They say there is an app for everything, and mental health is no different.
Virtual therapy, also called telepsychology, has been rising in popularity in recent years. This form of mental health treatment is not new, but is becoming more prevalent as smartphone usage increases and consumers become more familiar with the concept of virtual services. The concept of therapy in general has also become more mainstream and widely accepted, with as many as 42 percent of Americans seeking professional counseling, according to Barna Group.
The advantages of virtual therapy are apparent: online platforms are accessible and flexible. Users can talk to a licenced counselor from the comfort of their own home and, in some cases, have instant access to a therapist instead of needing to schedule an appointment weeks in advance.
In addition, a number of mindfulness and meditation apps have been developed over the past several years, and have been met with tremendous success, with more than 3 million users downloading such apps worldwide.
There are many virtual therapy and mindfulness apps on the market. Here are some of our favorites:
- Betterhelp. Users fill out a questionnaire that matches them with a licensed counselor. Plans start at $40/month and financial aid is available.
- Talkspace. After answering a questionnaire, users can choose from a list of potential matches and talk with their therapist five days a week. Plans range from $65 to $100 per week.
- Regain. This platform offers individual and couples counseling designed to improve relationships. The cost of counseling ranges from $60 to $80 per week, billed monthly.
- Calm. Calm is a meditation and sleep app that helps users manage anxiety and other mental health issues. It includes a variety of guided meditations of different lengths.
- Headspace. This app features more than 500 meditations as well as calm down music and exercises to help users unwind before bedtime.
- Insight Timer. Insight Timer is a free app for meditation, yoga, and stress relief. As the name indicates, it also includes a meditation timer.
- VentSpace. VentSpace is not a professional therapy app but it does give users an outlet to express their thoughts and feelings and connect with others who have been through the same thing. The best part is that it is anonymous and maintains privacy. For more information, check out the rest of our website.