Best Online Addiction Counseling

Talkspace is our pick for best online addiction counseling due to its variety of services offered, convenient scheduling system, and range of providers.

Talkspace is one of the largest online therapy providers, known for popularizing text messaging-based therapy and convenient app-based therapy sessions. With thousands of providers available in all 50 states, Talkspace has increased accessibility to mental health services, which we appreciate. It has addiction therapists on staff, plus psychiatrists if you need medication to support you on your journey. Its range of providers ensures you’re able to find someone who fits your needs, whether you’re interested in a harm reduction approach or full sobriety. We especially appreciate that the company also has couples therapists on staff. Addiction can take a toll on relationships and getting the support of a professional can be critical.

Talkspace offers individual therapy for adults and teens, couples therapy, and medication management services. All appointments take place either on your computer or through the Talkspace app on your mobile device. Getting started is super easy: You complete a brief intake questionnaire that takes less than 10 minutes. During the intake, you can specify the type of support you’re looking for, indicating if you’re hoping to receive therapy or medication management and if you need a provider with a specific specialty, like addiction support. 

After completing the intake questionnaire, you’re matched with a therapist, which can take a few days. Once matched, you can book an appointment. How quickly you can see your therapist depends on your therapist’s availability. If you’re not satisfied with the therapist you’re matched with or have schedule conflicts, you can request a switch instantly, no questions asked.

Talkspace plans range from $69 to $109 per week, depending on the type of service rendered. All plans are billed monthly. 

• Unlimited text messaging with a licensed therapist costs $69 per week.
• Unlimited text messaging with a licensed therapist plus weekly 30-minute sessions is $99 per week.
• Unlimited messaging, weekly 30-minute sessions, and access to mental health workshops and talks costs $109 per week.
• Weekly 30-minute couples therapy sessions cost $396 per month.

Talkspace also offers medication management services. The initial psychiatric evaluation is $249, with all follow-up sessions costing $125 each. 

Talkspace is in-network with some major insurance providers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Cigna. You can also opt to pay with a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA).

We surveyed 105 users of Talkspace, and they love the platform: 90% gave it a positive rating of good, very good, or excellent overall. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed found the process of finding a therapist on this platform easy, while another 29% found it neither easy nor difficult.

Money shouldn’t prevent you from getting the care you need. Open Path Collective offers quality therapy from a diverse roster of therapists at an affordable price point. 

It isn’t uncommon to want a therapist who shares the same gender or racial identity as you. But finding someone who meets that criteria, specializes in addiction, and offers an affordable rate can be difficult. Open Path Collective has demystified that process. The nonprofit serves as a directory of diverse, socially aware therapists who offer their services at a sliding scale rate with the goal of supporting those who lack health insurance (or health insurance with mental health benefits). You’ll simply join the platform, pay its one-time membership fee of $65, filter your search to your specific therapist criteria, and get ready to meet your match.

Open Path Collective therapists offer individual, couples, children, adolescent, family, and group therapy. They also have a wide range of specialties, with some focusing on addiction and substance use. Keep in mind that the exact services and specializations offered will vary based on provider, but they will all be within Open Path’s $30 to $70 per session price point. 

Provider credentials include pre-licensed therapists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional counselors. The biggest drawback? Open Path Collective doesn’t offer any medication management services.

Open Path Collective requires a one-time membership fee of $65. Sessions range from $30 to $70, depending on the provider and type of service rendered.

Ninety percent of Open Path Collective users we surveyed gave it a rating of good or very good. Another seventy-eight percent of users found the experience of navigating the directory to be easy, and 74% reported they were able to find a therapist that met all of their needs.

Addiction treatment often benefits from a structured therapeutic approach. Online-Therapy.com's cognitive behavioral therapy offers a robust toolbox for shifting negative thought patterns and maladaptive coping mechanisms.

Online-Therapy.com specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of therapy that prompts individuals to notice the impact their thoughts have on their actions with the goal of shifting negative ways of coping. It is proven to be beneficial in the treatment of substance use disorders.

Online-Therapy.com not only offers individual and couples therapy sessions to adults, it also offers text messaging-based therapy, a virtual CBT course where you can learn techniques that can be used daily, a digital journal, worksheets, and even online yoga classes. Plus, you can message your therapist anytime to get extra support between sessions. We love that you can share your journal prompts or worksheets with your therapist so you can spend your time in-session getting to the heart of matters and processing what is causing pain.

Online-Therapy.com’s therapists include counselors, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists. Its services are available to adults worldwide. No providers at Online-Therapy.com can prescribe medication. 

The company offers live sessions through text messaging, audio call, or video chat. Sessions last 45 minutes, which is a standard amount of time for a therapy session. As soon as you sign up, you are assigned a therapist and can access their booking link to get your first appointment scheduled. If you are unsatisfied with the therapist you are assigned or find that your scheduling isn’t aligning, you can switch therapists immediately.

Online-Therapy.com offers four tiers of membership.

• The basic plan ($50 per week) offers unlimited messaging with a therapist and access to the platform’s therapy program, which includes its virtual CBT course, journal, yoga videos, and worksheets. 
• The standard plan ($80 per week) offers unlimited messaging, the virtual therapy program, and one live 45-minute therapy session a week. 
• The premium plan ($110 per week) includes unlimited messaging, the virtual therapy program, and two live 45-minute sessions per week. 
• The couples therapy plan ($110 per week) includes unlimited messaging (for both partners), access to the virtual therapy program, and one 45-minute couples therapy session per week.

Online-Therapy.com is not in-network with insurance companies. Payments can be made with an HSA or FSA.

Users approve of their experience with Online-Therapy.com, with 86% stating it is better than other services they’ve used in the past. Another 67% said if they needed a new therapist, they would start their search again at Online-Therapy.com, and 82% said they are likely to recommend the platform to a friend.

Support from others can be a critical aspect of sobriety. Circles offers support groups for those struggling with substance use led by trained mental health professionals.

Circles is an online platform dedicated to providing affordable support groups to those struggling with a range of issues, including sobriety. It values bringing together people in a safe space to feel seen, heard, and supported. Every support group is facilitated by a licensed mental health professional. Keep in mind that a support group isn’t the same as therapy. A support group with a trained mental health professional facilitator will focus on peer-to-peer connection and building coping tools, while therapy solely focuses on individually processing your challenges and emotions. 

Peer support groups have been found to be helpful in supporting individuals in their sobriety journey. Attending a sobriety support group can help in building relationships with others who have chosen to abstain from substances, something that can be very important in a world where most major events and celebrations involve alcohol.

Circles offers its first week free, giving users a chance to see if its support groups are the right fit for them. The platform will match you with a group. When signing up, you will be asked to disclose what your current struggle is, choosing from a list of options ranging from divorce to parenting challenges to sobriety. You’ll be offered a few different support groups that could be a good fit, so you’ll make your choice based on the best for your schedule. Once you are matched with a group, you can try out the first session for free. There is no minimum commitment for a support group; they are ongoing. Between sessions, you can chat with other group members and the group facilitator. Currently, Circles only offers sessions for adults.

Circles only has one monthly plan available. It offers four weekly sessions for $49 per month. Your first session is free. 

Circles is not considered therapy, therefore it is not in-network with any insurance companies, is not eligible for FSA/HSA payments, and cannot be submitted for reimbursement.

Eighty percent of Circles users we surveyed gave the platform a positive rating overall and 83% were pleased with the qualifications of the group facilitators. Another 82% found the therapist diversity on the platform to be good, very good, or excellent. Overall, 70% of users surveyed would recommend Circles to a friend.

Sometimes we just need someone to hear us out. 7 Cups is an online community that offers free peer support for a variety of issues, including addiction. 

Navigating addiction can be a deeply lonely journey, with many family members, friends, and colleagues not understanding why you might decline a drink or decide to avoid attending a celebration at a bar. 7 Cups is a virtual platform that offers peer support, featuring various chat rooms on a number of different mental health issues. You can also engage in an anonymous chat 24/7 with a volunteer who is trained to be a listening ear, perfect for those times when you just need to vent and be heard.

There are various chat forums on the 7 Cups website that can be accessed at any time without an account. However, to participate in a forum, start a chat forum yourself, or find a volunteer listener, you will need to sign up for a free account. What we love about 7 Cups is that there is space to get support for all the other issues that may come along with navigating addiction issues—self-image, isolation, relationship issues, or anything else that feels troubling to you can be discussed here. Support for teens is also available.

You are welcome to access 7 Cups’ chat rooms and messaging boards for free. You can also use live chat for support from a trained volunteer. If you need extra support, you can opt for unlimited messaging with a therapist for $150 a month.

We didn’t survey 7 Cups users this year, but we did survey 100 users in 2021. At that time, 66% of respondents gave the platform a positive rating and 79% of users were satisfied with the platform’s ease of use. In addition, 74% were impressed with the speed of responses they received when using the platform.

Alcohol addiction can be treated with a variety of therapeutic modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing. Monument uses each of these modalities, as well as medication management if necessary, making it our pick for best therapy for alcohol use disorder.

Offering an alternative to expensive rehabilitation programs, Monument is an affordable alcohol treatment program that offers individual therapy, medication management, support groups, and 24/7 virtual community support. We love that it isn’t solely focused on sobriety—it is also suitable for those who would like to explore drinking in moderation. This non-stigmatizing approach is great for those who are unsure if they need help but are aware they want a different relationship to alcohol.

Monument was founded in 2019 by Mike Russell after his own hardships with stopping drinking. He wasn’t sure if he qualified as someone suffering from alcohol use disorder, but knew his habit of binge drinking a few nights a week was not serving him. After striking out on his attempts to enter a rehab due to a lack of availability and not feeling comfortable in the group meetings he found, he discovered medications designed to reduce people’s desire to drink. After beginning medication, he was able to heal the underlying issues behind his alcohol use. Russell's personal story is relatable to many and only strengthens our trust in this company.

Cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing are two key approaches Monument therapists use. These are evidence-based practices that can help heal alcohol addiction. When pursuing therapy through Monument, you will be matched with a therapist who will create a unique treatment plan for you. If you’d like to pursue medication management, you can seek out the support of one of Monument’s physicians. If necessary, they will prescribe disulfiram or naltrexone to help curb your desire to drink.

Monument’s medication management services are built as a monthly plan where you pay a flat fee and can chat with your doctor at any time. You can opt to receive both therapy and medication management from Monument. Additionally, you will have access to online support groups moderated by a licensed therapist and the ability to anonymously post on a community forum to receive additional peer support.

For medication management, you pay an initial appointment fee of $45 and then a monthly fee of $9.99. The monthly fee covers virtual medication management, messaging with your physician at any time, and therapist-moderated support groups. Additional appointments can be booked for $45 per appointment. 

Another option is Monument’s Total Care plan. This plan offers everything in the medication management plan plus 45-minute therapy sessions. The bi-weekly Total Care plan costs $149 per month and the weekly Total Care plan costs $249 per month.

Monument is in-network with major insurance providers like Aetna, Anthem, Optum, and UnitedHealthcare.

Seventy-three percent of Monument users surveyed stated their provider met most, if not all, of their needs. Seventy-seven percent of users stated they were pleased with the qualifications of Monument therapists—no surprise there, since every therapist on the platform has specialized training in substance use. Ninety-seven percent of users said Monument beats out other therapy services they’ve used in the past.

Opioid addiction is a challenging illness to tackle. Mindful Care offers a specialized program that includes medication-assisted treatment options for those kicking opioid dependence. 

Mindful Care is a telehealth company prioritizing urgent appointments, working to ensure clients can be seen within a few days, if not the same day a request is made. What makes Mindful Care especially unique is its Mindful Recovery program. This is a full-spectrum virtual recovery program designed to treat alcohol use and opioid use disorders. It utilizes a harm-reduction approach, which has been shown to decrease the prevalence of overdose from active drug use. This evidence-based approach paired with its commitment to urgency in treatment is why Mindful Care is our pick as the best online therapy for opioid addiction.

The Mindful Recovery program is a holistic approach to healing alcohol and opioid use disorders. It includes individual and group therapy, medication-assisted treatment, and care navigation. This means that not only do you have the opportunity to receive individualized care, you can also build a sober community and have an advocate help you navigate your recovery along the way. This program is a fit for anyone dealing with substance use and even can be valuable for individuals who are already in recovery.

After an initial evaluation with an intake specialist, you will receive a recovery plan. This will list whether or not you are a good candidate for medication-assisted treatment, the frequency of your therapy sessions, and any other necessary details for your recovery. While there is no time commitment for the program, Mindful Care does recommend that clients maintain at least one year of continuous sobriety before exiting the Mindful Recovery program.

Mindful Care is in-network with a variety of major insurance providers, including Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, and Medicare. Self-pay fees include:

• 40-minute initial psychiatric evaluation: $175
• 20-minute follow-up psychiatric session: $75
• 40-minute individual therapy session: $100
• 20-minute individual therapy session: $50
• 60-minute group therapy session: $35

Ninety-two percent of Mindful Care users rated it as good, very good, or excellent overall, with 82% of users surveyed stating their provider met most, if not all, of their needs. Eighty-four percent found Mindful Care to be helpful in connecting them to a therapist and 83% would recommend the service to a friend.

Quitting smoking is hard. Circle Medical specializes in individual therapy and medication management for smoking cessation, making the process smoother.

Circle Medical was founded in 2015 with the goal of making the process of seeking primary care an easier experience. Operating as a virtual affiliate of UCSF Health, Circle Medical offers a broad spectrum of care. In addition to smoking cessation support, it also includes mental health diagnosis and treatment, controlled substance prescriptions, health and wellness coaching, integrative medicine and holistic care, and women’s health services.

Circle Medical Services are available in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Texas, Hawaii, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. 

Smoking cessation treatment will vary based on individual needs. However, treatment typically includes therapy and medication support, if necessary. Medication options typically include nicotine replacement therapy, like gums and lozenges, and medications such as bupropion or antidepressants. Therapy modalities include cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness. 

Scheduling an appointment is simple. You’ll log onto the website, click the button on the landing page that reads, “Book Now,” and then select which service you’d like to schedule. Then, you’ll be asked to share your location. After, you’ll be invited to choose your provider and an appointment time. 

The first intake appointment is 30 minutes long and all subsequent appointments last 20 minutes.

Circle Medical does not offer subscription plans and instead has clients pay by session. It is in-network with over 1,500 insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, Anthem, Blue Shield of California, and Health Net. 

Unfortunately, Circle Medical is not transparent with its pricing. While common mental health services like video appointments and ADHD care are listed from $100 to $149, patients have to book an appointment to learn their final self-pay costs or have their insurance verified.

Circle Medical has an excellent user satisfaction rating, with 90% of users saying they found the platform to be good, very good, or excellent. Eighty-seven percent were pleased with the qualifications of therapists on the platform. Despite these positive ratings, only 62% stated they would use Circle Medical again in the future if they needed a therapist, which is a lower rating than other companies we reviewed.

Treatment for food addiction can be stigmatizing. Inclusive Therapists feature various providers who use a Health At Every Size (HAES) approach, providing care for every body.

Inclusive Therapists is a therapy directory dedicated to connecting therapy seekers with providers who are diverse in body size, race, ethnicity, language, culture, religion, and ability. It has providers with credentials ranging from licensed therapists and psychiatrists to reiki and yoga practitioners. It is our pick for best therapy for food addiction because it offers the ability to search for providers who use a Health at Every Size (HAES) treatment approach. 

Treatment for food addiction can be shaming and stigmatizing, with some schools of thought insisting that a body must look a certain way to be considered healthy. The HAES philosophy focuses on the innate diversity we all have in body size, exercise needs, and food intake, highlights the risks of promoting dieting as an antidote to being “overweight,” and prioritizes health and happiness. By choosing a HAES therapist, you can expect to receive support that takes into account food addiction while also helping you find balance and healing. 

Outside of choosing a HAES-aligned therapist, you can also specify the desired gender, racial identity, cultural knowledge, spiritual orientation, and ability of your therapist.

Since this is a therapy directory, it is free. Prices and services offered will vary based on provider, ranging anywhere from $30 per session to over $250. Additionally, the insurance plans providers are in-network with will vary based on each provider.

Inclusive Therapists is promising for therapy seekers; 67% of users surveyed were able to find a therapist that met all their needs. It may take a few tries before you land on the right fit, though. Fifty-four percent of surveyed users saw two to three providers before landing on the right therapist for them and another 24% saw four to five providers before settling on the right one.

Modern Intimacy takes a non-pathologizing and well-researched approach to love, porn, and sex addiction.

Modern Intimacy is a private practice therapy group specializing in sex and couples therapy. All of its clinicians have specialized training in sex and relationships, ensuring they are up to date on the most recent evidence-based modalities. It has therapists on staff that focus specifically on sex, love, and porn addiction. Its services are currently available to clients in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and New York.

Modern Intimacy offers individual and couples therapy plus psychological assessments. It offers treatment for trauma; relationship issues; sexual challenges; and sex, love, and porn addiction. Psychological assessments explore any compulsive sexual behavior, substance use issues, maladaptive coping tools, and symptoms of a mental health condition. An assessment can help paint a clearer picture of your current recovery needs. 

Modern Intimacy providers include marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and psychologists. Services are currently only available to adults. To schedule an appointment, contact the company to set up a free 30-minute consultation. You can expect to speak to a member of the Modern Intimacy staff who will work to set you up with a therapist who could be a good match for you. From there, you will begin seeing your therapist, who will work with you to develop a treatment plan outlining frequency of appointments and therapeutic goals.

There is no subscription plan offered at Modern Intimacy; it is pay-per-session. Appointment fees range from $150 to $300. This company is not in-network with any insurance companies.

While we did not survey Modern Intimacy users for this specific round-up, we did consult with a Modern Intimacy therapist and are confident in the quality of therapists on this platform. This confidence is instilled by each therapist’s specialized training in sex and intimacy, as well as the extensive credentials of founder Kate Balestrieri, PsyD. She is a certified sex therapist, couples therapist, and licensed psychologist. Plus, she has completed training in the NeuroAffective Touch Model, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, and the psychobiological approach to couples therapy (PACT) model. She also provides close training and supervision to her roster of clinicians.