How Talkspace's Messaging Therapy Works

How does Talkspace work?

Learn about how Unlimited Messaging Therapy™ can help you achieve your mental wellness goals

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Therapy that’s there whenever you need it

Every Talkspace user has a secure, private “room” to communicate with their therapist.

Post and reply to messages in your room 24/7 — no need to wait to get something off your mind. Your therapist will see your messages and can respond to you throughout the day. (Though if you’re sending messages at 3 AM, you might have to wait until they wake up!)

All communications in your Talkspace room are protected and fully encrypted. You can also set a unique passcode on our mobile app for added security.

Our Unlimited Messaging Therapy™ means you can message your therapist via text, video or voice at any time, from anywhere

Message your therapist 24/7 via text, video or voice

Effective, convenient & affordable

100% secure & stigma-free

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Melissa has helped me through a very challenging time in my life and I am emerging feeling whole again. This format for therapy has been perfect as I travel for work and it is hard for me to commit to a face to face session with my schedule. I highly recommend Talkspace and Melissa.

Take your therapist with you

Your mental health care shouldn’t be put on pause any time you can’t be in the same physical location as your counselor. Talkspace provides therapy that’s designed to fit with your lifestyle. 

Whether you’re on the go or at home, you can access your Talkspace room anytime via your web browser or our mobile app.

Start your conversation on one device, and pick it up anywhere else. Whether you’re on an iPhone, an iPad, or an Android device, you’ll have full access to the Talkspace therapy platform through our platforms.

Connect however is most comfortable

We all express ourselves differently—telehealth enables you to choose a messaging type that feels right for you.

There’s no limit to how many messages you send, and you can review old messages in your room to track your progress and reflect on your insights and discoveries.
Text

Like text messaging with a trusted friend. Writing out what’s bothering you can give you time to reflect and make sure you’re getting your point across.

Audio

Talking it out has a place too—now, you can send and receive audio messages with your therapist to make a stronger connection.

Video

See and be seen. Show your therapist how you’re feeling with unlimited video messages. Seeing your therapist’s face (and vice versa) will help deepen your connection even further.

What kinds of things can I discuss with my Talkspace therapist?

Anything and everything: It’s your space to work through whatever’s on your mind.
Frustrated after a long day at work? Struggling with on-going relationship issues?

Talkspace licensed counselors are specialized in treating a wide range of mental health conditions and practice areas— from depression to relationship concerns. We’ll help you match with a counselor who understands what you’re going through and knows how to help.
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What will my therapist’s responses be like?

At first, your therapist will want to get to know you to better understand who you are and what led you to seek counseling.

Once you’ve made a connection, your therapist will respond with helpful guidance and advice. Often, they’ll ask deeper questions to help you see a problem in a new light.

Your therapist will also help you set goals and check-in throughout your treatment  to make sure there’s room for anything new that you’d like to work on.

See who’s talking about Talkspace

“I could mentally purge into my phone and get instant gratification. Except the phone talked back. And I started to feel better.”

“I spent 7 days with a therapist who only knew me via text message—and I might never go back to traditional therapy again”

“Talkspace is a super-cool app that connects you with a licensed therapist—privately—so that you can text about anything that might be worrying you.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Text-based therapy is online therapy that enables you to message your therapist at any time, from any place, on any device with a mobile connection.
Unlike traditional therapy, text-based therapy gives you the freedom to have your therapeutic discussion throughout the day or week without needing to wait until you can book an appointment to be in the same physical location as your therapist. You’ll simply login to an app and send messages to your therapist, who will see them and respond throughout the day. If you prefer another medium over texting, you can send messages via audio and video messaging. Similar to traditional therapy, your counselor will get to know you, dig into what inspired you to seek counseling, and work with you to help you set & meet goals. From there, you’ll have regular check-ins and work with your therapist on anything new you’d like to focus on.
Online therapy is proven to be as effective, if not more effective than face-to-face therapy, with important benefits that bring the experience into the modern era. A study conducted by Talkspace & the Journal of Telemedicine and e-Health showed text-based therapy through Talkspace to be highly effective and comparable to traditional therapy. When compared with traditional therapy, Talkspace also generated greater satisfaction in terms of its delivery, its accessibility, and affordability. Learn more from studies on how Talkspace improves mental health.

Text-based therapy gives you the freedom to have your therapeutic discussion throughout the day or week. No limits, and no waiting for weeks to address an issue, as you would when something came up between traditional sessions. Your therapist is always quick to respond, and text lets you cut straight to the point. For the socially anxious, it can be an especially convenient way to get mental health support because you don’t face anxiety-inducing face-to-face conversations.

Text therapy is also cost effective – in many cases online therapy costs less than the insurance co-pay for a weekly session of traditional therapy.

Yes, online therapy can be covered by insurance. In fact, some insurance plans will cover up to 100% of monthly Talkspace plan costs.

Some of the mental health treatments most often covered by insurance include:

  • Co-occurring behavioral health and medical conditions (common mental health conditions treated include anxiety, depression, phobias, acute stress, and/or insufficient sleep syndrome)
  • Psychiatric emergency care
  • Talk therapy – cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy sessions
  • Telemedicine or virtual therapy
  • Outpatient therapy sessions
  • Addiction treatment and detox services

Learn whether your health insurance plan covers text therapy.

At Talkspace, online therapy is covered by insurance. We partner with health plans across the United States to make text therapy affordable and accessible. Currently, we accept insurance from Premera, Cigna, Optum, Gatorcare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and more.

If you are not covered by insurance, know that Talkspace is more affordable than most co-pays for in-person “traditional therapy.” You can also pay for text therapy with an FSA/HSA card or look for coverage options offered through employers, educational institutions, and other large member organizations. Talkspace also offers an affordable therapy app that allows individuals to access online therapy on-the-go and at their own pace. It’s a flexible way to complete a clinically-supported program designed to help participants prioritize their mental well-being, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

With Talkspace, online therapy is there for you whenever and wherever you need it. Meet with a licensed therapist through text, audio, or video. The choice of how you talk to your therapist is yours.

  • Text-based therapy: With text therapy, you can send messages and your therapist will respond a little bit later throughout the day. Post and reply to messages in your chat room 24/7. If you text semi-regularly, this adds up to what you’d cover in a 45 minute in-person therapist session.
  • Audio messaging: Don’t feel like texting? Leave an audio message. Quickly record a message to your therapist and receive responses from your therapist in the same way.
  • Video messaging: If you’re looking for face-to-face discussions with your therapist, Talkspace offers two video options: video messaging, where you record a video and share your message, or live face-to-face video therapy sessions.
Yes! Meeting with a licensed therapist virtually offers choices and flexibility while providing optimal mental health care. Many people utilize online therapy to supplement their in-person sessions, especially for those who don’t have time to schedule a face-to-face therapy session or for those looking for immediate, on-the-go check-ins. Send unlimited messages at any time of day, wherever you are. A licensed therapist is only a few taps or clicks away.