Online therapy is the provision of professional mental health counseling via live video chat, messaging apps, or over the phone. While the practice has existed for several years, it surged in popularity at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic a few years ago.
At the time, the drastic change in everyday life coupled with isolation and growing uncertainty led to a 25% increase in the global prevalence of conditions such as anxiety and depression. Online therapy emerged as an invaluable tool connecting qualified therapists and patients from the safety and comfort of their homes.
By removing the physical barriers of traditional therapy, patients living in remote areas or experiencing mobility issues can get the care they need. In addition, therapists can provide more affordable treatment options as there are no costs associated with a brick-and-mortar location.
While virtual therapy isn’t suitable for patients experiencing serious psychiatric illnesses, research suggests that it is just as effective as traditional face-to-face therapy when it comes to treating anxiety, depression, and interpersonal relationship problems among others.
In actuality, several mental health platforms are providing online mental health counseling directly to patients based in Arizona. In what follows, we dive into these providers and the services they offer.
Talkspace
Talkspace was founded in 2012 by Roni and Oren Frank who were inspired by an experience in couples therapy that strengthened their marriage. Today, the company not only offers couples counseling, but a wide range of services such as therapy and psychiatry for dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, anger management, mood disorders, family conflict, OCD, and trauma.
On Bestonlinetherapy’s list of sites that take insurance, Talkspace ranks as the best. The company works with several health plans and employee assistance programs and accepts insurance from Aetna, Pemera, Optum, Cigna, Gatorcare, and several others. As Talkspace’s therapy plans are subscription-based, patients pay $100 and $150 monthly for using the services with insurance.
Amwell
Short for “American Well”, Amwell provides nationwide coverage and services from its mobile web and app. Amwell therapists offer counseling for stress management, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, OCD, trauma, insomnia, life transitions, grief, and couples’ interpersonal struggles. Nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and pediatrics are some of the other services accessible with Amwell.
The company is in network with more than 55 health plans, including the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Aetna, iCare, ColVer, and Medica. Prices vary according to the provider and the type of treatment. Patients may pay between $109 and $129 for therapy and $109 to $279 for psychiatry.
Cerebral
Launched in early 2020, Cerebral is one of the newest online therapy services providers. Patients can find specialists addressing lack of motivation, anxiety, stress, depression, grief, and trauma among other mental health conditions. While initially available in a select number of states, Cerebral is now accessible nationwide.
The company has partnered with several popular health insurance providers, including Medicaid, Medicare, United Healthcare, Cigna, and Magellan Health. Patients whose insurance provider is in network with Cerebral could pay $30 for any of the monthly plans. A regular therapy plan that includes weekly 45-minute sessions typically costs $295 per month.
Synergy
Founded by Dr. Lisa Lovelace in 2017, Synergy eTherapy has been recognized as one of the first entirely virtual online group mental health practices in America. Synergy’s online therapists treat anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, maternal mental health concerns, grief, and loss among other conditions.
While some of Synergy’s professionals are in network with health insurance companies like BCBS, Oxford, Aetna, and Optum/United, some others are private and set their own rates. Patients will be offered various session lengths (30, 45, 50, and 75 minutes). A 45 to 50-minute session, for example, can cost anywhere from $100 to $200 depending on the therapist.
PlushCare
Funded by Dr. James Wantuck and Ryan McQuaid, PlushCare is a telehealth company with over 100 medical professionals. Those interested in their online therapy can get help with conditions such as anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and eating disorders. Out-of-pocket online therapy in Arizona costs $169 per session. However, the costs can be significantly lowered when co-paying with health insurance plans from Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shields, Medi-Cal, United Healthcare, and Anthem Blue Cross. PlushCare also offers a free 30-day membership trial for scheduling an initial appointment, which can be canceled at any time.
Should You Try Online Therapy?
Online therapy is here to stay. While it may not be suitable for everyone, research suggests that it can be as effective as in-person therapy for treating less severe psychiatric conditions. Not only is it more accessible, but also more affordable.
Currently, some of the major online therapy companies providing services in Arizona include Talkspace, Amwell, Cerebral, Synergy, and PlushCare. Most of them work with an ample network of health insurance companies that can help to reduce costs.
