Most Inclusive Online Therapy

Founded in 2012, Talkspace was one of the very first online therapy companies. It offers individual, couples, and teen counseling in all 50 states, with three different tiers of therapy services available in a subscription format, including unlimited messaging with your therapist and weekly virtual live video sessions. Talkspace also offers psychiatry and medication management services for a separate fee. In addition to its out-of-pocket prices, which may be unaffordable to some therapy seekers, Talkspace also accepts many different insurance plans, making it one of our most accessible options. 

Talkspace isn’t specifically designed with diversity in mind, yet as one of the largest online therapy providers, it offers a wide range of diverse clinicians. This increases the likelihood of finding a therapist who understands or shares a similar cultural identity with you.

This diverse base of therapists is reflected in our user survey data, with 90% of users rating Talkspace’s diversity of providers as good, very good, or excellent compared to an 86% average across the other 54 companies we reviewed. Twenty-four percent said Talkspace was better than previously used services in supporting BIPOC patients, compared to a 16% average. Twenty-six percent said it was better than previously used services at supporting patients who have experienced racism, compared to a 12% average. Additionally, Talkspace users were overwhelmingly satisfied with its services, with 90% rating it as good, very good, or excellent overall.

Talkspace offers a variety of plans, including:

• Messaging therapy: Starts at $69 per week and includes unlimited text, video, and audio messaging with guaranteed therapist responses five days a week
• Live + messaging therapy: Starts at $99 per week and includes four live 45-minute sessions per month via chat, phone, or video call
• Live + messaging therapy + workshops: Includes messaging plus four live sessions and weekly workshops and starts at $109 per week

Talkspace currently accepts insurance from Premera, Cigna, Optum, Gatorcare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and more.

For all plans, you’ll schedule sessions in your private online portal, and if your plan includes live sessions, it's possible to schedule them all at once.  There’s no requirement to wait between sessions, so you can schedule a few in one week and then skip weeks if you want. Live sessions (video, audio, or live chat) and messaging occur directly in your portal.

Talkiatry was established in 2020 as an online outpatient psychiatry and medication management service, meant for anyone age 5 and above who needs treatment for conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Talkiatry prides itself on the diversity and cultural humility of its psychiatrists, with providers who specialize in treating different races and ethnicities, various age groups, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Talkiatry stands apart from the competition because of the personalized, quality care its clinicians provide. Whereas many psychiatrists—particularly online psychiatrists—can be impersonal, focusing primarily on prescribing medication, those at Talkiatry spend 60 minutes with you during the first visit and 30 minutes for follow-ups. They’ll also recommend a psychiatry-therapy combo when appropriate.

Talkiatry’s high standard of care is evident in our user survey—89% of users rated Talkiatry’s psychiatry services positively overall compared to a 77% average across the other medication management services we reviewed, and an impressive 95% rated its services overall as good, very good, or excellent. Seventy percent of users (above average) would start their search for a new mental health provider at Talkiatry if they needed services again. 

This company also performed well for having clinicians who can support BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ communities, and survivors of racism and discrimination. 

You can only get services from Talkiatry if it accepts your insurance, which might leave many uninsured or underinsured people without care. Talkiatry says that the price of your session will depend on the specific services you need, the length of the session, and the details of your insurance plan.

Sessions are only conducted over video chat. You can opt for psychiatry or psychiatry combined with therapy, but not stand-alone therapy.

You’ll start off with an assessment, then get a list of potential matches. After you select a therapist, you’ll be able to schedule on their calendar. 

Amwell is a telehealth company offering mental health care along with general medical care in all 50 states. It provides both therapy and psychiatry services to anyone aged 10 and above, and accepts a wide range of insurance plans, making it an affordable and accessible option for insured therapy seekers looking for experienced, culturally informed clinicians. 

While it’s not designed with inclusivity in mind, Amwell performed comparatively well for diversity in our user survey: 86% of respondents rated therapist diversity good, very good, or excellent, compared to a 79% average. It also scored above average for languages spoken other than English and for having more therapists who can address racial and cultural issues than other services users had previously tried. 

Eighty-eight percent of Amwell’s users rated its services as good, very good, or excellent overall, so you’ll have a good chance of getting quality care here. It’s particularly good for the insured because it accepts a wide range of plans and says it’s continuously expanding coverage. This is a big selling point, considering 24% of Amwell users said that whether or not a company accepts insurance was the most important factor they looked for in an online therapy service, compared to a 13% average. Sixty-one percent of users said Amwell accepted their insurance, which is well above the 54% average across the other companies we reviewed.

Amwell doesn’t offer session bundles or subscriptions—it’s a book-as-you-go system, which is great for people who don’t want to get locked into a plan. Its per-session, out-of-pocket prices are as follows:

• Therapy: $109 for a master’s-level clinician and $129 for a doctoral-level clinician; sessions are around 45 minutes long and are conducted by video. There are no messaging and phone options. 
• Psychiatry: $279 for the first visit (45 minutes), and $109 for follow-ups (15 minutes) conducted by video. Phone and messaging options aren’t available.

Amwell also accepts many insurance plans—if you are able to use insurance to pay for Amwell’s services, you will only be responsible for your copay.

The Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy is an online therapy company that offers individual, relational, and group therapy as well as psychological assessments. Additionally, it offers in-person care along with virtual sessions, setting it apart from other online therapy companies that do not offer in-person services. In fact, 72% of our users rated Aguirre as good, very good, or excellent overall, and 77% felt the same about the diversity of its providers. 

It’s clear that Aguirre aspires to eliminate all types of cultural barriers to mental health care. Its core values include being anti-oppressive, anti-racist, weight inclusive, feminist-informed, and affirming of ethical non-monogamy and kink communities. But it really shines when it comes to providing for the Latinx community. It’s owned by Latinx licensed psychologist Sophia Aguirre, PhD, who runs a team of culturally informed therapists, about half of whom are Latinx or Afro-Latinx. Two practitioners are bilingual and can conduct sessions in Spanish. Its Latinx therapists also come from many different countries, including Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

Aguirre’s website states that it offers services in 31 states, but most clinicians only offer therapy in one or two states (primarily in Georgia, as that’s the state where the office is based). There are also only 12 clinicians available. We look forward to seeing Aguirre grow to support the Latinx community even more. 

Aguirre isn’t a subscription service like Talkspace or BetterHelp. Instead, it functions more like in-person therapy—you’ll sign up for an initial appointment and discuss arrangements with your therapist directly. Some therapists may offer a sliding scale. 

Fees vary, but in general, you can expect to pay the following:

• Individual therapy: $200 to $250 for assessment, then $125 to $200 per session 
• Couples counseling: $150 to $215 per session
• Group therapy: $65 per session

Aguirre offers a free, 15-minute introductory phone consultation that you can schedule directly on the website. From there, you’ll schedule an assessment appointment that lasts around an hour. You can continue with sessions once a week or every other week, depending on your needs and the clinician’s availability.

National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is an online therapy directory created specifically so that LGBTQIA+ individuals and BIPOC can find a mental health provider with the same or similar ethnic, cultural, racial, gender and sexual identities. Rather than working for one online therapy company, NQTTCN functions more like a phone book of providers, listing the names and bios of therapists and psychiatrists who identify as LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC who you can contact individually. This makes it an excellent option for queer and trans people of color. You’ll find practitioners with diverse specialties and backgrounds across the country on the network. This is essential for therapy seekers who face intersectional discrimination and its subsequent mental health effects. 

NQTTCN’s Statement of Community Care demonstrates its commitment to healing justice and describes how the mental health system has been used to “pathologize or criminalize [various] communities.” It provides a safe alternative to therapy rooted in ideology from a White, cis, non-disabled perspective. 

There are currently 30 states with providers listed on NQTTCN. As it’s a directory rather than an online therapy company, you’ll need to make scheduling and payment arrangements with clinicians directly. This also means that you won’t be bound to a subscription, bundle, or plan. This affords many more options than would otherwise be available on a more traditional online therapy site that matches you with a provider, but it means you’ll have to do a little more work (you won’t get support with processing insurance, for example). Each provider sets their own rates, therapy formats, and session frequency. Some may accept insurance.

Of the 180 users we surveyed about NQTTCN, 84% rated it good or very good overall, and 24% reported that the most important thing to them when looking for a therapist was finding a therapist with a similar identity or cultural background as them, which was a considerably higher percentage than most of the other 24 directories we reviewed. Additionally, an impressive 99% of users were able to find a provider who met all or most of their needs.

Because each provider sets their own rates, the cost of a therapy or psychiatry session varies from clinician to clinician. You can find each provider’s rate in their bio on the directory, and many offer sliding scale fees or take insurance.

Gay Therapy Center offers individual and couples therapy for LGBTQIA+-identifying folks. Its individual services focus on “LGBTQ+ Anxiety and Depression,” “LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapy for Low Self-Esteem,” and “LGBTQ+ Gay Sex Therapy”; its couples therapy services include “LGBTQ+ Couples Counseling,” “LGBTQ+ Therapy for Cheating, Infidelity, Affairs, and Betrayal,” and “LGBTQ+ Open Relationship Counseling.” It also offers in-person sessions in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington DC. 

All clinicians are from the LGBTQIA+ community and can treat a wide spectrum of issues along with culturally specific ones, such as experiencing internalized shame around sexual orientation. However, most of the therapists in this company identify as white, cisgender, gay men, so it may not be the best choice for every LGBTQIA+ person. Still, Gay Therapy Center is absolutely a solid resource for cis gay men seeking mental health support. 

One thing that really stands out is the personalized matching service. New patients consult with the owner of the company to discuss needs, preferences, and possible matches. This may help provide a better match than an algorithm and may make patients feel more well taken care of. People do seem happy with their practitioners: 29% of survey respondents said their therapist supported their identities, compared to a 20% average across other companies. 

Sessions take place via live video. They start at $185, though California residents may get an associate therapist (who is working under supervision) for $120. 

The website doesn’t indicate that there are any package deals. Our best guess is that each clinician sets up their own payment system with clients. The majority of users paid either once monthly (32%) or per session (37%).

Gay Therapy Center isn’t in-network with any insurance, but residents of California, New York, and Washington DC may get out-of-network coverage if they provide a bill.

TherapyDen is an online therapy directory dedicated to inclusivity and diversity in the mental health care system, providing affirming care for therapy seekers of any gender, ethnicity, and financial situation. Most notably, TherapyDen’s homepage has a carousel of listings for trans therapists, which immediately indicates it’s a safe space for the community.  Trans clinicians across the country are easy to find via search filters, though some areas have fewer trans clinicians than others (and some have none at all).

The quality of therapists seems to be solid, too. Forty-three percent of our surveyed users said the qualifications of therapists on the site were excellent, which was above average compared to other directories we reviewed. Seventy-five percent rated its diversity positively, which seems to be a selling point across the board: 35% of users said finding a therapist with a similar identity was important to them, second only to therapist qualification in terms of importance. 

One thing to note is that not all practitioner’s credentials appear to have been verified. Many therapists don’t have a green “verified” button near their profile picture that states the directory has ensured their licensing information is correct and up to date. Keep this in mind when searching for practitioners, and consider verifying independently. 

TherapyDen is a directory, which means fees, scheduling, and therapy format vary by provider. You can search for therapists who accept insurance. 

Open Path Collective is an online therapy directory that strives to make therapy more affordable and accessible across the U.S. and Canada. It achieves this by charging low out-of-pocket rates for individual, family, and couples counseling at prices more comparable to an insurance copay than a traditional self-pay rate. Although this is a directory of independent providers rather than employees at an online therapy company, every provider listed on this directory must agree to charge these low prices, guaranteeing that you can find a therapist who fits your financial needs. According to the website, it’s matched more than 90,000 low or middle-income clients with therapists, which meets an urgent need for affordable mental health support. Without collectives like Open Path, many more therapy seekers would be unable to access treatment.

One of the best things about Open Path is that therapy sessions for all clinicians fall within the same range: $40 to $70 for individual counseling and $40 to $80 for couples or families. These prices sit below the average cost of therapy in the United States, with most sessions ranging from $60 to $200 each. The company also now employs student interns and, while they make up only a very small proportion of the staff, they offer sessions for just $30. Not only does this make Open Path Collective more accessible, but it can also significantly streamline and shorten the therapist search process. It saves you the time it takes having to sift through providers and find an affordable one that meets all of your other needs. 

A whopping 97% of the users we surveyed said that they were able to find a therapist through Open Path Collective who met all or most of their needs, and 90% rated the directory as good or very good overall. Additionally, 83% reported that the diversity of the therapists listed on Open Path Collective was good or very good.

Open Path charges a $65 one-time membership fee to access its listings and other resources. Per session, you'll pay:

• $40 to $70 for individual counseling
• $40 to $80 for family or couples counseling
• $30 for individual sessions with a student intern 

The range in price depends on the therapist’s experience. Open Path doesn’t accept insurance.

Therapy for Black Girls is an online therapy directory that focuses specifically on connecting Black girls and women to Black woman-identifying therapists and psychiatrists. This serves an important purpose as therapy stigma, accessibility, and a lack of cultural sensitivity among providers have held back many Black people from seeking out therapy in the past. Only one in three Black adults gets mental health support when needed. Black women in particular are at risk for mental health issues as they experience the intersections of racism, anti-Blackness, and sexism and are often more likely to avoid seeking treatment.

Since Therapy for Black Girls exclusively offers therapists who are Black women, therapy seekers can count on the fact that they’ll have a practitioner who relates—at least in some way—to their experience as a Black woman in America. And users are largely satisfied—91% rated this directory positively compared to an 87% average, and a notable 98% of users found a provider who met all or most of their needs.

Its Sister Circle Online Therapy Group can provide additional benefits, as research indicates collective memory and community building can enhance the healing process of those affected by racism.

Since Therapy for Black Girls is a directory, plans, policies, therapy formats, and fees vary by provider. To get started, you’ll search the directory to find an appropriate therapist whom you’ll contact directly. 

Kip Therapy is an online therapy company that offers individual and group therapy for adults, young people and families, and people struggling with identity issues, as well as therapy for couples and people dealing with issues like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Kip specifically claims to “work hard to serve clients who have felt misunderstood by other psychotherapists—including queer clients, people of color, and people who identify as transgender.” Kip shows a strong awareness of intersectionality and a commitment to inclusion with its diverse roster of practitioners serving clients with a variety of needs. 

Kip Therapy really shines when it comes to group therapy. Current and past groups include:

• Queer Women’s Group
• Beyond Monogamy for Partners
• BIPOC Men’s Group
• Queer and Questioning Adolescents
• Transgender and Gender Expansive Group
• Personal Narrative Therapy Group

Group therapy brings together people with similar backgrounds, challenges, and concerns in a reliable safe space where trust and rapport can be built with both the facilitator and the other group members. This can be especially useful for those who have experienced discrimination in other settings.

Since Kip offers services from both experienced and emerging practitioners, you can get therapy for as low as $65. While therapy from inexperienced clinicians can be effective, it likely can’t match that of a pro. Unfortunately, that may be why user satisfaction isn’t the best at Kip. Seventy-three percent of users rated it as good, very good, or excellent overall, which is well below the average of the other 54 companies we surveyed. Additionally, only 70% of users felt they found a therapist who met all or most of their needs. If you’re cautious about getting an inexperienced therapist, we recommend trying one of the Kips’s groups instead.

Group therapy takes place on Zoom. Fees range from around $20 to $65 depending on the group, whether it offers a sliding scale, whether you’re a returning member, or whether you’re a current Kip client.

For individual therapy, you’ll start with a free or $25 consult, depending on the provider’s experience level. Session rates vary by tier:

• Tier I (Emerging Therapist): $65 to $95 per session
• Tier II (Resident Fellow): $130 to $150 per session
• Tier III (Senior Clinician): $170 to $225 per session

Couples counseling is $200 per session with a Tier I or II therapist, or $250 per session with a Tier III therapist. The same rates apply for adolescent therapy.

Mindful Care is an online therapy company that provides individual and group therapy, plus addiction recovery through its medication-assisted program Mindful Recovery. As a harm reduction program, Mindful Recovery doesn’t require abstinence. It focuses on supporting those considering or in the process of reducing or quitting substances like alcohol and opioids.

Substance-use coaches at Mindful Care have advanced alcoholism and substance-use coaching certifications, plus master’s degrees in mental health disciplines. Since programs start at $49 a month for weekly recovery sessions and $35 for each group session, it’s an affordable option for those who don’t have the luxury of entering costly rehab programs.  

Eighty-six percent of our users rated Mindful Care’s diversity of therapists as good, very good, or excellent, while 92% of users rated it positively overall, which are both well above the average of the companies we surveyed. Unfortunately, Mindful Care doesn’t treat all addictions and its services are limited to a handful of states: Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Michigan.

Mindful Care has tiered self-pay pricing for the services it offers:

• Substance-use coaching: $49 to $300 monthly; includes a 30-minute assessment, then weekly or biweekly meetings, unlimited texting, monthly support group, and referral and support should you want to enter detox or rehab programs
• Microtherapy (20 minutes): $50 per session without insurance and can be scheduled the same day
• Group therapy (60 minutes, conducted over video): $35 per session without insurance
• Individual therapy (40 minutes): $100 per session without insurance
• Psychiatry (medication management): Initial 40-minute evaluation is $175, follow-up 20-minute appointments are $75

Mindful Care is also in-network with many insurance plans, and it states that it will verify your insurance coverage before your first session.

Octave is an online therapy company that offers individual, couples, and adult family counseling, as well as workshops and groups. In fact, it has a group specifically designed for “cultural issues and racial trauma,” though the company’s group therapy services are currently on hold until they can meet in person again. 

Octave’s therapist team includes solid representation from the Asian community—you’ll find Cantonese, Mandarin, Farsi, Punjabi, Japanese, and Korean speakers, among others. Additionally, you can search for therapists specializing in racial trauma and cultural issues by using a filter for these topics when you search for a therapist on the site. This commitment to inclusivity seems to be appreciated by users; 19% said Octave was better than previously used services at supporting people who have experienced racism, compared to a 12% average.

Octave also appears to be making therapy more accessible for diverse therapy-seekers: 19% of users said Octave was better than previous services for having therapists that speak their language, compared to an 11% average. Thirteen percent of users surveyed were of Asian descent, well above the 7% average across the other online services we reviewed, suggesting that Octave is generally more appealing to members of the Asian community than its competitors. 

Octave sessions take place over live video and typically last for 45 minutes. Frequency isn’t mentioned on the site, which means the therapist and patient most likely determine that. 

Cost varies according to location and session type, and insurance coverage varies by state. Octave does accept multiple insurance plans, meaning many of its clients only pay a copay. Self-pay rates are as follows:

• Individual therapy: $170 to $250 per session
• Couples or family therapy: $190 to $275 per session
• Group therapy: Averages $75 per session