We took a deep dive into this unique platform that offers both counseling and psychiatry services to more than one million people. This Talkspace review goes over the pros and cons, enrollment process, program options, costs, and more to give users everything they’ll need to know before deciding whether Talkspace is right for them. The Messaging Therapy subscription cost includes unlimited messaging via text, audio, or video. The Video Plus Messaging plan includes four 30-minute live sessions that can be conducted via text, audio call, or video call. The Video Plus Messaging Plus Workshops plan combines unlimited messaging with four live therapy sessions and gives users access to live online workshops. Talkspace workshops are led by licensed therapists, but they are not therapy sessions. Instead, they are group classes held via Zoom that cover a variety of topics, such as how to tame worrying thoughts, for example. Workshops last 60 minutes and are held Mondays through Thursdays every week at scheduled times. In general, live video, chat, or phone sessions last about 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the therapist’s availability. Talkspace therapists are available five days a week. Response time from counselors is similar to other platforms. In general, users can expect a response from their counselor within four to six hours of sending a message. This policy is in effect twice a day, five days a week and does not include live sessions. Talkspace also has a guaranteed response time. When users click on the “reply-by” button in the chat room, they will get an update with the time period in which their provider is expected to respond. This eliminates having to repeatedly check for emails and notifications. Talkspace guarantees daily responses five days a week.
Talkspace Plan Options
Messaging Therapy Unlimited text, video, and audio messagingVideo Plus Messaging Therapy Four live 30-minute sessions per monthVideo Plus Messaging Plus Workshops Unlimited text, video, and audio messaging, plus four live 30-minute sessions per month and access to live workshopsCouples Therapy Unlimited text, video, and audio messaging, plus four live 30-minute sessions per month, including both members of the coupleTeens Therapy Unlimited text, video, and audio messaging for teens ages 13 to 17Talkspace Psychiatry Session-based program for medication management. The psychiatrist will discuss mental health issues, but users will need to subscribe to one of the monthly plans if they’re looking for ongoing mental health counseling.
After the consultation, Talkspace will match users with several therapists. Users then choose a therapist from the list or ask for a different match. The ability to select from a list of therapists is one of the perks of Talkspace. It can take anywhere from a few hours to two days to get matched with a counselor. Once users are matched, they can begin communicating with their therapist in a private therapy room, open 24/7. Users can send text, video, or voice messages to their therapist at their convenience in this space. But the therapist is not required to respond immediately, so users will have to wait for a response.
Cognitive behavioral therapyClient-centered therapyDialectical behavioral therapyExistential therapyInterpersonal psychotherapyMindfulness therapyTrauma-focused therapyPsychodynamic therapyFamily therapy
Talkspace will match users with a therapist based on their individual needs. Talkspace counselors have a wide range of specialties, including:
AddictionDepressionAnxietyStressEating disordersSubstance abuseChronic illnessGriefTraumaParentingMood disordersAnger management Social anxietyBipolar disorderPost-traumatic stress disorderLGBTQ+ issues
Plus, they are authorized to work with clients only in the state where they are licensed. The price you pay will also depend on whether you plan on using insurance. Talkspace partners with health plans across the United States. You’ll be asked to enter your insurance information when you sign up in order to determine insurance eligibility. Users can pay monthly, quarterly, or biannually. The quarterly and biannual plans lower the monthly rate, as does insurance.
Messaging Therapy $276 per month, $744 per quarter, or $1,320 biannuallyVideo Plus Messaging Therapy $396 per month, $1,068 per quarter, or $1,896 biannuallyVideo Plus Messaging Plus Workshops $436 per month, $1,176 quarterly, or $2,088 biannuallyCouples Therapy $436 per month for both people or $1,188 per quarterTeens Therapy Teenagers ages 13 to 17 have access to all three therapy plans, with parent or guardian consentTalkspace Psychiatry $249 for the initial evaluation and $125 for follow-up sessions
Talkspace does not require a long-term contract, and users can cancel their subscriptions at any time through their account settings. That said, if users cancel before their monthly plan expires, they will lose the remaining time that they’ve already paid for. Talkspace does not provide refunds. Use Talkspace promo code “EVERYDAYTS” for $100 off your first month. Talkspace online therapy has a B rating with the BBB. However, the customer rating is considerably lower — at 1.08 out of 5 stars based on 75 customer reviews. It had 470 total complaints in the last three years, and of those, 238 were closed in the last 12 months. The majority of the complaints reference problems with charges, billing, cancellation, and counselor no-shows. Customers also describe difficulty reaching anyone through phone or live chat to discuss the issues. Others say they’ve left multiple messages that have gone unanswered. Several people mentioned not being able to schedule appointments, or leaving messages for a counselor and not hearing back for days. Trustpilot, another online review site, gives Talkspace 1.3 out of 5 stars (based on 84 reviews). Like the BBB reviews, most of these refer to poor communication, nonexistent customer service, and difficulty connecting with a therapist. — SILVIUS (REVIEW FROM THE APPLE APP STORE) “Their response time if you are having technical issues is too long. I signed up and my insurance wasn’t going through and it took 1 week of emailing back and forth before I finally got my EAP sessions. Then my free intro meeting counted as an EAP session and they wouldn’t fix it. If you need therapy, this is not the place. Honestly, it turned me off to therapy, which is the exact opposite of what this world needs. I am fortunate they never got money out of me.” — STEPHANIE L. (REVIEW FROM BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU) “I love my therapist! Very helpful. I am not happy with customer service as there is no phone number to contact a person. There are account issues I need resolved and can get no satisfaction via email. If I can find my therapist on a different platform I will move … simply due to thick-headed customer service. Thank you.” — LISA M. (REVIEW FROM BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU) Next, we considered the sign-up process and counselor matching. You see three different options when being matched with a therapist, and changing therapists is easy. Talkspace requires all of the mental health professionals on its platform to have a LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or PhD in clinical psychology; licensing in their practicing state; and at least 3,000 hours of clinical experience. We also evaluated counselor availability, session types, and cost. Talkspace does not accept Medicare or Medicaid, but users can save significantly if they prepay for a quarterly or biannual plan. All of these things — including an informative website, sign-up process, counselor matching and experience, pricing, session types, and counselor availability — factored into our Talkspace review. Read more about our online therapy review process and editorial standards.
Engaged in ongoing independent researchMystery shopped each of the brandsContacted brands’ customer service teams to ask questions and gauge responsivenessBecame customers of online therapy providers ourselvesReviewed academic research into the efficacy of online therapy versus in-person therapyRead hundreds of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties such as Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot
You can also reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357). The SAMHSA helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-days-a-year treatment referral and information service for individuals facing mental health or substance abuse disorders.
