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Sometimes, it can be challenging for those seeking mental health services to find time to schedule in-person visits. As a result of these difficulties, as well as safety measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual therapy and counseling has become increasingly popular. In 2021, four in ten Americans used telehealth services, with 82% using these services since the start of the pandemic[1].
Regain is an online relationship therapy platform that aims to solve these issues by offering both individual and relationship therapy at your own convenience. Here’s our review of the service.
BetterHelp Online Therapy
Our Verdict
Owned by Betterhelp and founded in 2016, Regain is an online relationship therapy platform that provides access to a licensed therapist via computer, tablet or smartphone. Out of its 5,800 total ratings on the App Store, Regain has an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Regain has therapists that specialize in stress, anxiety, relationships, parenting, depression, addictions, eating, sleeping, trauma, anger, family conflicts, LGBTQ matters, grief, religion, self-esteem and more, according to the company.
The company notes that it’s not a right fit for minors under the care of a legal guardian, those in urgent or emergency situations, those that are court-ordered to attend counseling, those in physically abusive or unsafe relationships and those with poor internet connection.
Finding a therapist that matches your personal needs is crucial for a positive outcome. If you have tried therapy in the past but haven’t found a great match, or if you live in a remote area, Regain could be an effective way to broaden your options. Regain may also be beneficial if you are interested in therapy, but can’t seem to find the time for in-person sessions. No matter your personal circumstances, it’s important to find a plan that works for you and your personal goals.
Regain at a Glance
Summary
- Accessibility: According to the Regain FAQ, the founders of the company created the service so that users can have access to convenient, discreet and affordable counseling.
- Cost: A subscription ranges from $60-$90 per week, billed every four weeks.
- Experience: Users are matched with licensed counselors based on their specific goals and availability.
How It Works
Those interested in Regain can register using its app or website. Once an account is created, the user completes a questionnaire to match them with a licensed counselor best-suited to their needs. This step may take between a few hours and a few days.
Counselors may include psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers or licensed professional therapists. All 8,000 therapists have at least three years of experience in the field and are open to work with individuals or couples, according to the company. While all therapists are licensed, they cannot prescribe medication, make a medical diagnosis or fulfill the requirement of a court order.
Once the questionnaire is completed, the user can choose to invite a partner if they are interested in relationship therapy. If a partner is added, the account is shared and any communication can be seen by both parties. The individual or couple is then matched with a therapist based on their responses to the questionnaire. The schedule feature allows the user to view when their counselor is available and choose a virtual appointment that works best for them. In addition to couple’s counseling, individual sessions can be scheduled separately as needed.
You Deserve To Be Happy
BetterHelp can match you with a professional, licensed and vetted therapist from any device. You don’t have to wait for an appointment to text, chat, or video call today!
The Cost
The subscription for Regain—which includes unlimited messaging and 30-minute live sessions with a licensed counselor—costs between $60 and $90 per week, depending on your location, personal preferences and counselor availability. This charge is billed every four weeks and can be charged through PayPal or a credit card. The subscription does not begin until you are matched with a counselor.
While the service may seem pricey, this is often more affordable than in-person therapy, as the average cost of therapy in the U.S. ranges from $100 to $200 per session. If at any time you would like to change your counselor, there is no charge. Users can also cancel their membership at any time.
The Service
The Regain platform can be accessed using a phone, tablet or computer. When creating an account, your information is kept anonymous. You can choose to use a nickname in place of your legal name if you prefer. Once you are matched with a therapist, the app makes virtual sessions easy to access and schedule. Users can schedule unlimited 30-minute live sessions within the availability of their counselor. Between sessions, your therapist can be messaged at any time using the chat room feature.
In addition to the convenience of virtual therapy, Regain includes a journal feature that allows you to record your thoughts or respond to their suggested prompts. Journal prompts differ each day but can also be categorized by depression, anxiety, relationship issues or other general suggestions. All prompts involve introspection with the goal of improving mental health.
Groupinars are another feature included within the subscription. Users can choose to attend an unlimited amount of webinars led by licensed therapists at various dates and times. Once the user registers for a groupinar, reminders are sent through email or text message depending on the user’s preferences. Webinars can also be organized by topic, such as skill building, relationships, employment, trauma, anxiety and depression, wellness or anxiety.
What Experts Say About Regain Counseling
Experts have identified both benefits and limitations to virtual counseling apps such as Regain. Christine Highland, a clinical social worker trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy based out of New Jersey, mentions the benefits of online counseling services. “The major benefit of online therapy is obviously convenience and access,” she says “Another helpful aspect of online therapy is that it provides access to therapy for people who are unable to drive or take public transportation due to anxiety or other disabilities.”
However, there are some factors that cannot be replicated virtually. “There is something tangible that gets created when two people sit in a quiet space together that cannot be replicated in telehealth,” says Highland. “I like to call this ‘unconscious communication.’ Having a physical space for patients to come helps provide a level of containment and retreat that cannot be replicated in telehealth.”
My Experience
As a working mother with a hectic schedule, I found the convenience of Regain to be beneficial. My husband and I were matched with a counselor within two days and found our session to be helpful in discussing some ways to improve our communication as a couple. Our counselor listened to our personal goals and explored our strengths and weaknesses.
In addition to counseling, I was able to attend a groupinar on conquering codependency for lasting confidence. In this session, I learned about taking time for myself, increasing self-confidence and letting go of negative thought patterns. Both the counseling session and groupinar were positive experiences and I would definitely recommend these services to anyone seeking to improve their personal mental health or strengthen their relationship.
Although I had an overall positive experience, there were a few drawbacks to the subscription. I was matched with our therapist almost immediately, but could not schedule an afternoon session until three weeks later. Both my husband and I work during the day, so although morning sessions were available earlier, we could not attend at those times. I could not schedule the second session until the first one was completed, and would have had to wait another three weeks.
If I were to continue seeking couple’s counseling, I would prefer a service that takes our insurance—whether in-person or virtual—in order to make it more affordable (however, in most cases, insurance is typically not required to cover marriage counseling). While the counseling was extremely convenient, if our schedules were more flexible, it would have made the cost easier to justify.
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