How To Find Your Perfect Therapist
Mental health is health.
Being a college student is exhausting—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Juggling the responsibilities of all your classes along with having any kind of social life isn’t easy. Oh, and you’re also supposed to either have a job/internship or actively be looking for one while prioritizing your future career goals. And what about exercising to stay physically healthy? And giving back to the community? And making sure you have enough money in your bank account. The list goes on and on.
It’s not surprising that your mental health can take a hit while you’re at school. It’s perfectly normal. The real issue is when you notice things taking a turn and you decide not to do anything about it. And we get it—affording mental healthcare can be a financial burden. But that’s where BetterHelp comes in.
BetterHelp wants you to find a therapist that can perfectly fit your needs, all while staying affordable. Plus, when you sign up with Student Beans, you get 50% off your first month of therapy at BetterHelp. Ready to start prioritizing your mental health? Here’s how.
Step 1: Fill Out BetterHelp’s Questionnaire
BetterHelp offers an extensive questionnaire to ask you just exactly what you’re looking for in a therapist. The questions range widely. From your gender identity, age, relationship status, and religious preferences to your previous experiences with therapy, why you’re looking to start therapy, and what kind of techniques would resonate best with you.
This aims to determine what style of therapy and therapist will give you the most effective results. BetterHelp will then attempt to match you with a therapist within 24 hours of receiving your completed questionnaire. Depending on your needs, there can be a longer or shorter waiting period. Either way, you’re usually matched quicker than if you were to do the research on your own.
Step 2: Determine The Cost
BetterHelp works to provide all its patients with affordable mental health services. The average cost is anywhere from $70-$100 per week, billed monthly as a membership through BetterHelp. The cost is widely dependent on your location, source, preferences, and therapist availability.
It’s important to note, however, that BetterHelp accepts HSA/FSA cards, which is an eligible expense recognized by most HSA/FSA providers. BetterHelp will work with you to make your mental health care affordable so you can get the help you need. Just note that they don’t take health insurance.
Step 3: Meet Your Therapist & Have Your First Session
Once you’re matched with your therapist via BetterHelp, it’s time for your first session! In order to make therapy as accessible as possible, BetterHelp offers multiple ways to talk to your therapist, including:
- Exchanging messages, anywhere or at any time. This does not require an appointment since it’s not in real-time, and your therapist will respond when available. You’ll receive a notification when your therapist has responded.
- Chatting live, via BetterHelp. After scheduling a time with your therapist, you’ll log in to begin chatting with your therapist.
- Talking on the phone by scheduling a time with your therapist. Once you log in, your therapist will prompt you to start the session, upon which you’ll input your phone number. The system will call that number and the session will begin.
- Video conferencing, similar to Zoom or FaceTime. You’ll schedule a time to meet with your therapist and log in, upon which your therapist will prompt you to start the video session and you’ll start.
The best part is that you can utilize any of these methods based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
Step 4: Keep Talking With Your Therapist (Or Find A New One!)
If you immediately click with your therapist, congratulations! You can keep scheduling sessions with them to fit your schedule and take control of your mental health and wellness.
But what if you don’t quite vibe with who you were matched with? No worries there. BetterHelp strives to give you the best mental health care possible, and they’ll happily keep matching you with therapists (for free!) until you find your perfect fit.
Save 50% on your first month of therapy at BetterHelp with Student Beans
