Talkspace Online Therapy & Counseling Services Review 2023

Leigh Morgan
Leigh Morgan
Last updated:
Erin L. George, MFT
Erin L. George, MFT
Medical editor
MentalHelp independently researches, tests, and reviews products and services which may benefit our readers. Where indicated by “Medically Reviewed by”, Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. If you buy something through our links, or engage with a provider, we may earn a commission.

Online therapy that accepts a wide range of insurance providers

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Some of our MentalHelp recommendations, including Talkspace, may also be affiliates, and as such we may receive compensation from them if you purchase products or services through the links provided

Save $100 On Your First Month With Code “SPACE”

Talkspace

  • Online therapy that accepts a range of private insurance plans
  • Virtual therapy specializing in mental health conditions
  • Licensed psychiatrists available for medication management

Editor’s rating

8.1

Offers Psychiatry

At A Glance

Established in 2012, Talkspace is an online therapy service that helps users connect with trained therapists. By offering virtual therapy, Talkspace makes it easier and more convenient for users to discuss their concerns and challenges with a neutral third party. Talking with an online counselor is especially helpful for users who don’t live near a therapist or would have difficulty fitting in-person therapy sessions into their busy schedules. Talkspace offers the ability to message your therapist anytime, phone calls and video chats with experienced online therapists.

Pros

  • Participate in online therapy from anywhere with an internet connection
  • Strong measures are in place to ensure the safety of your data
  • Licensed psychiatrists available
  • No charge for switching therapists
  • Covered by many insurance plans

Cons

  • Not covered by Medicare or Medicaid
  • Live online counseling sessions aren’t included in the Messaging Therapy plan
  • Analyzes the content of messages using artificial intelligence (AI does not replace your human therapist)
  • Group counseling not available
  • Live sessions typically end after 30 minutes

Online Therapy Review: TalkSpace

Are Talkspace Online Therapists Licensed?

All Talkspace online counselors must have at least one of the following licenses or degrees:

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
  • PhD in Clinical Psychology

Talkspace also conducts a thorough background check on its online therapists to ensure your safety.

Talkspace

Talkspace Treatment Types Offered

Talkspace offers virtual counseling for teens (ages 13-17) and adults. The platform also has licensed psychiatrists available to provide prescriptions and ongoing medication management services. As part of an online therapy session, a Talkspace therapist may use cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy or another form of psychotherapy to address emotional problems and help you change the way you think or behave. Your therapist may also offer one or more of the following:

  • Couples therapy
  • Trauma therapy
  • Anger management
  • OCD therapy
  • PTSD therapy
  • Somatic therapy

Things to Know About Talkspace

Talkspace has three subscription plans available:

  • Messaging Therapy starts at $69 per week and includes the option to message your therapist anytime. Your online therapist will provide daily responses 5 days per week.
  • Video + Messaging Therapy starts at $99 per week and offers video therapy sessions with the option to message your therapist anytime.
  • Video + Messaging + Workshops includes everything in the first two plans, along with weekly online workshops. This plan starts at $109 per week.

The matching process is simple. After you fill out a brief assessment, Talkspace will match you with a licensed online counselor, which takes about 48 hours. Talkspace accepts multiple health plans, making online therapy more affordable. If you don’t have health insurance, you may be able to use funds from a health savings account or flexible spending account to cover some or all of your costs.

MentalHelp independently researches, tests, reviews, and recommends the best products. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Ad
Some of our MentalHelp recommendations, including Talkspace, may also be affiliates, and as such we may receive compensation from them if you purchase products or services through the links provided

Save $100 On Your First Month With Code “SPACE”

Talkspace

  • Online therapy that accepts a range of private insurance plans
  • Virtual therapy specializing in mental health conditions
  • Licensed psychiatrists available for medication management

Editor’s rating

8.1

Offers Psychiatry

Talkspace Video Review

Types of Sessions Available on Talkspace

Talkspace offers the following types of virtual therapy sessions:

  • Live video
  • Asynchronous messaging
  • Live chat
  • Phone calls
  • Audio messaging

How Long Are the Sessions?

Most Talkspace online therapy sessions last for 30 minutes. Some therapists are willing to extend a session to 50 minutes if needed.

How to Schedule Online Therapy With Talkspace

To schedule an appointment with the Talkspace online counseling service, you need to sign up for a Talkspace subscription. After you join, log in to your account and click the Tools section. Then click on Live Sessions, go to the room details page and choose a session length.

Does Talkspace Offer Group Sessions?

Although Talkspace offers virtual counseling for couples, it doesn’t offer group therapy.

Talkspace Pricing and Special Offers

Talkspace pricing starts at $69 per month for the basic Messaging Therapy plan. If you sign up for the Video + Messaging Therapy or Video + Messaging + Workshops plan, the total price of your subscription will depend on how many live therapy sessions you book each month. Talkspace bills monthly, quarterly or annually depending on your preferences.

The platform regularly has special offers for new users. To view current offers, visit the Talkspace website and check the top of the homepage for a coupon code. 

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Talkspace allows you to cancel at any time, but it doesn’t issue refunds if you only use part of your subscription. For example, if you pay for a quarterly subscription on January 1 and cancel on March 10, you won’t receive a refund for the rest of March.

Do They Accept Insurance or Medicaid?

Talkspace works with many private health insurance plans, but it’s not covered by Medicaid.

Do They Offer Financial Aid?

Talkspace doesn’t offer financial aid for mental health therapy, but it typically has discounts available for first-time users.

What’s Unique About Talkspace?

Talkspace was one of the first platforms to offer robust online therapy services. Because the company has a strong reputation, it attracts licensed online counselors from all over the United States. Unlike many other online therapy platforms, Talkspace also has psychiatrists available (matched according to who is licensed in your state) to provide prescriptions and medication management services*. Finally, Talkspace operates in 10 countries and has online counseling services available in 32 languages.

*Talkspace psychiatry services come at an extra cost of $249 for the initial evaluation and $125 for follow-up appointments.

Talkspace Customer Service and Support

Talkspace provides support via email and has an online help center with answers to frequently asked questions.

Final Words

Talkspace offers couples therapy and individual therapy for teens and adults. The platform offers three plans, all of which include the ability to message your licensed therapist anytime. You also have the option of scheduling a live video session or talking to an online therapist via telephone.

MentalHelp independently researches, tests, reviews, and recommends the best products. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Ad
Some of our MentalHelp recommendations, including Talkspace, may also be affiliates, and as such we may receive compensation from them if you purchase products or services through the links provided

Save $100 On Your First Month With Code “SPACE”

Talkspace

  • Online therapy that accepts a range of private insurance plans
  • Virtual therapy specializing in mental health conditions
  • Licensed psychiatrists available for medication management

Editor’s rating

8.1

Offers Psychiatry

Frequently Asked Questions

Talkspace subscription plans start at $69 per week.

It depends on your subscription plan and your preferences. 

Talkspace therapy sessions typically last for 30 to 50 minutes.

Yes, Talkspace accepts many private health insurance plans.

Talkspace is a legitimate online therapy platform with thousands of licensed counselors available to help you improve your mental health. The platform has more than 60,000 positive reviews and has been providing online counseling for 10 years.

To contact Talkspace, email [email protected]. The platform also has an online help center with answers to common questions.

Yes. Talkspace often has discount codes available for new users.

Talkspace Customer Reviews

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Talkspace

Editor's rating

8.1

Offers Psychiatry