THE BEST ONLINE MILITARY MENTAL HEALTH AND TELETHERAPY RESOURCES

Mental health has been a trending topic throughout the world for the past few years. With the ongoing destigmatization of mental health throughout the United States, as well as the changes in work and home life following COVID, many mental health resources have shifted their focus to online-based opportunities, such as teletherapy. As mental health continues to become a high priority for many Americans, military mental health is more important now than ever. Keep reading to see what options are available for mental health counseling online.

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The Importance of Military Mental Health

Service members are expected to maintain good physical health, but what about mental health? In the past, many military members have been afraid to share their mental health concerns for fear of losing their security clearance. However, according to the Federal News Network, between the years 2012 and 2022, out of a pool of 5.4 million applications, only 62 clearances were denied due to mental health concerns. 96,850 of the 5.4 million applicants had mental health concerns, but only a small handful were denied because of mental health. This means that it’s highly unlikely for a service member to lose their clearance from mental health concerns alone. It’s essential and encouraged for military members to maintain their mental health in the same way they maintain their physical health. In fact, untreated mental illness can do more damage to a military career than reporting and treating any concerns from the start can. Military personnel aren’t at risk when reporting their mental health; it’s encouraged for them to do so in order to remain in the best physical and mental shape they can.

What Is Teletherapy?

Teletherapy is a great option for military counseling. Teletherapy is essentially therapy online. It uses technology, such as videoconferencing, phone calls, or text messaging, to provide therapy for individuals. It can also be used with group therapy or couples therapy. Teletherapy is a great option for military members or military family members seeking mental health online resources. Therapy sessions can be done from the convenience of your own home, and often at a lower cost with or without insurance.

Online Therapy With Insurance

Cheap online therapy isn’t hard to come by these days. For both Veterans and active-duty military members, as well as military families, there are several options available for teletherapy, both with and without insurance. Below are some options for online therapy that take insurance, as well as some options to find community resources for mental health.

Options Through TRICARE

TRICARE has a page on their website dedicated to telemental health services. From this page, military members and family members with TRICARE can find a therapist near them that offers teletherapy. This can also be a great option for finding community resources for mental health.

Military OneSource

Military OneSource is a great option for finding community resources for mental health, as well as finding links for immediate help, if needed. They have a page on their website filled with mental health resources for service members and families. It provides links for crisis lines, such as the Military Crisis Line, and a link to TRICARE’s treatment facility locator tool on their website.

Online Therapy Without Insurance

If therapy without insurance is the only option, there are other resources available that can offer cheap online therapy. Below are some popular resources for mental health counseling online, in no particular order.

1. Talkspace

Talkspace is a great online resource for mental health counseling. They offer a wide range of specialized counseling options, like individual therapy, couples therapy, teen therapy, and so on. Talkspace does not accept TRICARE insurance; the monthly payments for Talkspace can range from $216-$516 per month depending on the type of plan chosen.

2. BetterHelp

BetterHelp is another online resource that offers teletherapy for individuals, couples, and teens. BetterHelp also offers one free month of therapy for Veterans. The pricing ranges from $60-$90 per week, totaling up to about $240-$360 per month.

3. Cerebral

Cerebral’s online teletherapy resource does not offer couples therapy or group therapy. Cerebral has a flat fee of $29 per month to gain access to their website and can range from $99-$325 per month depending on the therapy plan chosen. Cerebral also has the option to bill with insurance; click this link to check for insurance eligibility with Cerebral. With the rise in discourse surrounding mental health, military mental health is becoming more and more pertinent. It’s important for service members, as well as their families, to focus on their mental health. Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start, but there are several online options available for military members that can provide the counseling they need in a convenient way.

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