Text therapy, chat therapy or message therapy is a new form of accessing mental health services. For many people, speaking to someone face to face or via video may be a daunting experience. Instead, these people have turned to text therapy to help jumpstart their mental health journey.
Text therapy connects patients with therapists through a digital chat platform. Text therapy can come in multiple forms, scheduled text therapy appointments or unlimited text therapy messages. When you feel you need support, help is literally a text away.
Note that even though text therapy is accessible and convenient, the debate is still out on its effectiveness. However, according to people that have used text therapy and a couple of studies, the format can make an impact on a person's mental health.
Online therapy can be a wonderful alternative to traditional therapy. Many patients receive just as much benefit as from a face-to-face session. If you’re looking for places to access online therapy, here are our top eight platforms to explore.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our therapy platform. After all, you’re already here! We’re making it easier for people to search and find the text therapist for them. We pride ourselves in helping people access the best text therapy they need to live their best lives. This all starts with a huge collection of professional therapists, ready to help you.
On top of offering in-person and online video connections, we also allow clients to speak with therapists through our secure chat platform.
All therapists listed on Talked are qualified and have been vetted. We want to ensure that you get the best text therapy available. The Talked platform offers integrated, secure text based therapy which you can use to connect with your therapist. No need for external apps, the chat room is supported on all computers and mobile devices.
We’re confident that with Talked you’ll get the help you need. But sometimes, it can be hard to find the right fit. That’s why you’re able to message therapists before booking your appointment. We know that for various reasons, people don’t always hit it off.
Find and search for text therapists easily
Find the text therapist in your price range
Message text therapists before booking
Qualified and vetted text therapists
Get matched with a therapist
Integrated chat sessions
No software downloads are required
Privacy and security are integral to the platform
You can easily find and book a text therapist in just a few clicks. Take a look at the therapists who offer text therapy today.
TherapyTribe is a global online database that contains information on free health and wellness services such as support groups. TherapyTribe also has a database of therapists that you can use to match with. Note that not all of these therapists offer online therapy services.
The main advantage of this site is its offering of complimentary mental health services. There is a large listing of support groups and educational resources that can be helpful for your journey.
Large database of therapists
Search specifically for particular therapy specialisations
Search and find support groups
Each therapist's profile lists their speciality and options for booking
Not an Australian website, so therapists can be in different timezones
Not all therapists list whether they provide text therapy
Individually sort out which therapist suits your needs
Vetted therapists can not be guaranteed
Virtual Psychologist is an EAP provider whose sole focus is text based therapy. The text based therapy is provided through text or via WhatsApp. Virtual Psychologist will connect users with a counsellor at a predetermined time for a therapy session.
The main advantage of Virtual Psychologist is that access to phone services is relatively widespread so connecting and seeing a counsellor is an easy process.
Pure text therapy platform
Allows for easy connection through mobile services
Sessions can be booked 24/7
Only available to people whose employers use Virtual Psychologist as their Employee Assistance Provider
Text messages are not a secure platform
No option to transition into video or in-person therapy if desired
OnlineTherapy.com is a US-based website that offers a wide range of therapy services. On top of offering text therapy, the platform provides access to journaling, yoga and meditation activities.
OnlineTherapy focuses on CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and places emphasis on regular contact between you and your therapist. Founded in 2009, OnlineTherpay has received over 2,000 reviews from its clients.
To use and access OnlineTherapy, users must sign up for a monthly US subscription. You will be assigned a therapist upon signing up. You will have the same therapist throughout the program, from start to finish.
A holistic approach to mental health care
Number of pricing tiers for different budgets
Access to journaling, yoga and meditation services
The unlimited text messages tier does not include a dedicated therapy appointment
Monthly subscription requirements may not suit all people
Inability to select the therapist who suits you best
US-based platform with an unknown number of Australian therapists
As one of the world's largest counselling services, Better Help matches you with a therapist based on your needs. If you are specifically looking for text therapy, Better Help may be an option to consider.
If you are matched with a counsellor you do not connect with, you can request a rematch. Better Help vetts all the counsellors on the platform and ensures each therapist has at least three years of experience.
As Better Help is a global platform, Australian users should be aware that international qualifications may not align with Australia's strict professional requirements.
Better Help is a subscription service meaning that you will be billed monthly for access to the platform.
Global database of therapists
Site will match you with a therapist
Access to a global pool of experience
Number of Australian therapists may be limited
People have less control over the therapists they’re matched with
Subscription service model may not be for everyone
Not all therapists may offer text therapy
Accessing text therapy has been made easier with the help of technology. Finding the best text therapy for you is important for your mental health. Using a service like Talked to find the best text therapist near you is a great place to start.
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