Best Online Therapy for Anxiety

by Mary Page
updated on March 12, 2021

After the breakout of Covid-19, there are many psychotherapists and new websites offering online anxiety counseling. At the same time, it’s difficult to find out a reliable service that provides effective treatment. We have researched and picked the best online anxiety therapy services that can help you overcome various anxiety disorders – phobia, stress, or social anxiety.

Best Online Anxiety Therapy Reviews

1. Betterhelp

BetterHelp site homepage

Betterhelp is one of the biggest online therapy platforms. They offer a wide range of programs, including counseling for stress, PTSD, depression, addiction, marriage, and family conflicts, but also for anxiety.

To get started, you will fill out a questionnaire and be placed with a professional within a few days. Your subscription will begin once you are paired with a therapist or counselor. You will also be able to switch counselors if you feel it is necessary or your needs change over time.

Betterhelp online therapy will cost you anywhere from $240 to $320 each month.

All therapists are licensed, trained, and have over 1,000 hours and three years of experience. That includes accredited psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and board licensed professional counselors.

During your sessions, you will communicate with your counselor in four different ways:

  • Exchanging messages
  • Talking live
  • Speaking over the phone
  • Video calls

Unlike some other programs, Betterhelp offers unlimited messaging and 1 live session per week in all subscription packages. Read our detailed BetterHelp Review.

2. Talkspace

talkspace site homepage

Talkspace is a subscription based service that offers online therapy for mental health issues including anxiety. You can talk to a licensed therapist from the comfort of your home using the Talkspace website or mobile app.

A consultant from Talkspace will chat with you to understand your needs and match you with few therapists. Once you narrow down your needs, you can select a licensed and experienced therapist through the matches suggested by the consultant. From there on, you can start online therapy to treat your anxiety.

You can talk to your therapist in a private chatroom via messaging. The therapist will respond at an allotted time each day, five days each week. That includes text, audio, or visual messaging, and you can get live sessions monthly or weekly if you choose the premium subscription package.

Talkspace is secure, convenient, and comfortable. The price will vary depending on the service you choose and can range from $260 to $390 each month. You can save money by paying more at one time for a quarterly or biannual subscription. Read our detailed Talkspace Review.

3. Online-Therapy.com

online-therapy.com website tablet and mobile

Online-Therapy.com is another online therapy platform that connects clients with their therapist via messaging and live chat or video.

Online-Therapy.com goal is to help you overcome any dysfunctional thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. All the while, they are also working to help you identify what triggers your stress and anxiety. In turn, they help you challenge yourself.

You will have a personal therapist who is with you every step of the way. That will include 30 minutes of live chat each week, available through phone, video, or chat. However, you can message them with questions at any time.

Your therapist will be guiding you through a workbook that includes reading sections, worksheets, activity plans, and a journal.

The worksheets are free for anyone to use. Paid plans vary from basic to premium and can range from about $31.96 to $79.95 per week, depending on the plan you choose.

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4. Center for Anxiety Disorders

anxiety center logo

The Center for Anxiety Disorders is a convenient, affordable, and all-around flexible way to get help with your stress and anxiety. The staff consists of well-known experts in psychiatry and psychology. They offer online therapy via live video through FaceTime or Skype.

The Center for Anxiety Disorders will evaluate you to get an idea of a treatment plan that will for best for you. They specialize in anxiety and stress-related disorders such as panic disorder, social anxiety, OCD, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, and general anxiety disorders. Some treatment approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness training, and more.

The Center for Anxiety Disorders does not accept insurance, so you will have to pay out of pocket. However, some insurance policies will cover some “out of network” expenses.

You will need to contact the Center for a consultation and an estimate of your treatment plan. Their online therapy cost is similar to the in-person session.

5. Light on Anxiety

light on anxiety logo

Light on Anxiety is focused on helping you retrain your mental health to manage and conquer your stress. They offer online therapy via HIPAA compliant telehealth software.

At first, you will have a consultation to narrow down a customized treatment plan that is perfectly suited to you and your needs. Light on Anxiety is specialized in CBT based treatment for panic disorder, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, trauma, and more.

All of the therapists working for Light on Anxiety are highly-trained, experienced, and certified. You will be able to select between master level or doctorate level professionals, depending on what you’re comfortable with.

While you are working through your sessions, they will also be working with you to help you become more self-sufficient. The goal, in the end, is to help you become your own anxiety coach.

Some insurance is accepted. Out of pocket prices can range from $90 to $180 with a master level professional. Or, $130 to $260 with a doctorate level professional.

6. Just Mind

just mind logo

Just Mind offers therapy and counseling for a wide range of mental health issues. You can get help managing your anxiety through their anxiety counseling program.

Just Mind has highly-trained counselors and anxiety psychologists who have years of experience dealing with all types of anxiety. These professionals use a variety of treatment methods, depending on your needs, including CBT, DBT, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and more.

The therapist’s goals are to help you overcome bad through habits, understand the triggers of your anxiety, and come up with coping strategies.

The counselor’s range from junior members to senior counselors and psychologists. The price per session can range from $100 per hour to $165 per hour, depending on what kind of professional you go with.

Just Mind offers online therapy via Google Meet which is HIPAA compliant and secure for teletherapy. The therapy session can easily be attended by your phone, tablet, or laptop. Their hours run from 9 AM to 9 PM, seven days a week.

7. Azalea Counseling and Wellness

Azalea Counseling specializes in anxiety counseling and conducts online therapy through HIPAA compliant video platform Doxy.me.

To get started, you will have a 15-minute free consultation call. That will help narrow down what kind of treatment plan will work best. From there, you will have your first session, which is the intake appointment. That is a 55-minute session in which the therapist will get to know you and gain an understanding of your anxiety and triggers.

After that, you will have 45 to 55-minute video sessions on a weekly basis. Insurance might cover the sessions depending on what coverage you have. You will discuss your options during your free consultation.

Keep in mind that Azalea Counseling is only available to adults who are 18 years and older. They also specialize in anxiety and panic disorders. They do not cater to a wide range of mental health problems that you might find with other therapy programs.

8. Amwell

AmWell logo

Amwell is a leader in the telemedicine industry with a robust network of licensed therapists including specialists to treat anxiety disorders. Online therapy at Amwell has no messaging or text-based interaction options. All therapy sessions require an appointment and conducted through live video.

After a simple and confidential sign-up, you will have access to the list of available therapists. Each therapist has a profile that includes credentials and specialties so that you can find the right match for your needs. The drawback here is that you need to search and choose the therapist yourself and pay for each appointment.

Amwell’s online therapy cost is slightly lower than traditional therapy. The price ranges from $99 per session for master’s level practitioners to $110 per session for a doctorate-level therapist. Amwell also accepts health insurance from a variety of insurance providers.

How Does Online Anxiety Therapy Work

Online therapy for anxiety is incredibly flexible compared to traditional therapy sessions. Typically, you will have a consultation call to figure out what your needs are. That will help the online therapy platform to match you with the right online therapist or counselor.

Once they have narrowed down your needs, you will begin regular sessions. These appointments can be done over the phone, through a live chat, or with a video call. Some platforms also allow sending unlimited messages to the therapist.

The sessions will be much like a regular therapy appointment. You will work through issues during a time slot, and continue for as long as necessary.

Many people have mentioned that they prefer these online anxiety programs because they are so convenient. It’s perfect for a busy schedule.

Moreover, some people suffer from social anxiety, and having sessions from the comfort of your home can be a great way to get started.

Is Online Counseling for Anxiety Effective?

There are studies conducted which concluded that online counseling for anxiety is as effective as face-to-face treatment. Especially online CBT technique works best for treating and managing various anxiety disorders.

The convenience and accessibility of online counseling are especially effective for people who otherwise might not seek therapy at all. This includes people with social anxiety, disabilities, or those living in remote areas. Online therapy also offers multiple avenues of communication and 24/7 text messaging with your therapist.

An online anxiety therapy program also uses the same techniques as any other therapy. The treatments are the same, and the discussions don’t change. It merely turns into a highly convenient option for anyone with a busy lifestyle or a limited budget.

You no longer have to make a commute or stretch yourself too thin. Instead, you work through your anxiety from the comfort of your own home. Check out the best sites above to get therapy for anxiety online.