Thriveworks, which received a 4 out of 5 stars in our independent review, offers comprehensive mental health services both online and in-person, serving teens, individuals, couples, and families. Psychiatry services are available exclusively online. Initial sessions typically last 45-60 minutes, with follow-up appointments for therapy ranging from 45-60 minutes and 20-30 minutes for psychiatry. Thriveworks is in-network with over 585 insurance plans, and session fees vary depending on your coverage.
Thriveworks At a Glance
- In-person services available in select cities
- Accepts major insurance plans
- Kids, teens, couples, and family therapy
- Early morning, evening, and weekend appointments are available
- Psychiatry available exclusively online
- Limited locations accept Medicaid
- Per session rates for therapy and psychiatry depend on provider and location
Overview
Thriveworks is a mental health franchise available in most US states that offers online and in-person mental health services for kids and teens, individuals, couples, and families. The exact costs for therapy sessions and psychiatry appointments depend on your location and the provider you choose. Most clients are able to use their insurance, often owing a small co-pay of $0-$50. Self-pay options are also available.
If you’re looking for other counseling options covered by insurance, Talkspace could be a good option. Meanwhile, those looking for individual therapy might be well served by BetterHelp. Or, if you’re looking for psychiatry and therapy bundled together, Brightside Health is your best bet.
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Firsthand Thriveworks Reviews
Detailed Review of Thriveworks – What is Thriveworks?
Thriveworks is a mental health franchise available in 49 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) that offers online and in-person mental health services for kids and teens, individuals, couples, and families. All services that Thriveworks offers are available online, however, some services may not be available at in-person locations. Each physical location of Thriveworks will offer different services, accept different insurance plans, and may not be conveniently located to you. Whatever way you choose to attend sessions and appointments, you will be able to choose your own provider from the Thriveworks online directory.
Thriveworks offers a range of specialties and can offer services to kids and teens, couples, and even families. Due to these reasons, they earned 5 stars in both the “Clientele Served” and the “Range of Therapist Specialties & Treatment Approaches” categories of our online therapy scoring criteria. Many providers have next-day, early morning, evening, and weekend appointments available. Thriveworks offers both in-person and online therapy sessions; psychiatry is currently available exclusively online. Intake sessions for both therapy and psychiatry are typically between 45-60 minutes, with follow-up appointments for therapy lasting 45-60 minutes and 20-30 minutes for psychiatry.
While the Thriveworks website seems easy to navigate and user-friendly, it can be frustrating and confusing to add payment types, insurance, and find patient forms. Thankfully, there is a customer service phone number you can call and receive one-on-one help from a representative. The customer service team is able to help you set up your account, find a therapist, and add your payment and insurance information. Thriveworks accepts several major insurance plans with select in-person locations accepting Medicaid.
Once your account is all set up, you can book your appointments and you will gain access to “Fireside,” a collection of immersive video courses led by expert licensed mental health professionals. There are eight lessons in total and are on topics like anxiety and parenting, premarital counseling, divorce, eating disorders, and trauma. Each lesson has between 12 to 25 individual sessions with videos that explain various important topics.
Thriveworks Counseling & Therapy: Detailed Review
Thriveworks offers counseling and therapy services online and in person. The services you choose will depend on if there are in-person locations close to you and your personal preferences for meeting with a provider.
After you enter your credit card information, you will need to select “Book Session” to begin exploring the online directory. There are filters for what type of therapy you need, individual, kids & teens, couples, family, or psychiatry/medication management. You will also be able to select if you want in-person or virtual sessions. Many providers in the directory had availability as soon as the next day and some were booked for a week before they had availability. Several providers offered early morning and evening appointments, as well as weekend appointments.
All therapy sessions are 60 minutes long and the first session is a comprehensive intake session for your new provider to get to know you. They will ask you many basic medical questions like if you smoke, drink, or have a history of mental health issues. This intake process is much more intensive than with any other online therapy platform I have tried – I actually liked this aspect of the platform. It made me feel like my therapist was aiming to treat me as a whole, rather than just my mental health struggles.
Despite my therapy appointment running smoothly, there were a lot of hiccups on the way to attending this first session. Even though I found my therapist through the main Thriveworks website, all of my patient forms, main billing, and account creation happened on a secondary patient platform. This platform is run by a company called AdvancedMD/AdvancedTelemedicine and I had to download Zoom to attend my sessions.
My main frustration with these two platforms was that despite inputting payment information on the main Thriveworks website, it did not transfer to the secondary platform. There was also nowhere to input payment information, so I had to call Thriveworks and have them add it to my account. If you need to talk to your provider between appointments, you can contact customer service and they will send your provider an email stating you need to speak with them. There is no in-app or website-based text messaging service available at this time.
Overall, my therapy session and the therapist I chose were awesome, but the process to get to my first session felt unnecessarily complicated. These unnecessary complications make me hesitant to recommend this platform, despite the awesome providers it hosts. Due to this poor user experience with the platform, Thriveworks earned 1 star in the “Client Interface & User Experience” category on our scoring criteria.
In-person Therapy with Thriveworks
Signing up for in-person therapy with Thriveworks works exactly the same way as online therapy. It is the same process, with the two patient portals but instead of downloading Zoom, you will attend your sessions in person. The therapist I chose said that she sees patients both online and in person, so if you have a therapist you feel a good bond with you can see them either way.
Despite Google showing a Thriveworks location in my city, there was no option to select the location. When I called to ask to see someone at that location, the customer service representative told me there was no location available. This was very odd to me because when you look at Google maps you can read reviews of the location. Ultimately, I decided to go with an online appointment and hope to review the in-person services in the future.
Therapist Vetting and Credentials
Therapists and counselors with Thriveworks hold LCSW, LICSW, LPC, LPCC, LMHC, LMFT, or are licensed psychologists. All providers must be fully licensed and accredited in the state they practice and must provide this documentation to Thriveworks during the hiring process. Additionally, clients can view their therapist or counselor’s credentials on their directory profile.
Therapist Selection
After you input your credit card information, you will be able to select “Book Session” and choose your own therapist. The Thriveworks directory allows you to filter by therapy type, specialty, in-person or virtual, and insurance.
Therapist Switching
Yes, you can absolutely choose a new therapist at any time. You are not locked into a contract with any provider you choose and can simply select someone new the next time you book an appointment. If you choose a different provider, you will be required to complete new patient forms for your new provider.
Thriveworks Psychiatry: Detailed Review
Psychiatry with Thriveworks follows the same process as signing up for therapy. Initial psychiatry appointments are 60 minutes long with follow-up appointments being 20-30 minutes. Psychiatry costs will depend on the provider. Psychiatric services are available online. Providers will even see kids with parent/guardian consent. It is very easy to see what age group and specialties the psychiatric providers offer through their directory profiles. You will simply choose the provider that best matches your current situation.
Psychiatric providers with Thriveworks are psychiatrists and PMHNPs and you will be able to choose who you want to see. During your initial appointment, you and your provider will go over your medical and mental health history together. This will help your provider decide if you need to be prescribed medication, how often you will need follow-up appointments, and if they feel talk therapy would be beneficial to your treatment goals.
If you need to talk to your provider between appointments, you will need to contact customer service. There is no in-app or website-based text messaging service available at this time. All online sessions are conducted through the secondary website, AdvancedMD/AdvancedTelemedicine, and Zoom.
Who is Eligible for Medication?
Select providers will be able to prescribe medication to teens starting at age 13. Generally, medication management is available to those 18 years and older.
What Medications are Available?
Thriveworks’s psychiatric nurse practitioners can prescribe psychiatric medications such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and other non-stimulant medications. Thriveworks practices safe medical care according to current best practices. They don’t prescribe any controlled substances, though they’re happy to evaluate alternative medications that could benefit you.
Where is Medication Management Available?
Online medication management is available in every state that offers psychiatric services, including the following: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Washington D.C.
Not all in-person locations offer this feature and online providers are not as numerous as therapists. You can easily check if medication management is available in your state through the online directory. Thriveworks psychiatry services are done completely online, so you can schedule with any psychiatric provider in your state.
How to Get Your Medication
If your provider feels medication would be beneficial to you, they will send a prescription to your local pharmacy. From there you will pick up and pay for your prescriptions like you would any other prescription.
What Does Thriveworks Cost?
Thriveworks is in-network with 585+ insurance plans, and session fees will vary based on coverage. Most clients are able to use their insurance, often owing a small co-pay of $0-$50. Self-pay options are also available, with prices varying based on service type and state. The exact costs for therapy sessions and psychiatry appointments depend on your location and the provider you choose.
Clients pay per session with a debit or credit card. Thriveworks accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Or, you can use an HSA/HRA/FSA card. Thriveworks processes payments daily so clients will be billed as soon as possible following their session.
Thriveworks has a flexible cancellation policy that allows clients to reschedule or cancel an appointment up to 48 hours in advance. Clients will be charged a late cancellation fee of $135 if they cancel or reschedule within less than 48 hours of their appointment, don’t show up for their appointment, or are more than 10 minutes late to a 30 minute-appointment or 15 minutes late to a 60-minute appointment.
Who Does Thriveworks Serve?
While psychiatry services are online, Thriveworks offers both online and in-person therapy services for kids and teens, individuals, couples, and families in most US states. However, according to the directory, there aren’t always providers available in your state or city. Select providers will be able to prescribe medication to teens starting at age 13. Generally, medication management is available to those 18 years and older.
Therapy geographic coverage: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Psychiatry geographic coverage: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C.
Thriveworks vs Competitors
Thriveworks has great perks, but other companies like BetterHelp or Lifestance may be a better option for those seeking affordable online or in-person mental health services.
Thriveworks vs BetterHelp
Thriveworks vs Lifestance
User Reviews of Thriveworks
I examined client reviews of the in-person locations nearest to me and found them to be generally very positive. Most clients really loved going to in-person locations and had great things to say about their particular therapist. Owners of each location responded to reviews thanking them and encouraging them to contact them for further help if needed. None of the reviews of the in-person locations mentioned attending sessions or appointments online.
Reviews from Trustpilot | 1.6 out of 5 stars | 95 reviews
Positive reviews from Trustpilot include users noting that Thriveworks has been the best source of therapy they have ever had and highly recommend Thriveworks.
Negative reviews from Trustpilot include reports of terrible billing. They had frequent issues with unauthorized charges in their bank accounts. Also, they added that the staff at their billing center are generally pretty unhelpful unless you manage to speak to a supervisor.
Reviews from Reddit | r/Scams
Positive reviews from users on Reddit express their satisfaction with the therapist they are currently working with.
Negative reviews from users on Reddit mentioned large sums of money being charged to their credit cards after they called and canceled their accounts.
Who Might Want an Alternative to Thriveworks?
While Thriveworks would be a great fit for some, there are others that it would not work for. People who are located in states or cities that are not covered, those who may prefer a more complete subscription-based therapy option, and people experiencing mental health crises should seek out an alternative.
City or State Isn’t Covered
Despite the fact that Thriveworks is available in most states, according to the directory there aren’t always providers available in that state or in your city. For people seeking a great online therapy and psychiatry platform that accepts insurance and offers bundled options, Brightside Health would be a great choice. Brightside offers stand-alone medication and therapy subscription plans, as well as a bundled therapy and medication plan.
For more information about subscriptions and prices, please read our comprehensive review of Brightside Health.
Preference for Subscription Option
Thriveworks does not charge a monthly subscription or membership fee. There are no upfront costs to use our services or book a session. People seeking a great subscription therapy option that includes a robust app experience in addition to live sessions may enjoy Calmerry or BetterHelp. While neither platform accepts insurance at this time, their out-of-pocket costs are fairly affordable.
To explore the costs and features of these two platforms, you can read our detailed review of Calmerry or our BetterHelp review.
Frequent Crisis Episodes
When you sign up for psychiatric care with Thriveworks, you will sign patient forms that attest you are not in an active mental health crisis and that you do not wish to harm yourself or others. For those who have frequent bouts of crisis episodes due to their anxiety or depression, Thriveworks will not be a good fit.
To find consistent, in-person psychiatric care, you should consult an online therapist directory and filter for psychiatrists.
Thriveworks Review – Our Final Verdict
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my HSA or FSA?
Yes, you can use your FSA or HSA funds to pay for therapy with Thriveworks.
How Do I Cancel My Thriveworks Membership?
To cancel your Thriveworks membership, you must call customer service at 855-641-1379. You can also ask the customer service representative to close out your entire account and this will remove any payment information from your account in general.
Does Thriveworks Offer Refunds?
Yes, Thriveworks will provide a refund of the membership fee if you ask for one within the first seven days. Thriveworks recommends you reach out to their customer service department at 855-641-1379 if you have questions or concerns.
Is Online Therapy with Thriveworks HIPAA Compliant?
Yes, Thriveworks uses a HIPAA-compliant patient portal called AdvancedMD/AdvancedTelemedicine.
To learn more, you can read Thriveworks Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.
History & News About Thriveworks
Thriveworks was founded by AJ Centore Ph.D. in 2008 and is headquartered in Lynchburg, VA. There is not much written about them in the news, but it was recently shared that select Thriveworks locations will now feature play therapy.1 This sister brand is called TherapyLand and is geared toward children 12-years and younger. Play therapy is used for a wide variety of reasons and can be helpful in addressing treatment needs for special needs children.
Due to the age of Thriveworks as a company, how little scandal there seems to be around the brand, and how widely available they are, they earned 5 stars in the “Reliability & Longevity” category on our scoring criteria.
In January of 2023, Thriveworks discontinued its membership fees with the hopes of making its services more widely available and more affordable.2
Choosing Therapy 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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Walker, T. (2022) Thriveworks Launches Pediatric TherapyLand Clinics in 18 Locations. Healthcare Design. https://healthcaredesignmagazine.com/news/thriveworks-launches-pediatric-therapyland-clinics-in-18-locations/
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J. McDermott, personal communication, January 25, 2023.
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: Caitlin Bell, MA (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Updated pricing, details about online psychiatry, removal of Therapy Buddy, and addition of Fireside.
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA (No change)
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added review summary and features.
Author: Caitlin Bell, MA
Medical Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD
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