Calmerry vs BetterHelp

This Review intends to compare one of the leading online therapy providing services, BetterHelp, to one that is relatively new, up and coming, but making itself known rapidly, Calmerry. 

It aims to examine both platforms based on factors that are most essential to consider when signing up for e-therapy. The most important out of these and their corresponding ratings are enlisted in the table below. 

Factor	BetterHelp Rating	Calmerry Rating
Background and Experience	9/10	7.5/10
Range of Mental Illnesses	9/10	8/10
Therapist Credibility	8/10	8/10
Registration Procedure	9/10	9/10
Useability	8/10	8/10
Pricing	8/10	7/10
Flexibility and Availability	8/10	8.5/10
Security and Confidentiality	9.5/10	9.5/10

Background and Experience

BetterHelp

BetterHelp was founded in 2013 by Alon Matas, a tech expert who had experienced what depression feels like, personally. 

Having been founded in 2013, BetterHelp has an edge over many online therapy providing services in terms of experience and exploring the landscape of e-therapy long before others entered the industry. 

Moreover, Alon’s technical expertise, coupled with Teladoc’s major investment influx meant that BetterHelp had the know-how and support system of thriving on the world wide web. 

In addition, it’s founders’ personal battle with depression allowed BetterHelp to equip its services with the genuine empathy based approach needed to fulfill its aim of making therapy not only convenient, but affordable and widely accessible too. 

Calmerry

Although similar in nature and in terms of its wider mission, Calmerry is a relatively newly established platform. 

It was founded in 2019 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is because the pandemic not only resulted in novel mental health challenges, but aggravated and activated those with existing proneness to such distresses. 

Hence, due to BetterHelp being amongst the pioneers of providing such services, this experience might serve as the driving force between people opting for them instead of signing up for relatively new platforms. 

However, Calmerry has its own attractive set of features which may appeal to clients with such preferences, which will be discussed in the sections to follow. 

Range of Illnesses

BetterHelp

BetterHelp online therapy serves to address a wide range of Mental Health issues. These majorly include, and are not restricted to:

• Depression
• Generalized Anxiety disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive disorder
• Psychosomatic disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Sleep disorders
• Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa
• Chronic impulsivity
• Chronic stress
• Familial issues
• Parenting problems
• Intimate relationship problems
• Sexual orientation issues
• Teen therapy
• LGBTQIA related issues
• Educational issues
• Career related problems
• Financial worries
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Grief
• Loss
• Spiritual matters
• Existential worries

Calmerry

Striking similarities and a general sense of overlap can be noticed in the overall range of mental health issues that both BetterHelp and Calmerry serve to address. 

Calmerry also helps clients recover from: 

• Depression
• Anger management issues
• Post-traumatic Stress
• Intimate relationship issues
• Emotional abuse
• Familial and Social matters
• Financial issues
• Spiritual concerns
• Existential questions
• Sleeping problems
• Grief and loss challenges
• Self-esteem troubles.

Despite their overall similar nature, one major attraction for clients reviewing all e-therapy services is BetterHelp’s customized approach extended to individuals exclusively seeking LGBTQIA, teenage and couple therapy. 

These exist under BetterHelp’s sister websites, named Pride Counselling, Regain Couples Counselling and Teen Counselling, respectively.  

These extensions of the BetterHelp platform employ therapists who have specialized in these areas of concern, which could likely prove to be a decisive factor for potential clients searching for help online, to choose BetterHelp. 

It is also important for any potential client to note, however, that both platforms are evidently not the ideal services in order to treat serious mental health issues which require urgent help or the use of medicinal drugs. 

Therapist Credibility 

BetterHelp

BetterHelp ensures that the therapists they have on board are second to none. They understand the sensitive nature of the work they deal in and make sure they leave no stone unturned in their well-informed efforts aimed at the betterment of their clients. 

Hence, BetterHelp therapists have set high standards with regards to qualifications. Their therapists have completed the necessary education, practise, training and examinations. They are fully accredited and properly licensed for clinical practise. Moreover, it is ensured that they are in compliance with the updated laws applying to their geographical location. 

BetterHelp employs therapists who have successfully completed 1,000 hours and 3 years of clinical practise. 

Moreover, they possess at least a Masters or Post Doctorate degree in their relevant field of work. 

Calmerry

In terms of screening for the best therapists, Calmerry employs a recruitment criteria that works much the same way as BetterHelp. 

Therapists at Calmerry include and are not limited to Clinical Social Workers (LCSW/LMSW), Licensed Professional Counsellors (LPC), Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) etc. Unlike BetterHelp, they are required to have completed 2,500 hours of clinical practise prior to applying at Calmerry. 

A Masters and/or a Post Doctorate degree are mandatory prerequisites to work at Calmerry.

In addition, as with BetterHelp, Calmerry therapists are also ensured to have complied by all relevant licensing and state laws. 

Despite Calmerry therapists’ greater hours of clinical practise, because of BetterHelp’s existence in the industry, it is not unfair to suggest that the latter has therapists who know the landscape of the industry better and hence may be better suited to this flexible and relatively novel form of therapy. 

Moreover, although both platforms have an abundant supply of Psychologists, they lack the services of a Psychiatrist. This means BetterHelp and Calmerry have not yet acquired a doctor with a solely medical background who is fit to prescribe medication and psychiatric drugs. 

Registration Procedure

BetterHelp

BetterHelp follows a simple and user friendly registration process. It begins by answering a questionnaire which includes demographic questions. It progresses to more subjective questions such as the sorts of symptoms one might be feeling. 

It asks a client for a valid email address and their name. If, for privacy reasons and for complete anonymity, a client is uncomfortable doing so, they can provide a nickname as well. 

BetterHelp verifies the clients identity by sending a verification code or requesting them to click on a link sent to their email id. 

The clients answers in response to the questionnaire and further questions about their personal preferences in a therapist are used to algorithmically assign multiple therapists to choose from, for them. This allows for greater probability of achieving the best possible results. 

Finally, clients are required to accept the platforms’ terms and conditions and directed to the payment page. BetterHelp accepts payment via Visa and Paypal. 

Calmerry

Calmerry works in noticeably the same way. It follows a 4-step procedure whereby the client initially provides a working email id and password. Here onwards, a very brief 3 minute questionnaire is answered regarding the clients’ background, needs and expectations from therapy. 

This is followed by a range of therapists being made available to them, from which they have to choose. Subsequently, the client is requested to choose a payment package and a combination of the services they would like to avail. 

Useability 

BetterHelp

Through each of its 4 possible plans, BetterHelp allows for 24 hour messaging services and 1 weekly session.

The forms through which these sessions can be taken include text messaging, live chatting, audio calls and video calls. 

Although some therapists may not reply over more than once per day, BetterHelp still offers a secure and private chat room where conversations between client and therapist can continue in a thread-like form. 

Moreover, BetterHelp offers a user friendly interface on its website and mobile application. Therapy sessions can be partaken in on a clients mobile device as well, upon simply logging into their account as on the website. This allows users to not have to miss and reschedule on appointments even when they are on the go. 

Calmerry

Much like BetterHelp, Calmerry also enables users to subscribe to and undertake therapy on Calmerry’s website and/or its mobile application. 

Unlike Betterhelp, however, Calmerry offers 3 payment packages, namely monthly, quarterly and biannually. 

Also, slightly differently than BetterHelp, Calmerry allows users to merely take text messaging services and advice from Calmerry therapists as well, without weekly, monthly or biannual/annual sessions. However, as per their needs, other packages including a combination of communication techniques are also available at the clients’ disposal. 

Pricing

BetterHelp

BetterHelp’s weekly plan requires clients to pay 80USD for 1 session and 24 hour text messaging services for the duration of that week. Their packages become more economical over the long run.

Their monthly plan for instance, costs 65USD per week and includes a total of 4 sessions for the entire month, alongside similar text messaging services. A lump sum payment of 260USD is required at the beginning of the month though.

The Quarterly plan is billed 540USD after every 4 months. It also allows 1 session every week and unlimited messaging services. This amounts to 45USD per week.

The Annual plan is worth 1820USD. It also makes a client liable to receiving 1 weekly session and up to round the clock messaging with the therapist. This is the most reasonable option over the long run as it costs only 35USD per week. 

Calmerry

Calmerry’s first package consists of upto 24 hour text messaging with a licensed therapist of the client’s own choice. This package lacks a live audio or video session and can be utilized best for general advice and not urgent help. It costs 59.95USD. 

The second package includes 24 hour messaging services, but with the added attraction of a private chat box that works more like an instant messenger rather than conventional offline texting. This costs 211.9USD, which equals 52.99USD if divided weekly. 

The third package called ‘Message+Video’ allows not only the 24/7 chat box feature but also 4 video calls per month, equally divided into 1 per week. Each session spans 30 minutes. This package costs 89.99USD weekly and 359.96USD per month. 

Considering these costs, BetterHelp seems to incline towards being the more economical option, or at least more value for money. This is because its most feasible option over the long run costs merely 35USD and includes a video call or audio call option as well, whereas it’s Calmerry counterpart costs 52.99USD, and does not allow for calls to take place. 

Moreover, BetterHelp therapy sessions range from spanning over 30 to 50 minutes, as per the client and the sessions’ needs. On the other hand, sessions on Calmerry typically are only allowed to last 30 minutes. 

Flexibility

BetterHelp

BetterHelp does not currently allow a versatile combination of plans whereby at least one of them caters to the clients who are comfortable with solely a text-messaging oriented form of therapy. 

All of its proposed packages offer at least one audio or video session per week, which may not be certain clients’ preferred medium of communication. 

Calmerry

Calmerry resolves this issue by offering its unorthodox “Therapy Journey Start”. This allows for them to merely use text messaging services for consultation with their therapists. This reflects the versatility and arguably more convenient method of functioning that Calmerry follows. 

Security and Confidentiality 

BetterHelp

BetterHelp uses two layers of encryption, namely the SSL encryption and the banking-level 256-bit encryption. It also obliges by all essential HIPAA, state and federal laws. 

It does not require clients to even submit their real names should they be uncomfortable in doing so and offers them an encrypted chat box that no one apart from the client themselves and their therapists have access to. 

Calmerry

Calmerry also ensures that its online practises are GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliant, which means, like BetterHelp, they also follow an SSL encrypted communication system. 

They also ensure that their counsellors strictly follow APA’s Record Keeping Guidelines and Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. 

This evidence suggests that both BetterHelp and Calmerry are amongst the leading e-therapy providers in terms of anonymity and security. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Conclusion

This review compared two leading e-therapy services, BetterHelp and Calmerry. It provides an in-depth analysis and contrast of both platforms across crucial factors that should be used to judge e-therapy organizations. 

These factors included background, illness range, therapist qualifications, registration processes, general useability, pricing, versatility and steps these platforms take to ensure full confidentiality. 

In light of these concerns, although both platforms provide unprecedented standards of services, BetterHelp arguably has the edge over Calmerry, by being more value for money.