How Does BetterHelp Work For First-Time Therapy Users?

If you're interested in convenient, affordable mental health care, signing up with BetterHelp can be a positive next step on your mental health journey. However, enrolling in therapy for the first time can seem intimidating, especially if you're not sure what to expect. It’s easy to get started with BetterHelp if you are trying it for the first time. To get started, you'll simply need to fill out a brief onboarding questionnaire about your mental health needs and your preferences in a therapist. BetterHelp will use this information to match you with a therapist accordingly. Most people can be matched in as little as 48 hours, but it could take longer depending on therapist availability. Once matched, you can schedule your first session in whichever format you prefer (phone call, video call, or live chat). When it's time for your session, you'll log in to your BetterHelp account and begin speaking with your therapist via the medium you chose.

What is talk therapy?

Talk therapy, or psychotherapy, can be defined as “any psychological service provided by a trained professional that primarily uses forms of communication and interaction to assess, diagnose, and treat dysfunctional emotional reactions, ways of thinking, and behavior patterns.” It’s a type of mental health care that involves speaking regularly with a qualified therapist, usually for 40 minutes to an hour at a time, to get support in whatever emotional or mental health challenges you may be facing.

What are the types of talk therapy for mental health?

Talk therapy comes in many different formats or frameworks, each with a different goal. For example, a therapist might use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to help a client learn to recognize distorted thoughts that may be contributing to low self-esteem or depression and shift those thoughts in a more positive direction. 

Or, a therapist could use a grief counseling framework to support someone who is navigating a loss. For a client who has experienced trauma, a provider may use eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to help them work through the effects of the experience. These are just a few examples of hundreds of modalities out there today. Your therapist can recommend a modality they believe could be helpful for you. 

How therapy can be helpful for mental health?

Therapy is a core component of treatment for most types of mental illness, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and many others. Various evidence-based therapy frameworks can support individuals in getting to the root of their symptoms and learning healthy coping mechanisms that may help them feel better.

That said, you don't need to be showing signs of a diagnosable mental health condition in order to potentially benefit from talk therapy. In general, mental health professionals are trained to support people in navigating a wide variety of emotional challenges. Whether you're experiencing grief, relationship conflict, work stress, trouble sleeping, trouble focusing, difficulty managing your emotions, or another challenge, a therapist may be able to help. Anyone who is looking for emotional support can generally feel empowered to reach out for mental health support through therapy. 

What is the process of finding the right therapist for you?

Research suggests that the quality of the client-therapist relationship, also called the therapeutic alliance, is incredibly important in promoting positive treatment outcomes. The reason for this correlation is clear: If a person doesn't feel safe, comfortable, or understood by their therapist, they may not benefit from or stick to their treatment plan. Each person deserves to feel heard and to have a therapy experience that's personalized to them, and this type of experience is usually the most effective. 

Each therapy client is unique and has different needs when it comes to feeling comfortable in a therapeutic setting. For some people, meeting with the therapist who shares a core component of their identity—such as a particular ethnic or cultural background, a neurodivergent identity, or an LGBTQ+ identity—can be important for their comfort. If not, it's still usually important for a therapist to be trained in cultural competence, or the ability to be aware of and responsive to various cultural needs in a client.

Finally, it can also be necessary for a potential therapist and client to align in other ways. For in-person sessions, geographic proximity is necessary. The therapist charging a rate the client can afford and specializing in whatever challenges or modalities the client needs will also be paramount. Keep in mind that it can take time to find the right therapist for you, and it's not uncommon to meet with a few providers before finding one who feels like a good match. 

What is the difference between in-person therapy and online therapy?

Again, therapy is typically most effective when it's personalized to the individual's unique needs, so it makes sense that there are now multiple ways to receive this type of care. While traditional therapy has always been in person, advancements in technology in recent decades have enabled other formats to emerge as well, such as online or virtual therapy.

Online therapy is a format for delivering mental health care that takes place completely  remotely. With a platform like BetterHelp, for example, a client can get matched and then meet with a licensed therapist virtually, either via phone sessions, video sessions, or live chat sessions. 

What are the advantages of online therapy compared to in-person therapy?

In many cases, online therapy can have many potential advantages compared to in-person care, such as:

• No need for commuting to and from appointments, which can involve time, money, and stress
• Not being limited to the mental health care providers in one's physical area, which may be few
• Lower costs than in-person therapy sessions without insurance coverage, in many cases, even though the answer to “Does insurance cover online therapy through BetterHelp” is currently “no”
• Not having to meet with a provider face-to-face if it feels uncomfortable or anxiety-producing, thanks to phone and chat options 

While it may not be the right form of support in every case, online therapy can represent a convenient and more readily available way to receive mental health care for many people. 

What does the research says about in-person vs. virtual therapy via call or live chat?

As online therapy continues to grow in popularity, researchers continue to study its impacts. Consider some of these recent findings:

• In general, cognitive behavioral therapy—the most common form of talk therapy—that is delivered virtually may offer “comparable outcomes” to in-person therapy. 
• Online therapy treatment for depression and anxiety may offer “sustained and clinically meaningful improvements” in symptoms. 
• Online interventions may be an effective treatment approach for symptoms of grief in bereaved adults. 
• “A very short treatment” administered by a therapist over the internet can be effective in reducing anger problems.
• Online dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training sessions with a therapist may help reduce global symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

These findings indicate that you can typically feel confident in the quality of care you will receive whether you choose to work with a licensed therapist online or at their physical office. 

How can I exploring call- or live chat-based therapy services like BetterHelp?

BetterHelp is an online therapy platform that gives you options when it comes to how you prefer to communicate with a therapist. For your sessions, these include:

• Phone call, which allows you to verbally engage with your therapist on an audio-only call via landline or your cell phone
• Video call, which is a live session that involves chatting with your therapist “face to face" virtually, through a video feed, similar to Zoom or FaceTime
• Live chat, which is like a live-texting session that involves meeting with your therapist using only texted communication through your BetterHelp account 

You’ll also have the option to contact your therapist via in-app messaging at any time outside of sessions, and they’ll respond as soon as they’re able. This can be useful if you have questions or concerns outside of your scheduled session times that you want to share in the moment.

How does BetterHelp work for first-time therapy users?

It’s easy to get started with BetterHelp, whether you’ve been in therapy before or are trying it for the first time. To get started, you'll simply need to fill out a brief onboarding questionnaire about your mental health needs and your preferences in a therapist. You’ll be asked about things like how you identify, why you’re seeking therapy now, what you look for in a therapist, and what your habits are like. BetterHelp will use this information to match you with a therapist accordingly. Most people can be matched in as little as 48 hours, but it could take longer depending on therapist availability.

Once matched, you can schedule your first session in whichever format you prefer (phone call, video call, or live chat). When it's time for your session, you'll log in to your BetterHelp account and begin speaking with your therapist via the medium you chose.

What can I expect in my first session?

Especially if you're new to therapy, it's normal to be a bit nervous about your first session. Rest assured, however, that therapists are specifically trained to help clients feel comfortable and to guide the conversation. They'll likely start by asking you some basic questions about your life, interests, circumstances, culture, relationships, and how you've been feeling lately. They may ask why you decided to seek therapy now and what your goals for treatment are. 

If you don't have answers to or don't feel comfortable answering some of their questions, that's okay. Getting comfortable sharing your thoughts and feelings with a therapist can take time, and they are typically trained in supporting you in this process.

If, after one session or a few sessions, you feel like your therapist might not be the right fit, it's okay to switch. Since it’s common to try a few therapists before finding one that feels like a good match, BetterHelp makes it easy to change. The platform allows you to switch therapists any time, for any reason, for no additional cost.

What are common concerns in people who are new to working with a therapist?

If you're nervous about attending your first therapy session, you're not alone. Below are some common concerns that people have before trying therapy for the first time, plus information that may help you feel less worried. You may also find it helpful to read reviews from real clients who have worked with BetterHelp therapists.

What should I talk about with a therapist when I don't know what to talk about?

You may have decided to seek therapy for a specific reason, so talking to your therapist about what's bothering you is usually a good place to start. If you're worried that you'll freeze up or forget what you wanted to say, it might help to jot down a few notes beforehand that you can refer to during the session as needed. If you ever don't know what to say next, don't worry. Therapists are trained in engaging people in productive conversation that makes them feel safe and supported, so your therapist should be able to do this for you. 

What if my therapist won’t be able to help me?

Research suggests that around three quarters of people benefit in some way or another from seeking therapy. Therapists are typically trained in being able to help clients with all sorts of challenges, from mental health symptoms to relationship challenges to stress, grief, negative thoughts, and more. In general, there's no concern that’s “too small” or “too intense” for therapy, and you can feel comfortable sharing your true thoughts and feelings with your therapist because they're there to help you and not judge you. 

How does BetterHelp work for first-time therapy users? What if I don’t understand how to use it?

BetterHelp aims to be an easy-to-use service for clients of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. The platform will guide you through the sign-up process step by step, and, once matched, your therapist will guide you through the therapeutic process from there. 

If you have any concerns or difficulties, the BetterHelp customer service team is available to help. Online therapy is intended as a way to get readily available, affordable mental health care from a trained mental health professional. You're not alone, and help is available every step of the way.