Launched in 2017, Pride Counseling is a subsidiary of BetterHelp, a long-established online therapy platform. The therapists and counselors have expertise working with members of the LGBTQ+ community on the mental health issues they face. Online therapy is more convenient and accessible because it connects you to a provider who works with you via messaging, text, live video conferencing, or phone calls on your time. Plus, it’s often more affordable than in-office sessions. Unlimited messaging You have access to a private chat room to send and receive messages from your counselor. This gives you the freedom to send a question or concern 24/7. But this does not mean your counselor will respond immediately. The messaging service is not live, but you will get a notification when your therapist replies. While the private chat room is open to you 24/7, live sessions depend on your counselor’s availability. Live chat sessions Live chat allows you to text with your therapist in real time. The format is similar to messaging, but the session is live. You will meet virtually with your counselor in a private, secure therapy room during a scheduled time. Live text is a great choice if privacy is an issue or you want a written record of the conversation; the chat will remain in the therapy room until you close your account. Live video sessions A meeting with your counselor on live video is the closest thing to an in-office session. You’ll need to schedule an appointment. When it’s time for your session, make sure you have a good internet connection and a private area to be in for the duration of your counseling appointment. You’ll meet in your online counseling room. Live phone sessions Like the live chat and video sessions, live phone sessions are scheduled with your counselor. Since you don’t need access to a computer or internet connection, phone sessions are often more convenient and easier to access. The next step in the enrollment process takes about 10 minutes. It includes a series of questions about your gender identity, pronouns, age, relationship status, counseling history, sleeping and eating habits, and current health. You also specify what kind of counselor you prefer. This is followed by several questions regarding your current mental and physical health over the previous two weeks — for example, whether your LGBTQ+ identity contributes to your mental health concerns, feelings of sadness or depression, loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy, and specific questions about suicide and suicidal ideation. After completing the questions, you’ll go to the payment page to review the weekly cost and amount to be charged immediately, which is an up-front payment for four weeks (financial aid is available for those who qualify). Once the enrollment process is complete and your payment processed, you should be matched with a counselor within 24 hours, although individual times may vary. You will receive an email telling you about the match and directing you to the private chat room to learn more about the counselor, including the counselor’s name, qualifications, interests, scheduling preferences, and philosophy. The welcome message may also include “getting to know you” questions from your counselor. You can use the chat room to begin communicating with your counselor.
Mindfulness therapyCognitive behavioral therapyAcceptance and commitment therapyTrauma-focused therapyPsychodynamic therapyClient-centered therapyEmotionally focused therapy
Counselor Specialties
During the enrollment process, you will answer questions about your mental health needs and why you’re seeking counseling. This helps to match you with a counselor trained in those areas. Pride Counseling therapists have a range of specialties, including:
LGBTQ+DepressionAnxietyRelationship issuesTraumaStressAnger managementEating disordersIntimacy-related issuesFamily conflictAddictionSubstance abuseSleep difficultiesGrief and lossCoping with life changesCareer challenges
Pride Counseling offers individual counseling only for adults. At this time, it does not provide services for couples therapy. That said, ReGain, a sister site of Pride Counseling, offers couples counseling. Pride Counseling uses various technologies to deliver online services that provide equal access and opportunity for individuals with disabilities. You can find out more about how to enable accessibility for web and mobile users by reading the Pride Counseling commitment to accessibility. Providers include licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW, LMSW), psychologists (PsyD, PhD), mental health counselors (LMHC, LCMHC), and licensed professional counselors (LPC). In addition to hands-on experience and qualifying credentials, therapists must be certified by their state’s professional board and specialize in the LGBTQ+ community.
Does Pride Counseling Accept Insurance?
Pride Counseling does not accept insurance, which means it does not submit claims to private insurance companies, Medicare, or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, check your coverage or call the plan provider. You may have mental health insurance benefits. If that’s the case, you will need to submit the claim to the insurance company in order to be reimbursed. That said, Pride Counseling is a subsidiary of BetterHelp, a much larger platform with several customer reviews. The BBB gives BetterHelp an “A” rating, but it also lists 343 complaints in the past 12 months. Trustpilot gives BetterHelp 4.5 out of 5 stars on the basis of 2,730 customer reviews.
