In the new and growing market of online therapy, several major companies have already proven the industry’s potential for profitability. With thousands of monthly visitors and registers to their websites, BetterHelp and TalkSpace have emerged as the frontrunners of the industry. If you’re looking to make the jump to online therapy, there are a lot of important questions you need to ask yourself:
- Which is the best company for my needs?
- How much will I be paid?
Today, we’ll help guide you to the proper answers to these questions.
BetterHelp vs. TalkSpace
So, which of the two companies is more worth your time? There are several key components to determining the answer to this question, the first being the minimum case requirement in order to be eligible for employment. TalkSpace does have a minimum case requirement for its employees. On the contrary, working at BetterHelp ensures that you won’t have to meet any minimum requirement in order to maintain your employment.
In the battle of BetterHelp vs. TalkSpace, they offer pretty similar flexibility in terms of the ways that you can communicate with your clients. You can choose to communicate using voice chats or even video conferences, which means you can schedule sessions at any time that works for you and your clients. However, there is one crucial difference: BetterHelp offers a variety of other resources on their platform that you can use as means of engaging with clients. This includes various worksheets and journal templates that you can use for sessions.
While both BetterHelp and TalkSpace are doing well for themselves in the online therapy market, the ultimate decision of what company is right for you falls in your hands. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but each has proven that online counseling can be an incredibly profitable industry to finish your career in.
The Compensation Question
One glaring question that stands out in the decision to become an online therapist is whether or not you’ll receive proper financial compensation. According to BetterHelp’s financial earnings calculator, those who work full 40-hour workweeks make an average of $100,100 per year. Of course, you’ll have to do a little more playing around if you want to calculate wages at other companies, but the tool should give you a helpful estimate of what your worth should be. By playing around with the calculator, you’ll notice that those working part-time hours may not make as much. This is because there are a lot of important factors that come into play when determining pay.
Let’s consider the way in which companies pay their employees. While companies like TalkSpace opt to use the traditional hourly rate, BetterHelp’s method is an engagement-based compensation model. This means that in order to maximize your chances of success on the platform, you’ll need to routinely and successfully engage with your clients often. You’ll also need to try to bring in new clients, which shouldn’t pose a huge issue thanks to the thousands that sign up regularly.
You’ll also have to consider what you’re licensed to practice in and your prior experiences. Your college degree will largely factor into this, but your area of expertise is a critical topic. Some areas pay more than others, so you’ll have to keep that in mind when calculating your potential earnings. It should also go without saying that the more experience you have prior to starting, the easier time you’ll have making more money.
Lastly, you’ll need to factor in how often you’re going to be working. Is this a full-time position for you, or are you using it as a supplement for other work? Because of the compensation method, you’ll be more handsomely rewarded the more clients you bring in. If you can’t work full-time, though, there’s no need to worry. You’ll still be paid what you deserve regardless of your hours.
Conclusion
BetterHelp and TalkSpace have emerged as one of the leading frontrunners in the online therapy world. They offer a lot of flexibility and the opportunity to be paid what you’re worth. Where you work is up to you, but both companies offer a reliable and profitable start to your path to online work. Chances are, if you do the proper work, you’ll see results very quickly.