Talkspace Review: A Detailed Analysis for 2024

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Among the many providers of online therapy, only a handful have become established as recognized brands. Leading the pack is Talkspace, one of the earliest companies to enter this space, and certainly, the first one to use celebrity endorsements to help spread the word. Talkspace has become a leading provider of online mental health care, addressing the increasing demand for accessible mental health services.

I took a deep dive into Talkspace to understand the platform, what it offers, and whether users should feel reassured that they are in good hands when they sign up.

Company Background of Talkspace

Talkspace was founded in New York back in 2012 by Roni and Oren Frank. The couple was inspired to launch the service after their own positive experience with couples therapy. Their initiative began as a group therapy platform offering online sessions with licensed therapists. Eventually, they introduced an unlimited messaging option with audio calls and the ability to schedule live video sessions.

Talkspace online therapy is a convenient and accessible option for users, featuring therapist matching, secure messaging, and video sessions. By 2018, the company extended its therapy options to individual psychotherapy, couples therapy, Talkspace for Teens, and even consultations with psychiatrists to prescribe medications. Talkspace Psychiatry focuses on medication management, including prescriptions for SSRIs, SNRIs, and any medications that are not controlled substances prescribed by the licensed psychiatric provider.

Talkspace has continued to grow over the years, accumulating over a million users. They have also partnered with health insurance companies, businesses, and schools to make the service available to more users. Their overall goal, as stated on their website, is not to replace in-office therapy, but to help people overcome their day-to-day challenges in a stigma-free environment.

How Does Talkspace Online Therapy Work?

Talkspace operates as a monthly service providing users with continual access to therapy from licensed therapists. Talkspace therapists are highly qualified professionals capable of providing mental health diagnoses and offering a range of services, including online therapy sessions and workshops led by licensed professionals.

The platform uses an app and an interactive web platform that can be accessed via smartphone, tablet, or desktop. It allows an individual to have 24/7 access to their assigned therapist through text, audio, and video messaging. However, therapists generally only reply once or twice a day and work five days a week. Depending on the subscription plan, users can also book up to four live 30-minute video sessions with their therapist each month.

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Talkspace Plans and Pricing

Talkspace offers different plans for its various mental health services. Users select their desired plan when signing up but can switch to a different one at any time.

• Messaging Therapy: This plan includes unlimited text, video, and audio messages with guaranteed responses 5 days a week, and costs $69 per week, billed monthly as $276 per month.
• Video + Messaging Therapy: This plan includes four live 30-minute sessions each month, and costs $99 per week, billed monthly as $396 per month.
• Video + Messaging + Workshops: This plan includes unlimited text, video, and audio messages with guaranteed responses 5 days a week plus four live 30-minute sessions per month and access to live workshops. The price is $109 per week, billed monthly as $436 per month.
• Couples Therapy + 4 Live Sessions: This plan includes unlimited text, video, and audio messages for both partners with guaranteed responses 5 days a week, plus four live 30-minute couples therapy sessions per month. The price is $109 per week, billed monthly as $436 per month.
• Psychiatry – This service is offered via 3 packages of 1-time payments, with single follow-up sessions costing $175 each:
  • Psychiatry – Initial Evaluation: $299
  • Psychiatry – Initial Evaluation + 1 follow up session: $435
  • Psychiatry – Initial Evaluation + 3 follow up sessions: $725

The minimum commitment for a talkspace subscription is one month, so even if you cancel after a few days you’ll still be charged for the whole month. You can regularly check their website for discounts as they frequently have promotions. Though it’s not the least expensive option out there, Talkspace is competitively priced when compared with other providers.

Does Talkspace Accept Insurance?

Yes. Talkspace is included as an “in-network” provider by several major insurance plans in the US. In addition, it has partnered with dozens of large employers, health plans, and employee assistance programs (EAPs) to provide therapy at little or no cost to eligible members. Their website states that over 100 million Americans have Talkspace covered by their insurance. For those who are covered, they make it easy to redeem their benefits. The redemption of your benefits is built into the first steps of the signup process.

Insurance providers covering Talkspace include:

• Aetna
• Anthem
• Cigna
• Carelon
• Medicare
• Optum
• Regence
• TRICARE

Numerous large employers provide coverage of Talkspace, among them:

• Tyson Foods
• Nordstrom
• Magellan Health
• Open Door
• Warby Parker
• ZoomInfo

Talkspace Usability

One of the best features enjoyed by Talkspace users is its simple, intuitive interface. Even the least tech-savvy user can easily learn to navigate the different sections, and even switch between the desktop version and mobile app at any time. It is available for both iOS and Android users.

Sign-Up Process

You can sign up for Talkspace on your computer via any web browser or by downloading the Talkspace mobile app from either the Apple App Store or Google Play. You’ll be asked to provide a nickname, password, and email address. Signup begins with an interview by either an AI bot or a licensed therapist acting as a matching agent. You can choose which one you’d like to use.

You’ll be asked basic questions like age, name, and location and then be given the option to learn about how Talkspace works. The agent gathers general information about your previous experience with therapy and major presenting problems. They will then help you select a subscription option that works for you. You can change your subscription anytime afterward.

If you conduct the signup process with the AI chat system, you will be asked similar questions except they will be automated.

Once the consultation therapist or AI chat system has gathered the information they need, they will present you with three matched therapists. You’ll be given the option to choose a gender preference for your therapist. You can review the images, bios, specializations, and qualifications of each one before selecting who you want. Even after you have chosen one, you can request a new therapist anytime you wish.

Talkspace Chat Therapy

Once you select your match and complete your payment information, you’ll access a secure virtual therapy room. You can access this room from your preferred web browser or using the Talkspace app on your phone.

The Talkspace room offers an excellent chat platform that has a layout similar to other popular chat screens. You can send text, video, or audio messages to your therapist at any time. Each time you send a message, you’ll receive one back letting you know when you can expect a reply.

Therapists often reply within the same day. You will be notified if your therapist is not working the day you send them a message. You can set up notifications on your phone when using the app that will notify you when your therapist has replied. Otherwise, you will receive an email notification.

Therapy Session Scheduling

You can schedule your therapy sessions at a time that works for you from among your therapist’s available time slots. Talkspace offers flexible scheduling options, including video sessions, phone calls, and messaging therapy. You can choose the communication method that feels most comfortable for you and schedule sessions at a time that fits your busy schedule.

Talkspace’s platform is designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate. You can access your therapy sessions from your computer, tablet, or smartphone, making it easy to fit therapy into your busy lifestyle. You’ll also have access to a secure messaging system that allows you to communicate with your therapist between sessions.

Therapist Qualifications

Unlike some other online therapy providers, Talkspace requires each of its therapists to be fully licensed with 3,000 hours of clinical experience. The therapists are verified and background-checked before joining the platform. Talkspace also offers its hires additional training in specific approaches to therapy.

Professional counselors range in their experience from being newly licensed professional counselors to Ph.D.-level clinical psychologists. Unsurprisingly, there is also a great deal of variability regarding expertise and approaches to therapy. This is a positive aspect as you can sift through matches until you find a profile that appeals to your specific needs.

What Is Talkspace Therapy Like?

After my signup interview, I was matched with a therapist working out of New York. Her specific approach to therapy was listed as family systems and cognitive-behavioral therapy. She had been working for Talkspace for over a year at the time.

Upon matching, I was asked to provide consent to working with my therapist, and then we were able to begin our conversation. Her first message was a greeting to which I replied immediately. I then hit the button to notify my therapist that I was awaiting a response and was told that she would reply by 9 pm.

I immediately noticed that she tended to respond at the end of the day, even when I messaged early. This meant our introduction messages were stretched out over three days. By day four, she had asked me what was causing me “distress” in my life. I poured my heart and soul into a detailed message, giving her an outline of my current source of distress. I hit send and then waited six hours for my response.

The response was a single line offering advice I could have easily grabbed from an inspirational quotes Instagram page. She said, “Friends are like seasons, they come and go.” There is, of course, an element of truth to this statement, but the brief reply seemed to gloss over many of the concerns I had expressed. I was also surprised that she hadn’t asked me any questions about how I was feeling.

My next message was to let her know that I understand this concept but it was not overly helpful for my current situation. I was told I would get a response by 9 pm the next day. At exactly 8:30 pm the next day, she responded with a follow-up question.

At this point, I opted to switch therapists. Talkspace gave me the option automatically as part of their “check-in.”

Switching was rather easy. They allowed me to rate my experience with my first therapist and then gave me new options. My new therapist was a licensed clinical social worker specializing in cognitive-behavioral therapy and had been working for Talkspace for five months.

I began talking with my new therapist and found her to be more connected and warm than my previous therapist. Her responses were usually four to six lines and she responded at various times of the day.

As the days went on, she asked me questions and began to offer helpful and thoughtful responses. She peppered her responses with useful truths like “focus on your own growth.”

I noticed that I began to feel a sense of relief after venting my frustrations each day. Once I got better at clearly communicating specific needs and clarifying what I was looking for, I began to enjoy the mental health treatment I was receiving. There weren’t any major breakthroughs for me, but it did feel like Talkspace was a helpful element in my life.

Best Way to Use Talkspace

There is an adjustment period that comes with baring your heart and soul in a text and waiting for a response. It can also be tricky to get to the root of the problem if your situation is complicated or involves interpersonal difficulties. However, it is possible to gain meaningful insights and thoughtful feedback about many problems once you adjust to the Talkspace format.

To get the most out of your Talkspace sessions, it would be ideal to have a very specific or recurring issue that you want advice for. You would also likely find texting more effective if it is supplemented with video sessions, which generally need to be booked at least a week in advance, so keep that in mind.

Talkspace is very different from traditional therapy and there is bound to be a learning curve for therapists and clients as they adjust to the platform.

The fact that you can easily switch therapists is a huge benefit. Once I felt a connection with my therapist, it was also a nice feeling knowing that I had a 24/7 connection to a professional to help me work through and reflect on my issues.

As is true for in-person therapy, the more effort you put into Talkspace therapy, the more you will get out of it.

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Confidentiality and Privacy

Talkspace is very open about its privacy policy and has various measures in place to protect your information. The platform is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Talkspace assures users that all communication taking place on the website or app is encrypted. For further protection, the app also requires you to enter using a password you created. You can add extra identity protection by communicating with your therapist using a nickname rather than your legal name. Additional information may also be collected by Talkspace for users who access the site through their employer or insurance payor.

One aspect of Talkspace that is important to be aware of is that your conversations cannot be deleted. Given that the conversations between client and therapist are considered medical records, it is federally mandated that the records remain intact for a minimum of five years. They also keep any information on file that you provide about an emergency contact in case of a mental health crisis.

Certain information you provide to Talkspace may be used for research and analysis. The privacy policy states that “non-identifying and aggregate information” may be used. Such information generally includes data like how users navigate the website, types of interactions, and general demographic features. This information is usually used by companies to improve the platform’s usability and any identifying information would be removed for data analysis.

Specialties and Areas of Expertise

There are thousands of therapists on Talkspace with training in various modalities of therapy. Talkspace reports that therapists are trained in approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness, rational emotive behavior therapy, and psychodynamic methods. Each therapist on Talkspace has to adapt their modality of therapy to an online format which may result in significant differences in the quality of delivery.

The nature of the communication between client and therapist on the Talkspace platform lends itself to a more casual approach to therapy than would be given in a traditional face-to-face setting for many modalities.

There is no definitive list of conditions treated by therapists at Talkspace, but the platform is stated to be useful for problems such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety and Stress
• Trauma and Grief
• Addiction
• Eating disorders
• Family conflict
• Mood disorders
• Parenting
• Sexual abuse
• Relationship problems
• Sleep problems
• LGBTQIA+ issues
• Anger management

Couples Therapy on Talkspace

Many therapists on Talkspace specialize in couples counseling which may be very convenient for some couples. Couples will share the same therapist and can either log on together for joint sessions or opt for individual ones.

Talkspace offers online marriage counseling for helping worth through relationship issues such as:

• Sexual health
• Infidelity
• Sexual orientation
• Fertility issues
• Work and finances
• Parenting
• Intimacy
• Communication
• Addiction

Talkspace for Teens

A part of Talkspace’s growth plan has been to include an online therapy option for teens. Talkspace for Teen is geared toward adolescents from 13-17 years of age. Parental consent is required for teens to begin therapy which must be given by video and text message using the app. Children can simply upload a video of their parents consenting directly to the app.

Talkspace counselors conducting therapy with teens abide by standard ethical guidelines which means that parents have no access to any chats or information exchanged during therapy sessions. The only time a therapist will reach out to parents is if the child is in danger of harming themselves or others.

Parents are not involved in the therapy process unless agreed upon by the child and therapist. Parents who want updates on their child’s progress can reach out directly to the therapist. However, the therapist will only share information with parents if they have the child’s consent.

Talkspace has many counselors available who are qualified to work with teens. They specialize in many problems that are common to teens such as:

• School issues
• Relationships and family problems
• Anxiety or depression
• Dating
• Abuse
• Addiction
• Bullying
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation and sexual health
• LGBTQ+ issues
• Body image
• Self-esteem
• Social anxiety
• Career planning

Psychiatric Consultation and Medication Management

Talkspace was the first online mental health platform to offer prescription services to users in need of medications. For an additional fee, users can schedule virtual appointments with a psychiatrist who can prescribe and manage most medications. However, providers on Talkspace are unable to prescribe controlled substances.

Psychiatry clients will discuss the recommended treatment plan with the doctor during their consultation but are not guaranteed a prescription. The medication services on Talkspace are certainly valuable to individuals in need of medications and offer the advantage of prescriptions from specialists in the field.

Talkspace App Features

In addition to texting and online sessions, Talkspace offers access to an online symptoms tracker. This helps users keep tabs on their progress over time which can help with how they approach treatment. The app also features a section where you can complete exercises targeted at daily problems like stress or conflict. If you choose to, these exercises can be logged and shared with your therapist.

Lastly, the app provides access to live workshops. These are educational experiences held 5 to 6 times each week by therapists via Zoom. Each class is recorded and available for streaming by Talkspace clients.

Does Talkspace Work?

There is limited research available to assess how effective it is as a provider of therapy. However, research has been done to examine the effectiveness of messaging and Internet-based therapy.

A 2014 study found that when therapists engaged in cognitive behavioral therapy with their clients, online therapy was effective in treating depression. A 2020 study found that two-way messaging with a qualified therapist was just as effective as in-person therapy for anxiety and depression. Additionally, participants in this study tended to do better when their assigned therapists used a cognitive behavioral therapy approach. The study also found that participants who had more written engagements with their therapists did better than those who wrote less.

More work needs to be done to examine specific modalities of online therapy, but overall most research indicates that providing therapy through Internet-based platforms is a legitimate form of intervention that can help people improve their mental health. It is still unclear exactly how specific modalities of therapy can be used effectively online and which conditions are suitable for this form of treatment.

The most common complaint among Talkspace users is that they often wait a long time for responses from therapists and sometimes those responses feel copied and pasted. This can be a difficult feeling when you are leaving vulnerable messages. Others have reported excellent and high-quality interactions with their therapists from the beginning.

Talkspace may not be suitable for everyone. For severe and complicated mental health conditions it is better to get an in-person consultation. Also, for people who aren’t comfortable communicating in writing or online, it may not be as effective as meeting a therapist in person.

Whether or not Talkspace works depends on your presenting issues, the quality of the therapist you are matched with, the time they dedicate to you, and whether the format of delivery works well for your lifestyle and needs.

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Comparison to In-Person Therapy

Talkspace’s online therapy platform offers many benefits compared to traditional in-person therapy. For one, it’s often more convenient and flexible, allowing you to schedule sessions at a time that works for you. Additionally, Talkspace’s online platform can be more comfortable for those who struggle with anxiety or feel nervous about attending in-person therapy sessions.

That being said, some people may prefer the face-to-face interaction that comes with traditional therapy. Talkspace’s video sessions can help bridge this gap, allowing you to connect with your therapist in real time while still enjoying the convenience of online therapy.

User Experience and Satisfaction

You can find numerous positive Talkspace reviews online, indicating that the brand has a strong reputation for providing high-quality therapy services that meet the needs of its users. The platform has a 4-star rating on Trustpilot and a 4.4-star rating on the Google Play Store, with more than 500,000 downloads. Users praise the platform’s convenience, flexibility, and compassionate therapists.

Who Should Use Talkspace?

Talkspace may be best for people who are comfortable communicating through text. It is also better suited for people who are experiencing mental health problems that aren’t severe.

You should try Talkspace if you feel comfortable building a working relationship with someone virtually. Just as with in-person therapy, a lot of the benefits of Talkspace will depend on the therapist you are matched with. Finding a therapist that you can build a good rapport with and who offers expertise in your specific area of need will ensure that you get the most out of online therapy. One key benefit to Talkspace is that they employ thousands of therapists and make it fairly easy for you to switch your assigned therapist if you are unhappy with the match.

Talkspace is also well suited for individuals who struggle with social anxiety or who feel uncomfortable, or are unable, to visit a therapy office. The option to meet a therapist conveniently over the phone is a great benefit for many people who may not otherwise seek help.

You could also benefit from an app like Talkspace if you find journaling to be a helpful activity. Given that Talkspace is similar to a journal, except it writes back with good advice, it can be a very helpful tool for many individuals. Additionally, your chats with your therapist remain in the chat room even when your subscription ends. This can act as an excellent resource for reviewing previous suggestions and advice from your therapist about how to deal with certain types of issues.

In general, Talkspace may be a good option for people who are uncertain about therapy and curious to try it, people uncomfortable or unable to go to an office, those on a tighter budget, and people who prefer the convenience of therapeutic intervention on their own schedule.

Who Should Not Use Talkspace?

You should never use Talkspace during a mental health crisis. It is also not suited for people in need of a complicated treatment plan such as those with multiple diagnoses, mania, or psychosis. People with a history of trauma should have an emergency plan in place if they use the app in case they find themselves in need of crisis services.

Talkspace is not a good option for people who have been mandated to attend therapy by their employer, school, or other authority as the platform does not offer legal documentation for court-ordered therapy or disability programs.

Bottom Line

Finding affordable and accessible help from a mental health professional can be a difficult process. Talkspace offers to fill this void with its platform.

There are several benefits to Talkspace such as being able to vent about your problems as they arise and tracking your progress over time. Additionally, Talkspace offers an affordable way to get therapy with a qualified mental health professional from the comfort of your own home.

Overall, the platform is easy to use, offers counseling with qualified professionals, and gives the user the option to hand-pick their therapist and switch things up if it isn’t working for them.

Talkspace is a great option and may come down to a personal preference. At the end of the day, it can offer an effective, convenient, and affordable way to work on your mental wellness. The best way to know for sure is to give it a try yourself.