Regain vs TalkSpace: How to Choose?
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- John S. - Editor in Chief
- Last Updated:
Online mental health services are gaining popularity and trust amongst those in need of such services. Consequently, we’re seeing new online mental health platforms emerging on the internet daily. The result of this is troubling, as it leaves people unsure of where to turn to. There are many aspects that everyone looking to start online therapy needs to go through. From safety and price range to reliability and customer support – the list grows on.
Regain vs TalkSpace. They are both reliable platforms with legitimate backgrounds.
Both platforms have many similarities and differences, and considering these will give you a better insight into which platform to choose to optimize your mental health.
Below, let’s go over what makes regain and TalkSpace similar or different, and which of the two might be a more suitable solution for you!
How We Calculate Score
Our rating system assigns brand scores on a scale of up to 5. To arrive at these scores, we use a weighted formula that considers TrustPilot ratings, User Engagement scores, and our staff’s experience with the platforms.
ReGain
Ratings-
Mobile and user-friendly platform
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Affordable
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24/7
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You can change counselors
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You can include your partner for free
TalkSpace
Ratings-
Convenience
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Personal
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24/7
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Confidential
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Text, Video or voice session
Regain vs TalkSpace: The Main Differences
Regain |
Talkspace |
| In essence, Regain offers support to partnered up or married couples. Couples can use the platform through a joint account, as the service doesn’t currently support three-way live sessions, urging users to create joint accounts for their live sessions. | TalkSpace is an online video or text message therapy platform. Aside from couple’s counselling, the platform also provides a wide range of mental health services. With TalkSpace, prior to signing up, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire that serves as a matching tool between you and your future therapist. On the platform, you’ll access your own private room through a web browser, or by using the TalkSpace app. |
| The main form of communication with your counsellor is via text messages; however, there’s a video conference or a phone call option as well. Regain has a wide range of PhD and PsyD licensed professionals, marriage therapists, and psychologists. All of these have at least 3 years of experience in their respective field, so consider yourself in good hands when it comes to couple therapy. |
With TalkSpace, you can send messages to your therapist 24/7. However, you shouldn’t always expect an instant reply. Nevertheless, the replies don’t take longer than a day. |
General Differences Between Regain and TalkSpace
The two platforms are extremely similar in what they offer and how they operate. Essentially, spotting the differences between the two is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
The main difference between the providers is that Regain offers exclusively couple’s therapy counseling, and all platform therapists are specialized in relationship and family counselling. On the other hand, TalkSpace focuses on multiple mental health areas including:
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- LGBTQA+ related issues
- PTSD
- Addiction
That said, TalkSpace cannot prescribe any kind of medication to its clients.
Additionally, at the start of the matching process, Regain will connect you with one licensed counselor based on your answers provided in the questionnaire. Don’t worry though – in case of an issue, you can ask for a change later on, especially if your therapist is not a good fit. With TalkSpace, however, you have the chance to choose one of the suggested professionals offered by the site.
Aside from this, both platforms are proven to be effective for any kind of mental support intended for couples or individuals.
Singing Up and Matching
As part of the signup process, Regain will ask you to fill out a questionnaire and get a clear picture of your current state. You can either fill out the questionnaire individually or together with your partner, depending on the service you have chosen. After this, Regain will take anywhere between a couple of hours to a few days to evaluate your answers and assign you the best counsellor. Prior to this, you will get access to your own private Regain room, where you’ll be communicating with your assigned professional. For any given reason, you have the opportunity to get reassigned to a new counsellor.
TalkSpace takes a more engaging and undemanding approach. During the signup, you’ll partake in a video session, with one of the therapists who will guide you through the whole application process. After the first phase, TalkSpace will give you the chance to choose from a few licensed therapists. Similar to the other platform, you’ll get access to a TalkSpace room where you can talk with your therapist 24/7. TalkSpace values the comfort of its users, therefore, if you wish to switch your therapist, you can do so as many times as it takes to find the right fit.
Cost and Payment Methods
It’s no secret that mental health services can cost a fortune. One of the many pros of online therapy is that it is more affordable than the traditional, in-person option.
Regain prices vary based on your location and preferences – the cost estimating between $60 to $90 per week. The online therapy platform doesn’t have a free trial and doesn’t take insurance. You can proceed with payments through a credit card or PayPal. It’s important to note that you can cancel your subscription at any given time.
TalkSpace, accepts insurance in some cases, and you can find out if you’re eligible for the plan on the platform’s website. The price range for its services varies between $250 and $400 per month. When it comes to payment methods, TalkSpace accepts all major credit or debit cards but doesn’t accept payment through PayPal or checks.
Messages
Phone calls
Video Chats
Privacy
No matter if it’s online or in-person – any form of therapy should be private, discrete, and compliant with the users’ needs.
Regain is well-known for its high-standard privacy policy. All messages from the platforms chat room are secured by banking-grade 256-bit encryption. Additionally, you have the option to remove all messages from the chat using the ‘Shred’ button. When you’re signing up to Regain, you’re agreeing that any personal information can be disclosed to a third party for a business purpose.
TalkSpace is Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, compliant. The platform encrypts all messages between therapists and clients. Unlike Regain, this platform doesn’t allow you to remove any messages from the TalkSpace room, as they are considered to be the clients’ medical records. It’s worth mentioning that any of your non-identifying personal information can be used by TalkSpace in terms of website design, trend analysis, or further research.
For a more detailed insight, both platforms have their ‘Privacy Policy’ pages featured on their websites.
Which One Is the Right Choice?
Knowing the general differences between the two online mental health services, you should be able to make the right choice. That being said, both platforms are effective, safe, and can be the right choice for anyone looking to improve their overall well-being.
While Regain is focused mainly on couples counselling, TalkSpace’s advantage is that it offers a wide range of mental health services. Based solely on the sites’ features, policies, and services, your last call is entirely dependent on your budget, medical requirements and personal preferences.
One Last Thing…
Finding the right counselling platform where you can work on yourself or your relationships isn’t always a walk in the park. However, it’s crucial to take your time, research any platform of interest, and find out whether they can fulfil your needs and meet your expectations.
Both Regain and TalkSpace are reliable online counselling alternatives, with a huge crowd of satisfied clients. The platforms are easy to use, with both showcasing mobile apps suitable for multiple devices and ideal for on-the-go sessions.
It’s comforting being aware that whatever route you take, both Regain and TalkSpace will come prepared with a plethora of professionally licensed therapists that will surely get your mental and emotional health in optimal shape!