s website for more information on their Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Is Talkspace Free?
No, Talkspace is not free, but they do have a number of articles that are free to access as well as a mental health resource library on their website.
Is Talkspace Expensive?
Compared to two other leading online therapy providers, BetterHelp and Calmerry, Talkspace has a higher monthly subscription cost when paying out-of-pocket. But Talkspace accepts insurance, whereas BetterHelp and Calmerry do not, which could make Talkspace the least expensive subscription based online therapy option for many. Talkspace will likely be less expensive than traditional in-person therapy if you plan to see a therapist weekly.
Can I Use My HSA or FSA for Talkspace?
Yes, you can use your FSA/HSA for therapy with Talkspace. During setup, you will be asked to pay and you can input your card information at that time. You can also email Talkspace for a superbill if one is needed for your records.
Can I Cancel My Subscription to Talkspace?
Yes, you can cancel Talkspace at any time. Your account will be marked as “do not renew” and you will still have access to your account until your subscription ends. To cancel on the website, go to your account and click “Payment and Plan”, then you will simply click “stop subscription”.
To cancel in the app, click on the gear icon in the top left corner then follow the same process as you would for the website. If you are ever concerned that you did not unsubscribe correctly, I recommend emailing [email protected].
Does Talkspace Issue Refunds?
Yes, Talkspace may offer full, partial, or prorated refunds for services rendered. To get in touch with someone at Talkspace, email them at [email protected].
Final Verdict on Talkspace
With several therapy options and psychiatric services, it seems like most should be able to get great care from Talkspace. However, there are a few problems with the platform that may deter some. Most notably, out-of-pocket subscription prices may be too high for some, and it may be difficult to match with a therapist that feels right for you.
For many, it seems like you may have to do a lot of work before finding the right therapist and before you even have your first live therapy session. However, if you have insurance to cover the costs of therapy, it is absolutely worth putting in the work.
For Further Reading
- Cerebral Review (Online Therapy & Psychiatry Platform)
- Mental Health America
- National Alliance on Mental Health
- MentalHealth.gov
