Accessing online counseling (telehealth therapy) is more straightforward than ever, with options ranging from specialized app-based platforms to traditional healthcare providers offering virtual appointments.
Here are the main pathways to get started:
Check Your Health Insurance or Employer Benefits
Many health insurance plans now cover virtual mental health visits at the same rate as in-person visits. Call the member services number on the back of your insurance card or check your provider portal.
Look into your workplace Employee Assistance Program (EAP) . EAPs frequently offer a set number of free or heavily discounted virtual counseling sessions.
Use Dedicated Telehealth and Therapy Platforms
App-based platforms: Services like BetterHelp or Talkspace match you with licensed therapists via questionnaire, offering messaging, video, or phone sessions.
Mainstream telehealth networks: Providers like allow you to schedule virtual appointments with licensed talk therapists and psychiatrists directly.[]()
Search Directories for Local Therapists Offering Telehealth
Many private-practice therapists who traditionally worked in person now offer secure video sessions.
You can filter for providers licensed in your state who offer telehealth using directories like the Psychology Today Therapist Finder or FindTreatment.gov for community health centers.[](https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/caring/index.html)
Explore Community and Low-Cost Options
If cost is a barrier, look for local community mental health centers or university training clinics, many of which provide sliding-scale or virtual options.
Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offer free peer support and resource guidance (call 1-800-950-NAMI).
Getting access to online counseling is often straightforward. You can connect with a licensed therapist from home through video calls, phone sessions, or secure messaging. In the United States, you may be able to get started through your health insurance, an employer benefit, a community mental health program, or a private online therapy service.
1. Choose the best way to access online counseling
Online therapy platforms
Best if you want to find a therapist and schedule appointments online. Depending on the service, options may include video, phone, or messaging.
Examples: BetterHelp and Talkspace.
Your health insurance
Often a good first step if you want to reduce out-of-pocket costs. Ask your insurer about telehealth mental health coverage, in-network therapists, copays, and deductibles.
Low-cost or free counseling
Community mental health centers, nonprofit organizations, and university training clinics may offer reduced fees. Some also provide remote appointments.
Check the cost. See whether your insurance covers sessions or whether you qualify for a reduced rate.
Complete the intake questions. You'll usually describe what you'd like help with, your preferences, and your availability.
Choose or get matched with a therapist. Look for a licensed professional who treats the concerns you're experiencing.
Schedule your first session. You'll generally need a phone, tablet, or computer and a private place to talk. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explains the telehealth process here.
SAMHSA Find Support — explore ways to pay for treatment, including free and low-cost options.
Your insurance company or employer — ask about virtual behavioral health visits or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Let me help you find the right service
I can narrow this down to options that fit your circumstances.
1. What can you afford?
Free only
Low-cost or free
Insurance or a small copay
Any price
2. Do you have health insurance?
Yes
No
Medicaid or Medicare
Not sure
3. How would you prefer to meet?
Video or phone calls
Text or messaging
Either is fine
4. What would you like help with?
Anxiety, stress, or depression
Relationship or family issues
Grief, trauma, or life changes
General emotional support
Something else
[Find suitable counseling options]
You don't need to know exactly what's wrong or have a diagnosis before seeking counseling. You can start by telling a therapist what you've been experiencing and what you'd like to change.
If you're looking to sign up for virtual mental health counseling, there are a few good places to start, including options in Pennsylvania.
Where to sign up
1. Penn State Health OnDemand
See a licensed counselor or psychologist through video appointments from home. Sign-up is free, and therapy is available for ages 10 and older. Insurance coverage and visit costs vary.
If you have Medicaid, contact your behavioral health insurance plan to find covered counselors who offer virtual appointments. Your county mental health office may also help if you cannot afford care.
Where you go to sign up for virtual counseling depends on how you plan to pay (insurance vs. out-of-pocket) and what kind of care you need.
Here are the primary ways to get started:
Dedicated online platforms: Major national services let you sign up directly through their websites or mobile apps by completing a brief intake questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist.
BetterHelp is widely used for flexible, subscription-based individual or teen counseling via chat, phone, or video.
Talkspace offers text, video, and live sessions and often integrates insurance options or psychiatric support.
Brightside Health specializes in evidence-based care for anxiety and depression, with options for both therapy and medication management.[](https://www.talkspace.com/)[[2]()]()
Virtual counseling (also called online therapy or teletherapy) lets you meet with a licensed mental health professional from home using video calls, phone calls, or sometimes secure messaging.
You generally don't need a referral to get started. The process is often straightforward, and you can usually choose a counselor based on your needs, budget, availability, and insurance coverage.
How virtual counseling works
1. Find a counselor or service
Choose a licensed therapist, a telehealth counseling practice, or an online therapy platform. You can look for someone who specializes in anxiety, depression, stress, relationships, grief, or other concerns.
2. Complete an intake
You'll usually answer questions about what brings you to counseling, your goals, medical or mental health history, and preferences. The provider may verify your location, insurance, and payment details.
3. Attend your first session
You receive a secure video link or instructions to call. Your first appointment typically focuses on what's going on in your life, what support you need, and what you'd like to work toward.
4. Continue at a comfortable pace
Sessions commonly last around 45–60 minutes, often weekly or every other week. You and your counselor review progress and adjust the plan as needed.
What does virtual counseling cost?
Costs vary depending on the counselor, service, and insurance plan.
With insurance: Your plan may cover online therapy, subject to your copay, deductible, and network rules.
Without insurance: You can look for private-pay therapists, sliding-scale fees based on income, or community mental health services.
Through a platform: Some offer subscriptions; others charge per appointment.
Before booking, ask what you'll pay per session and whether follow-up appointments are covered. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a helpful guide to paying for telehealth.
Where can you start?
Here are three practical routes:
1. Find an individual therapist
Best if you want an ongoing relationship with one counselor who understands your situation. You can search by specialty, location, insurance, and online availability.
Directory:
2. Use an online therapy service
Best if you prefer to sign up online, review potential matches, and arrange remote sessions in one place.
Example: Headway — find therapists and check insurance options.
3. Start through your insurance or community clinic
Best if affordability is important. Call the number on your insurance card and ask for in-network mental health providers offering telehealth, or ask a local community clinic about reduced-cost care.
If you're in California, you can also verify a therapist's license through the state's Board of Behavioral Sciences.
Let's find the right option for you
I can help you narrow this down to actual services and explain how to make your first appointment.
1. What would you like help with?
Anxiety, stress, or feeling overwhelmed
Depression, sadness, or loneliness
Relationships or family issues
Grief, trauma, or a major life change
General emotional support or I'm not sure yet
2. How would you prefer to pay?
Use my insurance
Pay out of pocket
Low-cost or free services
I'm not sure
3. What type of sessions would you prefer?
Video calls
Phone calls
Either is fine
4. What's your budget per session, if paying yourself?
As affordable as possible
Under $50
$50–$100
Flexible budget
[Find counseling options]
You don't have to know exactly what to say to a counselor before starting. It's perfectly fine to begin by saying, “I'm looking for some support, and I'm not quite sure where to start.”
Choose a Provider or Platform: You can find a remote therapist through a dedicated online therapy platform (such as Talkspace or BetterHelp ) or by searching for an independent local practitioner or clinic that offers telehealth appointments.[](https://policylab.us/online-therapy/)
Complete an Intake: You will typically fill out a questionnaire detailing your background, mental health history, goals, and preferences (such as counselor gender, specialty, or communication format).[](https://www.twochairs.com/blog/how-does-online-therapy-work)
Get Matched or Book: Based on your intake, you are either matched with a counselor or choose an available licensed provider (such as an LPC, LCSW, LMHC, or psychologist) licensed in your state.[](]()]()
Key Requirements & Considerations
Technology: A reliable device with a camera, microphone, and a stable internet connection is required.
Privacy: You will need to secure a quiet, private physical space—such as a closed room or even a parked car—where you won't be overheard or interrupted.
Insurance and Cost: Coverage varies; many traditional insurance plans now cover telehealth services with standard copays, while online subscription platforms may charge a flat weekly or monthly fee.
Insurance-network matchmakers: If you want to use health insurance, dedicated digital directories make it easy to filter for in-person or virtual providers who accept your specific plan:
Grow Therapy helps you browse and schedule directly with local or virtual in-network providers.
Your primary care doctor or insurance provider: Call the mental health or member services number on the back of your insurance card. They can give you a direct list of telehealth providers fully covered under your policy.
If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:
Do you plan to use insurance or pay out-of-pocket?
Are you looking for just talk therapy or psychiatry/medication management as well?
