18 Best Therapy & Counseling Apps and Therapist Platforms

published:	15 Jul 2020
updated:	9 Apr 2021

For every consumer with a smartphone and internet access, mobile apps are a part of daily life. From fitness software to productivity calendars, there’s a digital solution for almost everything.

But does that mean we can also get mental healthcare online? And if so, is it worth considering?

In this article, we’ll take a look at exactly that – the rise of online therapy and therapy apps. We’ll consider what it aims to deliver, whether it does what it promises, and how it works in practice.

Before you get started, we think you’ll enjoy trying out Quenza’s e-therapy features with our $1 trial. Our online therapy app helps you deliver personalized e-counseling and telemental health solutions easily, so you can make a more significant impact on your clients’ lives and help them achieve their wellbeing goals.

5 Best Online Therapy Apps

Online therapy apps are just what they sound like – downloadable, mobile-compatible technology that’s designed to deliver a therapeutic experience straight to your smartphone. In other words – mental health applications.

But, before we consider them a little more in-depth, what better way to explore the world of online therapy than with a few examples?

In the table below, we’ve listed a few of the best-known online therapy apps that you can download straight from your app store of choice.

Software	Details
	MoodKit uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy principles to bring you exercises and lessons in an easily-digestible format. Work through these iCBT modules at your own pace if you’re looking for new ways to enhance self-awareness, deal with automatic negative thoughts, and boost your mood and well-being. With over 200 different activities to choose from, it’s based on scientific theory and designed by professional psychologists. Available for Android and iOS devices.
Name	MoodKit
Price	$4.99+
Good For	CBT, Depression, Anxiety, Stress
Website	https://www.thriveport.com/products/moodkit/

Software	Details
	Like MoodKit, What’s Up uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) along with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) frameworks to deliver accessible, affordable mobile therapy. Features include habit tracking features to help you set goals and break habits, along with quizzes, checklists, and more therapeutic resources to help you manage stress, anxiety, and other sub-clinical mental health concerns. Find it both in the AppStore and on Google Play.
Name	What’s Up
Price	Free
Good For	CBT, ACT, Depression, Anxiety, Stress
Website	https://apps.apple.com/us/app/whats-up-a-mental-health-app/id968251160

Software	Details
	If you’re looking for an app that’s covered by many insurance providers, Sanvello is frequently reviewed by mental health professionals. Features include scales and measures for different mental health issues, along with lessons, exercises, and a mood tracker. Among other things, Sanvello uses CBT and mindfulness techniques to help users learn more about and better manage issues such as confidence, stress, and emotional well-being.
Name	Sanvello
Price	Free+
Good For	CBT, Mindfulness, Depression, Anxiety, Stress
Website	https://sanvello.com/

Software	Details
	If guided user journeys don’t interest you, a chat with a licensed counselor may be more up your alley. With TalkSpace, users sign up and are connected to someone who is trained to listen while you talk. On registering, you can opt to be paired with a credentialed therapist for one-off or ongoing online therapy through the dedicated interface. With both free and paid options available, TalkSpace is one of the most popular online mental health apps available on the market today – widely available on both iOS and Android.
Name	TalkSpace
Price	Free+
Good For	Talk Therapy, Anxiety, Depression, Stress
Website	https://www.talkspace.com/

Software	Details
	BetterHelp offers free plans and monthly paid memberships that allow you to talk with a professional online therapist through private VOIP or video conference calls. Like TalkSpace, BetterHelp’s main focus is talk therapy, however, it also offers educational webinars dealing with common issues like anxiety, coping, and more. Book appointments in advance, then meet your therapist in a private chat room where you’re also able to drop messages to your counselor around the clock, so you can receive personalized advice when your practitioner responds.
Name	BetterHelp
Price	Free+
Good For	Talk Therapy, Anxiety, Depression, Stress
Website	https://www.betterhelp.com/

Tools For Your Online Practice

In this section, we’ll look at some tools for practitioners who are looking to enhance their current mental health practice.

How Online Therapy Tools Help Practitioners

In general, there are two main ways that therapy tools can benefit helping professionals. Roughly, these are:

By performing or streamlining back-end tasks, such as practice management, marketing, billing, administration, and more, or
As platforms for online therapy – by allowing client and therapist to meet online, or by creating a space and resources that patients can use as part of their treatment.

These two broad functions cover a whole digital universe of solutions that can easily be customized to meet your requirements as a therapist.

It’s often possible to find integrated systems that offer both functionalities, allowing you to run your practice more efficiently while looking for new clients and reaching existing ones through one dedicated platform.

Examples of Online Therapy Tools in Practice

Some good examples of the best-known online therapy tools include:

Video conferencing tools. While essentially these are video conferencing platforms, operating like Skype and Facetime, video therapy tools for therapists often come with an added layer of privacy to protect patient confidentiality. This means that many video conferencing solutions are designed to adhere to industry regulations such as HIPAA and HITECH.
Instant messaging tools. Online therapy can also be delivered in real-time without video or audio equipment through live chat rooms. Often, specialized solutions offer private chat rooms where a user can leave messages 24/7 for their therapist.
Patient portals. A common “back-end” feature of most larger systems, patient portals give users a place where they can manage their sessions more proactively. By digitally booking sessions, filling out therapy intake forms, and more, both clients and practitioners can enjoy a more convenient treatment experience – and often, more quality time on the therapy itself.

Read on for our reviews of the top online therapy platforms and software which offer these capabilities and more.

Is It Effective? A Look At The Research

With so many options at consumers’ fingertips, the most salient question remains. Is online therapy effective?

In not so many words, academic studies provide a good amount of support for online therapy as an effective way to treat common mental health issues.

Several studies of Internet‐delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) treatments, for example, suggest that when online therapy is properly guided by a professional, it can be as effective as in-person CBT.[1]

Many others also indicate its positive effects in comparison to receiving no treatment at all.[2]

Researchers have found that therapist-guided iCBT, in particular, can have a sustained positive impact over time, delivering longer-term patient benefits.

How Is Online Therapy Used?

Looking at online therapy and particularly mental health issues, there is evidence suggesting that it can be effective as a way of treating:

Depression: Helping patients reduce the severity of mild to moderate symptoms through self-management [3][4]
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Again, helping to reduce symptoms through iCBT while also effectively benefiting patients with co-morbid depression symptoms[5], and
Social Anxiety Disorder: In this case, with one randomized controlled trial showing iCBT benefits matching those of in-person group CBT.[6]

Given its relative convenience and affordability, online therapy may also have sustained effects. Following up with participants over time, researchers have found that therapist-guided iCBT, in particular, can have a sustained positive impact over time, delivering longer-term patient benefits.[7]

Online Therapy vs Face-To-Face Treatment

Online therapy varies in several key ways from in-person treatment, as we’ve already mentioned.

But to make your basic comparison simpler, we’ve summarized some of these differences in a table.

Check out the similarities and differences below to help you distinguish between the two – in later sections, we’ll consider the research into the efficacy of each a little more closely.

Feature	Conventional Therapy	Online Therapy
Interactions	Can be one-on-one, couples, or group interactions between therapist and patient	Just like conventional therapy, these can be group-, couples-, or individual sessions
Timing	Sessions take place live (synchronous timing)	Digital interactions can be synchronous (e.g. live chat) or asynchronous (e.g. email)
Location	Conducted in a dedicated setting, e.g. surgery, therapist’s office Physical location doesn’t frequently change	Conducted in a virtual setting, e.g. chat room, video conferencing platform Physical location is flexible
Cost[8]	While all therapy costs vary according to practitioner and service, in-person therapy can average around $65-250 hourly	While still subject to variation, online therapy is typically lower-cost, and can start at $35-$39 per week
Accessibility	Often, due to travel costs and time required, this is defined by the user’s geographical proximity to a therapist	Digital treatments can have a global reach, including remote areas – anywhere with an secure and reliable internet connection
Media	Typically face-to-face only	May vary between video chat, instant messaging, SMS, audio calls, and more

5 Benefits of Online Therapy

Having looked at its goals and how it works, this table recaps the benefits of online therapy so you can make a more informed decision about whether it’s suitable for you.

Advantage	Details
E-Therapy Is Cost-Effective	Online attendance may save patients from the expenses of travel and potential time off work when treatment is made available from the convenience of home For practitioners, too, online therapy allows helping services to be delivered from any private place – not necessarily a dedicated surgery with all the associated overheads. (Manhal-Baugus, M. (2001). E-therapy: Practical, ethical, and legal issues. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 4(5), 551.)
Flexibility	With numerous potential applications from speech and physiotherapy to the treatment of diagnosed medical conditions like diabetes, online therapy is a potential solution for professionals in many specializations. This flexibility also extends to when, where, and how patients choose to attend therapy. Being time- and location-independent, online therapy affords greater convenience and mobility.[9]
Accessibility and Consumer Choice	Whether part of a blended care model or as a standalone solution, internet-based therapy can give users increased access to specialists who may not be available in their local area. Online therapy thus offers more treatment options for those in remote locations, with mobility impairments, and in economically disadvantaged regions where access to specialists is scarce.[10]
Effectiveness	While clear limits exist to its potential, scientific evidence indicates certain online therapies such as therapist-guided iCBT often have comparable positive impacts to in-person therapy for the treatment of common issues like depression, anxiety, and PTSD.[1]
Patient Retention	Largely due to its convenience, cost-effectiveness, and the privacy it can afford, online sessions can sometimes encourage patients to continue treatment for longer.[11] Patients thus have a higher likelihood of better health outcomes, while practitioners, too, can focus more on building longer-term relationships rather than seeking out new clients.

Looking At Online CBT

As you might have noticed, a large proportion of internet-delivered therapies are based on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) theories and frameworks.

But what is iCBT? And how does it differ from conventional CBT?

What is iCBT?

Quite simply, iCBT stands for Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

The fundamental principles remain the same, except that with apps or platforms, users can learn CBT skills for treating depression, anxiety, and other conditions.

Given its popularity with online therapists and platforms, there is a decent amount of research into its efficacy. In many instances, a properly-implemented iCBT program is considered just as effective as conventional CBT in the treatment of certain sub-clinical mental health conditions.[12][13]

A goal-oriented, problem-focused framework, CBT uses techniques such as cognitive restructuring to tackle problematic relationships between:[14]

Thoughts
Feelings, and
Behavior.

The main difference between iCBT and regular CBT is that the former is administered online – below, we’ve used a Cognitive Restructuring exercise to illustrate.

Quenza CBT Online Therapy Apps — Using online therapy platforms like Quenza, practitioners can create individualized iCBT interventions to help patients manage mental health conditions.

Because iCBT solutions are affordable, convenient, and effective to design and implement with special online therapy apps like Quenza, they often play an integral role in Stepped Care frameworks. The IAPT initiative, for instance, uses iCBT as a low-intensity treatment for depression, anxiety, and stress management.

Patients working with iCBT thus learn to self-manage symptoms, cope better with problematic behaviors and thoughts, and generally, work toward better mental health at their own pace.

Examples of iCBT

iCBT has been useful in helping users manage, and improve, their mental health through:

Interactive games, activities, and exercises, e.g. daily tasks, challenges, and goals
Thought and mood journals, e.g. apps using the Experience Sampling Method
Educational lessons, which range from daily ‘bites’, up to full-sized courses and programs
Live sessions with online therapists.

CBT lends itself well to online therapy, as it can be delivered asynchronously as on-the-go techniques and tools in app format.

At the same time, therapists can also create courses and give engaging instruction in specific techniques through virtual sessions or multimedia, as you can see here:

Quenza iCBT apps — iCBT treatments may include a combination of exercises, explainers, assessments, and multimedia – all digitally delivered using specialized therapy apps like Quenza.

Using Quenza’s iCBT tools to integrate a custom video, our e-therapist has explained a complex CBT concept for his patient in clear, concise, and engaging way that they’re more likely to pay attention to.

Online Therapy For Kids: Does It Work?

Online therapy isn’t just for adults, either.

When designed and delivered appropriately, scientific evidence shows good support for using virtual therapies to treat children and help adolescents, too, particularly when it comes to mental health.[15]

Online Kid Therapy Features

Online therapy games are arguably the largest and most widely available form of online therapy available to kids.

Often with age-appropriate tailored content and interfaces, there is a vast range of therapeutic games now available, designed to meet different developmental needs.

Several features to look out for include:

Human support required. Online kids therapy can range anywhere between fully self-guided programs, and those where the child receives support from a caregiver. Where adults are more involved, children may receive more motivation and encouragement to continue, as well as to apply any concepts learned.
Delivery method. As with adult online therapy, kids’ apps and platforms can be played on many different devices. Choose one that works for your child, based on their developmental phase and lifestyle.
Application. The way online therapy is administered – as a standalone treatment, or as part of a blended care therapy – can also vary. Some programs have even been administered on a large scale, as part of school mental health programs.

In short, online therapy can be a great way to deliver a more engaging treatment experience through interactive games, activities, and learning tasks.

With research backing up its efficacy, the question of whether it works will come down to finding the right app for your child. Many apps and programs offer free trial versions, so why not try them out?

4 Online Therapeutic Games

One of the great advantages of blended care technology lies in its fast development times.

New software is constantly being developed to meet changing consumer needs, and with greater demand for child therapy, there is an abundance of online therapeutic games available that work beautifully within a blended care model.

If you’re curious to try some baby steps into the world of online therapy – or if you’re looking for a game to supplement your existing program, check out the following games.

App	Details
	Designed by researcher Jane McGonigal, SuperBetter offers users a way to tackle depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues through a user-friendly gamified app. The goal of SuperBetter is to strengthen personal resilience and develop better coping skills, helping users to manage mental health symptoms more adaptively. By recruiting friends, completing daily tasks, and unlocking new challenges, users work through a resilience-building framework that has been clinically tested with positive results.
Name	SuperBetter
Price	Free
Good For	Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Pain Management, Other Mental Health
Website	https://www.superbetter.com/

App	Details
	With evidence-based games designed for stress reduction, Happify gives users an engaging way to experience CBT, mindfulness, and other therapies. Downloadable on both iOS and Android, it also aims to increase resilience while helping users combat negative thought patterns and cognitive distortions. It’s broken into digestible daily ‘tracks’ that include mini-games, activities, quizzes, and more that can be played easily on the go.
Name	Happify
Price	Free
Good For	Stress, Mindset, Anxiety, Depression, Other Mental Health
Website	https://www.happify.com/

App	Details
	Designed by UK-based clinical specialists, the Thrive app gamifies scientific tools such as CBT and thought techniques to boost mental wellness. With a range of daily activities to choose from – including meditations, sleep tracking, and goal-setting – it’s NHS-approved and continuously being reviewed by experts. Thrive also offers preventative screening questionnaires and optional extras such as personal coaching, to help users improve their mental health.
Name	Thrive Mental Wellbeing
Price	Free
Good For	Stress, Mindset, Anxiety, Depression, Other Mental Health
Website	https://thrive.uk.com/

App	Details
	MindShift primarily targets anxiety symptoms, helping users with popular CBT techniques in an easy-to-digest format. Colorful ‘coping cards’ and belief experiments make this app great for all ages, and users can set goals for themselves and track their progress. Available for iOS and Android devices, MindShift is evidence-based and especially good for teenagers and young adults.
Name	MindShift
Price	Free
Good For	Depression, Panic, Phobias, Anxiety, Mindset, Stress
Website	https://www.anxietycanada.com/resources/mindshift-cbt/

Yoga Online Therapy

Just as many medical and psychological frameworks have found their way into blended care programs, alternative therapies are also becoming more popular.

Online yoga therapy is another way users are incorporating third wave practices such as mindfulness to treatment plans, while combining fitness and therapeutic goals into a more comprehensive treatment.

With many paid plans and free trial versions available, yoga online therapy can be delivered as online courses, virtual fitness classes, or with live instruction from a personal health coach.

3 Training Courses and Certification Programs

Are you a practitioner thinking about adding online therapy to your professional portfolio?

Getting Started

To become a practicing digital therapist, you’ll need to become qualified through all the same pathways as if you were practicing offline.

Some platforms accept Masters-level therapists, while the full pathway to a Doctorate can be much longer[16].

Generally, you’ll need to consider:

Acquiring your license, as governed by the relevant agencies and regulatory bodies for your area
Completing a certain number of hours of supervised clinical education
Successfully completing specialty-specific certification assessments, such as exit exams for your state, and
Adhering to the legal framework around online therapy for your region.

Additionally, you’ll need to know where you’re allowed to deliver e-therapy. As there’s no current federal framework governing teletherapy, this often comes down to state and regional laws.

With this in mind, here are 3 training courses and certification programs that you can look into for the skills and theory you’ll need to get started.

Online Therapy Program	Details
	Led by Dr. Judith Beck of The Beck Institute, this digital course covers the essentials of delivering effective CBT to clients. It’s designed to be interactive, with videos of therapy sessions, class discussions, and theory, as well as student forums and academics to support your learning. This will count toward your CE hours, with 8 credits available. You’ll also learn how to plan a session, impart CBT skills to your clients, and conceptualize cases.
Name	Essentials of CBT: The Beck Approach
Price	$350
Good For	CBT, iCBT
Website	https://beckinstitute.org/get-training/online-training/

Online Therapy Program	Details
	The University of Pennsylvania offers different pathways into a professional counseling career. With online and on-campus options available, classes cover mental health counseling, educational counseling, professional applied psychology training, and further research and learning opportunities. This is a good, albeit very general place to start from scratch if you’re unsure what you’d like to specialize in.
Name	Master of Philosophy in Education: Professional Counseling
Price	Check https://www.gse.upenn.edu/admissions/financial-aid/tuition
Good For	Therapy, Counseling, General Psychology Masters
Website	https://www.gse.upenn.edu/academics/programs/counseling-mental-health-services-masters

Online Therapy Program	Details
	To help you help others online, this course looks into how you can best provide clinical services from a practical standpoint. This workshop emphasizes three foundational strategies for developing your own business: Defining your strategic vision Using relevant metrics to evaluate your practice, and Interacting with your clients and community. It’s designed for independent practitioners as well as groups, and is delivered as a webinar.
Name	Essential Strategies for Running a Psychology Practice
Price	$65 for APA members, $80 for others
Good For	Practice Management
Website	https://www.apa.org/education/ce/ccw0095

Final Thoughts

We live in an age where almost everything is digital, where convenience, cost-effectiveness, and mobile-compatibility are truly transforming our healthcare systems.

With a good understanding of what’s out there, you’ll be in a much better position to make an informed choice about whether online therapy is right for you or not. Why not let us know about your experiences with online therapy so far, in the comments below?

We hope you’ve enjoyed our article. If you’re ready to deliver your own psychology or coaching solutions through an online therapy platform, don’t forget to sign up for our Quenza $1 trial.

With our online therapy app, you’ll have all the tools you need to design and implement individualized treatments, interventions, coaching journeys, and more, so you can maximize your positive impact as a therapist and help others enjoy better mental health.

References

^ Andersson, G., Titov, N., Dear, B. F., Rozental, A., & Carlbring, P. (2019). Internet‐delivered psychological treatments: from innovation to implementation. World Psychiatry, 18(1), 20.
^ Josephine, K., Josefine, L., Philipp, D., David, E., & Harald, B. (2017). Internet-and mobile-based depression interventions for people with diagnosed depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 223, 28
^ Firth, J., Torous, J., Nicholas, J., Carney, R., Pratap, A., Rosenbaum, S., & Sarris, J. (2017). The efficacy of smartphone-based mental health interventions for depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. World Psychiatry, 16(3), 287.
^ Andrews, G., Basu, A., Cuijpers, P., Craske, M. G., McEvoy, P., English, C. L., & Newby, J. M. (2018). Computer therapy for the anxiety and depression disorders is effective, acceptable and practical health care: an updated meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 55, 70.
^ Sijbrandij, M., Kunovski, I., & Cuijpers, P. (2016). Effectiveness of internet‐delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Depression and Anxiety, 33(9), 783.
^ Hedman, E., Andersson, G., Ljótsson, B., Andersson, E., Rück, C., Mörtberg, E., & Lindefors, N. (2011). Internet-based cognitive behavior therapy vs. cognitive behavioral group therapy for social anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial. PloS One, 6(3), e18001.
^ Andersson, G., Rozental, A., Shafran, R., & Carlbring, P. (2018). Long-term effects of internet-supported cognitive behaviour therapy. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 18(1), 21
^ GoodTherapy.org. (2014). How much does therapy cost?. Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/faq/how-much-does-therapy-cost
^ Hedman, E., Ljótsson, B., & Lindefors, N. (2012). Cognitive behavior therapy via the Internet: a systematic review of applications, clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research, 12(6), 745.
^ Ashwick, R., Turgoose, D., & Murphy, D. (2019). Exploring the acceptability of delivering Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) to UK veterans with PTSD over Skype: a qualitative study. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 10(1), 1573128.
^ Karyotaki, E., Kleiboer, A., Smit, F., Turner, D. T., Pastor, A. M., Andersson, G. & Christensen, H. (2015). Predictors of treatment dropout in self-guided web-based interventions for depression: an ‘individual patient data’meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 45(13), 2717.
^ Webb, C. A., Rosso, I. M., & Rauch, S. L. (2017). Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for depression: current progress & future directions. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 25(3), 114.
^ Kumar, V., Sattar, Y., Bseiso, A., Khan, S., & Rutkofsky, I. H. (2017). The effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy in treatment of psychiatric disorders. Cureus, 9(8).
^ Freeman, A., Pretzer, J., Fleming, B., & Simon, K. M. (2004). Clinical Applications of Cognitive Therapy. MA: Springer Science & Business Media.
^ Schueller, S. M., Stiles-Shields, C., & Yarosh, L. (2017). Online treatment and virtual therapists in child and adolescent psychiatry. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 26(1), 1.
^ Dittman, M. (2014). What you need to know to get licensed. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2004/01/get-licensed