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I. The 10 Best Online Anxiety Therapy of 2023

BetterHelp — Best Overall
BetterHelp is the largest online counseling service in the world, with over 30,000 licensed therapists who specialize in a broad range of issues, including anxiety. You can message your counselor at anytime.

Ritual — Best for Couples – Get 20% off with code: Therapy20
Ritual specializes in relationship counseling. In addition to regularly scheduled sessions with trained professionals, clients receive videos and exercises to help support goals and needs.

Talkspace — Best for Insurance Coverage
Talkspace collaborates with over 60 health plans, employee assistance programs (EAP) and educational organizations to make online anxiety therapy accessible to everyone. The company lists all of its partners on its website.

PlushCare — Best for Prescription Medication
PlushCare matches patients with licensed therapists and board-certified physicians across the country. PlushCare physicians help patients decide whether they need medication.

Online-Therapy.com — Best Membership Plan
Online-Therapy.com offers a wide range of membership plans, including a free trial of the platform’s program that includes easy-to-follow sections, as well as yoga and meditation videos. The paid programs start at $31.96 per week.

Faithful Counseling — Best for a Christian Perspective
Faithful Counseling offers online therapy for individuals seeking help from professionals who share a Christian background. All the members of the team are licensed therapists who are also practicing Christians.

Pride Counseling — Best for LGBTQ Community
Licensed therapists at Pride Counseling specialize in the LGBTQ community and are available around the clock to help people who struggle with mental health or LGBTQ issues.

TeenCounseling — Best for Teens
TeenCounseling can help teenagers ages 13-19 cope with many mental health issues, including anxiety. Parents don’t have access to the counseling room to ensure the teen receives effective treatment.

Doctor on Demand — Best for Non-English Speakers
With Doctor on Demand, therapists and psychiatrists from across the country are available to provide assistance in 35 languages. Sessions are held via phone calls or video chats.

Larkr — Best for Groups
The Larkr mobile app allows more than one person to join a live session from different devices, making family and couples counseling more convenient. Individual patients can also invite other people to their sessions to discuss specific issues.

II. How We Chose the Best Online Anxiety Therapy

To put together this list, we evaluated each company based on features we consider essential to ensure the online anxiety therapy services are reliable, secure and can fit the lifestyles of most patients.

Communication Methods

Convenience is one of the reasons people opt for online therapy, so we wanted to make sure the platforms we chose offered various ways for patients to connect with their therapists. All of the platforms on our list have a variety of connection methods, such as video and phone calls, email, live chat and text messaging.

Available Therapists

We understand that therapy is a very personal experience, so we prioritized online anxiety therapy services with a large pool of therapists that offer patients the option of selecting their own counselor.

Accessible Care

Accessibility and convenience are great benefits of online anxiety therapy. Therefore, we selected services that offer on-demand and same-day appointments. We also prioritized platforms that provide support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

III. Our Top Picks for Online Anxiety Therapy

BetterHelp — Best Overall

A screenshot of the online therapy landing page taken on February 2023

BetterHelp was a pioneer in online counseling services and is currently the largest in the world. It offers access to over 30,000 licensed therapists with experience and expertise in a broad range of issues, including anxiety, depression, addiction and grief. BetterHelp is available to patients nationwide and offers three types of counseling: individual, couples and teens.

Once patients sign up, they have to answer a few questions about their needs so the platform can match them with a therapist. Patients also have the option of requesting a new therapist if they’re not satisfied with the one assigned to them. According to BetterHelp, all their therapists have at least three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. In addition to English, treatment is available in French, Hebrew, Igbo, and Spanish (limited availability).

Clients can use their computer or download the BetterHelp app to have their sessions and chat with counselors. Disabled individuals can enable and launch the accessibility preferences on Better Help’s website or use their device’s native accessibility features.

A study conducted by the Berkeley Well-Being Institute showed that 94% of patients prefer BetterHelp over face-to-face counseling. The study also found that the online therapy service provided by BetterHelp is as effective as face-to-face therapy.

Price Appointment Types Accepts Insurance Therapists on Staff
$60 to $90 per week (billed monthly) Phone call
Video chat
Text messaging
No 30,000+

What Patients Are Saying

Many BetterHelp customers praise the quality of its online therapy services and claim to have noticed improvements after a few sessions. “I can confidently say that I am a lot less anxious about my career path now than when I first signed up,” says one user after working with a BetterHelp therapist for four weeks.


Ritual — Best for Couples

Image 132

Ritual is an online counseling program that offers therapy services to couples or individuals who need help with their marriage or relationship.

The program offers one-on-one guidance from a therapy professional. Therapists are located across the country and are trained in science-backed methods such as the Gottman Model and Emotionally Focused Therapy.

Counseling includes regular 20-minute sessions with a therapist. Depending on the pricing plan an individual chooses, sessions take place on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Clients also receive weekly videos and exercises designed to help with their specific needs.

Ritual may be used either individually or with a partner. Clients may change this option once therapy has begun.

Ritual offers a 14-day money-back guarantee. Users receive a 20% membership discount with the discount code “Therapy20”. Discount is automatically applied at checkout when you click on the link above.

Price Appointment Types Accepts Insurance Therapists on Staff
Starting at $128 (solo) or
$208 per month for solo sessions plus 1 joint session (couples)
Zoom chat No 50

What Patients Are Saying

Ritual clients appreciate the non-conventional counseling approach. “My husband would never have gone to a traditional therapist,” writes one client. “With Ritual, he feels comfortable, he can do things on his own terms.”


Talkspace — Best for Insurance Coverage

Image 170

Talkspace makes online anxiety therapy even more accessible by accepting insurance coverage. The company partners with over 60 health plans to provide treatment services through employee assistance programs (EAP) and behavioral health benefits.

With thousands of licensed therapists, Talkspace helps patients with issues such as anxiety, addiction, depression, eating disorders, and more. There are four types of counseling available: Individual, couples, family, and senior.

The company’s online therapy services are convenient for customers because Talkspace offers on-demand care with therapists who are available 24/7, including holidays.

After joining Talkspace, patients are asked to chat with a consultation therapist and answer a few questions to better determine their needs. Then, patients are able to choose a therapist from a list of recommended matches. If at some point, they feel their therapist isn’t a good fit, they can request another provider through their account page and select a new one from another list. Patients who aren’t happy with these options may also ask to be matched again.

On Talkspace’s website, it’s possible to take an Anxiety Test — a short online test that may help people determine whether they’re living with anxiety.

In addition to English speakers, Talkspace’s licensed therapists can assist speakers of the following languages: Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian Bokmål, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.

Starting Price Appointment Types Accepts Insurance Therapists on Staff
$69 per week (messaging only)
$99 per week (messaging and video)
$109 per week (messaging, video, and workshops)
Phone call
Video chat
Text messaging
Yes Thousands (number not specified)

What Patients Are Saying

Talkspace customers highlight the convenience of having support 24/7. “It’s 9:48 at night, and because of Talkspace, I’m talking to a therapist,” says one user. “Being able to talk to your therapist instantly at a moment’s notice is wonderful,” another user writes.


PlushCare — Best for Prescription Medication

“plush

PlushCare is a telehealth platform that was founded by a physician in San Francisco. It has now grown into a network of more than 100 board-certified physicians offering a range of medical and mental health services throughout all 50 states.

To begin your therapy, visit PlushCare to find a licensed therapist who is compatible with your specific needs. Then book an appointment for a video session that best suits your schedule. Same-day appointments are sometimes available.

Therapists are qualified to discuss conditions such as anxiety and depression. While therapists are not qualified to prescribe medication, they may refer you to a prescribing doctor to discuss medication options. You may also book an appointment directly with a prescribing doctor. If the doctor prescribes medication, you may pick it up at a local pharmacy. PlushCare accepts patients with or without insurance.

Price Appointment Types Accepts Insurance Therapists on Staff
Medical care without insurance: $129 initial visit, $99 follow-up visits Video chat Yes 100+

What Patients Are Saying

“My physician is knowledgeable, understanding, empathetic, and everything else you need a doctor to be.”


Online-Therapy.com —Best Membership Plan

online therapy screenshot

Online-Therapy.com services are based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps patients identify, question, and overcome dysfunctional thoughts, behavior, and emotions. The company’s team of 67 therapists is available eight hours a day, Monday to Friday, whereas the rest of the staff is available around the clock on weekdays.

The platform’s therapists are ready to help people with anxiety disorders, including health, social, and speech anxiety. The company also has therapists who can assist with other issues, such as addiction, depression, insomnia, and PTSD.

By signing up for Online-Therapy.com, patients get full access to the online therapy program, which is divided into eight sections with worksheets. The available resources also include simple yoga videos to help individuals cope with depression, anxiety, or stress.

Online-Therapy.com offers four membership plans, including a free trial of the program that provides access to resources. All members with a paid subscription get daily feedback on their worksheets, while Standard and Premium members also have weekly 30-minute live sessions with their therapist and can message them at any time.

A therapist is assigned to a member based on their profile. However, if the patient isn’t satisfied with a provider, they can request a new one.

Price Appointment Types Accepts Insurance Therapists on Staff
$0 per week – Trial
$31.96 per week – Basic
$47.96 per week – Standard
$63.96 per week – Premium
Phone call
Video chat
Text messaging
No 67

What Patients Are Saying

Patients often compliment the resources provided by Online-Therapy.com. According to one customer, the company offers many helpful techniques and tools to assist with any issues the person may have. “The videos and worksheets help me to be organized with my thoughts and help me see where I am at,” another customer says.


Faithful Counseling — Best for a Christian Perspective

Faithful Counseling screenshot

Faithful Counseling is an online therapy service designed to help people seeking treatment from a Christian perspective. Team members are licensed therapists and practicing Christians who specialize in a wide range of issues, including anxiety, stress, depression, LGBTQ issues, parenting, and family conflicts.

When users sign up, they’re matched with a therapist based on their profile and the types of issues they have. Clients are free to choose a new therapist if they’re not happy with their treatment.

As with most online therapy services, it’s possible to sign up with Faithful Counseling and remain anonymous. When joining, individuals aren’t asked for their full name or contact information; they can simply pick a nickname to identify them in the system. Once a person starts the counseling process, they’re asked to provide emergency contact information in case their therapist believes the individual or someone else might be in danger.

While Faithful Counseling therapists might offer spiritual insight based on their personal beliefs, it’s not their job to provide counseling on strictly spiritual matters. For these issues, Faithful Counseling recommends seeking traditional pastoral counseling.

Price Appointment Types Accepts Insurance Therapists on Staff
$60 to $90 per week (billed monthly) Phone call
Video chat
Messaging
No Not mentioned

What Patients Are Saying

Clients are satisfied with their therapists’ availability and quick responses. One user says that her therapist is “very understanding” of her needs and schedule. Another user compliments a counselor by saying, “She responds in a timely manner and also checks in weekly.”


Pride Counseling — Best for LGBTQ Community

pridecounseling screenshot

Pride Counseling provides online therapy services to the LGBTQ community and is accepting of people of every gender, orientation, and identity. Their service came as a response to the perception that members of the LGBTQ community struggle with mental health issues at a disproportionately high rate.

All counselors at Pride Counseling are licensed therapists with at least three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. They specialize in the LGBTQ community but might have different approaches and areas of focus. Pride Counseling also has counselors who specialize in specific issues, such as anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, and religion.

While users can exchange messages with their counselors at any time, live sessions need to be scheduled with the therapist.

Pride Counseling also assures users that they can get help discreetly, as they don’t have to provide their full name when signing up. A nickname can be picked to identify the user in the system.

As with other online therapy platforms, Pride Counseling matches users with a therapist based on their profile and specific issues. Patients can ask for a new therapist if they don’t feel comfortable with the one assigned to them.

Price Appointment Types Accepts Insurance Therapists on Staff
$60 to $90 per week Phone call
Video chat
Live chat
No Not mentioned

What Patients Are Saying

Pride Counseling customers are thankful for the support they’ve received from their therapists. One user says that their counselor is “understanding and open-minded.” Another patient says that their therapist is “tremendously supportive” and has helped them overcome their “skepticism about accessing therapy through an app.”


TeenCounseling — Best for Teens

Teen-Counseling screenshot

TeenCounseling is a platform where teenagers aged 13-19 have access to online therapy services to help them cope with many mental health issues, including anxiety, bullying, depression, and anger.

Parents or legal guardians sign up at TeenCounseling first. Once they get matched with a licensed therapist, parents can invite their teens to the platform, and TeenCounseling sends teens an invite code by email or text message to join.

The platform has over 5,000 licensed therapists located across the United States. While live sessions need to be scheduled in advance, parents and teens have access to separate chat rooms — one for the parent, one for the teen — where they can message their counselor at any time.

Parents don’t have access to the counseling room so teens feel comfortable discussing any issue. However, if a teen shares the intention of severely harming themselves or others, or if they report abuse or neglect, counselors have to break confidentiality for the protection of the people involved.

TeenCounseling is also accessible by disabled users. Those using a desktop browser can enable the accessibility preferences on their account, whereas mobile users can use their device’s native accessibility features.

Price Appointment Types Accepts Insurance Therapists on Staff
$60 to $90 per week Phone call
Video chat
Live chat
No Over 5,000

What Patients Are Saying

Many parents are happy to see how online anxiety therapy has helped their children. “Our teen was experiencing panic attacks and heavy anxiety that was almost crippling … . I have watched my teen grow and become more confident and self-aware using the tools (his therapist) has given him. He no longer feels helpless or like a victim of his anxiety – he feels empowered and in control,” a customer says.

Doctor on Demand — Best for Non-English Speakers

dr on demand screenshot

Doctor on Demand is an online platform providing various types of medical care, including mental health care. The platform has therapists and psychiatrists from across the country who are available to assist 24/7.

Unlike other online therapy platforms, Doctor on Demand provides subscribers with a list of available licensed therapists in their state, along with their biographies. Members can pick any counselor from the list. Should they feel happy with their choice, they may meet with the same therapist for future visits.

Psychiatrists are allowed to prescribe meditation if they judge it necessary, as well as order electronic prescriptions to the pharmacy of the client’s choice. However, there are limitations on the type of medication they can prescribe. If a patient needs any controlled substance, Doctor on Demand suggests they schedule an in-person visit with a local psychiatrist or health facility.

Sessions are conducted via phone calls or video chats. Before seeing a therapist, patients must schedule an appointment via the mobile app or the platform’s website. Patients’ information is secure and protected by encrypted servers, and the system is also HIPAA-compliant.

The Doctor on Demand team is comprised of U.S.-based psychiatrists and therapists, and treatment is available in English and 35 other languages. It’s also one of the few online therapy platforms in the United States that offers insurance coverage to employers.

Price Appointment Types Accepts Insurance Therapists on Staff
$129 for a 25-minute session
$179 for a 50-minute session
Phone call
Video chat
Yes Not mentioned

What Patients Are Saying

Doctor on Demand customers are satisfied with the convenience of the service, and how it’s made more affordable by insurance coverage. “Between struggling (to be) able to physically make it to appointments and (to be) consistent, the Doctor on Demand app helped (…) With my current health insurance, I’m actually SAVING money,” says a patient.


Larkr — Best for Groups

larkr screenshot

Larkr is an online therapy platform that gathers a large pool of licensed therapists with multiple areas of expertise, including anxiety, depression, addiction, and PTSD.

When signing up, clients answer a few intake questions that allow the platform’s algorithm to preselect a few therapists. Then, the individual can choose the counselor that best suits their needs and goals.

With Larkr’s mobile app, more than one person can join a live session from their own devices — there’s no need to be in the same location, which makes couples or family counseling more convenient. Individual counseling patients can also invite family members or other people to their sessions to discuss specific issues.

On-demand care is also available: Larkr’s app can connect patients to a therapist for live 50-minute sessions at any time. Users don’t have to sign up for monthly subscriptions. Instead, they can pay for a single session and get assistance whenever they need it.

Patients can access several resources through the Larkr mobile app, such as free guided meditation, mood journals, and daily suggestions to improve emotional health. The “Be the Change” section offers suggestions for acts of good to help patients improve their self-worth, and it also allows them to keep track of their progress.

Price Appointment Types Accepts Insurance Therapists on Staff
$85 for a 50-minute session
$170 per month
Video call No Not mentioned

What Patients Are Saying

Larkr customers highlight the benefit of not having to pay for a monthly subscription. “The video calls that actually last as long as a regular session make a huge difference, and the fact that you don’t have to sign up for a subscription is something I really appreciate,” said one user.

IV. Online Therapy FAQs

What is online anxiety therapy?

Online anxiety therapy is the delivery of mental health services and support over the internet to individuals with excessive anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder. Online therapy services can be offered in real-time, via video calls, phone calls or live chat, or in a delayed-response format through text messages and emails. Patients can access these services through their laptops, desktops or smartphones. Despite its limitations, online therapy has become a valuable resource for many people due to its convenience, and often, its more affordable fees.

Is online anxiety therapy effective?

A 2018 study published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders compared the effectiveness of online and in-person therapy and found that both modes of treatment delivery appeared equally beneficial. Another study from 2014, published in Behavior Research and Therapy, stated that individually tailored internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) “is an effective and cost-effective treatment for primary-care patients with anxiety disorders.” A few other studies, including an article published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, have also concluded that asynchronous messaging therapy — that is, when the interaction between therapist and patient doesn’t occur in real-time — can be as effective as face-to-face therapy.

What are the benefits of online anxiety therapy?

Online therapy for anxiety offers several benefits, including:

  • Accessibility: People who live in isolated areas with limited access to mental health services can benefit from online therapy.
  • Convenience: Most online therapy services are available 24/7, which can be convenient for people who need a more flexible schedule.
  • Privacy: Most online therapy platforms allow users to register under a nickname and remain anonymous. Being able to see a therapist from home is also a solution for those who would rather not go to a therapist’s office.
  • Price: Online therapy services are often more affordable than in-person treatment.

How much does online anxiety therapy cost?

The fees for online therapy to treat anxiety vary according to the platform chosen. Most online therapy services require a monthly subscription that usually ranges between $30 and $180 per week. Some platforms also accept requests for one-time sessions that may cost between $85 and $180.

author-img
LCSW

Caitlin Kingston is a licensed clinical social worker at Yale New Haven Hospital and has worked in the field since 2013. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Penn State University and her Master of Social Work, clinical/medical social work in 2020 from Fordham University. Her licenses and certifications include LCSW, LMSW, and CASAC.

Kingston has always had a passion for helping others and knew early on that she wanted to support others in her profession. During her undergraduate studies at Penn State, she met a social worker who inspired her to pursue a career as a therapist. She’s also trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy with the New York School for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Kingston completed internships working in an after-school program with underprivileged youth and their families and with inmates in the high-security sector of Rikers Island jail.

Kingston’s career has included work at a drug treatment center, where she became the supervisor of intake and assessment for individuals with alcohol and substance use disorders. Today, she’s a social worker in the Psychiatric Observation Unit of the emergency department. Kingston is also trained in perinatal mental health with a focus on helping new mothers adjust to motherhood, especially in these very difficult times of isolation.

author-img
LCSW

Caitlin Kingston is a licensed clinical social worker at Yale New Haven Hospital and has worked in the field since 2013. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Penn State University and her Master of Social Work, clinical/medical social work in 2020 from Fordham University. Her licenses and certifications include LCSW, LMSW, and CASAC.

Kingston has always had a passion for helping others and knew early on that she wanted to support others in her profession. During her undergraduate studies at Penn State, she met a social worker who inspired her to pursue a career as a therapist. She’s also trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy with the New York School for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Kingston completed internships working in an after-school program with underprivileged youth and their families and with inmates in the high-security sector of Rikers Island jail.

Kingston’s career has included work at a drug treatment center, where she became the supervisor of intake and assessment for individuals with alcohol and substance use disorders. Today, she’s a social worker in the Psychiatric Observation Unit of the emergency department. Kingston is also trained in perinatal mental health with a focus on helping new mothers adjust to motherhood, especially in these very difficult times of isolation.

V. Sources

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