Your mental health is a key part of your overall health, which makes taking care of it just as essential as nourishing your body with nutritious foods or soothing your soul with meditation. Unfortunately, it can also be expensive, like other well-being services. Instead of skipping therapy altogether, finding an option that works within your budget is key to accessing services without negatively affecting your financial health. Online therapy is one of the easiest ways to save, as these companies don’t need to pay for brick-and-mortar locations. Many online therapy services also take insurance, which allows you to make the most of your health care plan. In fact, the online portals often make it easier to find a medical practitioner within your network than a traditional web search. During this time, online therapy services that take insurance also allow you to select your provider. The system then automatically narrows down your specialist search to medical practitioners who are in-network. If a company does not work with your insurance plan, it should notify you during the selection process. Just remember this isn’t always the case with online therapy services; the options that we’ve rounded up below allow you to choose your insurance as you’re setting up your profile, ensuring you never see a therapist who isn’t covered under your plan. However some brands do not take insurance, so they may suggest a provider without factoring in your health insurance. You can’t go wrong either way; a 2017 study1 found that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy was just as effective (and more cost-effective) for the treatment and management of various psychiatric disorders. Some other factors to consider include: While the brand also offers psychiatric care and counseling plans for teens between the ages of 13 and 17, therapy is its most prominent service. The company employs licensed and credentialed therapists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, and couples’ therapists who are all required to have at least 3,000 hours of clinical experience. Another perk? The staff also undergoes third-party checks to ensure their licenses are in good standing. When you’re ready to sign on, you’ll watch a short intro video and start the intake process. Once you’ve selected your plan, Talkspace uses your goals and preferences to suggest a therapist, which you can easily swap at any time. The exact response time for conversations varies by practitioner, but the company requires at least one response a day at least five days a week. Some customers have reported a few days of lag time between the time they set up their profile and the time they’re matched with a therapist (although the company says you should hear from your therapist within 48 hours). In addition to taking some Employee Assistant Programs (EPAs), Talkspace also accepts common health insurance plans, such as Optum, Blue Cross, and Cigna. Access the full list here. Cost: $316 to $556 Along with physicians, the 24/7 services employ both board-certified therapists and psychiatrists, allowing them to offer both behavioral health care and medication management. The overall sign-on process is relatively lengthy with in-depth questions about your current needs and family psychiatric history. You’ll then receive a list of current providers in your state, which gives you the authority to find the right person. Luckily, it’s easy to switch medical practitioners until you find your match—just be warned that wait time before your session will vary drastically by location. While there are no monthly subscription plans and the initial visit is a little steep, MDLive makes it easy for doctors participating in the service to share records if you need to be connected with another specialist. Trustpilot also gave this service a 4.6 out of 5, which is pretty darn near perfect. Cost: $284 for first visit, $108 for follow-ups Following this line of personalized care, the virtual services also connect you directly with therapists that specialize in different therapy approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), psychoanalytic psychotherapy, motivational interviewing, and trauma-focused therapy. Plus, all staff have completed at least a master’s degree in their field and are licensed in their respective states. Similar to Talkspace, all medical practitioners also undergo background checks. Founded by Dr. Phil and his son, the online platform accepts health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, but you’ll have to start the registration process to confirm that you’re covered. Cost: $299 for initial visit, follow-ups are $129 This means that you can easily swap therapists to find one that best suits you as a couple, especially if you don’t love the one you’re matched with. One thing you won’t need to worry about? All therapists have at least a master’s degree, and psychologists have a licensed doctorate. Both parties are also licensed to practice in their states and undergo virtual training on prevention and treatment techniques. Nearly all of the therapists also offer flexibility in terms of session type and meeting times, which is a particularly great feature for couples. They also offer short-term couples counseling in case you don’t want to sign on for the long haul. Cost: $99 to $110 Before the first session, you’ll have the choice to select either a licensed therapist or psychiatrist depending on the care needed. The latter will be located in your state, which makes medication management possible but is only available to those above the age of 18. All psychotherapy is done by licensed mental health professionals who can help with issues like stress, depression, grief, and anxiety with services available during the day, night, or weekend. After the initial visit, all sessions cost $75 before insurance; only Blue Cross Blue Shields offers full coverage, while other insurance plans provide partial coverage of your care. Cost: $175 for initial visit, $75 for follow-ups