We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Therapy The Best Online Therapy for Anxiety of 2024, Tried and Tested These 11 options provide specialized anxiety treatment from the comfort of home By El Wilson, El Wilson El is a current master's student at Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing program and writes about mental and physical wellness for VeryWell Mind, VeryWell Fit, Shape, and EatingWell. Learn about our editorial process Brittany Elyse Vargas, Brittany Elyse Vargas Brittany Elyse Vargas has been exploring topics around psychology, mental health, mind-body medicine, and psychospiritual development for the past twenty years. She’s written professionally for over ten years as a journalist, copywriter, and ghostwriter. Brittany is committed to rigorous reporting and to tackling topics on the cutting edge of the wellness, healing, and the mindfulness movements. Learn about our editorial process and Amanda Tust Amanda Tust Amanda Tust is an editor, fact-checker, and writer with a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 26, 2024 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Best Online Therapy for Anxiety of 2024 Comparisons Guide to Choosing How Do I Know if Online Therapy for Anxiety Is Right for Me? Frequently Asked Questions Methodology Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental illnesses in America, impacting about 19% of adults every year. Given the convenience and availability of virtual therapy, online treatment for anxiety has become widely available. You can meet with a qualified psychotherapist, licensed counselor, or psychiatrist from home. There are a number of talk therapy approaches and drug treatments available to help treat anxiety. A psychotherapist can offer you, among other treatments, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), and exposure therapy. Both CBT and ACT teach new thinking patterns to ease anxiety and refocus worries and fears. Exposure therapy empowers patients to face their fears in a controlled environment. Regardless of which treatment option you choose, accessing this kind of care online has never been easier. To help you find the best supports, we did a comprehensive survey of 100 users of 82 online therapy companies and tested many services ourselves. Based on this research, these are the 11 best online therapy options for anxiety. When choosing an online therapy provider, we recommend that you read the company’s privacy guidelines before you sign up to better understand whether it is HIPAA-compliant and whether it shares any private information with third parties. There have been some concerns raised by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and several government officials about what user health information online therapy providers collect and what they do with any information they collect. Our Online Therapy Methodology Curious about the extensive work we did to research and evaluate online therapy companies? Take a look at our online therapy methodology. Best Online Therapy for Anxiety of 2024 Most Comprehensive: Brightside Best for Medication Management/Psychiatry: Talkiatry Best Subscription Service: Talkspace Best Without Insurance: Open Path Collective Best for Teens: Teen Counseling Best for Parents: Online-Therapy.com Best for Kids: Little Otter Best for Group Support: Mindful Care Best for the BIPOC Community: Kip Therapy Best for Postpartum Anxiety: Thriveworks Best Directory: Zencare Our Top Picks Most Comprehensive: Brightside Learn More Key Specs Price: $95-$349 per monthIs Insurance Accepted? YesType Of Therapy: Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry Why We Chose It Brightside Health provides the holistic, evidence-based care needed to tackle a variety of anxiety disorders from every angle. It uses CBT, the gold standard in anxiety treatment modalities, alongside skill-building self-care lessons and medication when necessary, making it the most comprehensive online therapy company for anxiety treatment. Pros & Cons Pros Therapy and psychiatry available Uses the gold standard in anxiety treatment Skill-building lessons empower users Care is highly specialized Clinicians are warm and approachable Cons Takes a few days to get an appointment No sliding scale available Some issues with late clinicians Our Testing We had four people try Brightside Health from North Carolina, New York, and California for individual therapy, and we found the platform to offer effective, evidence-based treatment for people with mild to moderate anxiety. The company actually specializes in anxiety treatment, and its comprehensive approach helps users calm rumination, worry, tension, obsessive thinking, and more. We love that Brightside uses a gold standard in anxiety treatment: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This approach helped us identify thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that might be driving our anxiety. But Brightside goes beyond CBT and offers tools like symptom trackers and quizzes. Not only did this help us manage our anxiety more effectively, but it also helped us draw the connection between our lifestyle habits and our mental/emotional state. "I feel I've gained new approaches to tackling certain situations and thought processes. I've also learned new breathing techniques to help with anxiety. So far, therapy has been helpful and I'm glad I gave it a shot."-Brightside Health tester, who was experiencing panic attacks for the first time Therapy is only as good as the providers who offer it, so we’re happy to say our clinicians were highly experienced and knowledgeable. They also maintained a professional demeanor while remaining approachable. That said, one therapist was late to the session and came in with the wrong information about us, which didn’t give us the greatest first impression. But despite this small setback, we were overall very impressed with Brightside and its anxiety treatment. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: Yes, but providers vary by state; includes some Medicaid and Medicare plans; accepts health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending account (FSA) paymentsSubscription Required: YesOut-of-Pocket Costs: Varies based on insurance; Therapy is $299 per month for four video sessions and unlimited messaging, with additional video appointments for $59 per session; Psychiatry is $95 per month plus pharmacy copay; Therapy and psychiatry is $349 per month What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Brightside: 88% rated Brightside as very good or excellent overall94% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent93% said that most or all of their needs were met at Brightside99% are likely or very likely to recommend Brightside to a friend or someone like them78% were seeking treatment for anxiety Brightside Online Therapy Review Best for Medication Management/Psychiatry: Talkiatry Learn More Key Specs Price: Depends on your insuranceIs Insurance Accepted? Yes. BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Aetna, Medicare, Medicaid, and othersType Of Therapy: Medication Management, Psychiatry, Individual Therapy Why We Chose It Talkiatry offers psychiatry for adults and kids featuring session lengths double those of other platforms. Its providers are thorough when developing a diagnosis and treatment plan and responsive to concerns and questions. With many psychiatrists specializing in anxiety, you are sure to find a provider who meets your needs. Pros & Cons Pros Offers psychiatry for anxiety Long session times Providers go in-depth with you Pediatric care available Talk therapy also available Cons Not available for those without insurance Not available in every state Some providers felt too clinical Our Testing We tested Talkiatry from New York twice, both times for individual adult psychiatry, and found it to offer effective treatment involving sessions much longer than the norm. The session length reflects a commitment to accurately and effectively diagnosing and treating our anxiety disorders. Such a commitment isn’t always found on other platforms. The full hour that our providers offered during intake sessions set the tone for what was to come: An overall great experience with caring clinicians who listened to our questions, gave thoughtful responses, and addressed concerns proactively. We loved that one intake session felt a bit like therapy. We had real conversations with our providers and were able to give them ample information to help them develop a treatment plan. Follow-up sessions were also thorough and gave us plenty of time to discuss any concerns. Not every provider was the right fit for us though. One was overly clinical, asking us to describe our symptoms using a script that didn’t feel natural to us. This made us feel uncomfortable and did not start the session off on the right foot. We were able to switch to a new psychiatrist, but we would like to see Talkiatry make some changes to how they match us with providers. Giving us more background information about the clinicians and the ability to choose someone based on traits like gender identity and schedule would have been helpful. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: Yes, and only available to to those with insurance (no out-of-pocket rates offered); accepts most major insurance plans, HSA/FSA payments, and Medicare/Medicaid Subscription Required: NoOut-of-Pocket Costs: Varies based on insurance What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Talkiatry: 86% rated Talkiatry as very good or excellent overall87% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent96% said that most or all of their needs were met at Talkiatry95% are likely or very likely to recommend Talkiatry to a friend or someone like them76% were seeking treatment for anxiety Talkiatry Online Therapy Review Best Subscription Service: Talkspace Talkspace Learn More Key Specs Price: $276-$436 per month; $65 for additional sessionsIs Insurance Accepted? YesType Of Therapy: Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry, Teen Counseling, Couples Therapy Why We Chose It Talkspace offers a range of care options through monthly subscriptions, enabling users to choose both the type and level of care they need and can afford. It provides a combination of video, audio, and messaging therapy at different price points and has clinicians across the country specializing in anxiety. Pros & Cons Pros Multiple subscription plans offered Wide pool of therapists who can treat anxiety Adolescent care available Available in every state Easy to switch therapists Cons Clinician quality can vary No family therapy available Messaging isn’t always effective Our Testing We asked eleven people to try Talkspace’s services from California, Kansas, Missouri, Florida, North Carolina, Minnesota, South Dakota, Indiana, Iowa, and New York to test both individual and couples therapy. Overall, our experience was positive. We could choose from a huge pool of clinicians who specialize in anxiety, and the platform offers multiple subscription plans with video, audio, and messaging options. We love all of the formats Talkspace provides. Whether it's going with messaging only or a combination of messaging and live sessions, there’s a subscription plan for you. When reviewing providers, it was great to see that some of them used lesser-known modalities, such as somatic therapy, in addition to more mainstream treatments like CBT. The therapists we saw had different strengths—some were more practical and results-oriented, others more of a sounding board who just let us talk and waited for pauses to offer insight. We loved that one of our providers consistently guided us through calming breathing exercises at the end of each session—an approach that was especially effective for dealing with anxiety. "I felt my provider was an excellent listener and could tell when I was in a place to hear a suggestion and when I clearly just needed to keep talking through it."-Talkspace tester, who wanted to work on her anxiety around communication As is all too common, though, a few of our therapists left us feeling frustrated by being either late, distracted, or disengaged. The flip side of having such a large pool of providers to choose from is the probability that it may take time to find the right one for you. Thankfully, switching therapists at Talkspace is fast and user-friendly, which is especially important for someone dealing with anxiety. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: Yes, including some Medicare and Medicaid plans; accepts HSA or FSA paymentsSubscription Required: YesOut-of-Pocket Costs: Varies based on insurance; Messaging only starts at $69 per week; Therapy + messaging starts at $99 per week; Therapy + messaging + workshops start at $109 per week; Couples therapy starts at $109 per week; Psychiatry starts at $299 for the initial evaluation and $175 for each follow-up appointment (not a part of the subscription plan) What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Talkspace: 92% rated Talkspace as very good or excellent overall89% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent95% said that most or all of their needs were met at Talkspace97% are likely or very likely to recommend Talkspace to a friend or someone like them69% were seeking treatment for anxiety Talkspace Online Therapy Review Best Without Insurance: Open Path Collective Key Specs Price: One-time $65 membership fee; sliding scale rates from $30-$70 per sessionIs Insurance Accepted? NoType Of Therapy: Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy, Family Therapy Why We Chose It Open Path Collective is an online therapy directory that exclusively offers sliding-scale prices for uninsured and underinsured patients. It’s easy to search for providers who specialize in anxiety, with out-of-pocket prices never exceeding $70 per session. Pros & Cons Pros Directory designed specifically for the uninsured or underinsured All sessions only cost between $30 and $70 Can easily search for providers who specialize in anxiety Providers have a variety of cultural and professional backgrounds Can search for both in-person and online sessions Cons $65 one-time membership fee Does not accept insurance No psychiatrists available Our Testing We tested the Open Path Collective online therapy directory by searching for therapists in New York, and we were thrilled with the results. We were easily able to find a therapist who met our needs—the search filters on the directory are extensive and easy to navigate, meaning we could search for providers who had the specializations we were looking for (including anxiety, grief and stress, or anger management) at a price we could afford. The sliding scale ranges from $30 to $70 and is a set cost for those uninsured or underinsured and have an annual household income below $100,000. Another thing we appreciated about Open Path was the fact that each therapist’s bio clearly displayed whether or not they were taking on new patients—saving us the trouble (and anxiety) of contacting multiple therapists only to find out they have no room in their schedules. We also liked that we could email each therapist directly through their bio on the directory. Both of these features are important for people living with anxiety, who might find it unnerving or difficult to reach out to multiple people. And, most importantly, we could rest assured knowing that we would not be waiting for a big scary bill once our sessions were over. In addition to trying out Open Path Collective ourselves, we also tested the directory across 37 different hypothetical scenarios that might cause someone to seek therapy. We evaluated how well Open Path could come up with appropriate therapists for each scenario across 18 different zip codes. Open Path performed especially well in scenarios that involved anxiety, such as panic attacks, financial insecurity, and postpartum anxiety. This, along with our own experiences, makes us confident in recommending Open Path Collective for people with anxiety. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: NoSubscription Required: NoOut-of-Pocket Costs: $30 per session with student intern; $40 to $70 per session with a licensed or pre-licensed therapist What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Open Path Collective: 97% rated Open Path Collective as very good or excellent overall92% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent98% said that most or all of their needs were met at Open Path Collective99% are likely or very likely to recommend Open Path Collective to a friend or someone like them58% were seeking treatment for anxiety Open Path Collective Online Therapy Review Best for Teens: Teen Counseling Teen Counseling Learn More Key Specs Price: $260 to $360 per monthIs Insurance Accepted? NoType Of Therapy: Teen Therapy, Individual Therapy Why We Chose It Teen Counseling exclusively addresses the unique needs of teens with mental health concerns (such as anxiety) by providing care via video chat and messaging services. It’s a user-friendly platform that makes starting therapy easy, often matching users to an available therapist within 24 hours. With many providers who specialize in anxiety, your teen is sure to find the help they need here. Pros & Cons Pros Offers a variety of formats, including messaging Therapists specialize in anxiety Unlimited messaging available Designed for teens Addresses a breadth of concerns Cons Video quality may be low Engages in surge pricing Short session times Our Testing We asked five people and their children to try Teen Counseling services from Michigan, Connecticut, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York for individual teen therapy and found it to be a great option for teens experiencing a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety. Our therapists were kind and professional, and seemed genuinely engaged with our kids. We like how user-friendly the platform is. It’s quick and easy to get started, pause therapy, or cancel. It was nice to get matched to someone within 24 hours, and we were able to message the therapist ahead of time with questions about their experience. The various formats are also great: We could choose from video, audio, or live text therapy, the third of which is especially appealing to teens. Sessions could take place between parent and teen separately or together, and parents had separate portals from their kids—this added privacy is especially useful when trying to help anxious teens open up in therapy and establish a rapport with their provider. We didn’t care for the low video quality at Teen Counseling, though. We had many instances in which the video quality was so poor we couldn’t see the therapist. In another session, we were unable to connect over video altogether. This is very disappointing, considering it’s a platform catered to people who spend a lot of time on devices. Session times could also be longer to really get to the root of many teens’ anxiety issues. Another problem is that the company, like its parent company BetterHelp, engages in the unethical practice of surge pricing. The more in-demand therapy is in your area, the more you will pay for it. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: No, nor will it submit reimbursement claimsSubscription Required: YesOut-of-Pocket Costs: $65 to $90 per week, billed monthly What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Teen Counseling: 86% rated Teen Counseling as very good or excellent overall87% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent93% said that most or all of their needs were met at Teen Counseling93% are likely or very likely to recommend Teen Counseling to a friend or someone like them64% were seeking treatment for anxiety Best for Parents: Online-Therapy.com online-therapy.com Learn More Key Specs Price: $200-$440 per month ($160-$352 for first month with 20% discount)Is Insurance Accepted? NoType Of Therapy: Couples Therapy, Individual Therapy Why We Chose It Online-Therapy.com offers parents struggling with anxiety a mix of couples and individual counseling, CBT worksheets, and even yoga videos to help empower them to reduce the stress in their lives holistically. Pros & Cons Pros CBT-based therapy Yoga included Offers an activity plan Offers couples therapy Includes worksheets to improve self-awareness Cons Not all therapists will be a fit Does not accept insurance Therapists cannot provide mental health diagnoses Our Testing We asked six people to try Online-Therapy.com services from Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, South Dakota, and New York for both individual and couples therapy. While we didn’t get therapy specifically for anxiety as parents, we feel confident recommending the platform for its evidence-based holistic approach and its highly experienced clinicians. We also found a lot of flexibility in scheduling appointments, which is helpful for parents with busy schedules in need of early morning or evening time slots. "I did appreciate that there was a lot of flexibility in my therapist's schedule. There was an option to choose sessions very early in the morning and up until 9 p.m. at night. Almost anyone could find a time within their schedule to meet."-Online-Therapy.com tester, a new parent looking for postpartum support We appreciate that you can opt for individual or couples therapy, which can be helpful to both single and co-parents. It’s great that plans through the platform include yoga, which has been shown to help with anxiety disorders, as well as an “activity plan.” Activity plans can help you schedule activities, such as going shopping without the kids, that will bolster your mental health while mitigating anxiety. The plans also help you hold yourself accountable in terms of prioritizing your mental health as you balance your career and home life. Our therapists were highly knowledgeable and personable. We enjoyed hearing personal anecdotes about our therapist’s experiences, which made their advice relatable. It was also great to have exercises to do outside of sessions. However, one therapist seemed a bit distracted during sessions and forgot what homework they had given us, and another therapist didn’t show up for a session because of connectivity issues. We found each of these problems highly unprofessional and disappointing given our busy lives. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: No, but will allow you to submit reimbursement claimsSubscription Required: YesOut-of-Pocket Costs: $50 to $110 per week, billed monthly (plus, there's a 20% discount for first month); $50 per week for unlimited messages with a therapist, yoga, and CBT programs; $80 per week for everything above plus one live 45-minute session with a therapist; $110 per week for everything above plus an additional 45-minute session with your therapist weekly and faster replies to messages; $110 per week for couples therapy with one 45-minute live couples therapy session and access to messaging, yoga, and CBT. What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Online-Therapy.com: 89% rated Online-Therapy.com as very good or excellent overall88% rated their therapist’s qualifications as good, very good, or excellent100% said that most or all of their needs were met at Online-Therapy.com99% are likely or very likely to recommend Online-Therapy.com to a friend or someone like them58% were seeking treatment for anxiety Online-Therapy.com Review Best for Kids: Little Otter Learn More Key Specs Price: $525 for assessment bundle; $1,980 for 12-session bundle; $500 for psychiatric evaluation; $250 for each psychiatric follow-upIs Insurance Accepted? YesType Of Therapy: Children's Therapy, Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Teen Therapy Why We Chose It Little Otter is the only company on this list to provide children’s therapy in addition to couples, family, and individual (parent) therapy. It treats children ages 0 to 14 (an age range unrivaled amongst online therapy companies), and its providers can help children with anxiety and related issues, such as bullying and trauma. Pros & Cons Pros Offers therapy for young children Therapy is family-centric LGBTQIA+ friendly Can collaborate with schools Offers psychiatry and medication management Cons Only accepts four insurance plans Not available in every state It’s difficult to switch providers Our Testing We had five people try Little Otter from New York, Pennsylvania, and California for children’s therapy. Overall, we found the quality of clinicians to be very high—even within the first session or two, our provider’s skills in working with children were obvious. While prices were steep, we were paying for a specialized experience that’s hard to find. We were thrilled with the quality of care our kids received. This was especially true for our 10-year-old son who, before treatment with Little Otter, was regularly experiencing panic attacks and generalized anxiety. "My son has not had any real panic attacks since he started therapy. He still gets anxious at times, but I've watched him work through all the tools he's gained to handle his feelings."-Little Otter tester, whose son has been with Little Otter for over a year It was surprising to see our kids opening up so easily and showing an interest in sessions, whether they were with us or alone with the therapist. We love that psychiatry services were available, and our therapists worked with psychiatrists as part of a “Care Team.” There was also a parenting coach available, so we could better support our children with anxiety. However, we weren’t too happy with the process for switching therapists. Unlike with other platforms, we received pushback and were asked to complete more sessions before we could change providers. The scheduling options were also limited. We often had to schedule sessions in the middle of the school day or right before our child went to school. In the long term, these scheduling issues could interfere with continuing therapy, even though Little Otter's services are so valuable. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: Yes, but only accepts four insurance plans: AmeriHealth, Sana, Independence Blue Cross (in Delaware and Pennsylvania), and Florida Blue. However, the providers will fill out reimbursement forms and accept HSA/FSA.Subscription Required: NoOut-of-Pocket Costs: $195 per standard therapy session; $390 for a 90-minute assessment; $500 for a 75-minute psychiatry evaluation; $250 per 30-minute psychiatry follow-up. You can also sign up for discounted bundles: $525 for an assessment bundle (90-min assessment and one standard therapy session); $700 for a 4-session bundle, $1,320 for an 8-session bundle, and $1,980 for a 12-session bundle What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Little Otter: 86% rated Little Otter as very good or excellent overall86% rated their therapist’s qualifications as good, very good, or excellent96% said that most or all of their needs were met at Little Otter95% are likely or very likely to recommend Little Otter to a friend or someone like them58% were seeking treatment for anxiety Little Otter Online Therapy Best for Group Support: Mindful Care Mindful Care Key Specs Price: $35 per group session; Individual therapy is $50 for 20-minute sessions and $100 for 40-minute sessions; $75-$175 for psychiatry sessions, $50-$175 for medication-assisted therapy for substance abuseIs Insurance Accepted? YesType Of Therapy: Group Therapy, Teen Group Therapy, Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry Why We Chose It Mindful Care is one of the only companies that combines individual therapy and psychiatry with group therapy. Group sessions are free-form and open, creating a pressure-free environment in which to share concerns—and it offers a group specifically for those experiencing anxiety. Pros & Cons Pros Has an anxiety group called CALM No agenda means sessions are flexible Group therapy feels safe and supportive Urgent talk therapy available LGBTQIA+ friendly Cons Lack of structure won’t appeal to everyone Not available in every state No subscriptions available Our Testing We had two people test Mindful Care in New York (it's licensed in 14 states and New York is one of the six states with brick-and-mortar offices) for individual and group therapy. While we didn’t test the CALM (anxiety-focused) group in particular, we tried other groups and found them to be non-judgmental spaces where we could freely share our concerns in a supportive environment. We like that Mindful Care’s group sessions are rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Sessions were an hour long over Zoom and started off with a check-in as to how we were feeling via the facilitator. This gave everyone the opportunity to be heard. We liked how sessions didn’t have a set agenda and were very free-form. There was no pressure to share if we didn’t want to, and it felt like a safe space to talk about anything. We could even respond with a thumbs up or a heart button to show support without having to speak up. Mindful Care’s group sessions aren’t for everyone, though. The lack of structure in one group meant that we didn’t get as much out of it as we wanted to. Some speakers tended to dominate the discussion, and since there wasn’t an agenda, minutes would often go by without anyone talking. At the end of the day, group sessions at Mindful Care are what you make of them, since they are largely participant-driven. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: Yes, including Medicare and Medicaid in some statesSubscription Required: NoOut-of-Pocket Costs: Varies by insurance; Group therapy is $35 per 60-minute session; Individual therapy is $150 for an initial session and then $100 for 40-minute sessions or $50 for 20-minute sessions; Psychiatric care is $175 for an initial appointment and then $75 for follow-up sessions What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Mindful Care: 83% rated Mindful Care as very good or excellent overall86% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent90% said that most or all of their needs were met at Mindful Care96% are likely or very likely to recommend Mindful Care to a friend or someone like them77% were seeking treatment for anxiety Mindful Care Online Therapy Best for the BIPOC Community: Kip Therapy Learn More Key Specs Price: Varies by insurance with sliding scale option of $95 to $175 per sessionIs Insurance Accepted? YesType Of Therapy: Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Individual Therapy, Teen Therapy Why We Chose It Kip Therapy offers culturally-informed mental healthcare to the BIPOC community, advertising that it provides “therapy for every identity.” It has a pay structure that makes therapy affordable and accessible to more people, especially those in marginalized communities who are experiencing anxiety. Pros & Cons Pros Has affordable options Offers therapy in multiple languages Therapists use varied modalities Culturally informed care Has group therapy LGBTQIA+ friendly Cons Has less experienced/unlicensed therapists Only available in New York state No medication management available Our Testing We had two people test Kip Therapy for individual therapy in New York (the only state it currently serves) and found it to be an affordable, culturally affirming, and informed platform that can treat people with a range of issues, including anxiety. We were grateful for a platform that values accessibility both in terms of pricing and culturally informed care. Kip is led by a team of diverse therapists with varying cultural backgrounds who speak multiple languages. It has a clear commitment to creating a safe space for people of marginalized identities. We liked that there are three tiers of services at different price points, and you can pick the one that’s right for you. We experienced our clinicians as helpful and professional no matter what tier they were in, even if the senior therapist was clearly more skilled. However, it was a little harder to schedule sessions with the senior therapist due to more limited availability. Also, the process of switching therapists was easy, but a little slow. Another area for improvement is the therapist bios—they didn’t have as much information as they could, including licensing information and availability. We’d love to see Kip make some adjustments to make its site even better. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: YesSubscription Required: NoOut-of-Pocket Costs: Sliding scale rates range from $95 to $175 per session What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Kip Therapy: 82% rated Kip Therapy as very good or excellent overall89% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent97% said that most or all of their needs were met at Kip Therapy97% are likely or very likely to recommend Kip Therapy to a friend or someone like them67% were seeking treatment for anxiety Kip Therapy Review Best for Postpartum Anxiety: Thriveworks Learn More Key Specs Price: Varies based on location, provider, and servicesIs Insurance Accepted? YesType Of Therapy: Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Individual Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry, Teen Therapy Why We Chose It Thriveworks offers therapy specifically for postpartum anxiety, plus family, couples, and individual therapy. These options mean you can get your partner or entire family involved if needed. Psychiatry and medication management are also on offer. Pros & Cons Pros Offers therapy for postpartum anxiety and depression Offers family and couples therapy In-person services available Medication management available Therapists available within 48 hours Cons Some therapists didn’t meet our needs Not available in every state Patients billed by Thriveworks and their therapist Our Testing We asked 11 people to try out Thriveworks from Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio, Florida, and South Dakota for individual and family therapy and found it to be a great resource for people struggling with a variety of mental health issues. While we didn’t test for postpartum anxiety specifically, we’re confident in recommending Thriveworks because it offers specialized treatment for the condition. We love that Thriveworks offers family, couples, and individual postpartum counseling, so you can work through your challenges alone or as a family. Our therapists were gentle, warm, caring, and professional, all qualities that someone struggling with postpartum anxiety would benefit from. We loved that the therapists we saw for family therapy had kids, which helped us feel like they were speaking from experience and made us feel more at ease with them. We also like that Thriveworks has brick-and-mortar office locations nationwide, so you can make the switch to in-person if needed. As can be expected, not every therapist we worked with was a good match for us. One of our clinicians seemed to misunderstand us, jump to conclusions, offer cliche advice, and gloss over the complexities of our situation. Another therapist was late to an appointment and told us that she had very limited availability for additional appointments. As a result, we didn’t get what we were hoping for out of therapy, like the feeling of being seen and heard. It seemed the therapist wasn’t able to handle our situation, and that was disappointing. However, most of our experiences with Thriveworks were positive, and based on those—especially our individual therapy sessions—we feel confident recommending the company to those experiencing postpartum anxiety. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: Yes, including Blue Cross, Anthem, Optum, United, Aetna, Cigna, and HumanaSubscription Required: NoOut-of-Pocket Costs: Varies based on your insurance, location, services, and provider; Self-pay options start at $200 per session What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Thriveworks: 88% rated Thriveworks as very good or excellent overall90% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent96% said that most or all of their needs were met at Thriveworks96% are likely or very likely to recommend Thriveworks to a friend or someone like them69% were seeking treatment for anxiety Thriveworks Online Therapy Review Best Directory: Zencare Zencare Learn More Key Specs Price: Varies based on providerIs Insurance Accepted? Yes, by some providersType Of Therapy: Individual Therapy, Couples Therapy, Family Therapy, Children's Therapy, Teen Therapy, Medication Management, Psychiatry Why We Chose It Zencare’s user interface is easy to navigate, there are a variety of filter options (including the ability to filter for a therapist who treats anxiety), and the thorough vetting process makes finding a provider who can address anxiety much easier. Since it's an online therapy directory rather than an online therapy company that matches you with a provider, you have full control over who you choose to work with. Pros & Cons Pros Available in all 50 states and Washington D.C. Can find providers who offer in-person services You have full control over who you choose Wide breadth of filter options Profiles show availability Can schedule directly through the site Cons You don’t get help finding a therapist Not all providers accept insurance Our Testing We evaluated how well Zencare, an online therapy directory, was able to provide appropriate therapists across 37 different scenarios for which someone might need therapy, and it performed especially well in situations that involved anxiety—this included treating someone experiencing panic attacks, someone having anxiety about their finances, and someone struggling with postpartum anxiety. We tested how easily we could find a therapist who treated anxiety, and based on our results—which offered nearly 400 therapists who fit our exact needs—we’re confident in recommending it as a directory with a wide pool of therapists who treat anxiety, all of whom are rigorously vetted to ensure their qualifications and experience. We love that Zencare is available in all 50 states plus Washington D.C. and includes therapists with in-person locations. It also offers extensive search filters, such as insurance accepted, whether their office is ADA accessible, and identities like gender, race, and religion. Therapists treat a variety of anxiety issues, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), and even Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), using proven techniques and modalities. One great advantage of a directory is that you have full control over who you choose for a provider. Zencare’s search filters make the process of finding a therapist less overwhelming since you can easily filter for attributes you need in a provider. That said, any directory requires more work on your part since you don’t have anyone helping you match with someone. Plans & Pricing Accepts Insurance: Yes, some providers doSubscription Required: NoOut-of-Pocket Costs: Varies based on insurance and provider fees, but you can filter your search based on insurance and fees What Users Say We surveyed 100 users of Zencare: 94% rated Zencare as very good or excellent overall91% rated their therapist’s qualifications as very good or excellent95% said that most or all of their needs were met at Zencare96% are likely or very likely to recommend Zencare to a friend or someone like them71% were seeking treatment for anxiety Comparing the Best Online Therapy Companies for Anxiety of 2024 Guide to Choosing the Best Online Therapy for Anxiety There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing which online therapy service is best. These include: Price: Online therapy costs vary wildly. Some services accept insurance, some will let you reimburse, and some do neither. Check the cost of any service before joining, see if it offers a free trial, and ask your insurance company what services it reimburses. Types of therapy: There are many different types of therapy that address anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches you how to analyze your thoughts and deconstruct the ones that lead to anxiety. Exposure therapy is designed for people with specific fears and phobias, although it can treat more general forms of anxiety as well. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) helps you to accept your anxious feelings and separate yourself from them. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) also emphasizes acceptance but focuses more on accepting your life circumstances. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) conventionally treats PTSD and other forms of trauma, but can also address panic attacks and phobias. Interpersonal therapy (IPT) helps you navigate and understand your interpersonal relationships, move through grief, and expand your social support network. Scheduling: If you have limited availability or work a nine-to-five job, see if a company offers therapy during hours when you are free before signing up. Location: Therapists must be licensed in the state where you are located, regardless of whether you’re using telehealth. Check which states a company services before joining. Method of counseling: Different companies offer different ways of communicating with your therapist. These can include live chat, text messaging, and phone and video calls. If you need a particular feature for accessibility reasons, check to see if a company offers it before joining. Ease of switching between therapists: Sometimes a therapist and client aren’t a good fit for each other. Most companies will allow you to switch therapists easily if that’s the case. Just make sure you know what that involves, if need be. How Do I Know if Online Therapy for Anxiety Is Right for Me? Most forms of anxiety therapy can be delivered online, which could be especially helpful if you live in a remote area, have difficulties leaving the house, or want a therapist with a specific identity that’s not common where you live. Choosing an online therapy provider might also be helpful if you’re concerned you’ll need to switch therapists. Online therapy may not be right for you if you have concurrent psychotic disorders, are in danger of harming yourself or others, or if you don’t have a strong WiFi connection or a private place to conduct online sessions. What If I'm Having Thoughts of Harming Myself? Online therapy services aren’t emergency resources. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself please contact one of the crisis lines below: Text HOME at 741-741 for the crisis text line.Call 988 for a mental health emergency. Frequently Asked Questions What Type of Therapy Is Best for Anxiety? The most common therapy used to treat anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, there are other options designed for more specific forms of anxiety. For example, exposure therapy is one of the most common therapies used to address phobias because it encourages you to face your fear directly. And, sometimes techniques designed to treat other disorders can reduce anxiety. While dialectical behavior therapy was created to address borderline personality disorder, preliminary research shows that it can be used to treat anxiety disorders. What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety? Anxiety manifests differently in different people. Symptoms can include:Sleep problems and tirednessHeadaches or other unexplained painFeeling on edgeIrritabilityUncontrolled worryCatastrophizingPanic attacks Is Anxiety Considered a Mental Illness? It is healthy to feel anxious sometimes, as it's part of your brain’s way of protecting your body from potential dangers. Anxiety is considered a mental illness when it meets certain criteria. While different anxiety disorders have different criteria, you or a loved one may have an anxiety disorder if your anxiety:Is disproportionate to the situation or appears randomLasts a long timeInvolves worrying about unlikely outcomesMakes you avoid things that could lead to anxiety Is impossible to control Is Anxiety Caused by a Chemical Imbalance? Chemical imbalances in your brain can lead to anxiety disorders. Often, the chemical imbalances that cause anxiety occur due to chronic stress. However, there are other factors that can also lead to an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. Traumatic events can also sometimes cause anxiety disorders, especially in those already genetically vulnerable. Methodology We examined and compared 55 different online therapy companies and 27 online therapy directories to see which could provide holistic, evidence-based care for anxiety. We aimed for services that addressed multiple factors that contribute to anxiety and which provided a range of services, including talk therapy and medication, and considered factors such as price, availability, and the demographics of potential therapy seekers. We also chose services that either provided a unique service and/or were accessible to a broad range of people. All of the companies hired licensed clinicians to conduct care. 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute of Mental Health. Mental health information: any anxiety disorder. Different types of mental health therapies. Therapy | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). https://adaa.org/find-help/treatment-help/types-of-therapy Afshari B, Jafarian Dehkordi F, Asgharnejad Farid AA, et al. Study of the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy versus dialectical behavior therapy on executive function and reduction of symptoms in generalized anxiety disorder. Trends Psychiatry Psychother. Published online 2022. doi:10.47626/2237-6089-2020-0156 National Institute of Mental Health. Anxiety disorders. By El Wilson El is a current master's student at Emerson College’s Writing and Publishing program and writes about mental and physical wellness for VeryWell Mind, VeryWell Fit, Shape, and EatingWell. Edited by Hannah Owens, LMSW Hannah Owens, LMSW Hannah Owens is the Mental Health/General Health Editor for Dotdash Meredith. She is a licensed social worker with clinical experience in community mental health. 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