Best Online Trauma Counseling

Amwell's multidisciplinary platform connects you with talk therapists as well as psychiatrists with a variety of specialties. This way, it can address many of the mental health conditions that can emerge after a traumatic event, ranging from PTSD to eating disorders to insomnia. 

Amwell isn't a traditional mental health company. It is a general telehealth company that provides primary care as well as specialty care options for remarkably low prices. These specialty options include both talk therapy and online medication management. Founded as American Well by brothers Ido and Roy Schoenberg in the mid-2000s, Amwell was one of the first telehealth providers to attract the attention of insurance companies. 

A quick scan of online reviews indicates that it might have technological difficulties, but no one cites problems with its mental health care specifically. 

Amwell offers medication management, couples therapy, and talk therapy to adults. It also offers talk therapy to kids and teens. To address PTSD specifically, its providers employ cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), prolonged exposure (PE), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Cognitive processing therapy helps those with PTSD by reframing harmful beliefs people have regarding their trauma. Prolonged exposure decreases symptoms of PTSD by exposing you to triggers related to your trauma so that you learn that they are not actually dangerous. Amwell psychiatrists can also prescribe antidepressants to lessen symptoms of depression and anxiety after a traumatic event.

Since Amwell treats a broad spectrum of mental health conditions, it offers other forms of therapy as well. However, its practitioners cannot prescribe controlled substances. Scheduling an appointment is as simple as creating an account and choosing an appointment time and provider, so if you're facing mental health challenges related to trauma, there's no reason not to give Amwell a chance. 

Insurance is accepted, but not required. Over 125 plans are accepted from providers including:

• Aetna
• Anthem
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Affinity
• Amerigroup
• Healthfirst
• Horizon
• UnitedHealthcare

Without insurance, pricing is as follows:

• Therapy: $99 per appointment
• Psychiatry: $279 for the initial visit, $109 for 15-minute follow-up visits

We surveyed 105 users of Amwell to better understand its services and their experiences with the company. Ninety-one percent of surveyed users believed their therapists' qualifications were good, very good, or excellent, and 78% rated Amwell's medication management services as very good or excellent. It is important to note that over a quarter of the people surveyed said they sought treatment for trauma. 

Talkiatry is an online psychiatry service founded at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to provide easier access to medication management. Its approach is unique in the online psychiatry industry because its practitioners take the time to get to know their patients. Each follow-up appointment is a half-hour, twice the industry standard of around 15 minutes. This is especially important if you experienced trauma that radically changed your mental health situation. 

The other way in which Talkiatry stands out is that it is one of the few services that prescribes controlled substances that doesn't (as of February 2023) have a scandal or a DEA investigation attached to it. This means that if your psychiatrist prescribes you a medication such as Xanax for panic attacks, you can trust they are doing so in your best interest. 

Talkiatry is primarily a medication management service for people ages 5 and over. It also has a talk therapy program, but you must be a medication management patient in order to access it. 

Talkiatry accepts major insurance plans, health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending account (FSA) payments, and Medicare/Medicaid. You must use your insurance to access Talkiatry’s services; it does not accept self-pay patients or charge out-of-pocket fees.

Ninety-five percent of Talkiatry's users rated it as good, very good, or excellent overall. Another 70% said that if they had to start over and pick a new provider, they would do so through Talkiatry. Sixty-nine percent of users were able to find a provider who met most or all of their needs; 12% came to Talkiatry after experiencing a traumatic event.

Talkspace may be known primarily as BetterHelp's top competitor, but its emphasis on treating veterans separates it from its rival and makes it the best option for veterans processing trauma. It's the only platform with a dedicated page for veterans. Talkspace also offers therapy for LGBTQ+ folks, which could be especially useful if you're a veteran navigating your military service with your queer identity.

As of February 2023, veterans can receive 30% off their first three months of Talkspace using the code MTSUPPORT. This allows veterans to access the breadth of Talkspace's services, which include the option to only receive therapy via messaging if you're not ready to talk to a therapist face-to-face. 

Along with its veteran-specific services, Talkspace offers individual therapy for adults and teens as well as couples therapy and medication management. It also offers a messaging-only plan, which may be useful, but shouldn't be considered equivalent to talk therapy. 

While Talkspace accepts major insurance plans as well as HSA/FSA payments, it doesn’t accept Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare. There are four subscription plans and an add-on psychiatry service:

• The messaging-only service costs $69 per week and includes unlimited messaging with your therapist during the workweek.
• The therapy-only service costs $99 per week and includes four live sessions per month.
• The therapy + messaging service costs $129 per week.
• If you want couples therapy, you will receive both unlimited messaging and four live sessions per month and pay $109 per week.
• Psychiatry services cost $249 for the initial evaluation and $125 for each follow-up appointment. 

Talkspace therapists are qualified to address the needs of veterans. In fact, 92% of the 105 Talkspace users we surveyed said that they thought the therapists' qualifications were good, very good, or excellent. This is meaningful since 25% of the users we surveyed said they were receiving trauma-focused therapy. In addition, 91% of users rated Talkspace positively overall, and 78% were able to find a provider who met all or most of their needs.

Open Path Collective is far more than your standard therapist directory. It is a nonprofit dedicated to providing affordable mental health care to those who are uninsured or underinsured. Founded in 2012 by Paul Fugelsang, a therapist with experience in reforming the juvenile justice system, Open Path Collective understands the vital role that mental health care plays in addressing injustice and features many therapists who specialize in trauma treatment. To meet the needs of those who would not otherwise have financial access to therapy, Fugelsang formed a network of therapists who were willing to offer therapy at discounted rates. In exchange for their services, the therapists receive free advertising as well as discounts on a variety of professional products. 

Therapists listed on Open Path offer a range of treatment modalities, including trauma-focused therapy and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. While Open Path doesn’t offer medication management, it does have therapists who offer individual, family, group, and couples therapy. Finding a therapist you relate to is easy because you can search for therapists by race, gender and sexual identity, and which languages they speak. 

To receive care, you fill out an application, pay a one-time $65 fee, and schedule an appointment with the therapist of your choice. 

You cannot pay for Open Path care via insurance because it is meant for those without insurance. Each session with a fully qualified provider costs between $40 and $70, and you can meet with a student intern for $30. Some therapists charge up to $80 for couples and family therapy.

Fifty-four percent of the 180 Open Path users we surveyed gave it the highest overall rating, describing its services overall as “very good.” And despite the fact that all of the therapists on Open Path Collective are doing a public service by offering low sliding scale fees, 74% of users said that they were able to find a therapist who met all of their needs. Additionally, 22% received trauma-focused therapy from their Open Path provider, 12% received trauma systems therapy (TST), and 11% said they approached Open Path specifically looking for treatment for trauma.

Teladoc simplifies the process of receiving mental health care—you can access treatment for challenges such as PTSD while not worrying about whether it will be covered by insurance. While Teladoc is a general telehealth company that treats a range of conditions, from skin disorders to STDs, it does offer standard therapy and psychiatry services. You can meet with the same provider each time just like you would at a company that focuses exclusively on mental health.

Teladoc offers both talk therapy and medication management. Its talk therapists use a variety of modalities to treat trauma, including trauma-focused therapy and CBT. Its therapists also vary in terms of their licenses. While some have doctorate degrees, others are licensed clinical social workers or family therapists. Its psychiatrists cannot prescribe controlled substances. 

Once you register, you fill out a survey with your therapist preferences. The site then uses an algorithm to present you with a list of therapists to choose from who meet your needs. From there, scheduling an appointment is easy as clicking “schedule a visit.”

Teladoc is a pay-per-session service. Depending on your insurance, therapy sessions cost between $0 to $99, and a psychiatry visit costs between $0 and $299. Teladoc accepts 60 different insurance plans in total. This includes major providers like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, and Medicaid plans. The full list of accepted insurance providers is not available until you register.

Teladoc's surveyed users were overwhelmingly pleased with their care. An impressive 97% of our 105 surveyed users rated Teladoc as good, very good, or excellent overall. Sixty-nine percent of their users said that if they had to restart their search for a therapist, they would choose Teladoc again, and 77% were able to find a provider who met most or all of their needs. Seven percent of users sought Teladoc’s services after experiencing a traumatic event, and 15% came to Teladoc after experiencing abuse. 

The National Queer and Trans Therapist of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a directory of queer and trans therapists of color who provide trauma-informed care to queer and POC patients. Considering how difficult it can be to find a therapist who is both racially informed and queer-friendly, this directory is invaluable for those facing this type of discrimination. This is especially true for those who have experienced trauma based on their racial or sexual and gender identities, since racism and/or queerphobia can cause and influence traumatic experiences. 

NQTTCN was founded in May 2016 so that QTPOC therapists could come together to build practices with social justice at the forefront. Since then, it has expanded to serve as a resource to therapists as well as patients. It also offers a financial aid fund for QTPOC folks who need psychotherapy but cannot afford it. 

The NQTTCN directory allows you to filter potential therapists by their proximity to you, whether they're accepting new clients, whether they offer virtual care, what languages they know, and whether they have sliding scale fees. Psychiatrists don't seem to be on the site, but a wide variety of talk therapy is available, including couples counseling and therapy for adolescents. While the search options are limited, the individual therapists' bio pages contain a wealth of information that you can use to determine which provider is right for you. 

Because this is a directory, therapists charge a range of fees and vary in their insurance acceptance. You can search therapists by whether they charge sliding-scale fees.

Seventy-four percent of the 180 NQTTCN users we surveyed said that finding a therapist who met their needs was easy or very easy. In fact, if they had to start the process all over again and find a new therapist, 77% of users said they would return to NQTTCN. Fourteen percent of users came to NQTTCN because of trauma, and 41% received treatment specific to trauma, such as trauma-focused therapy and trauma systems therapy.

Kip Therapy is a virtual therapy service dedicated to making trauma-informed therapy available and accessible to those from a variety of racial, economic, and LGBTQ+ backgrounds and identities. Its team of diverse, New York-based therapists provides couples therapy to people in traditional relationships but also those in queer and/or non-monogamous relationships. This means that it can serve you and your partner(s) regardless of whether you're processing a traumatic event together or trying to move past unhealthy relationship patterns caused by trauma. 

Kip Therapy offers individual, couples, and family therapy. Its therapists use a variety of approaches, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and person-centered therapy. 

Kip Therapy does not accept insurance but will allow you to submit a reimbursement claim to your insurance. If you meet with a tier-one (less experienced) therapist, your initial consultation is free. For all other tiers, the consult is $25.

Kip’s tiered payment system makes it one of the more financially accessible platforms. Individual therapy adheres to the following payment structure:

• Meeting with a tier-one therapist costs between $65 and $95 per session. Tier one therapists are graduate-level interns.
• Meeting with a tier-two therapist costs between $130 and $150 per session. Tier two therapists are resident fellows.
• Meeting with a tier-three therapist costs between $170 and $225 per session. Tier three therapists have the most experience.

Couples or adolescent therapy costs $200 per session with a tier-one or tier-two provider and $250 for a tier-three clinician. 

Two-thirds of the 105 Kip users we surveyed said that Kip was better or much better than services they used in the past. Additionally, 70% of them said that their therapist met most or all of their needs. Overall, 73% of users rated Kip’s services as good, very good, or excellent; 10% reported that they sought therapy at Kip after a traumatic event.

Little Otter understands that treating children's mental health difficulties involves educating caregivers as much as it does working with the child. Because of this, Little Otter offers individual therapy for the child, but it also provides family therapy and parent education sessions as well. This way, you will understand what strategies you can use to help your child process their trauma outside of therapy. It has psychiatrists on staff in case medication is a good option for your child. Little Otter also diagnoses and treats conditions such as ADHD so that underlying issues don't contribute to your child's trauma. 

Little Otter treats children ages 14 and under through a combination of individual therapy, family therapy, couples therapy, caregiver coaching, and medication management. Little Otter's psychiatrists can prescribe controlled substances, including those to treat ADHD. Because of the breadth of care offered, Little Otter is prepared to address situations where the entire family experienced a traumatic event. 

Little Otter is only available in 11 states: California, Colorado, Florida, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, plus Washington, D.C.

Little Otter is expensive and only accepts Kaiser Permanente insurance. However, it accepts HSA/FSA funds and allows you to submit reimbursement claims to other insurance companies. Out-of-pocket costs vary by service:

• ADHD evaluation costs $500; if your child is diagnosed, you can either pay $225 per month for holistic care (which includes parenting coaching sessions and ongoing monitoring) or $250 for each follow-up appointment
• Initial welcome session costs $90
• A welcome session plus one follow-up appointment costs $540
• A welcome session plus 11 follow-up appointments costs $2040 

Our 105 surveyed users were generally satisfied with Little Otter's services. Seventy percent said that their provider met most or all of their needs, and 75% rated its services positively overall. Furthermore, despite the service's hefty price tag, 72% said it was a good, very good, or excellent value for the money. Eight percent of Little Otter users sought treatment for themselves and their families after a traumatic event, and 21% received trauma-specific services.

Thriveworks is an all-in-one mental healthcare service. It offers everything from in-person therapy to medication management to couples therapy. This breadth of services benefits those who experience birth trauma—which could be anything from a stillbirth to experiences of discrimination and racism during the birthing process—because all members of the family can be treated on the same platform. Thriveworks also has therapists who specialize in birth trauma as well as postpartum depression and anxiety. Finding such a therapist is simple because you can use search filters for therapists' specialties and whether they accept your insurance plan. The platform doesn't allow you to search for therapists with specific identities, so this may not be the best option for you if your birth trauma is interwoven with a marginalized identity. 

Founded in 2008, Thriveworks has now expanded to over 380 in-person offices as well as thousands of providers of online therapy. 

Thriveworks offers a full suite of therapy services:

• Individual therapy
• Couples therapy
• Family therapy
• Addiction counseling
• Medication management 
• Group therapy

Its website also offers a blog with in-depth mental health information. Furthermore, if you live in one of the 45 states in which Thriveworks operates, you can choose to attend therapy in person. 

Thriveworks accepts the following insurance plans:

• Aetna 
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Cigna | Evernorth
• Compsych
• Humana
• Medicare
• UnitedHealthcare | Optum

However, not all of its therapists accept all of these insurance plans. Without insurance, talk therapy costs at least $99 per session.

Our survey of 105 users indicates that Thriveworks' flexibility does not compromise its quality. Over half of all Thriveworks' users said that they would likely be seeing the same therapist six months from now. Additionally, 86% of surveyed users said that their Thriveworks' experience was better than their experiences with similar companies. Ninety-one percent of users rated its services good, very good, or excellent overall, and 31% sought Thriveworks’ services after experiencing trauma or abuse.

Melanin and Mental Health is an online therapy directory of culturally informed providers that addresses the vast disparity in mental health care access that people of color (POC) experience in the United States, including experiences of racial trauma. In a special issue of American Psychologist, the American Psychological Association (APA) defined racial trauma as "the events of danger related to real or perceived experience of racial discrimination, threats of harm and injury, humiliating and shaming events, in addition to witnessing harm to other people of color due of real or perceived racism." Considering that white supremacy puts all POC at risk for experiencing racial trauma, it is crucial that our mental health care system can address it. However, it historically hasn't met the need. Eighty-six percent of therapists are white, despite the fact that white people only make up 62% of the American population. This disparity can make it challenging for POC to find a therapist with whom they feel comfortable discussing racial issues.

Melanin and Mental Health aims to help POC find qualified therapists through its directory. You can search therapists by their race, what insurance they accept, who/what they treat, whether they offer in-person or virtual therapy, and what languages they speak. Each therapist's bio includes a description of their approach to therapy and what they specialize in. You can also see when the therapist has availability and find multiple ways of contacting them. The organization also hosts a podcast called Between Sessions that offers listeners mental health advice. 

It should be noted that the directory doesn't appear to be very large. An urban ZIP code near Boston only revealed a handful of search results. However, if you have experienced racial trauma, Melanin and Mental Health's directory can be a good starting point for seeking care. 

Melanin and Mental Health features therapists and psychiatrists who treat a variety of ages and conditions. Since it doesn’t have a filter for those seeking couples or family therapy, finding a therapist on the site who provides these involves reading individual bios. 

Therapists on the directory vary wildly in their rates, insurance policies, and whether they have sliding scale fees.

Of the 180 users we surveyed, 79% gave Melanin and Mental Health one of the two highest ratings of good or very good across all 25 online therapy directories we reviewed. And, despite the directory's apparent small size, 77% said it was easy or very easy to find a therapist who met their needs. Thirteen percent of users sought a provider through Melanin and Mental Health to specifically address trauma, and 23% of users received trauma-focused therapy.