Grow Therapy Overview

Grow Therapy’s mission is to make mental health care more accessible and affordable, and by partnering with insurance companies, they can extend their services to those who could not afford to pay out of pocket.

Grow Therapy doesn’t require any ongoing contracts or subscription plans. Fees are based on the individual therapist and can vary widely according to the insurance plan and provider. Costs range from $0/session-$150/session. 

Grow Therapy serves individuals, couples, and teens. Grow Therapy also serves clients seeking a wide range of support, from those needing treatment for depression to those suffering from grief, and everything in between. Online sessions take place in a secure and HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant format.

Grow Therapy helps providers deal with insurance companies, which for many therapists, is a compelling reason to work for Grow Therapy. Insurance claims can eat up a lot of time for therapists and many therapists have refused to accept insurance clients for this reason – limiting affordability for a majority of the population. Since Grow Therapy provides this administrative task, they have been able to attract seasoned and well-respected therapists onto their platform – most averaging 12 years of experience.

A final note about Grow Therapy’s platform is the advantage of choosing one’s own therapist. Most online therapy platforms either match you with a therapist or allow you to choose from a list generated from your initial questionnaire. Grow Therapy allows clients to peruse therapist bios and make a selection based on their preferences.

Talkspace Overview

Talkspace was one of the earlier online therapy platforms to gain notoriety for their utilization of modern communication, such as offering clients unlimited therapy texting. Initiating therapy can be a daunting task and for those who may feel more comfortable writing their therapist instead of video or in-person sessions, texting offers a great solution.

Most experts agree, texting therapy alone requires more research to determine if this type of therapy is as effective as video or in-person therapy. However, some would argue any type of support is better than none, and for those who feel texting suits their needs, it’s great to have a provider serving these clients.

Talkspace offers three monthly subscription plans with add-on features. While some clients may appreciate not having to consider weekly charges and payments, others would prefer to pay per session. Talkspace’s most affordable monthly subscription plan starts at $69/month and is their “texting only” therapy package. 

Grow Therapy vs Talkspace: What Services Do These Platforms Offer?

Both Grow Therapy and Talkspace offer mental health support services to individuals, couples, and teens. They also accept many major insurance carriers, each platform stating an average copay of $30 or less. They both treat a multitude of mental health disorders including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief, trauma, and more.

Talkspace offers unlimited texting to the therapist and the therapist typically replies within 12 hours, 5 days a week. Talkspace also offers phone sessions, live video sessions, and psychoeducational workshops. All therapy is performed online and there are currently no options to see a provider in person.

Grow Therapy offers video sessions, phone sessions, and in-person sessions. While a client may not be able to contact their therapist between sessions as one could using Talkspace, they can reach out to the support department if an issue arises. Reportedly, their support team is very responsive and typically answers inquiries within one business day.

Grow Therapy vs Talkspace: Are They Available in All 50 States?

Talkspace offers services in all 50 states. At the time of this writing, Grow Therapy offers services in 46 states. Every state has its own rules and regulations regarding therapy services online. 

For instance, California licensed therapists were once only allowed to treat other California residents. Now, the California Board of Behavioral Sciences allows therapists to treat those out of state as long as it complies with that particular state’s regulations. As online therapy continues to be recognized as an effective platform for treatment, more states will continue to adjust their regulations. 

How Does Online Therapy Work?

Prior to the pandemic, many people were skeptical about using Telehealth and online therapy platforms. Now that most of us have had some practice with these treatment modalities, online therapy has become much less intimidating.

To begin therapy, online therapy platforms have you fill out a secure questionnaire and intake form. Typically, these forms involve informed consent for treatment and discuss issues related to confidentiality and its limitations. Talkspace will then select a limited number of therapists based on your answers, and you decide from this list which therapist you want to work with. Grow Therapy will provide an extensive list of therapists in your state, along with their biographies, and you can choose your therapist based entirely on your preferences.

The first session usually involves establishing a safe space and a collaborative atmosphere. If there are pressing issues, those can be addressed during the first session in addition to gathering background information. The first session also offers clients an opportunity to ask questions to help determine if the therapist will be a good fit.

Future sessions progress as needed with successful treatment requiring an average of 12 sessions. The length of treatment depends on several factors including the issue at hand, the experience of the therapist, adherence to the treatment plan, and more.

Therapists may use a variety of modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Psychoanalysis, or operate using one modality they believe to be the most successful. 

Overall, you are the one who gets to determine what feels supportive and safe for you. Regardless of how seasoned a therapist might be, if you don’t feel safe or comfortable during sessions, treatment outcomes are likely to be subpar. Feel confident knowing you are the consumer of these services and if you need to advocate for a different therapist, both platforms allow you to do so.

Cost of Grow Therapy vs Talkspace

Grow Therapy offers a wide range of pricing options based on your insurance plan and the provider you choose. If money is a concern, you have the choice of selecting a provider that accepts your insurance or offers a sliding scale fee. Costs can range from $0/session to $150/session.

Talkspace offers three monthly subscription plans with options for add-on services. Their most basic package starts at $69/month and offers unlimited text therapy only. Their mid-range package starts at $99/month and offers live video sessions and unlimited texting. Their premium package starts at $109/month and includes live video sessions, unlimited texting, and weekly psychoeducational workshops. Add-ons include live sessions for $65/session.

Conclusion: Grow Therapy vs Talkspace: Which is Best?

Therapy is a very individualized process and for successful treatment, it requires the client to feel safe, supported, and actively listened to. While some clients may prefer to have sessions online with their therapist, there are many clients who prefer the option to see their therapist in person. Though online therapy and in-person therapy have been found to be equally effective, there needs to be more research regarding texting-only therapy. 

Both platforms serve similar populations and treat a multitude of mental health disorders, however, there are two distinct advantages of Grow Therapy. First, the opportunity to peruse therapists’ bios offers insight into their experience, what they treat, and how they treat, giving consumers more autonomy in choosing the right provider for them. Secondly, the option to see a therapist in person or online creates accessibility for those who prefer in-person sessions, or a combination of the two.Whichever platform you choose, know that effective support is available and you deserve the therapist that is right for you and your needs.