Headway App Review: Pros, Cons, and Is It Right for You?

What is Headway?

Headway is a telehealth platform that provides online therapy and psychiatry services. Users can connect with licensed therapists and psychiatrists through video or phone sessions. Headway aims to make mental healthcare more accessible and convenient through virtual care.

How Does Headway Work?

Headway offers both therapy and psychiatry services for a wide range of mental health conditions. Here's an overview of how Headway works:

Therapy

Headway has over 5,000 licensed therapists covering all 50 states. Therapists have experience treating conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, relationship issues, LGBTQ support, grief, stress management and more. Users complete an intake form describing their needs. They are then matched with up to three therapists whose experience fits their situation. Users can review therapist profiles, intro videos and set up free video consultations before choosing the right provider.

Headway offers weekly video therapy sessions on a customized treatment plan. Therapy is available for individuals, couples and teenagers. Appointments can be scheduled through the mobile app or website.

Psychiatry

Headway provides prescription medication management through board-certified psychiatrists. Like with therapy, users fill out an intake form detailing their symptoms, diagnosis and medication history. They are matched with a psychiatrist for an initial video evaluation. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications and provide ongoing medication management. Follow-ups are scheduled monthly or as needed.

Insurance Coverage

Many Headway services may be covered in-network through insurance partners like Cigna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare. Users enter their insurance details to check eligibility. Headway manages claims processing and collecting copays or coinsurance fees. Therapy copays are usually between $15-$40 per session with insurance. Psychiatry copays range from $15-$75 per visit depending on coverage.

Membership Plans

For those without insurance coverage, Headway offers monthly membership plans. These provide discounted access to therapy and psychiatry services. Plans include:

• Therapy Only - $129/month
• Psychiatry Only - $299/month
• Therapy + Psychiatry - $349/month

Members get lower self-pay rates for sessions. Headway also offers financial assistance to those who qualify.

Headway Therapists

Credentialing & Screening

All Headway therapists complete a rigorous screening and credentialing process. Therapists must:

• Hold an active state license with no ethical violations
• Carry professional liability insurance
• Have 1-7+ years of experience
• Provide copy of diploma & transcripts
• Pass background checks
• Complete training on virtual care

Specialties

Headway vets therapists to ensure they have experience treating specific conditions. Some specialties covered include:

• Addictions
• ADHD
• Anxiety and panic disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Grief and loss
• LGBTQ support
• PTSD
• Relationships and family issues
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Stress management
• Trauma and abuse

Users can filter therapists by specialty to find an appropriate match.

Approaches

Headway therapists utilize evidence-based therapy approaches such as:

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
• DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
• EMDR (EMDR)
• IPT (Interpersonal Therapy)
• Mindfulness-based
• Psychodynamic
• Solution-Focused

Users can view therapists' profiles to understand their therapy orientation and approach.

Headway Psychiatrists

Credentialing & Screening

Like therapists, Headway psychiatrists go through extensive vetting and screening including:

• Board certification
• Active, unrestricted medical license
• DEA registration and ability to prescribe medication
• Professional liability insurance
• 5-15+ years of psychiatry experience
• Background checks
• Ongoing performance reviews

Specialties

Headway psychiatrists have broad expertise treating mental health conditions. Some specific specialties include:

• Addiction psychiatry
• ADHD
• Anxiety disorders
• Bipolar disorders
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Mood disorders
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Personality disorders
• PTSD
• Schizophrenia
• Sleep disorders

Review psychiatrist profiles to confirm they have experience treating your condition.

Medication Management

Headway psychiatrists can provide medication management services including:

• Initial consultation and evaluation
• Diagnosis confirmation
• Prescriptions and medication adjustments
• Monitoring effectiveness and side effects
• Regiment adjustments
• Ongoing maintenance and refills

How to Sign Up

Getting started with Headway involves this simple process:

1. Create an Account

First complete a profile with your contact and insurance information. Creating an account is free.

2. Select Services

Choose therapy only, psychiatry only or both. You can switch or cancel plans anytime.

3. Complete Intake Form

Fill out a questionnaire covering your mental health history, needs, medications and treatment goals.

4. Get Matched

Headway matches you with up to three providers based on your intake form and preferences.

5. Schedule a Session

Review provider profiles and set up a free intro call before scheduling regular sessions.

Covered Conditions

Headway therapists and psychiatrists can treat a wide range of mental health conditions including:

• Addictions
• ADHD
• Alzheimer’s & dementia
• Anxiety disorders
• Autism spectrum
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Insomnia
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Personality disorders
• PTSD
• Schizophrenia
• Substance abuse

Providers have experience diagnosing and developing treatment plans for each condition.

Appointment Information

Session Length

Headway therapy sessions are 45-minutes. Psychiatry follow-ups range from 15 minutes (med checks) to 45 minutes for initial consults. Session length depends on your provider and treatment plan.

Frequency

Most users see their therapist weekly and psychiatrist monthly. Frequency depends on each user's needs. Providers may suggest increasing/decreasing frequency as needed.

Cancellation Policy

Appointments must be cancelled at least 24 hours before scheduled time. Otherwise, a cancellation fee of up to 100% of session cost may apply.

Rescheduling

Sessions can easily be rescheduled through the app or website as long as notice is provided 24+ hours in advance.

No Show Policy

Users are charged up to 100% of the session fee if they no show. Repeated no shows can lead to being unassigned from your provider.

Insurance Coverage

Headway accepts a variety of insurance plans. Here's an overview of coverage:

Covered Insurance Plans

Headway is in-network with plans from major insurance providers like:

• Aetna
• Anthem
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Humana
• UnitedHealthcare

Headway services may be covered with other plans as well. Users can enter insurance details to check eligibility.

Copays & Deductibles

If in-network, users will pay any therapy copays or coinsurance fees listed on their plan. This ranges from $15-$40 per session typically. For psychiatry, copays are usually between $15-$75 per appointment depending on coverage.

Out-of-Network

Those with out-of-network plans can pay discounted session fees through Headway membership. Rates are lower than paying full out-of-network rates through insurance.

Claims Processing

For in-network plans, Headway handles claims submissions and collecting any copayments or coinsurance. This removes administrative hassles for the user.

Membership Plans

For those without insurance or with plans that don't cover Headway, monthly membership plans provide discounted access to services. Membership includes:

Therapy Only

• $129 per month
• One 45-minute therapy session per week
• Cancel anytime

Psychiatry Only

• $299 per month
• One monthly 15-45 minute psychiatry appointment
• Cancel anytime

Therapy + Psychiatry

• $349 per month
• Includes weekly therapy and monthly psychiatry
• Cancel anytime

With membership, users get lower self-pay rates for sessions ranging from $59-$179 per appointment depending on provider type and time.

How to Pay

Users have several payment options when using Headway:

In-Network Insurance

If in-network, Headway bills insurance and collects any copay/coinsurance fees from you.

Out-of-Network Insurance

Those with out-of-network plans pay session fees at time of visit. Headway provides forms to submit for reimbursement.

Membership

Monthly membership fees are collected upfront. Users pay any additional session fees at time of appointment.

Self-Pay

For self-pay, Headway collects payment at the time of each session. Rates vary based on provider type and length.

Financial Assistance

Those facing financial hardship may apply for a sliding scale fee based on income. Supporting documents are required.

How to Cancel Headway

Users can easily cancel their Headway membership or unassign from a provider at any time. Here's how the cancellation process works:

Therapy

Log into your account and click on your name, then "Leave This Therapist" to unassign. Or email help@headway.co.

Psychiatry

If seeing a psychiatrist only, email help@headway.co or call (888) 863-3491 to cancel.

Membership

For membership cancellation, click on your name then "Cancel Membership Plan". You can also email help@headway.co.

Cancel anytime - there are no cancellation fees. The membership remains active until the end of the billing cycle when cancelled.

Headway Pros & Cons

Here are some key advantages and potential disadvantages of using Headway for online therapy and psychiatry:

Pros

• Large provider network with 5,000+ therapists
• therapists and psychiatrists with evening & weekend availability
• Convenient virtual care access on any device
• Matches providers based on needs & preferences
• 2-3 free introductory calls before booking
• In-network insurance accepted with major carriers
• Low-cost membership options
• Financial assistance available
• Cancel anytime

Potential Cons

• Not useful for those wanting only in-person therapy
• More expensive without insurance coverage
• Some conditions may require or benefit from in-person visits
• Technical issues can disrupt video sessions
• May take time to find best therapist fit

Headway Review Summary

Overall, Headway provides a convenient and affordable way to access therapy and psychiatry through online appointments. Key features like:

• Thousands of available providers
• Customized matching
• Insurance coverage
• Evening & weekend availability
• Financial assistance programs

make Headway a top choice for virtual mental healthcare. While in-person visits are still vital for some, Headway expands access to quality care through technology. The platform empowers users to find the right providers from anywhere, at any time.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.