What’s it Really Like to Work as a BetterHelp Therapist?

What’s it Really Like to Work as a BetterHelp Therapist?
A few months back I filmed a video by the same title as this one. For legal reasons, I decided to re-record that video in order to be crystal clear that this video contains my opinions and the opinions of those who responded to my questions on Instagram Stories. I cannot claim any of the content of this video as fact given the information I have.
With that said, I thought it would be helpful to share what some of my followers claimed about their experience working for BetterHelp. I hope you find this helpful!
Indeed's BetterHelp Employee Reviews:
www.indeed.com/cmp/Betterhelp...
00:00 Intro
00:13 Disclaimer
00:29 Background
02:14 How Does BetterHelp Pay?
08:31 How Does BetterHelp Treat Clinicians?
12:05 How Does BetterHelp Treat Clients?
15:15 Closing Thoughts
LINKS
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This video is geared for therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field.
Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.
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This video is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

[@dr.bruceparsons1022]

I'm leaving BH at the end of the month, and I can offer some current insight into this. The reason the pay seems so variable is because of how they structure the pay program. For the first 5 hours per week, we're paid $30/hr. The next 5 hours is $35, then $40, then $45. However, we are only paid for a maximum of 45 minutes per session, even if we go over. So we're not getting paid 1 hour per session. I'm no math whiz, but if you count your pay by the client session (as most psychologists typically do), then we're only getting paid about 75% of those hourly rates. I earned more with my first 4 private practice patients each week than I did with all of my roughly 25 BH clients. We also have to respond to any interaction with the client "in a timely manner." With about 25 clients, it felt like I was constantly in chat with them all day M-F, and I could have been on Sat-Sun if I hadn't set that boundary. Please don't get me wrong - the clients weren't overstepping or doing anything wrong. The BH platform gave them this tool and they were using it. I just think that whoever thought providing this tool was a good idea has never been a therapist and didn't understand the logistical and emotional drain this feature causes for clinicians.

[@leshunnmcleod5306]

And may I add, it makes some clients codependent.

[@Riccardo-kw5dc]

Wtf?? They can't do that. Therapy boundaries are a decision that must be made by the clinician!

[@Tarrynn]

The expectations are set for us clients that we have someone to talk to any time, but if I were a therapist, I would die having to respond to that many people in a timely manner. I know from social media experience, that’s sooo draining. This is part of why I got off as a user

[@judyh3707]

Huge yikes. What boundaries?? Patients should have support during a crisis, sure, but if you tell me I can blow up my therapist's phone and they are required to reply to me, thats counterproductive. And I'm sure the privilege is abused.

[@elizabethjahr173]

I cam here to comment exactly this. I used to work for them. The only thing I would add is after a certain word cap the therapist stopped getting paid. The client could keep sending emails but we wouldn't be compensated for reading or replying to them. A certain number of words was calculated into 1 minuted of time. It was incredibly hard/confusing to track.

[@moonbeammama22]

They don't pay well. No LCSW should be paid $15 to see a client for 30 minutes. It's not worth it. After two months, I decided to leave. Most of my cases ended within that time frame also because the client couldn't afford $300 plus a month and wanted to use insurance elsewhere. It's not cheap for clients and they don't pay therapists well. So that's a huge red flag.

[@tabithaaa6176]

Wait are you saying you were paid that little but clients were paying THAT much? So basically BH is basically keeping 80%… sheeesh I’m sorry :/

[@kasapbandy1776]

Is the pay for a new client / trial user different than a paid user?

[@moonbeammama22]

@@kasapbandy1776 seemed like everyone I worked with paid a different amount. Not certain.

[@baconstrips6260]

People like you, greedy vultures preying on mentaly Ill adjusted people that want $100 an hour to listen to you and recite the same thing they tell everyone that walks in the door. You should be a used car sales person with your attitude! You would make more money.

[@wendyk007]

@@tabithaaa6176 yes it is insane and unfortunately for new therapists that don’t know it’s ok to not take notes/tx plans etc they are still responsible by their licensing board (and ethical etc) that losing one’s license here is a given

[@kimcarrots]

It's like they took the concept of therapy and distilled it down to "contact with a therapist." Contact does NOT equal therapy. I am sad to see that our profession is getting commodified into this. It's almost a BOGO sale or something. Makes me very sad.

[@baconstrips6260]

Apparently, you have never needed therapy! All these money grabbing clowns sit and listen for as short of a time as possible and kick you out on the minute, they are just there for a pay check and never do anything other than hand you print offs to read. Most of the time they look down their nose at you while "trying to be there for you". Scam artists!

[@judyh3707]

@@baconstrips6260 well, its pretty hard to have a good therapeutic relationship if you go in assuming they're all dirt bags like this. Therapists are people too, and some just really suck at their job, but its also about what you put into it.

[@arowace498]

​@@baconstrips6260sorry you had a bad experience, or perhaps several. I had a few bad/less optimal experiences before too. When I finally found the correct person they saved my life. Doctors, therapist, physchiatrists... They're just people. And some people suck at their jobs and don't give a shit. But the stigma against therapy isn't fair, because therapy isn't unique in this aspect. Maybe therapy isn't right for you and that's okay. Maybe you've seen everyone you can access. But if you really need help I encourage you to try to find the right person.

[@InTheNameOfLife1]

Not all of them are actual therapists either. You should look up some of the horror stories about unlicensed “therapists” giving horrific advice.

[@InTheNameOfLife1]

@@baconstrips6260 I used to feel that way until I met my last therapist. She was amazing and helped me tremendously. Unfortunately I lost my insurance and couldn’t cover the cost any longer. You need to treat new therapists as “dates” and stick with the one that you jive with. I promise there are incredible ones out there that would be right for you.

[@madisonmccarty6836]

As a former BH client, I hated BH. I was matched with a couple different therapist and none of them felt "professional". One of the therapists I matched with also canceled on me multiple times and I would have to reschedule even though I already paid for that week. So on top of my already heavy mental load I would have to contact billing support to get refunds. It never felt professional to me, and I never felt like I was getting real help. Now, I have found a therapist that I see in person and it's a million times better.

[@antonboludo8886]

I once had a therapist who twice was a no-show at our appointments. Her office was in her home. On two occasions she was not there. Very unprofessional. She ended up not helping me at all. It was a huge waste of time and money. Not professional at all. I then found another one who was a much better fit.

[@madisonmccarty6836]

@@antonboludo8886 I had the exact same experience!

[@antonboludo8886]

@@madisonmccarty6836 Yes, in the end you have to interview different therapists to find the one who can help you.

[@GiveHerFlowers]

Agreed

[@jennipotts]

I have yet to hear from someone with serious mental health struggles that Better Help can effectively help them manage their lives better. Their marketing strategy clearly targets people who don’t have experience with therapy as well. It’s enlightening to have some insight into what seems to be the general experience for clinicians. Not having healthy boundaries or sufficient support from your employer could for sure impact your ability to support clients effectively.

[@philocan426]

To fellow therapists. Please don’t support companies like this. Community mental health and non-profits are now paying therapists close to market rates. Private practices will pay 65% as a standard. Taking work like this produces a market which separates you from your means of service so much so that it nullifies your advanced degree and is a disgrace to your abilities and worth. Stick to agency counseling, self employment as a contractor or start your own small business.

[@setodd2098]

If only Better Help used all that money they put into their legal teams into their therapeutic teams maybe they wouldn't have this issue......🤷‍♀️

[@LatinaLady30]

I am so glad that I came across this video. Just yesterday, I received an unsolicited email from someone that works at BH. They are offering me free lunch if I attend one of their presentations online talking about what is like to work for them. I have never contacted them or requested any information from them so I found that odd. I went ahead and emailed the person back asking how he/she obtained my email. I was told that they got my information from LinkedIn. It seems as if they are hungry to hire therapists, and that is a red flag to me! I can only speculate that they are losing therapists and are constantly hunting for more!

[@sarahberkner]

Technically it also means they are a growing business and they have new clients signing up. The KZbin ads are geared toward clients so they have to recruit therapists somehow. However I was always suspicious of their company as well.

[@ayeshag1928]

Hey i just wanted to know.. Do they hire from other country as well.. Like india or pakistan

[@roundishwhale]

Just to add my own personal experience with BH as a customer on the pile: It helped me turn my life around, but seems more fit for drastic "drop the toxic job, set basic boundaries" things instead of the backstory dive of "Okay, let's investigate where this problem is coming from." kinda things. So, a very strong starting point for those who just need a supportive voice / Push in the right direction. But ill fit to actually deal with vague complex/larger underlying challenges.

[@sarahberkner]

I'm not a therapist and I'll tell people on KZbin occasionally to "drop the toxic job" more or less, I don't get why people stay at a job they hate for years. I'm not in tune with people's feelings or super nice but I like giving practical advice, I don't think a lot of people actually want that in therapy and that would be difficult as a therapist.

[@alisantoro9622]

Ooof, there was a betterhelp ad at the top of this video too - I'm sure auto-generated by KZbin, but definitely ironic. lol

[@angier2289]

So I’m not a therapist but I had my concerns about signing up as a client for a few reasons. The intake screening form is VERY short which can make it unlikely that you would make a good match to begin with. If the therapist you’re matched to isn’t a good fit for you, then as a client, you’re back to the “dating game” of trying another therapist which probably further delays any actual therapy you receive or issues you can resolve. Again, as a client…I filled out the form, including a 10% discount code from a podcast I listen to and then waited to be notified of my therapist’s name and profile. When I was notified a few days later, my therapist didn’t match any of my requests except for being female. So I decided to take a few days to think about it and, what’dya know, I started receiving additional discount proposals! Sign up and we’ll make your first month an additional xx$ lower. When I didn’t reply, they sent me another email with another discount… I let the offer expire because at the price quoted, I couldn’t see how the poor therapist was getting paid anything. My last concern was the max 45 minute session. By the time you spend a few minutes going over how things went last week and then at the end, going over what homework the client can work on, how much actual time is there for actual nuts and bolts? In the end, the sales pitch of how convenient it would be to not have to drive or be in traffic or wait in a waiting room etc were far outweighed by factors I thought were not conducive to a good client or therapist experience. Completely different business and maybe not a perfect comparison but loads of people who crunched the numbers when the first ride share app launched suspected the only ones who would make money were the companies, not the drivers. Could that be the case here too? That’d be my suspicion. In the end, I would prefer to pay more for a well qualified therapist who has the time to take time for me to get feeling better. Hard to picture this being possible at $15-30 per appointment. Therapists study for a long time, then do unpaid internships etc to build practice hours and they, like any other professional deserve to be paid appropriately. Just my 2 cents

[@GrimrDirge]

I'm in a clinical counseling master's program right now and had seen the ads for BH. I am so glad to hear more about them from insiders.

[@itsvanessawordd]

Thank you for this video. I quit my full time position at a local cancer center in hopes of doing BH full time and it didn’t work out for me. In order to make the same amount that I was making at my last job, I had to have about 50 clients. A lot of clients no show, and you don’t get paid the first time they no show. They reimburse you about $15 every no show after, which in my opinion is just not okay. The sessions as you mentioned are 30 or 45 minutes max so whatever hourly pay you get is misleading because it comes out to less. They pay you more the more clients you have so it’s very much this factory style of seeing clients- the more you can see, the better (never mind taking your time to work with each client). Clients can also switch at any time which is great on the client side but it’s difficult for therapists to constantly have to start over with new clients, build rapport, and have helpful sessions in only 30-45 minutes.

[@itsvanessawordd]

I ended up leaving and now work at an outpatient behavioral health center. I make more than I did at my last two jobs and am truly enjoying what I do! Although my hourly rate isn’t amazing, I’m much happier having a case load I can manage and having in person support from my peers!

[@itsvanessawordd]

Despite everything, starting at BH did help me get out of my comfort zone and learn how to practice as a clinician so I will give them that. I learned a lot about my skill set and limits/boundaries.

[@Michellelevy18]

I switched to Alma and recommend that highly. Making around $125 per hour or more.

[@itsvanessawordd]

@@Michellelevy18 that’s wonderful! Thank you for the recommendation

[@dr.bruceparsons1022]

@@Michellelevy18 I just started the onboarding process with Alma. So far, it seems far superior to BH.

[@nsanenthembrane]

Thanks for doing the public a service by creating this video. Not only are therapists paid less but they are 1099 workers so you’d have to subtract 25%-30% in taxes and you’re paying for your own healthcare. Seriously you’d do better at your local chic fil a at least they have great benefits and other perks you wouldn’t get at better help. Don’t know why therapists are still working for them. There are so many services that can help therapists with building their own online business. If not that then there are better telehealth platforms out there. What really grates me are the big names in mental health that are using them as podcast sponsors. They should know better whereas celebrities or non mental health professionals who endorse them aren’t as aware of the downsides of this company

[@englishrose4388]

You bring up something that grates on me, as well. I've noticed that many counseling jobs don't include benefits, of any kind. Suddenly $35 doesn't look so good when you have to pay for your own medical, but you could earn $23/hour (price seen on a local store door) at See's Candies and have full benefits...And you don't need any schooling for that work and it ends when your shift does. There's a culture of low pay in our field and frankly, in my opinion, there's a culture in this field that takes advantage of counselors heart for clients and the common personality traits among therapists.

[@anitaknight3915]

@@englishrose4388 it's so refreshing to come across your comment as I couldn't agree more. Everything you mentioned has always infuriated me. Our field is extremely exploitative of clinicians and takes gross advantage attracting people who are highly empathetic, caring, giving, compassionate, and notoriously not the best at boundaries/self care/or saying NO because they're good hearted "helpers". I find a lot of manipulative business practices, commonly no benefits with having to pay high for your insurance, and gaslighting about pay. Everything is set up to see as many clients as possible like cattle making agency CEOs and insurance companies huge profits. It's a very draining poorly compensated field. It's unsupported, undervalued, and underfunded. It saddens me. The way mental health is run doesn't value providers and inevitably leads to burnout and compassion fatigue. Many CEOs and psychologists/psychiatrists tend to have cluster b personality disorders, Narcissistic personality disorder, and sociopathic traits.

[@DrThereseMascardo]

I’ve only ever heard horrible feedback from fellow therapists about working for BH. It’s so upsetting therapists are treated in a way that compromises their well being AND the well being of their clients at the same time. It’s WRONG and I hope everyone gets wise to BH’s shenanigans. Because of everything I’ve heard, I would never associate with BH professionally. Thank you Marie!!!

[@heathertiller23]

Unfortunately, this is also the case for many clinicians working in community health agencies. The pressure to have a high number of clients on your caseload + the disproportionately trauma-heavy situations is a recipe for burnout that very few admins in these agencies seem to care about. I agree that it's extra egregious coming from a company whose only service is mental health related, though.

[@DrThereseMascardo]

@@heathertiller23 It's terrible all around! And the fact that agencies are set up badly definitely doesn't mean BH gets a pass, right? Community agencies are often overwhelmed non-profits whereas BH is clearly profiting in a BIG way.

[@baconstrips6260]

You Therapists always make your profession look bad, by your greed! You are all worried about being rich, and that $100+ per hour for your service, for a 20 to 25 hour work week. You dont think the poor people you SHOULD be treating don't take in more stressful input than you can deal with on an hourly basis, but they only get miminum wage, so fu*k the poors right! Privileged white women with no soul!

[@CarlyCravesChaos]

I am just starting my masters program in CMHC and feel strongly about the potential positives of telehealth therapy services on the clients' side of things. The first version of telehealth therapy I heard of was through BH, mostly because they sponsor so many KZbinrs. I don't expect every sponsored content creator to know all of the ins and outs of this field, especially when it is still relatively new therapy for therapists themselves with the sudden sharp increase in use of telehealth in the pandemic. Still, I wish more KZbinrs and other folks considering sponsorship through BH would do a bit more research and watch videos like yours, and the many others out there that uncover the opinions and insights of therapists who have actually worked for the site.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

I do video calls with the therapist from my doctors office because I have transportation issues but I prefer to go in when I can. No reason someone can’t be a traditional therapist and offer tele-sessions without going through something like betterhelp. I had a different therapist once who came to my house which was helpful because if I had to go somewhere I really wouldn’t have made the effort, but I did need the help. Covid hit and we finished off using telephone calls which was perfectly fine.

[@Brandon-os3qr]

You'll be encouraged to know that telehealth therapy has become more common even without these types of companies, specifically since the pandemic led to many of the regulations on this subject being loosened/changed.

[@jberndt88]

Debating weather telahealth is or is not beneficial distracts from the real issues of Better Help.

[@nikkischwisowlcsw]

I’m so so glad you’re covering this topic. It’s so important!! I shared my feedback on your Instagram pole and was happy to see my comments were shared. I want clinicians to be aware of these items when making a decision that is best (or if BH is not what’s best) for their practice. Thanks for what you do for our therapist community! 🧡🧡

[@LaurieS-cz1fr]

I've been a therapist with BH for 5 years now. As with most things in life, it's a mix of positive and negative. The main negative is the terrible pay. Even with taking into account that there is almost no overhead, no need to advertise for clients, no billing, etc., etc., it feels bad to make so little money. I will give the caveat that it's mainly true for when you work part-time, like I do. If you see more clients, you earn more per hour. On the plus side, I love being able to see ahead of time who is matched to me and then having the option to accept or decline. I love having everything on one secure platform, which makes it easy to communicate and send clients handouts if so inclined. As for the boundaries aspect, I believe that it's up to each therapist to make sure they don't feel overwhelmed. Set boundaries for how often you'll respond to messages, what you'll do about lateness or no-shows, etc.

[@melissasmith1900]

I agree 100%. It's working for me (part-time) and I have enjoyed most of the work I've done on this platform.

[@wmgabby]

Good for you for reposting and not backing away entirely!

[@emilycurtis4398]

BH had a sliding scale when I worked there. $30/hr for the first five hours, then $35/hr for the next five. Except client sessions were 45min each so you had to supplement with BH's worksheets, texting, and if clients wrote in a journal. And clients didn't always do that, that's a lot of homework. It's a lot of work for little money.

[@emotionalsupportpaintbrush]

McDonalds starts at $15.00/hr. No shame in a hard days work but it doesn’t require all your student debt, insurance and overhead….. (don’t hate on me I’ve worked fast food - nothin wrong w it but it is a different level of stress than being a therapist)

[@emilycurtis4398]

@@emotionalsupportpaintbrush and I've worked in food service too. Back breaking and thankless. With BH the mental energy of dealing with the platform and navigating clients and placing boundaries was too frustrating.

[@kymheart1577]

It’s still the same pay. I’m planning to transition soon.

[@tawonapearson5388]

Emily you are RIGHT! The pay structure you described is a major reason working at BH doesn't work. One 45 min client session does not equal an hour so you have to see two clients in order to get one hour. To make a living you would have to see 40+ clients a week. The add on's such as worksheets, emailing and journaling does not add up. You end up doing way more work than if you worked for yourself in a private practice or for an agency.

[@jberndt88]

FYI when you start gaining a case load in Better Help they will also drop your clients and provide your clients no explanation of why you disappeared. That graduated pay scale is throttled back on you.

[@tigermilk96]

Thanks for posting this perspective. Their marketing is so omnipotent/present that it overrides how exploitative BH and TalkSpace is. Tech corp taking advantage of rapidly rising need for mental health services and exploiting clinicians. It really perpetuates the devaluation of our work and burn out.

[@anitaknight3915]

I truly have learned our field is exploitative burning us out and unethical period for clinicians no matter what agency we work for!

[@InTheNameOfLife1]

I’ve heard that many clients have sworn off therapy now too after bad experiences through them. One girl was retraumatized because her BH therapist started using the bathroom while on call with her. There’s little protections and oversight for clients and for the therapists alike.

[@LovesAlchemist]

Ohhhhh mannnn lemme share my experience! I worked there for three years and never felt so burned out in my life. Their approach is a breeding ground for personality disorder and goes against everything one should do when working with personality disorders...I got in trouble after setting clear boundaries with borderline and narcs and in the end felt it wasn't worth continuing because I felt so devalued. In my end email to them, I told them the tech world and mental health shouldn't merge unless tech folk were truly invested in mental health

[@tapslagata]

this was more helpful than the video

[@cindyval2677]

I read in an Indeed review that they misdiagnose clients and more therapists are working with borderline clients instead of someone who is allegedly diagnosed with Depression. If you are not familiar working with a borderline client or anyone who is showing symptoms or has been diagnosed with a personality disorder. It can be so difficult and overwhelming and a whole group of other words that I can't say on KZbin. I'm glad I read this review because this really gives me an insight on their business practice and it sounds similar to the current clinic I work for.

[@anitaknight3915]

@@cindyval2677 same thoughts. Sooo many clinicians where I work cherry pick clients and refuse to work with personality disorders. I received many BPD clients who on intakes & office scheduling as "anxiety, minor depressed mood, and or adhd like symptoms" when in reality a ton had severe issues. Its been overwhelming and exhausting to deal with.

[@Emarie468]

Let’s not refer to people with BPD as “Borderlines” or People with NPD as “Narcs”. That’s super stigmatizing language.

[@fidgetykoala]

@@Emarie468 I was appalled reading those comments considering they come from 'clinicians'. Imagine if the real deal doctors were going to decide which patient is the easiest to treat in a life-threating situation. Ridicolous ppl, ridiculous job.

[@tatianataylor5913]

Kudos to you for giving everybody a space to share the experience! I’ve seen other popular social media therapists advertise for them and it makes me sick to my stomach knowing how they treat the clinicians they hire.

[@morgan6404]

As a starting therapist, you can make SO much more by not working for Betterhelp. My first job was working for a group practice (60/40 split) but as an independent contractor I had to do my own marketing. I opted to use the free version of TherapyDen, paid for PsychologyToday, and signed up to be on the list as a provider at my local mental health america and NAMI. I easily filled my caseload!! And I didn't have to sell my soul to this company..plus I got paid more than $30 an hour. If you are new to the field, don't do it!

[@Hustlersambiton]

That’s why people don’t want to get therapy and rather suffer cos they don’t want to spill their heart out to someone who doesnt give a crap about them and care more about the money their on.

[@salvationismines1]

@@HustlersambitonI understand what you are saying but we deserve decent pay for the work. If you just need to spill your thoughts and emotions for cheap, maybe just talk to a friend. Therapist takes lots of education and is work.

[@ladyriethegoldendelmo5441]

@@Hustlersambiton true but to be fair thats with most companies. the only way is to make your own company or rent houses and be your own boss

[@Hustlersambiton]

@@salvationismines1 i never said you don’t deserve decent pay.

[@Hustlersambiton]

@@salvationismines1 oh so now I cannot afford therapy? So I should just talk to a friend because I’m too cheap? That’s basically what u just said to me.

[@VisualMind]

I'm an influencer and I've seen so many BH sponsorships from others it's insane. I've been talking a lot about mental health on my channel but I would never consider promoting them. It breaks my heart to see my favorite KZbinrs doing sponsorship deals with BH 💔

[@wintersprite]

While I only have small channels so it isn’t likely to happen anyway, with I’ve been hearing, I wouldn’t want to do a sponsorship with them either. It would also be odd to so since I have a therapist who is in a private practice.

[@carmengracepuentes7953]

Me too 😭😭

[@jadapinkett1656]

This generation is so lame.

[@BB-bx4dp]

One of my fave KZbinrs does her own ads for BH. She seems like an amazing person, but sells out so easily to questionable sponsors, and to co-hosting shows with people who directly contradict her own principles/ ideas to get more publicity.

[@zoeshaw3327]

Excellent video. Thank you for bringing awareness ❤️

[@anissa7856]

Thanks for this video. Shared this in a student questionnaire about digital (psychological) help. Not a therapist but I think their side is easily forgotten when looking at the possibilities of digital care. Especially helpful due to the input of multiple people! So thanks to them as well

[@marykmotherhood]

Thank you for sharing this. I am not in the field of therapy but was always curious on BH. I never thought deeply about what the therapists go there since the ads are geared to just help the client and ease for client. Burn out is no joke and I feel bad that therapists feel that way.

[@Drjoshington]

You can tell by their ads that they're not legit because they use a psychological prompt and preface everything with..."You feel stressed, overwhelmed, anxious etc." And this is supposed to actually MAKE you feel those things so that you use their product. It's not subtle at all and no legitimate therapy service would use that language in that way.

[@EricAKATheBelgianGuy]

Thanks for saying that, actually. I'm an HFA, but I never felt overwhelmed or anxious by life. If there was anything that was disappointing, it's hand-eye coordination. Therapy isn't designed to fix clumsiness, and I'm not convinced that clumsiness is fixable in the first place. Disappointing, sure, but I've gotten used to it. In other words: it's not the world tripping me up. It's me tripping *myself* up (both figuratively and literally in this case).

[@emotionalsupportpaintbrush]

I’m gonna say what you probably can’t - if Better Help threatened legal action bc you explored the topic and gave your opinion that should say a lot. It’s frustrating they have the best SEO and come up on top. I worry they are becoming fat cats like insurance companies off the backs of therapist. I’d like to see the difference between what clients pay and what the therapist gets. Of course starting a business and keeping the platform they should get a portion of the pay but ….. Also if therapists are going there bc they can’t fill a practice I would question what’s going on there from a client perspective. Ok don’t sue me better help. This is my OPINION.

[@DannyD-lr5yg]

I’m pretty sure KZbinr/therapist Mickey Atkins also had _exactly_ that happen - BH making threats, that is - as she also remade a video and “opted to remove” her original one. Truly disgusting :/

[@nsanenthembrane]

@@DannyD-lr5yg I know owner of therapy den has been very vocal and has helped to raise awareness about them. I know they offered him a ton of money to partner w them and he said no out of integrity

[@emotionalsupportpaintbrush]

In a world of “informed consent” it just enrages me that the average consumer would not know this information - heck even in network clinician navigate some similar things. I think the client should know how much the therapist makes for their session like an EOB. I also think there isn’t enough info out there to teach consumers how to interview / vet a prospective therapist. Thinks like - if they say that have 20 specialties just to come up on a psychology today search 👀 you should RUN 🏃‍♀️ … not walk RUN! A person cannot be an expert at all things and we should be asking why that person is struggling so much to fill a practice. 🤔 But then again I think you should have more than just a bare bones license by the state to see trauma and marriage - these are both beasts with lots at stake and require a specific skill set. I don’t think the mere suggestion that you “work in your area of competency” is enough. BUT those therapist that have done other certifications and many hours and many dollars to get a LEGIT certification (like Gottman) should be paid what they’re worth and clients should be able know the difference. But that’s just me ….. And just for poops and giggles go google “Find Gottman therapist”. Who is the first site????? Any guesses??????? I’ll let u go try it yourself

[@caripillo5876]

Yeah reading between the lines it seems like that is what happened. I know several therapists have received cease and desist letters :(

[@englishrose4388]

​@@nsanenthembrane My understanding is also that Therapy Den Dan had to take down his video because of legal contact from BH. They are not friends of therapists, in my opinion. If they suppress therapists expressing concern - that becomes a system of oppression. Again, just my opinion BH.

[@KimberlyLouvin]

This is why I provide therapy via my standard rate and my Open Path Collective rate. I don’t work with big tech and I am still able to see clients for $60-300/session.

[@InTheNameOfLife1]

$300 a session seems exploitative. I’d never pay that for any therapist. My psychiatrist isn’t even that much, and she’s one of the top recommended psychiatrists in my city. What justifies charging clients $300 for one hour?

[@junkinthebrain]

It is also important to remember that you are contracted, so that means that you have to do your own withholding for taxes. You don't actually get to keep the money that you make because you are not an employee. You are a contractor. This is a very important factor to take into consideration depending on what the taxes are like where you live.

[@markcarterii7395]

I received help from a therapist from better help about a month ago so far I been receiving the help I need. So far the service it well,I'm pretty much getting what I'm paying them. It's been great on my end

[@darthvader0107]

As a client on BH, I want to support my therapist because she is truly the best therapist I've ever had. I finally found the therapist who can help me! How do I support her? I'm willing to give her what she is worth, I just didn't know BH treated their therapists so poorly. Do I cancel BH and find her in person?

[@hawkeyescoffee6399]

Perhaps you could ask her if she takes none BH tele clients. Ask what her rates are, etc. Probably don't put it in a message because idk if BH has access to those logs. If she does take private clients it's likely her rates will be higher. However, you'll likely only pay for the sessions uou have rather than a flat fee regardless. Also, you may find that your health insurance (if in US) might cover some or all of your sessions that are direct with the therapist. I would suggest just make sure you check out accreditation first. I've heard not all who work as therapists are actually licensed.

[@darthvader0107]

@@hawkeyescoffee6399 thank you for that information! She is actually licensed in my state. I’ll ask her during my next session! Again, thank you!

[@darthvader0107]

Update: I talked with my therapist and she said that she knows she’s underpaid, but she prefers to be on BH for now because it fits her schedule and allows all clients to be in one place instead of spreading herself thin between multiple places. She did say when she decides to leave BH, we can set up a plan then. 💜

[@wintersprite]

I’m glad that you found a therapist you like. Although I don’t use BH, I’m grateful for the therapist I have too. I was scared to try therapy in the beginning yet I’m glad that I’ve stuck with it.

[@darthvader0107]

@@wintersprite yay for finding our therapists! It takes forever to find the right one, but it’s such a blessing once we have!

[@carmenheidy626]

businesses like these should be illegal

[@AmandaLiz72]

Super helpful!

[@kimflorio1861]

I appreciate your work very much. You are a helpful advocate for therapists. That hourly amount does not include the taxes and overhead costs. Continuing ed, liability insurance, mandatory membership, computer costs, scheduling time and progress- processing notes. This doesn't even include some study re: all the complex client needs which we all assume as our own responsibility.

[@ShanniBananni]

The problem is that they are charging less than $300/month for therapy. That is a very low amount. It's unsustainable. Someone is going to get the short end of the stick when prices are that low. They pay therapists way too little because their price is too low.

[@tawonapearson5388]

You are right and some clients are actually paying much less - if they are on financial aid.

[@hawkeyescoffee6399]

I've read client stories about them getting the run around, being passed from one therapist to another. The therapist responding to texts, or the client being passed to others so that the client can't claim a refund whe hey don't get to have their sessions (whether it's one or any, because I've read counts of people who went 6 weeks without getting a call. And when they did, it wasn't an appropriate match). And conversely there are going to be those clients who are constantly messaging their therapist because the way BH push their service, they make it seem like the therapist is at the client's constant call. Which means the therapist is caught up with them, as they know they'd get penalised for not responding within a certain time frame (I think i read 24 hours, but I might be wrong). Something ultimate,y has to give. So yeah, while there are what seems a small minority of satisfied BH customers, on the whole many are not getting the attention/help they need/deserve/pay for.

[@marileegarfield7436]

In a nutshell, yes.

[@jberndt88]

My clients in private practice never pay more than $250 a month for high quality therapy. Many only pay $120. They can also take brakes from therapy without continuing to be charged a subscription.

[@ShanniBananni]

@@jberndt88 $250 a month paid directly to you is not the same as $300 to a corporation. By the time the company takes it's cut, the therapist is getting ~$35 an hour (not per session). That's way too low. A therapist would have to be in session for 45 to 50 hours a week to make a decent living. That's not including the hours of admin work done outside of the session. This is a recipe for burn-out and high turnover of the clinicians and ultimately poor care for some clients. It also depends on where you live. $300/month or $75/session before taxes is unsustainable in my area.

[@englishrose4388]

Masterful job of cakewalking given the litigious context. I know one therapist who was sued by BH for simply *in my opinion only* showing their privacy policy and sharing opinions of other therapists. I'm also concerned (my personal opinion) that BH is creating a counseling agency mill. Kind of like Gentle Dental, only for therapists. And, given all that I have heard from others, I'm very concerned with their use of influencers on social media and what that will have on counselors in private practice and the profession as a whole.

[@leelewis5068]

You mean like Gentle Mental?

[@englishrose4388]

@@leelewis5068 🤣

[@wendyk007]

Ok I can finally tell you why as a seasoned therapist this is the reason (worked 2 weeks ago there) NO RECORDS U DO NOT DIAGNOSE OR WRITE PROGRESS NOTES OR ANY DOCUMENTATION! U do not know the name of the person (last name) there is no assessment you complete or goals etc (normal/mandatory/ethical regulations) in the company. A Ct could not get records bc there aren’t any. Additionally, they want you working 40 hours and sessions are only allowed either 30 or 45 minutes, emails/texts are also a form of therapy there and you have clients texting, emailing, etc repeatedly and you are expected to respond. I could go on and on. The clients sadly are the ones losing out as their physicians are recommending this place and most I encountered had great insurance but not knowledgeable (bc they are not therapists) on how this company is ran. It is heartbreaking that this is occurring. I’m still in shock 🤦🏻‍♀️😳

[@ximar0ckstrx]

I used BetterHelp while I was waiting to see if my insurance was taken and my long-time therapists' new practice. It was terrible. I had a therapist who would talk about herself and her personal issues and encouraged me when I was looking at "end of life" services on Switzerland. She encouraged me to end my life. I'm thankful that I was able to return to my REAL therapist.

[@wintersprite]

That’s messed up! I’m glad you’re getting help from your good therapist again and that you’re still here.

[@amanday3103]

Please please please report her if you haven’t already that is so dangerous and she needs to be stopped.

[@kaleimaile]

I will NEVER work for BH. You would not make it in CA by making 60k a year. You need to make 100k to really make it in CA. It’s also illegal in CA when companies pay 1099. You also pay 25-30% in taxes, so the pay becomes super LOW! There are no benefits, either.

[@dgs060481]

Totally agree with everyone’s feedback here. Glad to know I’m not the only one feeling/seeing BH in this light. Additionally, the BH algorithm is so ridiculously flawed. You get emails every week noting “there are 80 people in your area looking for a therapist…” You then as a practitioner turn your availability on only to then get a notification that because you don’t have enough open slots on your schedule you won’t be referred any new patients. That seems to be such a contradictory experience. Oh well…. I don’t have Dr before or PhD after my name so no one cares what I think.

[@leelewis5068]

Phd: Piled higher and deeper?

[@ricardoarmandoguzman158]

Super helpful! I was tempted to apply for Betterhelp (but I got a bad vibe). I am making more on Alma and Headway… $$$

[@emmelinesprig489]

Such a shame that mental health care is finally becoming more socially accepted, but BH is making the situation worse for so many people.

[@jadapinkett1656]

Psychiatry should be banned.

[@sarahberkner]

I think mental health care is helpful for some and damaging for others who get misdiagnosed or who use it as a crutch instead of taking some personal responsibility for their thoughts and feelings (some people not everyone). There's no shame in going to therapy but personally I wouldn't go if it was free.

[@nomiddlenamenmn427]

I worked for a place like BH. I made $14 an hour, was on food stamps, and welfare. Employees were treated like independent contractors. In four years, I never had a vacation until I nearly broke down and was hospitalized. It was horrible what they did to the poor patients and to me. I was expected to see 64 patients a week. Worked off clock for 0 pay. Evil, greedy, godless managers. Thank you.

[@pbxh6740]

Thanks for posting this. I’m also curious about some of the virtual groups, like Headway and Alma. Alma makes me nervous because of the venture startup capital that went into making it huge; the really high rates they are offering therapist don’t seem sustainable.

[@ericvelazquez-sanchez5644]

I began working at BetterHelp in 2020 during lockdown. For me the first year was great. I was given many patients quickly and I learned a whole lot. The rubric for pay depends on the amount of patients that you see. You are paid 30 dollars per session for the first 5 sessions, then 35 for the next, to for the next 5 and so on. The dashboard is open to the patients daily and they can write journals to you and communicate in between sessions. If you do not take care of yourself you can burnout. Depending on the state you reside you have to pay quarterly taxes of up to 37% of your income. Many of my patients were awesome and we fostered good relationships. This is a good job for a part timer. If you try to get a higher salary you will have to overwork and that is not good for our patients.

[@artifundio1]

I was a client for almost 2 months, and it sucked big time. Every time I had an issue with the attitude of the therapist instead of talking to them, they changed the therapiat. Or the therapists directly changed me without asking. I talked qith like 6 therapists in that time. Was really awful. I will never recommend it. It really shows how badly they are treated, but is no excuse. They all where extremely detached and distant. And most of the questions from them disregarded what I have just told them. I felt so bad, so alone, so stepped over. When I finally lost all hope of improving the service, I sent them all the screen shots and they returned all my money back. My read on it is they know they can't handle it, so they (better help) no longer care to improve.

[@guadalupealvarez9500]

In person is always 10x better because it gives the sense that your actually being hear and feeling that your getting help. Online can't give you that same sense of connection. We feel more present when it's face to face. We want to find the perfect therapist but it's probably best to focus in finding the right person.

[@preciousjewel7297]

Thank you for this video. I have an interview this morning and this video, along with the many comments has made me decide to decline this job. I never imagined it was this bad.

[@TreSteger]

I'm still crying...they damaged me

[@stormtidal253]

@@TreSteger@tre what happened?

[@TreSteger]

@stormtidal253 I can reply off line. I'm still crying

[@Sasha_0813]

Thank you for this video! My mom is a retire LMSW and i was hoping to help her figure out how to get set up. I wondered if we are getting fair wages in her offers and Im glad I could reference it somewhere

[@voidandnon-2530]

Wonderful video

[@amandacapalbo1008]

I currently work for them. They gave me SO many clients I had to put myself on pause for new clients. I have loved all my clients. Pay stinks but I loved my clients. The issue I have now is that 3 weeks ago I unpaused myself to take more clients and haven’t received a single one. After many emails of “we match people with the best fit”. My rating is a 5.0 and I pretty much handle everything🤔 I am also still getting emails and calls about “hiring on”. You want me to “hire on” but I already work for you and you can’t give me clients!!!!

[@realitytvtherapy]

Thank you for sharing this vital information. I don't know why anyone would work for BH; or use them as a client. My private practice rates are much higher; I have colleagues who work for Kaiser and make $150 an hour, no questions asked, and with minimal paperwork. Telehealth is everywhere. You don't have to give your soul to BH for burnout and low pay. I've heard that BH spends its money on marketing, and now I'm guessing on legal expenses. Sorry, it sounds like they were trying to silence you. Keep up the excellent work; there are better options for therapists than working for BH.

[@warrenroby6907]

Working for BH has been the highlight of my counseling career. I should say I started when I was semi-retired, during COVID, and recovering from a health crisis. BH allowed me to get back on my feet professionally. I got great clients and was able to use my language skills because I only deal with internationals. BH has a great Library of worksheets. The thing I like the most is the lack of diagnosis. I am free to treat people in all their complexity not their “category. And know that I have a PhD and have taught undergraduate abnormal psychology.

[@briannamottola]

My program for thearpy has a 5-7 minute skills call if you need to talk to someone outside of your 1 hour therapy it’s a non emergency one & you can call it whenever your stressed it’s not for every time your upset or all the time but it’s to help you and they provide you with skills to cope during the call and I think that would’ve been a better option than the texting all day option better help gives

[@emilylombardo5197]

lol at the Better Help ad before the video started... >_< haha

[@Leila2023_]

when you are self employed and someone offers you consistent guaranteed hours it's gold... even if it's a bit lower pay you just take it to get started and pay bills. I would definitely work for better help if I had the qualifications and experience they require. I have been teaching for years and it's an absolute nightmare to find consistent well paid work.

[@MsPurji313]

As a former client, I did want to speak to maybe why people and youtubers happily accept sponsorships from them (other than $$). It is not great because if you have never been to or had any sort of therapy experience before, it really does feel awesome and life changing at first! For people who are not great with other humans in meat space or people in therapy desert sort of things have no basis on if this is "good therapy". As for watching other videos like these, it can come off as "this brand new thing is threatening OUR thing and we don't like it!". I admit, I got that feeling a few years ago when I went ahead with BH. I was with them for maybe four to six months when some things started to feel kind of wrong. Like, my therapist stopped doing this mass "thought of the day" mail because they stopped getting paid for sending out things to their clients without a session. (Which is all fine and good, it was kind of a lot for me, but the reasoning behind it made me feel some ick.) I had to remind the person about what we talked about every time, even when she was taking notes or I had sent a little "in our session I would like to talk about blah blah blah" to remind her. So half of your not even half hour session is just rehashing things that were kind of difficult to talk about the first go round, which does not feel like value after a while. Then, I found the free website that they got alllllll of their worksheets from. Worksheets that they would just give a three sentence comment to and forget. So I cancelled after a year of weekly sessions that were basically my therapist talking about their dog and showing me pics of her husband the final two months of it. ::Edited to add:: The text messaging seemed really weird. Like, if I send you an email (which is what their messaging section felt like) outside of work hours, there is no way I would expect a response during those said hours. However, I had my person tell me to stop doing it (verbally) because she had to many to handle and she got marked against if her response was too slow.

[@ababy6074]

I am a customer of Brtter Help and I'm in Australia. I can't say it was a positive experience. The therapist was the problem in my case. I often waited for a week or more to get a message from her. I also just got given a worksheet which I filled out as honestly as I could, but then a couple of weeks later the therapist sent a message that it wasn't done well enough, as if I'd given it no effort, when I was desperate to get help with the issues I was having at the time. The admin were good though and very helpful.

[@MrBdiddypop]

I have a feeling that the turnover rate of therapists is extremely high. This is the type of job that you do for a couple of months before you get filled up in your private practice. They’ve recruited me a bunch of times. I’ve been in the field for a while and, paid my dues. This is the type of job that is considered paying your dues before you become successful at private practice.

[@aliwarren5110]

“Paying your dues” is often code for “exploitation.” Every therapist desires a fair and livable wage. Burnout should not be the price one pays when entering the field.

[@chrisrussellca]

I completely understand the negative sentiments regarding pressures from the company to reply fast and their focus client first attitude. I freelanced for Fiverr they balance on the client side entirely too much. It can leave you feeling unheard and unfulfilled

[@chrystalroberts3685]

Not worth it unless you (ethically and personally) can AND want to have a case load competitive to that of counselors in state/community health centers (like.... maaaasssssive caseload). Could share a ton of factual information plus personal insights. Totally agree with the person who talked about the pressure to respond specifically and super quickly to clients. The amount of red-highlighted and exclamation-pointed notices/notifications for responding to clients (even if there was no response needed based on the context of the conversation/exchange) made me seriously-bordering-on-traumatic-reaction avoid even logging into the platform. Of course that impacted my "availability" to the clients assigned to me. I could say so much more...

[@vonettapa4317]

I know my experience may have been a one off, however as I listen to the other side seems like a lot of burnout. I had one session, therefore after my therapist rescheduled numerous of times that by the time I spoke to her again it was a month and two weeks. Instead of just finding another therapist I just dropped it. Couldn’t believe how hard it was to get help even paying out of pocket. Consistency is key, but these are humans/man who pull there pants up one leg at a time such as us 🤷🏾‍♀️ Good Luck out there!!

[@emawilliams3284]

Thank you for sharing this with us. I was thinking about working with them. This helps me alot. By the way you look beautiful 😘

[@wintersprite]

I’m a client and have a therapist who has a private practice. It’s only expensive in the beginning half of the year, until I reach my deductible. Luckily my health insurance is pretty good and I don’t have a limit on the amount of therapy sessions I can have in a year. I’m currently doing sessions about every three weeks. I was scared to start therapy in the beginning and would bring a doll or stuffed animal with me even though I’m an adult. I still like to share them and currently sessions are still virtual from the pandemic so It’s easy to have one or two with me (sometimes one of my cats joins me as well, lol).

[@louisruffin6808]

Hi I only watched about 3 minutes of your video. Something stopped me from watching and I then began this comment. From the video from just 3 minutes into it I see that money is the main reason or your 1st reason for this video. I need desperately a therapist, but Not one who's main concern is money. I do need a compassionate caring person to help me, but in this world where money is way more important than a human beings life and well-being, I just stuff my issues deeper within and bear them alone. It's really sad. People who learn and choose a job to help hurting souls do this only on the bases of money and how much money we are willing to pay them. I know that therapist have to make a living, but if this world were more caring for life instead of an over amount of wealth , our world would somehow be a better place to live and live in. Thank you for hearing my heart

[@yimeandr]

I liked it. It is cheap and nicely made. (as a client)

[@sway2382]

As a client, I found the customer service to be pitiful. Billing questions went unanswered, impossible to reach a live human at the company. They may put extraordinary pressure on therapists to get back to people, but as a company they have no follow thru. Another exploitative startup model seeking to profit off our continued health care crisis and lack of mental health services in this country.

[@Wohali33]

"Length of text messages" may mean the length of the text message chain or how many text messages you exchanged with your client rather than how many words you used in a single text.

[@sarahscott3194]

You always start at $30/hr and then each additional five hours worked is another $5 for those hours. Sometimes clients come with bonuses, like you get an extra $5-10 per hour just for those clients.

[@shalisapartee433]

$30 per hour is accurate but its not per clinical hour, it's for 60 minutes... but you can only do 45-minute sessions so it's $22.50 per 45-minute session and $15 for a 30-minute session. If you allow the session to go over 45 minutes you do not get paid for the extra time. You also need to remember your state license requirements so in my state I would need to do all the admin stuff for free (intake, treatment plan and notes for each session). Really not worth it. The clients pay $60-$90 a session but the Therapist gets $22.50. They also want you to constantly engage with Clients via a chat feature on the platform. If you dont reply within 24 business hours you get a *ding*. You get paid 2 minutes for every 60 words you type to your client. They are a tech company so they have an algorithm I'm sure.

[@Humancompassion1234]

Thank you

[@CrazyLegoStudioBananas]

the "being sold gaslighting harder than Putin" comment is sending me LMAO

[@ruththecatlady]

Thank you for being honest and strong and doing this post. BH is such a terrible business and the minute a psychologist or counsellor does a promo for them on KZbin I will stop watching them.

[@perissenn]

As a client, i was very obviously matched my first time with someone not in my state. I figured this out by the fact that they only responded to my messages asking for a time to call after 1am, when I’d be asleep. I tried to switch clinicians before my trial was up, and was straightup given someone from india with Indian qualifications. The second time i tried was after they fixed that legal hellhole, the first clinician i matched up with denied my symptoms. Like said “you dont have those” in our messages on the first day. Safe to say their matching system is bad at best, and actively harmful at worst. I, shortly after, learned how unethically they treated the clinicians, and vowed to never use them again.

[@jessicaoladumiyelcsw1605]

They pay incrementally. $30/hr for for the first 5 hours, $35/hr for the next 5 hrs and so on. They only compensate for 45 minute sessions max so if you see 8 clients per day you are only getting paid for 6 hours.

[@BuddolanJr.]

I work for betterhelp as a therapist. All the criticisms offered in the video and listed here are 100% accurate. By all means, avoid betterhelp. They exploit their therapists and to a lesser degree, their clients.

[@SondraLongbrake]

22.50 for the first five clients. The second five per week you get 5.00 more. And so forth 5.00 for each additional five clients. Up to $70 per hour, so about 52 per the 45 minute sessions. Yes a few pennies for the written texts.

[@drcamden]

Marie, is that average pay after your rent now that you're moving into an office space? I saw you charge $185/session so I'm wondering how you make $140 after rent, insurance, business expenses, taxes, etc.?

[@SUCHMISH]

I do need therapy right now (so I am a costumer and not a therapist) and I did consider using BetterHelp... But I hear a lot of KZbinrs push for it and get sponsored by it, which makes me think that the service isn't really worth it and from the sounds of it, I might be right on this one. I think its better to be physically there for therapy rather than doing it over the phone/online. It feels so much more personal and private that way.

[@wintersprite]

My therapist is in a private practice and before the pandemic it was in person (I was scared to try therapy at first). Since 2020, it’s been telehealth with my therapist in her office and me at home (one bonus is occasionally one of my cats joins me during my session, lol). I’m guessing eventually it will return to in person, however I have found that I’ve been able to talk more at ease doing it telehealth.

[@laverdadbuscador]

From a consumer perspective I hated how they don't offer a bi-weekly option. I didn't do "better help" per-say but did their couples therapy which is called "ReGain". Another problem with the experience is they don't offer 3way calls. Part of the draw is convenience. I can do a quick therapy session on my lunch break and so can the wife. But that's not how it works.....the couple need to physically be using the same phone at the same time.

[@madaraisbetteethannarutohe8136]

This is incredibly tragic to see. I wasn’t surprised when Massage Envy did all of this to the Massage Therapist community, we’re not fully considered health care providers so it’s easy for us to be exploited by “fast food style” massage chains. But watching the same thing happen to mental health therapists?! Tragic wild, I didn’t think it was possible.

[@Jamie-813]

I work for a platform that's independent contractor work. There's going to be a wide range of payments, quality of filtering clients, and quality of people working on the platform. Knowing and holding your standards and holding your boundaries is important, no matter who you work for. As for messaging, it's similar to any other independent contractor work. Respond promptly, or you'll be reminded to respond, and potentially dinged for not replying. I've been working as an independent contractor for almost 5 years and wouldn't want to go back.

[@macrent2]

That is absurd! I am just eight months out of graduate school making $29 to $32 per hour as an LMHCA working at the two community mental health agencies that I serve. You know things are bad when a public servant makes more than somewhere that is a private practice. It sounds like nothing more than an assembly line. Run! Run far away from this place and never look back!

[@towpottsfam7631]

So i get tbe umpression ypu are only paid for your direct client time? Not admin, nite writing, not reading, planning, research etc?

[@higherpsychologytheory]

30hr (to 35. hr) is for first 5 hours and the pay increases $5.00 every 5 clients. The cap is $75.00 hr, I think.

[@whobeyou5342]

I work for BH- i am currently not taking clients- but when i do "turn on" my availability, i have 10- 15 clients assigned to me within 30 minutes. It's overwhelming!

[@LifeCoachAldo]

Then after 1 or 2 sessions, the clients stop responding, so you're left wondering if they were helped or turned off by the service.

[@ChannelForty2]

The way text works is every 60 words the client texts, that equals one minute

[@alfrednewman2234]

60-80k/yr for agency work in wonderful places to live (lots of therapists, beautiful places). 20% more for lonely rural places. Where I live, there are 950+ qualified counselors popping out of colleges. Plus people move here. In counseling, continuity is king. Life 2023 already breaks up thought to much already. If they don't complete therapy, hurts them, sometime more than not starting.

[@Packlunch]

I tried BH. My wife tried BH. It was very clear to both of us that /neither/ of our therapists were qualified to do what they're doing. She made her therapist cry. Mine was half awake and I swear to God was reading off a prompt. I already have access to the internet, so why the hell would I need someone parroting back the most /common sense/ bs about depression and anxiety. Another beef I have was, the app asks you what you're comfortable with in terms of talking. I picked texting/messaging. So we did that once, and then I was told from then on we're doing phone calls. My cell signal is terrible, and messages tend to go through when phone calls are hit and miss. I'm sure eventually they would have steamrolled their way towards video chat. This is extremely irritating, as such a simple request was brushed aside... I do not like my preferences being ignored. If messaging is not ideal as the main form of communication, don't offer it on the initial questionnaire. Also the fact that they try to /guilt/ you into more sessions when you try to quit /to help your therapist adjust/...lol. No.

[@FreeAndDivine]

It’s 2 clients per hour. That’s the catch.. sessions are capped at 45 mins. So you have to see 2 clients to get 1 hour.

[@brandydinsmore8214]

You get 2 min for every 60 words (not characters) you write and 1 min for reading 60 words. Its good that I can do what I enjoy (actual therapy) but not do billing or marketing, but my clients are paying BH over half of what the therapist gets. The contact pressure…every three days, BH said the therapist had to contact the client back even if the therapist was the last commenter every time. I did finally find the way to extend the date a bit. I felt like i was bugging the client.

[@joekickass8825]

I thank you for making this , it cost you at school ,

[@777zecol]

One of the appeals of BH from a client standpoint is the ability to get started quickly. In addition to our personal experiences, several friends and family members have tried to find local therapists that are taking new clients and are routinely told that they are booked solid for the next three to four months. How does one find someone to visit with in person within a reasonable amount of time? And if you wait three months to see someone, and it's not a good fit, you're back at square one...

[@grumpyschnauzer]

What if you just start and don’t get paid until you have clients… you are still required to do notes, consults, and training… after 15 consults I only have one client. Is that unusual? I am employed by a company but as an associate it feels more like individual practice and I’m not getting paid anything for all the free back end work.

[@ornellahegbe1039]

Any thoughts about spring health, thriveworks, or growtherapy?

[@girlsgonepaper6891]

Well I got a counselor who is based out of Hawaii I'm in California not sure how she was going to be my therapist.... I asked, she had no affiliation or licensing with California

[@IreneCamp1]

I work for a nonprofit serving very marginalized communities. BH contacted us to offer a free month of therapy to our clients as though it were very philanthropic of them. I'm no expert, but isn't one month of therapy with no plan to pay for continued support a detriment? Also not great philanthropy- it's more of a promo.

[@supkirsten]

Never would I ever. A coworker just stopped working for them as their rates are SO low. They would entice her with bonuses for working extraordinarily long hours, still not worth the stress. I work for a similar’ish but very local company and I get what the insurance reimburses, around $100 and up. Love their support, tech, etc. Small monthly fee