The Signs To Look For: How To Know If The Therapy Websites Are Scams

For those who have never tried it, online therapy may sound too good to be true. After all, therapy websites promise counseling services via licensed therapists and mental health experts anytime around the clock, seven days a week, and you can sign in anywhere with an internet connection—including at work or school. Online counseling has been proven to be just as effective as in-person therapy for treating disorders like anxiety, depression, and trauma, and it often costs less than traditional counseling. Most online counseling platforms have a wide range of experienced therapists to match you with based on several factors unique to you. 

But are therapy websites a scam? Some may be, but most are not. If you know what to look for, it’s easy to tell the difference between reputable therapy websites and those you may want to avoid. 

Verify the counselors’ qualifications

There are some therapy websites that have mental health professionals counselors without any credentials—prompting many to declare therapy a scam. These websites may perpetrate the myth that therapy doesn’t work, and is simply a focus on one’s self that isn’t controlled or “real therapy” by any stretch of the imagination. The side effects of this can be immense, prohibiting people from pursuing therapy that can help them.

Watch out for ineffective customer service

The quality of customer service available on these sites can be very telling. Customer service indicators of a possible scam site may include:

Unfriendly customer service

The customer representative on the other line is rude and has poor interaction – a sign that the person is not trained to handle calls professionally.

Uses you as a scapegoat

Representatives are blaming you for problems with your account. They are trying to pass the problem on to you to avoid exposing their inadequacies. 

Unresponsive customer support

Representatives are unresponsive to requests for assistance because, in truth, they might not have enough people qualified to handle your queries.

Ineffective solutions 

Customer service representatives do not solve the problem at all. You just keep on going in circles but not arriving at definite answers to resolve your questions.

Incorrect treatment or therapist information

Representatives give you wrong information regarding a specific treatment or a professional you are trying to speak to. 

Long wait times

It takes so long to get in touch with call representatives or if you had spoken to one, you're most likely put on hold for several minutes many times in a call. It could be that this is their tactic to discourage you from calling or they're pretending to be very busy.

Lack of follow-up

Customer representatives from fake therapy websites don’t bother making follow-ups because they most likely don’t keep legitimate records regarding your medical history.

Pressure tactics for payments

Most scams pressure you to make payments right away, which are often untraceable. Once you make payments, they will end the call with the promise of a callback, which will never happen at all.

Customer service representatives should be always completely professional and friendly. Any reputable company will likely take extra measures to hire the best associates and avoid those who won’t represent the company’s values. Genuine therapy sites employ responsible customer service representatives that treat your inquiries in a respectful way, clearly explaining policies and offering solutions that are timely and helpful.

Question unfair pricing

Before you sign up with an online therapy service, do some research into the price per hour of a local therapist. If the site you're considering demands that you pay more than you would for in-person therapy, you may want to look closer into their practices and reputability. Therapy sites usually offer a subscription in which you pay a monthly or quarterly fee versus an hourly fee. Thus, you can choose an online therapist that often charges less and gives you more time and flexibility than you would receive by going into an office for treatment. 

Don’t ignore your gut feeling

When you encounter someone or investigate a business, and you get an immediately uneasy feeling about it, chances are there's a reason. Your gut may be telling you "Watch out! This therapy is a scam." But even if there's no reason, you're likely not going to feel comfortable with someone that your gut is telling you just isn't right. If you're not comfortable with your therapist, that means you're not going to feel comfortable confiding in them in an honest and transparent way. It follows then that you’re unlikely to get the help you want and need. With an online therapist, this is even more important because you're not getting the benefit of being in the same room with the person. If your gut is telling you that something is wrong or that you don't feel comfortable with that person, it may be a good idea to keep shopping around for a therapist that better fits your needs. 

Check out the reviews and recommendations

If you're looking for a business or a professional for any reason, you want to listen to other people who recommend them. This can be a little more difficult with a therapist because not everyone is willing to give an endorsement, even if the therapist is exceptional. But look for recommendations from other therapists and from former or current patients who are willing to talk about their experiences. This may reveal more about what you can expect and whether the therapist you're considering will be helpful to you. It's not a guarantee, but it's going to give you a better idea of what to expect.

BetterHelp online therapist reviews and FAQs

No matter what route you take to find a therapist, make sure you look at each of these factors and find a therapist who is licensed, helpful and makes you feel comfortable. Here are some recent reviews of BetterHelp counselors: