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Our Verdict
Clinician was founded and launched at the end of 2008 Thriveworks has evolved into the therapeutic platform that is designed to connect clients with in-person and virtual mental health professionals from across the U.S. Although the company itself has a few negative reviews on Trustpilot Our reviewer found the scheduling process and the therapist experience acceptable.
Thriveworks: Key Features
- A U.S.-based mental health platform providing therapy in-person and virtual.
- Over 380 counseling centers that are in-person all over the nation
- Users can access more than 2,000 online therapists across every state according to the company.
Clinical and author AJ (Anthony) Centore, Ph.D. was the founder of Thriveworks in 2008, with the goal to build a mental health system with a system that “works better for everyone,” according to the company’s. Thriveworks is a company whose mission, as per the website of the company, is to claim its title as “America’s most valued mental healthcare company.” The platform gives U.S.-based users access to both in-person and online health care through virtual therapy sessions offered through their nationwide directory of licensed mental health professionals as well as at their national network of in-person counseling centers.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| * The website has an extensive directory of therapists that includes professional licensed in mental health from all 50 states.
* Provides more than 350 in-person counseling centers across the U.S. * Flexible and easy appointment scheduling system |
* Self-pay plans start at $200. This can be too expensive for some
* Customers must contact support to change their billing/payment details * The customer service department can be difficult to get hold of, based on the time of day. |
Thriveworks at a Glance
- Thriveworks is a company that aims to help patients to locate mental health care on the internet and in person. It also connects clients to therapists who are qualified in their area.
- Services are pay-per-session with insurance co-pays starting at $0 and $50, as well as self-pay services starting at $200.
- Over 575 insurance policies are accepted by Thriveworks which includes Cigna, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Healthcare.
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How Does Thriveworks Work?
Individuals desiring to book a session with a Thriveworks-associated mental health provider can schedule appointments via its website or mobile app. If they are scheduling a virtual or an in-person session, clients can use the website’s therapy directory to find an accredited mental health professional within their state that specializes in the area they need help with and will accept their coverage.
The Thriveworks group of professionals in mental health comprises registered clinical social professionals, expert psychotherapists and counselors as well as psychologists, and psychiatrists. The company is proud of hiring only the top four percent of psychiatrists and counselors as per its site.
After choosing a therapist of their choice, a patient is required to create an account for the appointment procedure. When signing in the registration page displays an inventory of information about the patient that the user must confirm (i.e. complete name or date of birth etc.) and a form for a contract with the patient (that just requires a check box). After that, clients are directed to a web page that asks for details for their credit and billing information. There are no transactions initially however, since users have to pay for their session post-session. When you complete this registration, it is a way to confirm the time.
The first time users receive an email advising to register for Thriveworks Patient Portal, in which users have access to any forms that their therapists may require. The therapist can also email the client with a link to the video conferencing session which they can access through the portal for patients. Virtual therapy sessions are conducted via Zoom and both parties enjoy a HIPAA-compliant experience. The sessions can last from 30 minutes to one hour according to any of our customer support representatives.
Thriveworks connects users to providers who specialize in a variety of counseling methods that include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). The services of psychiatry and medication management are also offered. The main issues Thriveworks Therapists can aid with, as per the website:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Relationships
- ADHD
- Trauma/PTSD
- Grief/Loss
- Addiction
- LGBTQIAand related issues
- Eating disorders
- Anger
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping skills
- Stress
- Life changes
- Postpartum/pregnancy
- Sexual abuse and issues
- Self-esteem
- Sleep/insomnia
Sessions follow-ups can involve the therapist providing information to the patient according to the discussion. To schedule a follow-up session the user needs to sign in to the portal for patients.
How Much Does Thriveworks Cost?
Thriveworks customers pay for each session and can choose select to select self-pay or insurance copays. Self-pay starts at $200 and insurance co-pays vary from $0 to $50. Thriveworks invoices self-pay clients on the following Wednesday following an appointment and insurance-covered customers the following Wednesday after each claim has been completed.
What Experts Say About Thriveworks
The main benefit for Thriveworks is that it provides accessibility to in-person as well as virtual mental health professionals.
“The biggest pros [of online mental healthcare] are accessibility and convenience,” writes Sean Flannery, Ph.D. who is a couple and individual psychotherapist who is based in Virginia. But, one disadvantage of receiving therapy online is that it could occasionally “make it more difficult to feel each other’s ‘presence,’ which can make it harder to establish a solid working relationship,” the psychologist says.
Certain people might find virtual therapy to be a little more challenging than other as per Dr. Flannery. These include:
- People with ADHD
- Couples (depending of the nature of the issues and connectivity currently present)
- People whose homes are disorganized or chaotic or who live with the fear that other people could be watching or walking into their therapy sessions.
- Internet users who have weak or insecure internet connections
Concerning the Thriveworks platform, Andrew Kulik, M.D. Chair in the Department of Behavioral Health and Wellness in Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago is aware of the platform and says it is an “well thought out and well-implemented network offering of not only talk therapy sessions, but also treatment by prescribers if psychiatric services are needed.”
The Experience
As a freelancer who is also creative, I like the freedom that the internet-based therapy provides. It’s the reason I was so excited to try Thriveworks the chance (despite the numerous negative reviews from sites like TrustPilot). There are a variety of TrustPilot reviewers have voiced their concerns about the billing process, and bad experience with specific therapists as well as the therapists who are late or not showing up for appointments.
When I signed up, I discovered an individual in my area and was able schedule an appointment for the next week. The selection of therapists was adequate considering my filtering results in that I aimed to find a female therapist that is skilled in the treatment of specific problems and uses a cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) method of counseling as well as has experience working with patients of my age range. At the end of the day I was able to select around 40+ therapists I could choose from.
I was of the opinion that registration was relatively easy and I attended my session just a few days after registering. The session (which was about an hour long) I was very pleased with how the session were handled. The counselor was able to help me to gain clarity on the mental blocks I needed to clear to deal with certain challenges in relationships.
Following sessions, the psychologist gave me some resources as a follow-up on the topics we had discussed. She also offered me to schedule another session. Based on my encounter working with her I would not think about booking another session. I did, however, take it upon myself to delete my credit card details from my account in the event of unexpected fees however, it was a pain. To do this, I had to call Thriveworks the customer service department. And the wait time was nearly an hour. Fortunately I was able contact them and get my issue solved.
Based on my experiences that were positive I’d suggest Thriveworks their online therapy program for those who are busy and have little time to attend in-person counseling for as long as the type of therapy you require (i.e., anxiety stress, anxiety, etc.) corresponds to the offerings on the site.
