How To Become A BetterHelp Therapist And Provide Online Therapy For Mental Health
Becoming a BetterHelp therapist involves undergoing a five-step process overseen by BetterHelp’s Therapist Onboarding Team. The team conducts rigorous assessments to ensure that all mental health professionals have not only proper credentials but also a strong record of providing high-quality, evidence-based care to clients. Keep reading to learn how to become a BetterHelp therapist so you can begin providing online care to people in need of support through the BetterHelp platform.
What BetterHelp offers mental health professionals
For therapists who pass the application process, BetterHelp offers an opportunity to meet the diverse mental health needs of individuals all across the United States. Therapists who specialize in certain mental health conditions or in helping specific communities can find opportunities to connect with these individuals via BetterHelp’s matching process.
BetterHelp also allows therapists to fill their schedule, which may be especially helpful for many therapists who live in remote areas with fewer people looking for in-person therapy. Keep in mind that BetterHelp is a subscription-based therapy platform and does not provide crisis intervention services. It also does not currently accept insurance, though its costs for clients tend to be lower than those associated with in-person sessions without insurance.
How to become a BetterHelp therapist: educational requirements
All BetterHelp therapists must be fully licensed in their state, which typically requires at least a master’s degree (such as a psychology degree), usually along with other forms of education and supervised clinical practice. The following are some of the credentials of most therapists on BetterHelp today:
- LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
- LCPC: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
- LCMHC: Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- MFCC: Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor
- LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- PsyD: Doctor of Psychology
Applying to BetterHelp to practice online therapy
Some sections, such as message templates, will auto-fill based on information provided by therapists in the Expertise & Preferences portion. A therapist or social worker doesn’t have to fill in the schedule and payment sections until just before approval. If needed, BetterHelp’s Therapist Onboarding Team will contact the therapist for any necessary changes to their application. Once the application has been submitted, qualifying providers can begin the five-step process outlined below.
Step #1: screening
Once a therapist begins the application process, the Therapist Onboarding Team ensures that they have a license accepted by BetterHelp. This process involves checking that:
- The license is not expired
- The license is in an active status
- The license is not an associate or temporary license
- There are no disciplinary actions (DA) against the therapist
Step #2: profile review
The Therapist Onboarding Team then conducts a review of each therapist’s profile. Therapists can begin creating this profile and continue working on it during the onboarding process. Therapists must complete all nine sections of their profile to be considered.
Step #3: interview
BetterHelp also conducts a 15-minute virtual interview, or “Meet & Greet session,” with each prospective therapist. This call provides the opportunity for BetterHelp staff to verify the therapist’s identity, ensure that they have a professional setting for video calls, and answer any questions about the onboarding process.
Alternatively, some therapists may undergo a technology check. The platform used for this check verifies their identity by checking uploaded ID documents and ensuring that their microphone and speakers work and that they have a stable internet connection.
Step #4: clinical quiz
Every therapist must complete a clinical case study, which is evaluated by a licensed clinician at BetterHelp. While the quiz doesn’t require preparation and only takes about 15 minutes to complete, therapists only have one opportunity to pass. If they fail, they have to wait three months before retaking the assessment.
Step #5: background check
The background stage consists of three parts: the Google search, the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) component, and the background check through Checkr. Below is a brief overview of these three stages.
Google search
BetterHelp’s Therapist Onboarding Team first conducts a routine Google search to ensure that there are no obvious red flags about a candidate. Any concerning search results may result in a disqualification.
NPDB
The next part of the background check is the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) phase. The BetterHelp Therapist Onboarding Team adds therapist candidates to the NPDB to see if there are any negative reports or actions taken against them. By adding a therapist to the NPDB, BetterHelp can also receive any future reports for therapists who are active on the platform.
Checkr
The final phase of the background check involves Chckr, a third party that looks into the background of each therapist candidate. This process typically takes three to five business days. If a therapist passes this round, they move forward for approval. If they fail, they are disqualified.
How approved BetterHelp therapists can provide online therapy
Once approved to work on the platform, BetterHelp allows mental health professionals to provide therapy through numerous formats, including audio, video, and live chat. They can also provide support to their clients through in-app messaging between sessions.
Therapeutic support for mental health professionals
Therapists who are considering working with BetterHelp may benefit from speaking with a licensed therapist to care for their own mental health as well. BetterHelp has more than 30,000 licensed mental health professionals who can work with other therapists as they navigate career questions and various life challenges. As virtual providers know, online therapy can often be as effective as in-person therapy for addressing a variety of common concerns.
Takeaway
How to become a BetterHelp therapist: Is there a test to pass?
BetterHelp therapists have to complete a clinical case study. This study doesn’t typically take longer than 15 minutes to address and complete, and it usually doesn’t require preparation. However, therapists have only one chance to pass it. If they fail, they have to wait three months before they start the assessment again.
Does BetterHelp work with mental health professionals who accept insurance for online therapy?
BetterHelp is working with select insurance companies to join their networks. As BetterHelp begins to accept insurance, it will update its website to advise therapists and clients of insurers who work with BetterHelp.
Do BetterHelp therapists have to have a specific type of degree?
A licensed psychotherapist at BetterHelp can have a degree in counseling psychology, social work, or clinical psychology. Most have at least a master’s degree, but some have a doctorate. In order to practice on the platform, it is critical that each professional hold the necessary qualifications.
Are there BetterHelp offers or incentives for new therapists?
BetterHelp sometimes offers sign-on bonuses or incentives for offering a certain number of sessions per month. New therapists might consider asking about incentives, as these offers may change as the need for therapists evolves.
What percentage of applicants become BetterHelp therapists?
Less than one-third of applicants are accepted to work as BetterHelp therapists. This is the result of a rigorous application process involving a clinical assessment and a thorough background check.
Does BetterHelp provide crisis intervention services?
BetterHelp therapists don’t provide crisis intervention services. For those in need of such services, calling 988 or contacting another crisis helpline as soon as possible is recommended.
What kind of therapists are on BetterHelp?
Therapists who work in open roles on the BetterHelp platform may have a variety of different types of credentials and licensure. Per BetterHelp’s FAQs, each mental health professional on the platform is required to be a “trained and experienced licensed U.S. Psychologist (PhD / PsyD), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or similar applicable recognized professional license based on their state and/or jurisdiction.” Whether you meet with a clinical psychologist or licensed counselor on the platform, you can feel confident in the quality of care you’ll receive.
Is working for BetterHelp worth it?
BetterHelp partners with over 30,000 therapists, counselors, psychologists, and other psychotherapy professionals who work on the platform. Many choose to apply their training, graduate degree education, and experience to helping clients on this platform because of the convenience it offers for both providers and clients.
How qualified are BetterHelp therapists?
It is important to note that BetterHelp therapists must have all the same credentials required of a therapist who practices at in-person locations. While the specifics of these credentials can depend on the state, they usually mean that a provider must have taken every course required of their undergraduate and master's degree in a field related to mental health, passed the required exam, and completed the required number of supervised clinical hours. They must also have at least three years of experience in order to serve future clients on BetterHelp.
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