Dr.Mental > BetterHelp vs Pride Counseling

BetterHelp Vs. Pride Counseling Comparison

Increasingly, people in need of easy access to affordable healthcare are starting to turn to online platforms. The recent surge in the popularity of telehealth services means that clients have various options at their disposal when seeking professionals within the comfort of their homes. Applications like video chats and instant messaging make it possible to engage therapists virtually, bringing an experience that is similar to in-office consultations.

While there are many websites offering therapy services online, not all of them are reliable, and you need to understand how they work. To make sure that you get value for your money as you seek mental health support, we have prepared this BetterHelp vs. Pride Counseling comparison. The analysis contains valuable information that considers the most important factors making top psychotherapy services.

About BetterHelp and Pride Counseling | A Summary

BetterHelp is one of the largest platforms that offer online therapy to clients from around the world. According to the company website, the service was created to make therapy possible at any point and from any place and time. BetterHelp currently boasts more than nine hundred thousand patients and about eight thousand therapists, making it one of the most popular players when it comes to online therapy.

According to the company website, BetterHelp was started in 2013 by Alon Matas, who is a technology expert with a history of depression. The website is founded on the premise that everyone can benefit from engaging a professional therapist. The therapists working with the BetterHelp website are highly competent and are ready to help people improve their lives.

Like BetterHelp, Pride Counseling is highly popular as an online therapy platform. However, unlike Better Help, Pride Counseling focuses its services on the LGBTQ community. There is no denying the fact that this group of clients have tended to be victims of stigma and tend to have higher rates of mental health problems. In fact, research shows that LGBTQ youth are four times more likely to experience suicidal ideation compared to their heterosexual counterparts. People who identify with this group and are in need of mental health support can find competent service from the Pride Counseling platform. The company understands the issues involved, both from a financial and psychological standpoint, creating a service that specifically targets the unique needs of the LGBTQ community.

What is important to note is that although the staff at Pride Counseling may not be part of the LGBTQ community themselves, they are completely aware and understanding of the plights of this group of clients. All the therapists working with the Pride Counseling service specialize in LGBTQ counseling, although their services are open to all areas of therapy and identities.

During the current Pride Counseling BetterHelp analysis, we compared various aspects of the services provided and company attributes. Here is a summary of some notable differences between the two service providers:

  • BetterHelp provides specialized and general therapy services in all areas of mental health, while Pride Counseling focuses on LGBTQ and other related issues;
  • BetterHelp has a short and general sign-up questionnaire while Pride Counseling has more specific questions regarding sexual identity;
  • Unlike BetterHelp that has a seven-day free trial period, there is no free trial with Pride Counseling;

Signing Up for Pride Counseling and BetterHelp Services

The process of signing up for counseling on the BetterHelp website is relatively simple and quick. You only need to answer a few questions about yourself, the nature of services you seek, and how you intend to pay for therapy. There is a customer support team that walks clients through the process, which is also very simple and takes only around fifteen minutes. The questions contained in the questionnaire are intended to help with matching you with a competent and well-trained professional that suits your therapy needs.

Please understand that signing up on the BetterHelp website does not require clients to include their real names. All that is required is your email and a nickname if you are not comfortable giving out your real identity. However, you will be asked to give out contacts to someone who should be reached in case of an emergency. Once you have completed the registration process, you will fill out the questionnaire that is presented in a multiple-choice format. After that, you will be expected to make payments and get linked to a competent therapist according to how you responded to the items in the questionnaire.

There are some striking similarities between the sign-up processes for BetterHelp and Pride Counseling. However, the only notable difference is in the contents of the questionnaire. The questionnaire for Pride Counseling is relatively longer, comprising more specific items that relate to the status of the mental and physical state as well as sexual orientation.

Pride Counseling and BetterHelp Screening Process

Pride Counseling and BetterHelp have almost similar screening processes. Both companies indicate that their counselors are hired based on their academic credentials and experience as trained psychologists. All the professionals working for BetterHelp and Pride Counseling are required to have at least a master’s degree in relevant fields and should have the required certifications by the professional boards in their respective states.

Areas of Specialization for Pride Counseling and BetterHelp Services

Now that we have considered the sign-up processes of BetterHelp and Pride Counseling, it is time to look at the areas in which the two providers specialize in. BetterHelp provides a simple and intuitive platform for communicating with clients. Since the user can select the preferred mode of interacting with a therapist, there is no limitation that restricts one to a single option. There is also the benefit that the client use video for a session, then choose to communicate through live chat in the next one according to personal situations and preferences. The level of flexibility is even more amazing since there are no additional charges. Also, understand that, with BetterHelp, the more you share when signing up and when starting therapy, the more likely it is that you will have an incredible experience. Also, understand that you may be able to get linked up to an outstanding therapist instantly, or you may need to engage several therapists before you find an ideal match.

With Pride Counseling, if you are part of the LGBTQ community, then this is the ideal platform to get therapy. Of course, there are other platforms that offer counseling for LGBTQ clients. In fact, even BetterHelp offers help with members of this patient group. However, this client group is not the main focus for BetterHelp. For Pride Counseling, the LGBTQ is the main focal point of all operations.

Other than the differences in terms of the targeted patient population, BetterHelp and Pride Counseling offer help with the same mental health complications. Some areas covered include:

  • Stress;
  • Depression;
  • Anxiety;
  • Life transitions;
  • Family;
  • Relationships;
  • Addiction;
  • Substance abuse;
  • Bipolar;
  • Trauma;
  • Religion;
  • Eating disorders.

Types of Sessions Provided by BetterHelp and Pride Counseling

Pride Counseling and BetterHelp provide easy to use and standard systems for messaging and communicating with therapists. All the client is required to do is submit a request or a message then wait for the therapist to respond.

If you use the BetterHelp platform, there is a website and mobile app, both of which offer incredibly simple interfaces that facilitate account management. Within minutes, any client can set appointments with therapists and review sessions conducted in the past. Also, clients who feel uncomfortable with messaging and emailing, you can choose other options like video chats and phone calls. The options are available for both BetterHelp and Pride Counseling platforms. The companies also have smartphone applications.

One major benefit of both BetterHelp and Pride Counseling is that the client has unlimited messaging with the therapist. There is a virtual room where the client and the therapist can communicate securely, leaving short messages for each other and provide feedback. There are also other services like journaling for both Pride Counseling and BetterHelp.

Scheduling Sessions with Pride Counseling and BetterHelp | How to Proceed

Please note that the process of scheduling sessions for Pride Counseling and BetterHelp will rely, to a large extent, on the availability of your therapist and your free hours. With BetterHelp, for instance, you will be expected to ask about the availability of the therapist for phone or video engagement. If the therapist is available, you can organize for a live session, picking hours and days that suit both parties involved.

With Pride Counseling, on the other hand, there is a chat box where clients can book sessions. When you want to book a session, you ought to select a preferred date then click on a “book” session. Once you have selected a preferred date, the therapist will inform you if the option is ideal according to his or her schedule. If the option is not ideal, then the therapist can suggest other dates or times that both parties are okay with.

Pricing Policy | How Much Do the Services Cost?

The prices charged for services on BetterHelp and Pride Counseling vary according to the nature of the therapy and the professionals engaged. BetterHelp indicates that the cost of the company services ranges between $40 to $70 for each week and that clients have the option of canceling their memberships for whatever reason. According to reviews, clients say they were billed around $65 for every week billed on a monthly basis. Whatever payment option you select, you will get one live session for each week and unlimited texting for the duration within which you have a plan with BetterHelp.

Pride Counseling also has a similar pricing policy, charging $65 per week for video and phone therapy as well as unlimited chatting. The difference when it comes to pricing is that Pride Counseling does not have a flat rate for all sessions. The company encourages clients to enroll for long-term sessions by lowering the cost charged after a specific duration. However, unlike BetterHelp, Pride Counseling does not have a free trial offer for new clients.

Customer Support and Privacy Policy

Like most top telehealth services, Pride Counseling and BetterHelp have strict privacy policies to protect their clients. Both companies adhere to strict federal and local regulations, including HIPAA. Also, both companies indicate that their platforms have personal chat boxes that are encrypted using 256-bit encryption. SSL encryption makes it impossible for hackers and identity thieves to access your personal information. To contact Pride Counseling and BetterHelp support team, you can fill out your details on the chatbox on the company website. The agents are available around the clock.

BetterHelp Vs. Pride Counseling | The Bottom-line

Based on our analysis, there is no clear winner between BetterHelp and Pride Counseling. That said, both platforms offer amazing services and improved access for competent therapists. Use the information to make a good decision on what company suits your mental health needs.