Best Online ADHD Therapy

Talkiatry is an online psychiatry service that specializes in conditions including ADHD as well as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, OCD, insomnia, and PTSD. It provides medication management and can also refer you to a talk therapist at the company if needed. Talkiatry is unique compared to many other online medication management services because it can prescribe stimulant medications. These are often used to treat ADHD but are usually unavailable from online psychiatry companies. 

In April 2020, Georgia Gaveras, MD (a triple board-certified psychiatrist), and Robert Krayn formed Talkiatry to enable people to access psychiatric care easily. Gaveras felt she was unable to provide the care she wanted, and Krayn found it challenging to access care when he needed it. So they joined forces to build a flexible, accessible, and high-standard service.

Talkiatry offers psychiatry and medication management, mainly specializing in:

• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Insomnia
• OCD
• PTSD

Talkiatry is available to children, adolescents, and adults. It offers an online assessment to find out if you are suitable for online psychiatry. The team is comprised of over 400 psychiatrists, with virtual visits available in 44 states. 

Once signed up at Talkiatry, you gain access to a private portal where you can message your psychiatrist, access live video sessions, and see information such as past and upcoming appointments, past and current medication, and referrals. Initial appointments are 60 minutes long, with 30-minute follow-up appointments, and you can message your clinician at any time. Users reported their psychiatrist responded to messages in a timely manner and that all their questions were heard, valued, and answered in depth. 

Although the focus of Talkiatry is psychiatry and medication management, your psychiatrist can refer you to the company’s small team of psychotherapists for talk therapy if necessary.

You pay per session with Talkiatry, plus the cost of any prescribed medications. Talkiatry only takes patients who are covered by the insurance companies it accepts. It partners with insurance providers so patients can easily access the care they need. However, the price you pay for each session depends on your insurance coverage. Talkiatry is in-network with all major insurers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, Oscar, and UnitedHealthcare.

When you take the online assessment, it includes an insurance eligibility checker so that you know if Talkiatry works with your insurance company. The final cost will depend on several factors, like the complexity of your needs, but you can speak to your insurer to find out what coverage they offer for mental health treatment.

Talkiatry offers distinctly accessible, responsible, and high-quality psychiatry. This is reflected in our survey of 105 Talkiatry users, with 95% of users positively rating the Talkiatry service. The online assessment and sign-up process is easy to do, and 90% of users felt Talkiatry was very helpful in connecting them to the right therapist. Eighty-one percent of our surveyed users stated they were very pleased with the therapist options provided, with 91% highly rating the therapist's qualifications. 

The diversity of the psychiatrists available was also highly rated at 89%. One user shared her experience: “I had a better connection with my therapist than expected. Since I chose a therapist that was also Hispanic like me, we shared similar family stories.”

Eighty-seven percent of the surveyed users would recommend Talkiatry to a friend or family member, with 85% stating it was better than other mental health services they have accessed in the past. The specialized training, high level of qualifications, and cultural support offered by Talkiatry psychiatrists stood out as some of the main reasons our users found the service helpful.

Teladoc was founded in 2002 by G. Byron Brooks, MD, and Michael Gorton. The company is a leader in telehealth—it doesn’t just offer online mental health services but medical services too. You can also access both therapy and psychiatry services with Teladoc, including some key treatments for ADHD, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).

One of the benefits of Teladoc is that it offers appointments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which means it can be easier to schedule an appointment at a convenient time for you (which is useful if ADHD makes managing your time difficult). Teladoc works with a vast number of insurance companies, making it accessible to many people who can’t pay out-of-pocket for therapy. You might need a combination of therapy and medication management for ADHD, so finding a company that offers both and takes insurance can save a lot of money. 

Teladoc is not a subscription service like some other online therapy services, such as Talkspace, and prices are comparable with other companies. However, it could get pricey if you don’t have insurance.

Teladoc offers three main services for mental healthcare:

1. Therapy: Talk therapy with licensed psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors using such modalities as CBT, trauma-focused therapy, DBT, and counseling (such as couples therapy, anger management, etc.) 
2. Psychiatry: Assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis of mental health conditions from board-certified psychiatrists
3. Medication management: Prescriptions and follow-up care for standard medications for ADHD, anxiety, depression, mood disorder, PTSD, and other mental health diagnoses—but not for controlled substances (such as stimulants for ADHD)

Besides ADHD, the website specifically states Teladoc can help with problems such as:

• Anxiety, stress, feeling overwhelmed
• Negative thought patterns
• Depression
• Not feeling like yourself
• Not wanting to get out of bed
• Relationship conflicts
• Marriage and couples counseling
• Trauma and PTSD
• Mood swings

When signing up for Teladoc, you complete a questionnaire about your specific needs and your preferences regarding the type of mental health professional you would like to work with, such as a therapist or a psychiatrist. From there, you can choose from a selection of providers by reviewing their profiles, which include information such as gender, languages spoken, and specialties, like treating ADHD.

Teladoc works with most major insurance providers, meaning the cost of your appointments really depends on your insurance coverage. It can be as little as $0 if your insurance plan covers the full cost, but you need to speak to your insurance provider to determine if your coverage includes mental health services from Teladoc.

If you don’t have insurance, appointments are a flat fee:

• Initial psychiatry appointment: $299
• Follow-up psychiatry appointment: $119
• Therapy session: $99

If eligible, payments can be made with your health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) card. Teladoc works with several Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans but is not a provider for Medicare fee for service or Medicaid fee for service.

Users report the sign-up process at Teladoc is simple, with 82% finding it easy or very easy to navigate the company's website. In addition, 82% of surveyed users were satisfied with the therapist options offered to them. Therapist diversity was positively rated by 90% of users, with 94% also rating the therapists' qualifications as good, very good, or excellent. 

With regards to cost, only 66% of users felt the service was affordable, and this is likely due to the difference between varying insurance plans and self-pay customers. However, despite this, 87% felt Teladoc offered good to excellent value for the money. Overall, 97% of surveyed users positively rated Teladoc’s online mental health services.

Teen Counseling's therapy services are specifically designed for teens ages 13-19. It provides several communication options, such as text messaging, which might feel better and more accessible to teenagers, especially teens with ADHD who might prefer a more flexible messaging service rather than structured appointments. 

The therapy services are for teens and parents seeking talk therapy to help teens learn coping skills, feel happier, achieve important goals, do better in school, and improve relationships—all of which can be beneficial to teens with ADHD.  

The large online therapy company BetterHelp owns and operates Teen Counseling, and it’s available in all 50 states. Conversations between a teen and their therapist are confidential unless the therapist believes there is a danger that the teen is at risk of harming themselves or others.

The monthly subscription service includes four live sessions and unlimited messaging. Communication methods with a therapist include:

• Exchanging messages 
• Chatting live 
• Speaking over the phone 
• Video conferencing

Users note the live chat works particularly well. It is very convenient to use as you can do it anywhere you can access the app without anyone knowing what you're doing. 

Teen Counseling offers individual talk therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based approaches, and mentalization-based therapy (MBT). The licensed and accredited therapists at Teen Counseling include psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and professional counselors.  It does not offer psychiatry, medication management, or family therapy. 

Teen Counseling is very clear in stating it is not suitable for teens in an urgent crisis, teens required to undergo therapy by a court/authority order, or teens who do not have a device that can connect to the Internet reliably.

The final cost of Teen Counseling depends on your location, preferences, and therapist availability. The cost varies from $60 to $90 per week, billed monthly, and you can cancel anytime. It does not accept any forms of insurance, but parents can request a superbill and apply for out-of-network benefits from their insurance.

Overall, Teen Counseling didn’t rate quite as high as some of the other online ADHD therapy services in this review, but 85% of our surveyed users rated the service as good, very good, or excellent. What stands out as the most positive aspect of Teen Counseling is the multitude of communication methods with a therapist and the ability for teens to message privately with their therapist. Seventy-one percent of users said they would recommend Teen Counseling to a friend or someone like them.

Few other online therapy platforms offer therapy to teens. Talkspace and Amwell work with teens and adolescents, and Little Otter works with children and teens up to age 14. Teen Counseling’s therapy services are well-designed for teens, but Talkspace and Amwell also offer medication management and psychiatry. That said, the 105 Teen Counseling users we surveyed reported that the therapists were extremely attentive, reading every aspect of the messages and crafting personalized responses with clear direction and advice.

Talkspace offers a variety of therapy options, including live sessions, messaging, and psychiatric services, all of which can be helpful when seeking treatment for ADHD. With such a vast range of online therapy services and an extensive portfolio of qualified and available therapists, Talkspace can cater to the majority of therapy seekers. In addition, Talkspace provides specialized care for veterans and the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as therapy for teens. 

Founded in 2012, Talkspace is one of the largest online therapy providers. Available in all 50 states, it offers a variety of treatment plans to fit different needs and budgets. Matching with a therapist happens within 48 hours, and switching is easy if you feel your assigned therapist isn’t a good match. The convenience and accessibility of the platform make it easy to start ADHD therapy quickly and efficiently.

Services offered by Talkspace include:

• Online therapy
• Couples therapy
• Psychiatry
• Medication management (but no prescription of controlled substances like stimulants)
• Unlimited messaging therapy
• Teen therapy
• Therapy for the LGBTQIA+ community
• Therapy for veterans

Talkspace has a vast roster of licensed providers, and it will match you with one within 48 hours following the completion of an initial set of questionnaires. You can reach out to your therapist immediately after signing up via a private portal. This portal also includes subscription information and short educational videos about what to expect from your therapist, how to communicate with them, and how to assess progress. 

Treatment is available for both adults and teens, although there is no option for family therapy. Talkspace psychiatry offers online treatment from a licensed psychiatric prescriber trained in mental healthcare and prescription management. However, controlled substances, including stimulants for ADHD (such as Ritalin and Adderall), cannot be prescribed.

Talkspace doesn’t give free consultations, but it often offers promotions with discount codes. A few different plans are available:

• Messaging only: $69 per week; includes unlimited messaging with your therapist Monday to Friday
• Messaging and video: $99 per week; includes four live video sessions per month
• Messaging, video, and workshops: $109 per week; includes unlimited messaging, four therapy sessions per month, and weekly workshops
• Add-on psychiatry services: $249 for initial evaluation and $125 for each follow-up appointment

Talkspace accepts major insurance plans such as Premera, Cigna, Optum, Gatorcare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and more. You can see Talkspace’s full partner list here. Talkspace also accepts health spending account (HSA) and flexible spending account (FSA) payments, but it doesn’t accept Medicare or Medicaid. 

Surveyed users found Talkspace easy to use, with 97% stating it is better than other therapy services they have used in the past. The top three reasons users rated Talkspace better than other services are the ease of using the website and app, the qualifications and experience of the therapists, and the access to flexible scheduling of sessions. Eighty-eight percent of 105 users surveyed said Talkspace was helpful in connecting them to a therapist, and more than half never had to change therapists. Of the users who sought treatment with Talkspace, 23% had ADHD coaching, 16% received CBT, and 9% had psychiatry and medication management.

Therapists are responsive, usually replying to messages within a few hours during the work week. Ninety percent of users felt the psychiatric and medication services were good, very good, or excellent, with 93% highly rating the prescriber's qualifications. Talkspace offers options for different budgets, and 76% of users said it provides good value for the money. Switching therapists is a simple process if required, and you can cancel your plan anytime.

LifeStance stands out due to its wide range of therapies and services offered. It can provide both in-person and online mental healthcare because it has over 600 centers nationwide, so you have flexibility on how you want to receive support. Available in 32 states, LifeStance reports having around 5,400 highly trained clinicians on hand to serve you. LifeStance can provide all types of therapy, psychiatry, and medication management (even the prescription of controlled substances), which might be needed to treat ADHD. In particular, it offers all types of behavior therapy, which are often a mainstay of treatment for people with ADHD. 

Founded in 2017 by Mike Lester, Danish Qureshi, and Gwen Booth, LifeStance prides itself on being diverse as a company and providing mental healthcare “when and where you need it.” Psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurse practitioners, clinical social workers, and licensed therapists are available to offer comprehensive ADHD care.

Therapy and psychiatric services available at LifeStance that might be used to treat ADHD include:

• Adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry: Psychiatrists can diagnose ADHD, help draw up a treatment plan, and prescribe and manage medication.
• Child-parent relationship therapy: This approach can be helpful for the family if a child has ADHD. 
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This talk therapy approach is very successful for many people with ADHD, as it helps you adapt the way you think and behave.
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): This type of therapy can help people learn to concentrate on the present moment, modify ineffective behaviors, and reduce ADHD symptoms.
• Medication management: Unlike many other online therapy companies, LifeStance providers can prescribe stimulants for ADHD if advised.
• Mindfulness-based stress reduction: Managing stress is an important lifestyle adaptation for people with ADHD.
• Psychological testing and evaluation: LifeStance providers can help diagnose ADHD.

Once signed up for LifeStance, you gain access to a private portal which shows you appointments, ways to contact your therapist, and relevant documents. The first live session is booked using the LifeStance website (not the patient portal). From there, you receive an email and text confirmation with a link to your "waiting room" to use on your appointment day. Then, you schedule your appointments one-on-one with your therapist during your session. You can usually get an appointment within a few days of signing up. 

If you need to cancel, you can reach out directly to your therapist, or you can contact the office (the number is located in the patient portal). Sessions are 60 minutes and are carried out through live video, but you can message your therapist outside of sessions in the portal. Users report it takes only a few hours to get response during the work week.

LifeStance is not a subscription service; you pay per session. However, the cost per session depends on your insurance and the type of appointment you need. There is no out-of-pocket pricing listed on the website, but the session cost varies from $75 to $300 if paid out-of-pocket. 

Although the out-of-pocket costs are higher than the national average of between $60 and $200 per hour, LifeStance works with a lot of major insurance companies. If using your insurance, you only pay your co-pay, making therapy more affordable. Insurance providers that LifeStance works with are listed by state on the website. Only 57% of our surveyed users felt LifeStance was affordable, but 76% stated it was a good to excellent value for the money.

Eighty-eight percent of our 105 surveyed users rated LifeStance as good to excellent for its service overall, and 75% said they would recommend it to a friend. Most of our users accessing LifeStance used ADHD coaching (17%), CBT (24%), and psychiatry and medication management (24%). In fact, the percentage of patients accessing psychiatry and medication management through LifeStance was greater than any other company we assessed. 

When compared to other therapy companies they have used in the past, 88% of users stated they preferred LifeStance. One of the main reasons users preferred Life Stance is that they felt therapists were more qualified, with a vast range of experience and specialized training. Our LifeStance users reported that its therapists were warm, friendly, compassionate, and approachable.

Amwell has clinicians that specifically specialize in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of ADHD. Once they make a diagnosis, they will determine the best treatment plan depending on your symptoms and lifestyle and discuss the risks and benefits of various interventions with you.

Amwell offers therapy, psychiatry, medication management, and general online medical appointments; however, psychiatric services are only available to those aged 18 and up. The company was founded in 2006 by brothers Roy Schoenberg, MD, MPH, and Ido Schoenberg, MD, with a mission to “connect and enable providers, insurers, patients, and innovators to deliver greater access to more affordable, higher quality care.” Amwell states that 80 million people have Amwell as a covered benefit through their insurance plan.

Services offered by Amwell include:

• Therapy
• Psychiatry
• Medication management

It can support individuals, couples, and families and offers common therapy services such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectal behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), motivational interviewing, and more.

Psychiatry is only available to adults; all psychiatrists are board-certified in psychiatry and neurology. The easiest way to connect with a clinician specializing in ADHD is to search for ADHD under the site’s "conditions" tab and click the button to connect with a doctor or psychiatrist. They can provide a thorough assessment and follow-up visits for medication management. However, Amwell providers are unable to prescribe controlled substances such as stimulants.

Amwell is available in all 50 states and currently works with 40+ insurance plans (including Medicare) and accepts FSA and HSA payments. Often you may just need to pay a co-pay or meet a deductible if your employer or insurance company offers a telehealth benefit. 

For people paying out-of-pocket, per-session flat rates are:

• Therapy: $129 for an initial visit and $109 for follow-ups
• Psychiatry: $279 for an initial visit and $109 for follow-ups

The process of signing up, booking sessions, and discontinuing services with Amwell is simple. As you pay per session, you can simply not book another if you wish to stop working with your therapist.

The majority of Amwell users that we surveyed (68%) accessed ADHD coaching, CBT, DBT, ACT, and applied behavior analysis (ABA), which are all recommended treatments for people with ADHD. 

On the whole, Amwell comes out positive, with 88% of our surveyed users rating the service as good to excellent. Some users reported problems with appointments being canceled at the last minute. Still, 91% of users rated the qualifications of available clinicians as good to excellent, and 87% reported the same regarding therapist diversity. Users highlighted psychiatry and medication management services as very positive, with 91% stating they are good, very good, or excellent. Seventy-eight percent of those using medication management felt their prescriber really took the time to listen to them.

Thriveworks is an affordable online therapy service that can support not just the individual with ADHD but their family too. It has a large online resource section with a wealth of information about ADHD, including a straightforward guide to the condition. Although not available in all 50 states, Thriveworks has over 380 in-person centers nationwide, with an extensive network of therapists and psychiatrists. 

AJ (Anthony) Centore PhD, a multistate licensed professional counselor, is the founder and chair of Thriveworks. He founded the company in 2008 to make high-quality counseling and psychiatry services accessible and affordable. Psychiatry and medication management are currently available in 25 states; however, Thriveworks providers cannot prescribe stimulant medications (such as Adderall, Concerta, and Focalin).

Thriveworks offers services in-person and via telehealth, including:

• Individual therapy
• Psychiatry/medication management
• Child therapy
• Family therapy
• Couples therapy
• Marriage counseling

Its large network of mental health professionals includes psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs),  licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs), licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCCs).

Online sessions are carried out either via phone or video call, but there is no option to message your therapist between sessions. However, some locations offer the option to connect with your therapist via email outside of appointments. Once signing up, you get access to a private portal where you can book your sessions and view them on a calendar. Session length is between 50 and 60 minutes, and evening and weekend appointments are available.

Thriveworks works with many insurance companies, including Blue Cross, Anthem, Optum, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and many others. If Thriveworks accepts your insurance, the out-of-pocket cost is typically just a copay—often $15 to $40 per session (most commonly $20). You may also owe your deductible.

If you are paying out-of-pocket, then sessions begin at $99, but prices vary by location and provider. Exact prices are listed directly on your local office’s "Our Team" or "Counselors" page, so it is easy to find the financial information you need.

The majority of Thriveworks providers do not accept Medicaid, but a very select few at specific franchise locations do.

Ninety percent of surveyed users rated Thriveworks as good, very good, or excellent overall, with 70% highly rating the additional resources on the website. Eighty-six percent of users preferred Thriveworks to other services they had used in the past, and this was predominantly due to therapists having specialized qualifications and being more culturally supportive. 

Users also noted the website is easy to navigate, with 69% finding it easy or very easy and a further 28% finding it average but not difficult. Most people reported it took as little as 5 minutes to sign up with Thriveworks. 

Seventy-six percent of surveyed users also reported that their experience of receiving psychiatric care and medication management was better or significantly better with Thriveworks than previously accessed services.

If you are looking for online support groups for ADHD, then CHADD is ready to help. Although it does not provide online therapy, psychiatry, or medication management, it has online communities for adults, parents, and caregivers dealing with ADHD. 

CHADD also holds regular events about ADHD, offers a wealth of resources including links to online communities, and provides professional directories where you can look up providers and ADHD treatment centers. In addition, you can get in touch with a CHADD group in your area, as it has a nationwide network of affiliates where you can often find support groups. There is also the option to contact an ADHD specialist Monday to Friday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, by calling 1-866-200-8098.

Membership to CHADD includes:

• Discounted pricing on training and events such as the Virtual International Conference on ADHD
• A subscription to Attention magazine. a bi-monthly magazine for members only featuring articles on resources, research, and background on issues surrounding ADHD
• A monthly newsletter with news, research, and articles about ADHD
• Member-only access to thousands of resources on all aspects of ADHD via the CHADD website
• The CHADD UNA Discount Prescription Card, which can help you save up to 75% at more than 50,000 national and regional pharmacies

Lots of CHADD's resources are free online; however, if you want more information and resources, you can become a member to get access to all the organization offers. Membership costs are as follows:

• Individual, family, or educator 1-year membership: $53/year or $5/month
• Senior adult (65+) or college student 1-year membership: $41
• College student 1-year membership (online access only): $15
• Professional 1-year membership: $130

As this isn’t a therapy service, we haven’t surveyed it like the other companies mentioned in this review. However, online reviews reflect that CHADD greatly supports adults, parents, educators, and professionals living with or treating ADHD. Comments include, “I learned so much from CHADD regarding ADHD, and my family has benefited greatly,” and “My sons are now successful adults thanks to the support and education that I received from CHADD.” If you or a family member are living with ADHD, it’s certainly a resource and community worth investigating.

Mental Health Match is an online directory with a network of thousands of independent therapists across the U.S. It has a comprehensive instant matching service to make it easy to find a therapist who meets your requirements, including those who specialize in ADHD. Therapist bios are in-depth and highlight specialties, credentials, who they work with, languages spoken, and which insurers they are in network with. 

Ryan Schwartz founded the directory after he personally needed to find a therapist and found the search process overwhelming. One of the benefits of Mental Health Match is that you can browse therapists by specialty, including ADD/ADHD, to find a therapist near you that fits your needs.

Since Mental Health Match is a directory, not a therapy company, the types of therapy available vary depending on the provider you choose. However, the company does match you with therapists based on your needs, so if you're looking for a therapist that specializes in treating ADHD, the company can help you find one.

Its providers also offer individual, couples, and family therapy, as well as a variety of other specialties.

As an online directory, Mental Health Match is free to use for therapy seekers. The cost of the independent provider you choose to work with will depend on insurance, location, and services required.

Eighty-six percent of the 180 users of Mental Health Match we surveyed rated it as average, good, or very good overall. Both therapists and clients using Mental Health Match report that the biggest benefit is that clients can filter through presenting concerns and are matched based on several criteria. 

Twenty-four percent of surveyed users specifically sought to be matched with a therapist due to ADHD and trouble focusing. Once matched, 73% of users received either individual talk therapy, ADHD coaching, or psychiatry, which are all treatment options for people with ADHD. “The matching process is wonderful and helps for mutual transparency between client and the professional they choose to reach out to,” said one of the therapists registered on Mental Health Match. 

The website is intuitive to use, with 63% of users finding it easy or very easy to navigate. Other key reasons users rated Mental Health Match favorably include the mission of the company, the look and feel of the website, and the overall functionality of the client-to-therapist matching process. Overall, 91% of users rated Mental Health Match as extremely easy to use when looking for a specific type of mental health provider.