Comparing Calmerry vs BetterHelp Online Therapy in 2023 | Benefits & Limitations

Overview Of Calmerry And BetterHelp Online Therapy

In recent years, online therapy services like calmerry and betterhelp have become increasingly popular options for accessing convenient and affordable mental health support. These online counseling platforms connect users with licensed therapists for video, phone, or text-based therapy sessions on their own schedule.

Online therapy can provide similar benefits to traditional in-office counseling for issues like depression, anxiety, relationships conflicts, trauma, and more. The main advantages are the flexibility, lower costs, and accessibility of care.

As two of the most well-known brands in this developing teletherapy field, calmerry and betterhelp have a lot of similarities. But they also have some key differences in how their services work and what they offer users. This thorough comparison will cover the pros and cons of each.

How Calmerry And BetterHelp Compare For Users

When considering calmerry or betterhelp for your therapy needs, there are a few key questions to answer to determine which platform would suit you best:

Types Of Therapy Offered

Calmerry focuses specifically on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), offering tools to challenge negative thought patterns behind mental health issues. Therapists help set goals and make actionable plans. BetterHelp, on the other hand, lets counselors provide different therapy types like CBT, person-centered therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and more depending on their specialty and clients' preferences.

Custom Matching Tools

On BetterHelp, users fill out a questionnaire about their history, personality, preferences, and needs. An algorithm then recommends 3-5 therapists believed to be a good fit. Calmerry has users specify a gender, time zone, and broad expertise area like “stress” or “self esteem” to get matched, but no in-depth questionnaire.

Communication Options

Both platforms offer video, phone, text chat, and messaging options. The main difference is calmerry focuses communication within its live chat dashboard while betterhelp interacts through a separate app. Also, calmerry appointments must be at least 25 minutes and schedules vary, while betterhelp offers more flexibility in session lengths starting at 10 minutes.

Group Support Options

BetterHelp gives users access to advice groups monitored by counselors as an optional extra layer of support alongside one-on-one therapy. Calmerry doesn't currently offer any group therapy options or forums at this time beyond individual messaging with your matched counselor.

Cost And Insurance Coverage

Both platforms offer financial aid options, with costs as low as $36 per week. Neither take traditional insurance. BetterHelp has experimented with insurance coverage, while calmerry does not currently accept any insurance. Both offer discounts for committing to longer subscription plans.

Credentials And Qualifications Of Counselors

Ensuring properly trained mental health professionals are providing care is vital when choosing online therapy options. So what are the credentials required for counselors on these platforms?

BetterHelp

BetterHelp counselors must have a minimum of 3 years clinical experience and hold an active license to provide therapy in their state. All therapists complete a vetting process including identity verification, reference checks, and network exams. BetterHelp states their acceptance rate for new counselors is around 15% currently.

Calmerry

To join the Calmerry counseling team, mental health professionals must also hold a valid state-issued license to practice therapy. Specific experience requirements vary slightly depending on highest academic degree attained. Their application states therapists must have “1-7 years” of experience depending on level of education.

Both companies ultimately have thorough application and review systems aimed at verifying backgrounds, competency, specializations, communication skills, technical capabilities, and more before allowing counselors to offer online therapy services on their platforms.

Benefits And Limitations Of Online Therapy Services

When weighing options like calmerry and betterhelp, the positives and negatives of this form of therapy generally are important considerations as well.

Benefits

Research shows online counseling provides comparable outcomes to traditional therapy for many mental health, behavioral, emotional, and relationship issues. Benefits include:

• Lower cost barriers due to reduced overhead like rent and admin fees
• Much wider range of availability and access to care for those in rural areas or with mobility challenges
• Stay in a comfortable environment instead of traveling to appointments
• Reschedule or attend sessions from anywhere with phone/video access
• Potential for more consistent counseling with text chats or messages between live sessions
• May feel more comfortable opening up without sitting face-to-face

Limitations

Online therapy does have some inherent restrictions to consider as well, like:

• Less of an interpersonal connection without seeing body language cues
• Technical barriers or loss of access during internet/power outages
• Potential privacy risks inherent with electronic communication
• Self-discipline required to consistently attend video sessions
• Not ideal fit for those needing close physical monitoring or drug tests
• State laws can restrict treatment options available remotely

What Former Users Say About These Services

Looking at verified reviews from past and current customers provides helpful insight into the real-world pros and cons of using Calmerry versus BetterHelp.

Calmerry

Analyzing reviews from multiple consumer sites, Calmerry earns an average rating around 4 out of 5 stars. Many clients praise the easy sign-up process, range of counselor options, convenience of sessions, and excellent text-based support system.

Some downsides mentioned in reviews include scheduling conflicts with certain therapists, variation in quality between different counselors, and occasional technical problems with live video cuts or lags. But most say the affordability and overall value outweigh the sporadic issues.

BetterHelp

Looking at external reviews of BetterHelp, their average customer rating falls between 3 and 4 out of 5 stars. The vast majority emphasize the huge selection of counselors, convenience of on-demand access, and affordability compared to traditional counseling.

Constructive feedback includes mentions of inconsistent quality depending on the therapist matched, less flexibility with scheduling, some insurance/pricing confusion early on, and questions about efficacy compared to in-person therapy. Positive testimonials still far outweigh negative critiques.

Summary And Key Takeaways Comparing Calmerry And BetterHelp

For convenient, affordable online therapy, both Calmerry and BetterHelp offer proven options that can effectively supplement or replace in-office counseling for many mental health needs. Key highlights include:

• Calmerry offers live scheduled video therapy focused specifically around cognitive behavioral techniques through an integrated real-time chat platform.
• BetterHelp provides access to a wider range of therapy types via phone, video, chat or messaging using a separate app that syncs with counselors.
• Both therapy providers have competitive pricing, starting around $36-70+ per week depending on subscription plan length.
• All counselors must complete rigorous screening and verification checks before being approved to offer therapy on either platform.
• The convenience, flexibility, and accessibility of services lead to generally positive reviews and continued growth for both brands.

When choosing the best online therapy option for your needs, take time to research the available experts, methodology, communication modes, costs, and overall access that would help you thrive and feel supported on your mental health journey ahead.

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.