My Husband and I Tried Talkspace Couples Therapy to Help Resolve Our Differences

Throughout the past few years, Verywell Mind has tested Talkspace's couples therapy a few times, with real couples seeking real counseling. In this review, we first discuss our findings from our most recent test of the provider from 2024. Then, Lindsay Modglin explains her experience testing Talkspace's couples therapy services in 2023.

It's worth noting that everybody's experience in therapy will be different; for example, our 2024 tester of Talkspace's couples therapy had a more negative experience, whereas all of our previous experience with Talkspace has been positive.

Our Most Recent Testing

In the summer of 2024, we had a tester in New York try Talkspace's couples counseling with her husband for a month. This was their first-hand experience.

Signing Up for Talkspace

I signed up for couples therapy through Talkspace because I was curious if it would be easier for our work schedules and we had a hard time finding a couples therapist. We are a blended family with two preteens. 

I had to provide insurance information and answer a questionnaire to help assess who to pair me with. It was very straightforward but I did need my insurance card to complete the process. 

We were only able to do video but didn't love the sessions. There is an app for Talkspace, but we needed to use my laptop since it was a couples session so we could sit in front of it at a table—but it was hard to fit two people in the frame even though we were pushed up against one another. 

I was only given a couple therapists to choose from and then I picked one. I was able to schedule my session based on available dates, and I was able to say what kind of therapy I was looking for in the signup process.

We were charged $50 per session, as well as $150 for our one missed session because our internet went out due to storms. 

Our Therapy Sessions

I did not find a therapist we liked. We went through a few of them. 

Our first session was very weird. Our therapist could not figure out the technology and seemed to be driving in their car. We finally got a visual with them after 20 minutes. When we did get him on the call, he seemed inebriated or under the influence of something. We did some intake but it was quite distracting and then he lost the connection so we didn't finish the session. We decided to change providers after that session. 

It was unsettling but also funny for us. We had a hard time not cracking up. 

Our second therapist was more traditional and just listened. We never established a smooth flow, though, despite multiple sessions. They didn't ask many questions. They just let us talk and didn't seem to focus on both of us the same way.

They left it to us to lead the conversation and seemed to only focus on my husband and not both of us. I felt like they didn't give us many tools and just listened. It was too hands off for me. They did not give us homework (and I was fine with that because I have enough work!).

They were kind, however, and a big improvement over our first therapist. But I felt like it would be better in-person or with a different therapist. 

I would not see this therapist again. I felt the sessions lagging. I did end up realizing we had little to discuss and both my partner and I agreed that this experience showed us we may be doing a better job than we thought on our own. We just wanted some extra support since we are a blended family with teens, but don't think we will continue. 

How We Felt About Talkspace

Ultimately, I think that Talkspace’s services are worth the cost, but I prefer in-person therapy. I don't think I would use this company again. This was the first online therapy service I have tried, but it’s not for me.

One of my major concerns was that it seemed like Talkspace did not do a good job screening therapists—the two providers we met with seemed pretty new to therapy, from what we saw. 

I’d only recommend Talkspace to someone who cannot make it to physical appointments for whatever reason. You can fit in therapy at your leisure, even the weekends.

Lindsay's 2023 Testing

In 2023, we asked Lindsay and her partner to try Talkspace's couples counseling for a month to learn about the quality of care the company could provide. These are her personal insights.

Why We Chose Talkspace's Couples Counseling

Throughout our 14 years together, my husband and I have experienced our fair share of ups and downs. From bringing three children into the world to caring for our youngest, who has chronic health needs, we've worked hard to create a loving and stable environment for our family. However, like many, we’ve also grappled with conversations about fundamental differences in core values and beliefs. Although we’ve had many honest, heart-to-heart conversations about these issues, a few pressing topics have remained unresolved.

Therapy hasn't been an option for us in the past—we simply couldn't fit traditional in-person sessions into our schedule. So when given the opportunity to test out virtual couples therapy with Talkspace, we jumped at the chance. We'd discussed therapy as a tool to keep our marriage thriving and healthy, yet had never taken the plunge.

I was aware that Talkspace had been around since 2012 and offered a range of services including couples therapy so I was excited to try it out, especially since I liked the idea of accessing therapy from anywhere. As a travel enthusiast and busy mom, my personal appointments tend to sit on the back burner—the closest multi-provider therapy practice is an 80-minute round trip from our rural community. So I decided to give it a try for a month with my husband and I have to say, I was very pleased. Here's how our experience went.

How I Signed Up at Talkspace

Signing up was pretty straightforward. The first step was to choose which type of therapy I was interested in: individual, couples, teen, or psychiatry. After selecting couples therapy, I spent the next few minutes answering basic questions about our relationship.

Questions covered my relationship type (the options are “straight,” “gay/lesbian,” and “other”), the primary issues I wanted to address (including “improve our communication,” “overcome adultery,” and “prevent separation or divorce”), and our preferred payment method. I have medical insurance through UnitedHealthcare, and it covers mental health services, so I entered my member number and billing details before moving forward.

After a few seconds, the platform confirmed my coverage and showed me an estimated copay. With insurance, my maximum out-of-pocket was $110 per session, and I did not owe a copay at the time of service. A $10 hold was put on my card until my insurance could be processed.

Next in the sign-up, I could select from a live session (video, audio, or chat) or messaging, which takes place at your own speed throughout the week. I chose the live chat session as I've participated in video sessions previously and was curious to try something different. Next, I entered payment details before finishing my account setup.

After a few more questions about my health history and symptoms, I chose the best day and time and was instantly matched with a provider. Her profile included a headshot, brief biography, and her credentials. It also showed she had been in practice for less than a year. A note at the bottom of the page stated I could switch therapists at any time (even multiple times), so I felt comfortable moving forward with scheduling.

Our Experience with Couples Therapy at Talkspace

My husband and I each had access to our own portal, but the therapy room was shared between us—meaning any message I sent our therapist could also be seen by my husband. I expected this, but I can also see how it might be uncomfortable for some. While chat sessions are scheduled in advance, you can message your therapist at any time, even if you don't have a scheduled session. 

Our First Session

The first available appointment was four days after signing up, which was perfect for us. We both entered the therapy room on separate devices where our therapist greeted us. We jumped in immediately, and she began asking questions about our relationship. After telling her our main reason for seeking therapy (to learn new communication skills), she questioned where we felt our communication fell short. She was friendly and professional, and our conversation flowed easily.

We discussed a few key points and took turns expressing our opinions. My husband and I have a great relationship, so talking about our shortcomings felt awkward. Our therapist quickly put me at ease with her understanding and warm presence. 

Our 45-minute session went by quickly, and we ended by brainstorming "communication triggers," or topics we generally disagreed on. We made little progress because it took longer to communicate our thoughts through text than it would have through video. Thankfully, our therapist agreed to schedule our second session through video instead. We chose our ideal day and time, and the session was confirmed before leaving the therapy room.

Our Second Session

Our second session was exactly one week later. We were both at home, so we joined the chat from the same device and awaited our therapist. She promptly joined and recapped our last conversation. We left off discussing communication triggers, so we resumed our discussion from there. Our parenting styles are very different, so this was the main topic we addressed. 

I shared how our childhoods affected our current beliefs, and my husband shared how his upbringing shaped his approach to parenting. Our therapist offered insights and perspectives as an outsider, which helped me look at the situation differently. 

She quickly jumped into conflict resolution by asking how we typically handle disagreements around parenting. By the end of our session, we better understood each other and the tools we could use to defuse potentially heated situations. We also agreed on a few ground rules that we would follow if disagreements arose.

We could communicate our feelings more clearly, making it easier for our therapist to understand the situation. We ended our session with a game plan for our next parental disagreement and again scheduled our next session before logging off. 

Pros & Cons

I was pleasantly surprised our Talkspace sessions went so well, but there are some pros and cons to keep in mind.

Final Thoughts

My husband and I were both pleased with our Talkspace experience and plan to continue using the service. We have yet to experience any technical issues and have been satisfied with the quality of our sessions. I appreciate being able to join from separate devices since in the past our schedules have prevented us from attending in-person sessions together.

I also like having the option to switch communication methods with each new appointment if needed. While the video sessions were much more productive, chat is an excellent way to get your toes wet if you feel apprehensive about therapy. I warned my husband that we'd likely make no progress in our first session—I used another service in the past where the first session was strictly medical history—so I'm glad it was productive from the start.

Our provider had less than a year of experience but has yet to be anything short of professional and attentive. I would have never known had it not been displayed in her profile, but the transparency is appreciated.

Overall, we're definitely among the majority of Talkspace users who are happy with its service, and we plan to continue using the platform to gain new skills and insights into our relationship.