Calmerry vs BetterHelp Review

Calmerry and BetterHelp stand out as leading online therapy platforms that offer accessible and convenient mental health support to individuals across North America, Canada, and the UK. 

While both platforms aim to address a spectrum of mental health concerns, their approaches, subscription models, and additional features differ. 

In this detailed comparison, we dissect the offerings of Calmerry and BetterHelp to assist you in making an informed decision regarding your mental health care needs.

Calmerry: A Tailored Approach to Online Therapy

Calmerry is an innovative mental health platform for individuals aged 18 and above who are grappling with various mental health challenges. Through a personalized matching process, users are connected with licensed counselors who consider location, schedule, and symptoms to ensure a suitable fit. 

Therapy sessions are provided via video calls, and users have a messaging option to communicate with their therapist, who must answer 5 days a week. 

Calmerry’s strengths lie in its commitment to individualized care and accessibility, making it an attractive option for those seeking comprehensive online therapy solutions.

BetterHelp: Empowering Mental Wellness Through Accessibility

Established as a prominent player in the online therapy arena, BetterHelp offers a subscription-based model catering to individuals aged 18 and above in the US and internationally. 

BetterHelp prioritizes accessibility and convenience. It allows users to engage in therapy sessions through video, phone calls, or instant messaging, accommodating diverse preferences and schedules.

Key Considerations Comparing Calmerry vs. BetterHelp

Subscription Plans and Costs:

While both platforms offer online therapy, Calmerry stands out for its tiered subscription options. Users can select a plan that aligns with their therapy needs and financial constraints and get financial aid of up to 30% offered for ongoing therapy. 

On the other hand, BetterHelp offers a single subscription option, emphasizing accessibility and simplicity.

Calmerry subscription plans:

• Messaging Plan: Priced at $198 for the first month and $228 monthly after that, this plan includes unlimited messaging with a licensed counselor, a personalized therapy plan, access to a self-help library, a Mood tracking tool, Guided journaling, and Assessments.
• Messaging + 2 Live Video Session Plan: For $264 with the first-month welcome discount and $310 monthly after that, users receive all features of the messaging plan along with two 30-minute live video sessions with a licensed therapist.
• Messaging + 4 Live Video Sessions Plan: At $295 for the first month and $360 monthly after that, this plan extends the benefits of the messaging plan to include four live video sessions with a licensed therapist.

Additionally, Calmerry offers the flexibility to purchase additional 30-minute therapy sessions and personalized therapy plans.

BetterHelp subscription plans: 

• Therapy Subscription: For between $260 and $400 monthly, users can access a weekly 30-45-minute video, phone, or live texting session, unlimited messaging with their therapist, a private journaling tool, and group webinars covering various mental health topics.

The subscription fee may vary depending on location, referral source, preferences, and therapist availability.

Therapy Formats and Communication: 

Calmerry craves a holistic approach to online therapy, primarily focusing on messaging+video sessions. However, it is not limited to this subscription model and empowers flexibility with the ability to purchase messaging or video sessions only. Clients can also switch between different plans. 

BetterHelp offers a more diversified range of communication options, including video, phone, and instant messaging sessions, catering to varying preferences and circumstances. However, its subscription models are limited to an all-in-one package.

Mental Issues do they treat: 

BetterHelp therapists can specialize in certain areas, such as 

• Stress 
• Anxiety,
• Relationships and Parenting problems, 
• Depression 
• Addictions, 
• Eating and Sleeping disorders
• Trauma, 
• Anger issues, 
• Low self-esteem
• Grief

Calmerry’s therapist’s areas of expertise include:

• Anxiety therapy
• Grief and loss therapy
• Marriage and Relationship counseling
• Sexuality counseling
• Parenting counseling
• Depression therapy
• ADHD therapy
• Self-esteem and confidence therapy
• Stress and burnout therapy
• Chronic pain management
• Trauma therapy
• Codependency therapy
• Adoption counseling
• Anger management therapy
• Pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum counseling

Both of the platforms provide therapy for LGBTQIA2S+ community.

Therapist Quality and Support:

Calmerry’s rigorous vetting process ensures users receive top-tier care from empathetic and professional therapists. All therapists in Calmerry’s network are licensed and have at least 2 years of practice experience. The specialists include:

• Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC)
• Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
• Doctors of Psychology (PsyD)
• Doctors of Psychotherapy (PhD)

BetterHelp, as part of one of the largest telehealth corporations, has a vast network of licensed therapists. Each therapist must have a minimum of 1,500 hours of practice. The types of specialists available on BetterHelp are similar to those on Calmerry. Both platforms utilize evidence-based therapy methodologies, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Trauma-Focused Therapy

This ensures that users on both platforms have access to high-quality, effective therapeutic care.

Additional Features:

Both platforms offer supplementary features to enhance the therapy experience. Calmerry distinguishes itself with a self-help library, guided journaling, mood tracker, and assessments to improve therapeutic engagement and learning. 

Conversely, BetterHelp provides users with a private journaling tool and group webinars, fostering a sense of community and self-reflection.

Sign up process

Both platforms offer a relatively easy registration process. You can sign up using your email address or Google account.

BetterHelp’s survey is quite detailed, taking about 3 minutes to complete, with some questions feeling repetitive. After finishing the survey, you’ll need to enter your email, set up a password, and verify your email. You’ll then be redirected to a welcome page with information on the next steps, detailed pricing, and payment options, including card, PayPal, or Google Pay. Once you provide your payment information, you’re ready to start therapy.

Calmerry’s sign-up process is quicker and simpler. It begins with email registration and a brief survey. After verifying your email, Calmerry will present you with various subscription plans. Once you select a plan, you’ll be directed to a payment page with options for card or Apple/Google Pay.

One advantage of Calmerry is that you can skip the subscription step and explore their free self-help toolbox and mental health content library before committing to therapy.

Conclusion 

In summary, Calmerry and BetterHelp offer online therapy services and focus on personalized care and accessible therapy. Although BetterHelp is the dominant force and has a broader network of counselors, Calmerry has a privilege as it prioritizes a thorough therapist selection process, ensuring a high level of personalized care. 

Additionally, Calmerry provides self-help tools that are accessible even without a paid subscription, offering valuable resources to users from the outset. Conversely, BetterHelp offers a wider array of communication options, including phone calls, which may appeal to those who prefer more direct interaction with their therapist. 

Ultimately, for individuals seeking cost-efficient online therapy or exploring it for the first time, Calmerry presents an attractive choice. However, for those with prior therapy experience who require alternative communication methods, BetterHelp emerges as a preferable option.

You can find more information on good mental health practices and other useful resources by visiting DrMental.