Open Path is a nonprofit that is going toe-to-toe with the online therapy giants. Its therapists have advanced graduate degrees and are thoroughly vetted by the organization.
They charge a $65 membership fee and offer sessions for $40-70 per session. They also offer group therapy and have separate platforms for teen and LGBT issues.
It’s affordable
Open Path offers a directory of therapists who offer online therapy sessions at a fraction of the usual cost. These therapists are part of the Open Path Psychotherapy Collective, a non-profit organization that makes affordable therapy accessible to the public. The website has a one-time, lifetime membership fee to use the site, which covers the administrative costs of maintaining the site and recruiting therapists.
Once you’ve found a therapist, you will receive their Member ID and contact details via email. After that, you’ll pay a second recurring fee to the therapist. You can change therapists at any time, and BetterHelp offers dedicated customer support to answer questions and provide ideas.
Open Path is a great option for people who want to bypass insurance. It has a robust, diverse directory of licensed therapists and is a well-known brand with high customer ratings. Moreover, you can cancel your subscription at any time. However, if you cancel before the end of your billing cycle, you’ll lose access to your therapist and won’t be able to use the service again.
It’s convenient
While BetterHelp is a popular mental health telehealth service, online therapy is still expensive for many people. But Open Path Collective, a nonprofit directory of therapists, is helping to address this issue by making counseling more accessible for low-income individuals and families. The therapists on this platform are highly vetted and trained, so you can be confident that you’ll receive quality care.
In addition to offering individual, couples, and group therapy, Open Path also offers a variety of wellness courses. These are self-paced online classes that you can take for a low price. Some of these classes are even court-mandated, and you can get a certificate for them upon registration.
The directory also offers an inclusive community of therapists, which celebrates all identities. This makes it easier for individuals who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, or disabled to find a therapist that best matches their needs. It also provides resources like a list of suicide hotlines and the US national depression helpline number.
It’s flexible
In this episode of Therapy Talk, hosts Curt and Katie discuss reimagining therapy with Caitlin Erwin, program manager for Open Path. She talks about how the platform works for clients, including a one-time membership fee and session rates that vary between therapists. The site also allows therapists to choose how many sliding scale clients they want to take in their practice.
The website offers a searchable therapist directory and a full wellness course program. This includes online anger management courses that meet court requirements. Upon registration, participants receive access to a course dashboard that is easily accessed from any web browser. In addition to anger management, the website offers wellness classes that focus on communication skills, relationships, and mindfulness.
In addition to its therapist directory, BetterHelp has a dedicated customer support team. They answer questions, offer ideas, and provide feedback to therapists on its site. This helps improve the site’s functionality and makes it easier for therapists to use.
It’s a good fit
In contrast to BetterHelp, which charges a fee to join the service, Open Path Collective is a nonprofit that makes mental health more accessible. Its directory features therapists who offer discounted rates. It also provides a number of wellness courses, including a credit-hour anger management class that meets court requirements.
To sign up with the platform, a person must visit its website and find a therapist who is accepting new clients. The therapist will have an “Accepting new clients” tag on their profile. Then, they will need to fill out a brief form to verify their income.
While this does not prevent some therapists from being rejected by the program, it does cut down on red tape that can keep people away from therapy. Unlike other services that require clients to upload pay-stubs, Open Path’s honor system relies on a simple box check. This is a welcome change, as it allows people with lower incomes to find therapy without having to worry about their tax returns.