Online Therapy for Anxiety to Meet Your Every Need

Founded in 2006, Amwell, formerly called American Well, is a well-established provider of telemedicine that offers virtual therapy sessions and medication management services, in addition to general healthcare services. Its ability to provide collaborative care between psychiatrists and therapists within the same company enhances the quality of its services and increases accessibility and affordability for people struggling with anxiety. 

Amwell employs providers who specialize in anxiety treatment. You can specifically request a therapist who offers anxiety-specific therapeutic modalities (i.e., techniques), like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or you can work with a prescriber for anxiety medications, or both. 

In addition, there is extensive information about anxiety disorders, including symptoms, risk factors, and medical issues related to anxiety, available on Amwell’s website.

Treatment approaches on Amwell vary based on the provider as well as each user’s diagnoses, needs, and goals. Amwell therapists often use techniques from evidenced-based approaches, such as CBT, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing.

The availability of medication management services and the collaboration of care between psychiatrists and therapists are both benefits to individuals seeking anxiety treatment through Amwell. Common medications prescribed for anxiety include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as well as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs); both are available through Amwell. Amwell psychiatrists cannot prescribe controlled substances, such as Xanax or Ativan.

Amwell’s online therapy session fees vary depending on the experience of the therapists. Master’s-level therapists charge $109 per session while doctorate-level therapists charge $129 per session. The company does not offer free consultations.

If you wish to access medications to manage your anxiety symptoms, you can expect to pay $279 for an initial 45-minute psychiatry visit and $109 per 15-minute follow-up appointment.

These prices are out-of-pocket, so your total cost might be lower if you can use insurance benefits. Amwell accepts most major insurance providers, including Aetna, UnitedHealthCare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Amwell has built a reputation for itself as a leading provider of teletherapy and virtual psychiatric care. With its quality services, low out-of-pocket costs, and skilled mental health professionals, it’s not surprising that 78% of the 105 Amwell users we surveyed said they were likely or very likely to recommend the company to a friend. Additionally, 66% of users said Amwell was affordable or very affordable. Forty-nine percent of Amwell users said they sought its services specifically to treat anxiety.

Talkspace was founded in 2012 with a mission to make high-quality mental healthcare accessible without sacrificing affordability. Since then, the company has established itself as a leading provider of subscription-based teletherapy. Talkspace’s straightforward sign-up process, ease of use, and high customer satisfaction make it the best subscription service for treating anxiety. You can request a provider who specializes in anxiety, and Talkspace offers anxiety-specific treatment such as CBT, Its providers can prescribe SSRIs.

The ability to easily use Talkspace without leaving home can be an important factor for people who struggle to manage their anxiety in public. That said, text therapy may not be effective for all therapy seekers. Fortunately, text therapy is not the only option, you can upgrade your plan and have access to live video. It's important to consider your needs and your mental health condition prior to choosing what type of session you prefer (text, audio, or video).

Talkspace allows users to access its easy-to-navigate platform through its website or app. Its built-in scheduling system enhances user experience and allows you to choose what schedule works best for your needs.

Types of therapy offered vary based on the therapist. In individual, teen, and couples therapy, clinicians might use strengths-based, solution-focused approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or emotion-focused therapy, both of which are effective treatment modalities for anxiety. Talkspace does not offer group or family therapy.

The fact that Talkspace provides couples therapy can be an advantage to individuals who find their anxiety symptoms interfere with their relationships. Couples therapy offers an opportunity to build communication skills and enhance your connection with your partner while coping with anxiety.

As a subscription-based service, Talkspace offers three tiered plans based on the type of individual therapy you want.

• Messaging therapy includes asynchronous messaging and guaranteed therapist responses five days per week; starts at $69 per week
• Video + messaging therapy includes one live video session per week and asynchronous messaging; starts at $99 per week
• Video + messaging + workshops includes access to weekly workshops, one live video session per week, and asynchronous messaging; starts at $109 per week

Subscribers have the option to purchase additional live video sessions for $65 each. 

A couples therapy plan starts at $109 per week. The plan includes weekly 30-minute video sessions and asynchronous messaging.

That said, your out-of-pocket costs may vary based on your location, but you won’t know the exact price until after you sign up.

Psychiatry sessions are not part of the subscription service but can be purchased individually. It’s $249 for an initial psychiatric consultation and $125 for all subsequent sessions.

Talkspace does accept insurance, including Cigna, Optum, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. However, most of its accepted insurance plans are employer-sponsored plans. You can check your specific insurance coverage during the streamlined sign-up process.

An astounding 97% of Talkspace users said the company was much better, better, or a little better than other services they’ve tried, including other subscription services. Its straightforward design could be a contributing factor, as 56% of users said Talkspace’s website and app were easier to use than that of competitors. Specifically, 55% of users said they sought therapy on Talkspace for anxiety, and 16% said their Talkspace therapist used cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—the leading treatment approach for anxiety.

Wellnite offers a wide range of services to treat anxiety, including individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, teen therapy, and psychiatry, all with a specific focus on this mental health condition. In addition, it offers extensive information on anxiety on its website for anyone looking to learn more before they seek services. It also provides same-day appointment options for individuals seeking teletherapy or medication management services for anxiety, and its quick attention to mental healthcare and wide acceptance of PPO insurance plans makes it a good fit for individuals experiencing an anxiety disorder who need help quickly.

Although its out-of-pocket costs may be higher than competitors, the company does not sacrifice quality or range of services. You are able to choose whether you want medication management services, therapy, or both, customizing what plans you pay for.

In its FAQs, Wellnite specifies that it provides CBT therapy, mindfulness, and other skills-based approaches to treating anxiety. These therapeutic approaches have proven to be effective for individuals with anxiety by reducing intensity of symptoms and providing coping skills to implement during their day-to-day routine.

Users can also access mental health medications through Wellnite’s online physician appointments. That said, Wellnite does not prescribe controlled substances, such as Xanax, to reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Wellnite offers a tiered out-of-pocket pricing structure based on the type of care you need and your desired frequency of appointments.

• Medical care includes one monthly physician appointment and access to wholesale pricing for prescribed mental health medications; $95 per month
• Medical care and therapy includes one physician appointment, access to wholesale pricing for prescribed mental health medications, and the choice between one 60-minute therapy session or two 30-minute therapy sessions; $245 per month
• Therapy includes the choice between six 30-minute therapy sessions, four 45-minute therapy sessions, or three 60-minute therapy sessions each month; $450 per month

Wellnite also provides reimbursement for those covered by PPO insurance plans, or preferred provider organization plans. These plans start at $37.50 bi-weekly, making Wellnite especially affordable for those with accepted insurance.

Forty-five percent of Wellnite users sought treatment for anxiety. Wellnite provides a valuable resource for individuals seeking virtual therapy and medication management services without sacrificing convenience or affordability. Fifty-one percent of the 105 Wellnite users we surveyed said health insurance helped them pay for their mental health services on Wellnite. Overall, 80% of users surveyed rated Wellnite as excellent, very good, or good, and 75% reported that they found a provider who met most or all of their needs.

Online-Therapy.com, founded in 2009, is on a mission to increase online accessibility to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is an evidenced-based treatment modality focusing on changing negative thought patterns and subsequent behaviors that has been proven to be especially effective for anxiety. Sessions are provided on Online-Therapy.com through live video or audio calls as well as asynchronous messaging.

Between sessions, users have access to a variety of resources on Online-Therapy.com. Every user’s online portal includes a virtual journal, worksheets, and yoga and meditation videos to complete at your convenience. If you complete a worksheet, your therapist can also provide feedback five days a week to continue your overall growth and healing.

That said, therapists on the platform cannot provide diagnoses.

Online-Therapy.com focuses exclusively on CBT approaches in therapy. Sessions involve changing your thought patterns and behaviors, exploring coping strategies, and understanding how your thoughts and behaviors shape your current functioning. Web-based cognitive behavioral therapy has been proven to be as effective as in-person CBT, which is helpful since short-term CBT is the most effective treatment for anxiety.

There are no medication management services available through Online-Therapy.com.

Online-Therapy.com offers three subscription plans for individual therapy:

• Basic includes unlimited text messaging with a mental health provider; costs $50 per week
• Standard includes unlimited messaging and one live 45-minute therapy session per week through text messaging, voice call, or video call; $80 per week
• Premium includes unlimited messaging with express replies as well as two live 45-minute therapy sessions per week; $110 per week

Each individual plan also includes access to yoga and meditation videos, an online journal, and the platform’s CBT program with 25 worksheets and guaranteed therapist responses about your completed worksheets between sessions.

It’s worth noting that Online-Therapy.com also offers couples therapy at $110 per week. It includes a weekly 45-minute couples session and unlimited messaging in addition to the platform’s CBT program.

Online-Therapy.com’s commitment to providing quality CBT treatment could be a factor in why 85% of our 105 users rated the company as excellent, very good, or good. Its priority of hiring highly trained therapists is displayed in the fact that 90% of users surveyed rated their therapist’s qualifications as excellent, very good, or good. Sixty-seven percent of Online-Therapy.com users said they would use the company again if they needed to search for a new therapist, and 53% of users said they specifically sought treatment for anxiety.

Brightside Health specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety. It offers comprehensive medication plans as well as online therapy services that focus primarily on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one of the best modalities to treat anxiety disorders. Because of its combination of CBT skills with psychiatric services, Brightside Health is our choice as the best online psychiatry service for anxiety.

Each user receives personalized treatment based on their presenting problem, symptoms, and overall needs. You can choose therapy, medication management, or both. Brightside goes further by providing interactive lessons between therapy sessions as well as virtual symptom trackers for psychiatric clients, which can be especially helpful for those learning to control their anxiety.

Therapy sessions are 30 minutes long and psychiatry follow-up appointments last for 15 minutes. Brightside focuses primarily on honing users’ CBT skills through therapeutic treatment and additional between-session lessons.

On its website, Brightside states that its treatment is not effective for individuals with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, suicidal ideation, self-harm, psychosis, or substance use disorders.

It is important to note that Brightside Health does not prescribe controlled substances for anxiety, such as Xanax or Klonopin.

Brightside Health is a subscription-based service with three plans to choose from depending on your desired type of mental healthcare.

• Medication includes an initial psychiatric evaluation and follow-up appointments; $95 per month
• Therapy includes four live video therapy sessions and unlimited messaging with your therapist; $299 per month
• Medication + therapy includes psychiatric appointments as well as four live video therapy sessions and unlimited messaging with your therapist; $349 per month

With the latter two plans, users have the option to purchase additional live sessions for $59 each.

Brightside also accepts a variety of insurance plans from companies including Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare.

It’s important to point out that the cost of medication is not included in your Brightside subscription. The total price will depend on your insurance benefits, but the average cost of an SSRI ranges from $5 to $25 for a monthly supply.

Ninety-three percent of Brightside Health’s users rated its medication or psychiatry services as excellent, very good, or good. When asked what they liked about Brightside’s medication management services, users stated specific reasons, like “My prescriber is available when I need them” (60%) and “They are responsive to my questions and medication needs” (38%). In fact, 62% said they would utilize Brightside again to look for a new provider if needed. Overall, 90% of users rated Brightside as excellent, very good, or good. Sixty percent of the 105 users we surveyed turned to Brightside to treat anxiety.

Founded in 2015, Teen Counseling is a subscription-based teletherapy service for teens ages 13-19. While the company involves parents, it also creates private “therapy rooms” for teens to access quality mental healthcare with flexible scheduling and affordable pricing. When signing up for Teen Counseling, whether you are a parent looking for services for your child or a teenager signing up for services yourself, the intake form specifically asks about anxiety or panic attacks, and from there directs you to a therapist who can appropriately treat anxiety.

All therapists at Teen Counseling are accredited and licensed. Its providers specialize in working with teens and their concerns, such as anxiety about school, peers, or transitioning into adulthood. Therapists are also familiar with how mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, present in the adolescent period. Nearly 8% of children and teens live with an anxiety disorder, so it is important for them to receive care from a provider who is trained in issues related to this demographic and time period.

Live sessions on Teen Counseling are offered via text, phone, or video. Users are able to message their licensed therapist at any time between sessions using private “therapy rooms.” Teens access their own therapy rooms while parents can use a separate room to speak with the therapist, either alongside their teen or on their own.

Users can schedule their own sessions on Teen Counseling’s platform or they can arrange the next appointment with their therapist at the end of each session.

There is only one subscription plan to choose from on Teen Counseling, which ranges from $60 to $90 per week. The plan includes four live sessions per month, or one per week, along with asynchronous messaging. You can expect to be billed monthly, which would make your total $240 to $360 per billing period.

The total cost depends on your location, availability of therapists, and your preferences. Teen Counseling and its parent company, BetterHelp, practice surge pricing, meaning users in areas in which mental healthcare is in higher demand are charged more for services. Teen Counseling also does not accept insurance.

Overall, 85% of the 105 Teen Counseling users we surveyed rated the company as excellent, very good, or good. Seventy-six percent said all or most of their needs were met on Teen Counseling, which is important given the nuances that come with treating the teen population. The company’s affordability shines through in that 70% of users rated Teen Counseling’s value for money as excellent, very good, or good. Sixty percent of users reported seeking care for anxiety through Teen Counseling. It's important to note that Teen Counseling's parent company, BetterHelp, has received backlash for revealing consumers' data for advertising as recent as 2023.

GoodTherapy was created in 2007 with a goal of making it easier to connect therapists and therapy seekers. Its website features a streamlined process of searching for local providers based on city or ZIP code. From there, users can filter search results based on their preferences and current needs, including specifying that their therapist must specialize in anxiety.

Search options on GoodTherapy include specialty, type of therapy, availability, and insurance coverage—so not only can you look for someone who has expertise in treating anxiety, you can also choose the therapeutic modality that would work best for you and can rest assured that you can afford those services. Each provider has a comprehensive profile with a short narrative bio, contact information, self-pay rates and accepted insurance plans, treatment orientation, ages they work with, and common conditions they treat. These details can be helpful to individuals struggling with anxiety who want extensive information about therapists prior to choosing one to work with.

Types of therapy provided vary widely from therapist to therapist. GoodTherapy allows users to search for a provider based on specialty, such as “anxiety or panic attacks,” “eating and food issues,” or “trauma and abuse.”

The directory also offers a way to filter search results based on your desired treatment orientation. Under Type of Therapy, you can choose from options including cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, each of which can be effective in treating symptoms of anxiety.

As a directory, GoodTherapy is free to use. Users can adjust search filters based on whether providers offer sliding scale fees or free consultations as well as accepted insurance plans.

Of the 180 users we surveyed, 95% rated GoodTherapy as very good or good. Thirty-nine percent of users said they were looking for therapy for anxiety on GoodTherapy, which was the second largest group behind therapy seekers with depression (41%). Ninety percent of users said the website was very easy or easy to navigate while 85% said they were very likely or likely to recommend the directory to a friend.

Postpartum Support International (PSI) is a leader in researching and treating pregnancy and postpartum mental health issues such as postpartum anxiety. PSI trains mental health practitioners in effective treatments of perinatal issues and offers a variety of free support groups for new parents, including support for those experiencing postpartum anxiety. These peer-to-peer support groups include NICU Parents, Birth Trauma Support for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Birthers, and Mindfulness for Postpartum and Pregnant Parents. Each session lasts for 90 minutes, including 30 minutes of initial education on the topic and 60 minutes for a group discussion.

PSI also offers a directory that focuses on perinatal mental health. In order to be listed on the directory, each professional must have earned a perinatal mental health certification. That said, nurse practitioners, doulas, midwives, lactation consultants, and more can also earn this certification. If you’re looking specifically for a therapist or mental health professional, it is important to filter your results to reflect this preference.

Therapy modalities vary based on the provider. If you are looking for something specific in a perinatal mental health therapist, the PSI directory allows you to filter your searches based on specialty and additional certifications, as well as therapy orientations.

The provider directory and peer support groups are free to access. Out-of-pocket costs and insurance coverage options vary by therapist in the directory. Users can filter search results by choosing what insurance plan they have and what payment methods they prefer, such as health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) cards, cash, or credit/debit cards. Therapist bios on the directory do not list cost per session or free consultation options, so users will need to reach out to each therapist individually to get this information.

We did not survey users of the Postpartum Support International directory. That said, PSI has a reliable reputation of serving pregnant and postpartum parents. The organization is steadily growing and widening its influence on the perinatal population, state and federal policies, and perinatal mental health treatment in general.

Open Path Collective is an online therapist directory that focuses on low-cost mental healthcare for low and middle income users. Founded in 2012, the company strives to increase accessibility to those who do not have insurance or whose insurance benefits are not comprehensive. The directory’s extensive search filters allow users to customize their results to include the therapist’s ethnicity, language, or specialty. Specialties include anxiety, socioeconomic stress/issues, agoraphobia, coping mechanisms and perfectionism, so you can find a provider who can specifically address whichever type of anxiety you are experiencing.

Every provider listed on the directory must have a graduate degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field, so experience and credentials will vary. It is important to note that Open Path Collective also allows student therapists, or pre-licensed therapists, to list their services on the directory.

There are also online and in-person appointments available, which could be helpful for those whose anxiety creates difficulty when they go to new places or leave the house.

Since Open Path Collective is a comprehensive directory, the treatment orientations, specialties, and experience vary based on the provider. Still, users can filter search results based on specialty or treatment orientations. Open Path Collective lists a variety of treatment orientations, which include common anxiety treatments like experiential therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and CBT, as well as less common approaches like art therapy and Brainspotting.

Each therapist listed on Open Path Collective agrees to the same sliding scale rates: from $30 to $60 for individual therapy and $30 to $80 for couples or family therapy. Users must pay a one-time membership fee of $65 in order to access these lower rates.

Open Path Collective seeks to provide high-quality, low-cost therapy for the uninsured or underinsured, so it does not accept insurance plans.

If cost is a concern, you can adjust your search results on the directory based on your ideal pay range, creating a more streamlined process to find a provider who fits your needs.

Of the 180 users we surveyed, 90% rated Open Path Collective as very good or good. It’s clear the directory’s commitment to affordability doesn't mean sacrificing quality, as 85% of users rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or good. In fact, 84% of Open Path Collective users said they were very likely or likely to recommend the company to a friend. Fifty-two percent of our users turned to Open Path Collective for help with anxiety.

In 2018, Tamir Aldad, MD, founded Mindful Care in an effort to provide same-day or next-day mental health services to those in need. The company seeks to prioritize quick, quality individual therapy and medication management services as well as group therapy sessions, which are less common on virtual platforms.

Mindful Care offers an online therapy group for individuals experiencing anxiety which is led by licensed mental health professionals. The sessions focus on mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy skills. The company states that its anxiety group “focuses on reducing the power of your anxiety [so you] feel more comfortable in your skin.” 

That said, Mindful Care is not available in every state, so it is important to first check if your location allows you to participate.

Mindful Care offers group therapy in the form of “MindFit" groups. These groups last one hour and are offered at multiple times Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Every group focuses on a particular topic, such as anxiety, addiction, or LGBTQ+ identities.

Mindful Care requires you to meet a social worker for an initial consultation if you are interested in individual therapy. From there, the social worker will recommend 20-minute "MicroTherapy" appointments or longer 40-minute sessions.

The company accepts a range of health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. Plus, its out-of-pocket costs are affordable. Mindful Care’s pricing depends on the type and length of sessions.

• MicroTherapy: $50 per session
• Individual therapy (40-minute sessions): $100 per session
• Group therapy initial session: $150; follow-up 60-minute sessions: $35 each
• Medication management initial evaluation (40 minutes): $175; follow-up appointments (20 minutes): $75 each

Eighty-four percent of users said Mindful Care was much better, better, or a little better than other services they have used, which is notable for a company that prioritizes group therapy. A significant majority of Mindful Care users (73%) said they sought services because of anxiety. The company’s quality and high customer satisfaction could be why 92% of users rate the company as excellent, very good, or good overall.