betterhelp Archives - Psychotherapy Notes

Are therapy referrals down? 3 possible explanations (with solutions)

September 16, 2025 by Ben Caldwell

Are fewer people seeking out therapy? Good nationwide data is hard to come by, but we have some signals. Online therapy provider BetterHelp reports a dwindling subscriber base, down about 20% from its peak two years ago, even as they continue to spend millions of dollars on advertising. And anecdotally, we’re hearing lots of individual therapists report that they’re struggling to bring in new clients over the last few months.

If your practice has been struggling with fewer therapy referrals, here are three possible reasons for it – and solutions for each.

BetterHelp is losing a lot of subscribers

March 7, 2024 by Ben Caldwell

Person using laptop. Thought Catalog via Burst, used under license Online therapy platform BetterHelp is rapidly losing its paid subscriber base, according to financial filings from its parent company. The company reports a drop in average monthly paid BetterHelp subscribers, from 476,000 in the second quarter of 2023 to 425,000 in the fourth quarter. That’s a loss of more than 10% of its paid user base, despite significant marketing expenses aimed at growing the platform.

NASW files FTC complaint over CareDash profiles funneling clients to BetterHelp [updated]

August 4, 2022August 2, 2022 by Ben Caldwell

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) informed its members last week that CareDash, which operates a health care provider directory, is engaging in what “appears to be an improper deceptive practice.” NASW says that CareDash’s process of using clinician listings to direct prospective clients to online therapy platform BetterHelp rather than to the listed clinicians “potentially violates federal and/or state consumer protection laws.”

Despite what a reasonable consumer would expect, you cannot, in fact, check my availability using the button that says Check Availability.

Talkspace forces therapists to break rules. The rules may be the problem.

September 13, 2017 by Ben Caldwell

Matthew Henry / Burst / Licensed under Creative Commons Zero App-based therapy platforms may well represent the next evolution of psychotherapy practice. I praised Talkspace a few years ago for offering access to mental health care for many who otherwise would never find their way to a therapist’s office. But the platforms — Talkspace, Betterhelp, and the like — have run into controversy over their confidentiality policies. Therapists using these apps may have little to no ready access to the client’s full name, address, or other information necessary in an emergency.