Cerebral vs Wellnite (Which is the best choice?)
By
OptimistMinds
As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.
Author bio
The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
This article will be weighing up two popular mental health care platforms, Cerebral and Wellnite. Both these platforms are relatively new to the mental health care field, but have been instrumental in their delivery. Cerebral and Wellnite do share a lot of the similar features while also differing in a few.
The table below will show you the main services offered by Cerebral and Wellnite, while depicting the dissimilarities between the two.
| Feature | Cerebral | Wellnite |
| Types of services | Therapy and Psychiatry | Therapy and Psychiatry |
| Pricing | Min 85 USD | Min 75 USD |
| Payment options | All major credit or debit cards, HSA, FSA | All major credit cards or debit cards |
| Insurance | Available | Available through PPO |
| Age group | 18 years and above | 13 years and above |
Cerebral
Pros
- Cerebral offers insurance coverage
- It has care counseling features
- It has a variety of treatment options
Cons
- There is no group therapy sessions here
- Teens therapy is not available
- Some services are not available in all the states
Wellnite
Pros
- Wellnite offers a variety of treatment options
- It offers therapy for teens
- It is very affordable
Cons
- It does not accept payments with HSA/FSA
- It only offers reimbursements with PPO
- The range of medications might be limited
About Cerebral
Cerebral was launched in January 2020 as a digital mental health care solution. The platform has catered to more than 100,000 patients so far and is one of the most preferred platforms for medications and therapy for those dealing with mental health conditions. Cerebral, or Get Cerebral, was founded by Kyle Robertson after he faced many challenges while seeking therapy.
In Cerebral, users can find several plans, each offer therapy (also called behavioral health coaching), medications or both these services. Each of the plans also allows the user to be in contact with a care counselor who guides the entire treatment process. The therapy sessions are delivered online while the medications are sent to the home of the user directly.
Cerebral is pretty affordable and this affordability only increases due to the insurance coverage provided in the platform. The platform has made this happen by tying up with a large number of in-network providers. Security wise, Cerebral is completely HIPAA compliant and safely guards the privacy and confidentiality of the use with utmost quality.
About Wellnite
Wellnite is a mental health care company that was founded in 2019 by Elisa Swan and Paulo Gonzalez. The platform aims to make mental health services easily accessible and affordable for everyone regardless of their financial status or insurance coverage. Wellnite operates completely online and thus can be accessed from anywhere.
The platform offers mainly three types of plans that users can choose from according to their needs and requirements. The main services offered here are therapy and psychiatry services. The therapy in Wellnite mostly uses CBT strategies and techniques. The prescribers in the platform can prescribe a range of non-controlled substances.
A variety of mental health conditions can be treated in Wellnite. However, the most common mental health conditions treated here are Anxiety and Depression. There are also plenty of free resources on the platform that can be useful for the general public. Wellnite is one of the most sought after platforms for cheap and affordable therapy and tele-psychiatry options.
Best features of Cerebral
Cerebral has a plethora of features and attributes that can be useful for anyone who is looking for mental health care services. Some of the most unique features that are present in Cerebral have been described in the points below.
Cerebral offers both, psychiatry as well as therapy services
In Cerebral, the user can find psychiatry and also therapy services in the same space. These services can be availed individually or as a combo as offered in the Medication + Coaching plan of the platform. The live sessions with the therapist or the prescriber is conducted online and can be switched between modes.
There are several formats to choose from
There are also many formats or modes of communication that are allowed in Cerebral. The user can communicate with their care team through messaging. They can also send an unlimited number of texts to their therapists at any point. The live sessions in Cerebral can be of two types, phone sessions or video sessions.
Care counseling is provided here
Care counseling is a unique feature that is provided in Cerebral. The care counselor is a mental health professional who may or may not be a licensed therapist. The role of the care counselor is to not provide therapy but bring emotional support and guidance to the patient. The care counselor also tracks the progress and notes side effects and symptoms.
Users can ask for documents and certificates
Documents and certificates can also be availed in Cerebral. The user or patient can ask their prescriber directly for these or simply drop an email to the customer support team of the platform. Through this feature, many users have received disability certificates, employee leave certificates as well as ESA letters.
The platform is very secure
High levels of safety and security are maintained in Cerebral. The platform is completely HIPAA compliant and thus the identity of the user is protected thoroughly. All the sessions and consultations are conducted online, further increasing the security of the user as well as the mental health professional.
Cerebral allows easy insurance coverage
Insurance coverage is made pretty easy in Cerebral. This insurance coverage is possible as the platform has tied up with several in-network providers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna and even Optum. The insurance coverage can greatly reduce the costs of mental health care and make it highly accessible for all.
There are a range of medications available in the platform
There are also a range of medications that are available on the platform. The medications that are allowed to be prescribed in Cerebral are anti-depressants, SSRIs and SNRIs. The prescriber may change the course of treatment depending on the symptoms and side effects depicted by the patient. However, controlled substances are easily prescribed here.
Therapists and prescribers are licensed
The therapists or behavioral coaches in Cerebral are licensed and well-experienced. The prescribers are also specialist medical professionals who are well-aware of the latest developments in medicine and can cater to a large range of mental health conditions. The care counselors are also mental health professionals.
The Cerebral blog offers great resources
The blog section in Cerebral is a gold mine full of free resources that can be used by anyone and everyone. The blog is religiously updated with content related to the betterment of mental health through medications and even alternative treatments such as supplements, yoga, exercise and even diet modifications.
The medications are delivered home
The medications in Cerebral are delivered to the home of the patient directly. The patient does not need to pay extra for the shipping as these charges are also included in the insurance coverage. The medications are also packaged discreetly so that the patient does not have to fear judgment from the neighbors.
Best features of Wellnite
Wellnite is popularly known for its highly affordable mental health care services. Some of the best features of this platform have been described in the section below.
There are a variety of plans here
In Wellnite, the user can opt from a range of plans and can choose based on their needs as well as their preferences. The platform offers plans for only therapy and only medications. It also offers a plan where both these services can be availed in the same plan along with several other features.
The Wellnite community section is very informative
The platform also has a community section where the user can get access to many blogs, articles and other resources. This community hub of Wellnite can be subscribed to for free after which the person can receive newsletters and articles related to mental health and how to deal with mental illness.
It allows reimbursements
Reimbursements are also made easily possible in Wellnite. While the platform cannot be covered by insurance through in-network providers, it offers reimbursements through Preferred Provider Organizations or PPOs. The reimbursements can include consultations, medications, therapy sessions and even nurse support.
The access to mental health care is quick here
The access to mental health care in Wellnite is pretty quick and easy. Users only need to complete a brief questionnaire about their medical history and their emotional state after which they will have an appointment with a doctor who will determine the best course of action for the user. Treatment can even be started within 24 hours.
Teens therapy is available here
Wellnite states that it can be used for children who are as young as 13 years old. For those who are availing teens therapy in Wellnite, they must provide consent prior to their treatment sessions. Teens therapy is considered very important today as this age group often faces high levels of stress and anxiety.
Users can choose their mental health professionals
Most online mental health care platforms use artificial intelligence or algorithms to match the user with a mental health professional. However, in Wellnite, the user can choose their own providers by sifting through their bios. This is a huge plus and an advantage for the user as they are in more control of their mental health.
The customer support is great in Wellnite
The customer support in Wellnite is pretty effective and very quick to respond. Users of certain plans in the platform are also eligible for full-time support and get more priority here. The customer support is offered through texts or phone calls 12 hours for all days of the week and can be reached out to for cancellations, modifications or any other requests.
Pricing of Cerebral
The costs of Cerebral depend highly on the type of plan that the user is choosing. The Medication + Coaching plan of Cerebral costs $195 per month and the platform offers it at $79 for the first month. The Coaching plan of the platform is for $145 per month while the Medication + Care Counseling plan costs $85 per month.
Pricing of Wellnite
Wellnite offers mainly three different types of plans and the costs can differ based on the user’s choice. These plans, their prices as well as their main features have been described as follows.
Wellnite Medical Care + Therapy plan
The Wellnite Medical Care + Therapy plan can be availed at a price of $195 per month. This plan allows the user one video session with their doctor every month and also wholesale pricing for medications. The user is also warranted to video sessions with their therapist every month and has priority customer support.
Wellnite Therapy plan
The Wellnite Therapy plan costs $350 per month and allows the user exclusive access to a licensed therapist in the platform. The user can schedule up to six live video sessions per month. They can also schedule extra live sessions if they wish to in this plan. In addition to therapy, the user can also access member support at any time.
Wellnite Medical Care plan
The Wellnite Medical Care plan costs $75 per month and is charged every two weeks. In this plan, the user can consult their doctor with one live video appointment every month. They also have access to wholesale pricing for their medications and can also enjoy free delivery. This plan also grants the user all-week access to member support.
Signing up for Cerebral
Signing up for Cerebral is pretty easy. The user has to first fill out a questionnaire in the platform which will gather data related to their mental health issues. The user will be prompted to set up an appointment with a provider who will brief them about the various features and plans that are available in the platform.
Based on the needs and requirements of the user, the provider will nudge them towards any appropriate plan. The next step will be the matching process where the algorithm in Cerebral will match the user with a suitable mental health professional. Once this is completed, the user can start their treatment in a matter of days.
Signing up for Wellnite
To sign up for the mental health care services in Wellnite, the potential customer will have to fill out a medical questionnaire on the platform after which they will consult with a medical doctor. The user will be given a personal treatment plan after which they can commence treatment quickly. Some users have even been able to start treatment within 24 hours of signing up.
Tips for using Cerebral
Cerebral can be tricky, especially for online therapy first-timers. While the platform makes seeking mental health care practically a cakewalk, there are always many ways through which the quality of care can be improved here. Some helpful suggestions have been mentioned below.
- The platform allows mainly two different types of live therapy sessions. Whether you are choosing a phone session or a video session, make sure that you are in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. You can also dedicate a certain spot for therapy in your home and use this for your other self-care activities.
- To allow your therapist or prescriber to understand you better during your video session, make sure that you are expressing your thoughts and feelings in much detail. This is important especially as your provider cannot see your body language through an online format of communication.
- Cerebral providers can also provide certificates or letters for various requirements. If you think an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) can help your mental health, don’t shy away from asking your provider for an ESA letter.
Tips for using Wellnite
Wellnite is a very user-friendly platform and even the most non-tech savvy person can figure out their way around it in no time at all. Some tips to help new users of Wellnite have been described as follows.
- Wellnite mainly allows video sessions for its therapy as well as psychiatry services. To improve the quality of your video sessions, you can always turn off your selfie camera so that you focus better on what your therapist or prescriber is saying rather than being distracted by your own appearance.
- You can also create therapy goals for yourself before starting your sessions. These therapy goals need to be realistic and achievable in nature. You can communicate these with your therapist so that the interventions are driven by them.
- Writing in a journal everyday can not only improve your mental health but can also increase the effectiveness of your therapy sessions. In your therapy journal, you can write the goals you have created for yourself and also jot down your thoughts and feelings about your on-going therapy sessions.
Personal experiences in Cerebral
Cerebral is very well-known for providing excellent mental health care services. The Cerebral app has a rating of 4.3 stars in Google Play store and a rating of 4.7 stars in Apple apps. Some of the experiences that users have had in this platform have been summarized in the points below.
- Most users have felt that the psychiatry services in Cerebral are great. The prescribers have been found to be empathetic and genuinely care about the well-being of their patients. Several users have also got their dosages reduced by their prescribers.
- Many users have enjoyed the online nature of the sessions, especially in therapy. Users have felt that the platform provides more convenience and comfort as they do not need to step out of their homes to receive therapy services.
- Some users have felt that the Cerebral app has a lot of technical errors and thus needs to be revamped in order to bring better services to the patients.
- A few users have complained that the platform is misleading in some information, especially in relation to the care counseling feature which does not provide therapy and instead provides emotional support and guidance for the user.
Personal experiences in Wellnite
Wellnite is very popular for providing mental health care services at very low rates. The medications are also sold at wholesale prices and the therapy services do not cost as much as compared to other competitors. Most users have experienced only good things in Wellnite. Some of their experiences have been described in the following points.
- Most users of Wellnite have had positive experiences in the therapy services as well as the psychiatry services of the platform.
- Many user reviews of Wellnite have bragged about the excellent customer support that platform provides. This user support is available through text or phone calls and can be contacted at any day of the week.
- The therapists and doctors in Wellnite have been found by users to be understanding and very knowledgeable in their fields. Most users have felt that their mental health has greatly improved after using Wellnite.
- Several users of Wellnite have left positive reviews about the ease of use and quick access to mental health care which is often not possible in traditional mental health care settings.
Conclusion
Cerebral and Wellnite, both are certainly great platforms to receive mental health care. These two platforms have many similar attributes and services. The only main difference between the two is insurance coverage, which is easily available in Cerebral while Wellnite only offers reimbursements through PPOs.
Cerebral offers access to medications and therapy for mental health conditions and emotional issues. There are three main plans that users can choose from and Cerebral ensures all its patients have access to good care counseling. The platform also delivers the medications to the home of the user directly.
Wellnite also offers psychiatry services and therapy services through three main plans. The medications and drugs in this platform are sold at wholesale prices and thus the user ends up paying a lot less than they normally would have in traditional mental health care settings. The user can also choose their own provider after checking out the bios.
BetterHelp: A Better Alternative
If you are on the prowl for an amazing platform that offers superb mental health services, we would highly recommend BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers individual therapy services, couples therapy services and even therapy for teenagers. Furthermore, the platform also provides group therapy sessions that are conducted about once a week.
The subscription to BetterHelp is pretty affordable and while there is no insurance coverage here, the platform provides financial assistance to those who are unemployed, disabled and even those who have veteran status. The financial assistance needs to be renewed every three months and can reduce the costs of therapy by up to 25 per cent.
Frequently asked questions:
How does Wellnite work?
In Wellnite, users can complete the mental health questionnaire, after which they will be consulting a doctor. Once this is done, the user will be able to start treatment or therapy or even both right away. Wellnite offers its services at very affordable costs and thus can be availed by anyone.
How do I cancel my Wellnite account?
To cancel your Wellnite account, you can text the customer support team of the platform. You can also call the customer support number which is available all days of the week for 12 hours each day.
How much does Wellnite cost?
The costs of the services in Wellnite depend on the plan that the user is choosing. For only medications, the user will have to pay $75 per month and if they only want the therapy, they will need to pay $350 every month. To get access to both these services in one plan, the user will have to shell out $195 every month.
What is Get Cerebral?
Get Cerebral or simply Cerebral, is a mental health care platform that offers therapy and medications online for those dealing with mental health conditions. The company was founded by Kyle Robertson and has been serving clients since January 2020. Since its launch, the platform has served more than 100, 000 patients.
Does Cerebral actually work?
Yes, Cerebral actually works according to the thousands of user reviews. Most of the users have experienced an improvement in their mental health as projected by the progress tracking feature in the platform. The providers in Cerebral are knowledgeable and well-experienced enough to provide a range of treatments for a variety of mental health conditions.
Does Cerebral take Medicaid?
Yes, Cerebral takes Medicaid as well as Medicare. Insurance coverage of all sorts is easily available on the platform. Cerebral also accepts payments through Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
If you like this article, please post your comments and questions below.
Citations
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/cerebral
https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/digital-mental-health-subscription-service-cerebral-lands-35m
Cerebral Reaches $1.2B Valuation After Raising $127M in New Funding
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/wellnite
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/covid-19-other-crisis-wellnite-213500685.html
https://www.agriculture.com/family/health-safety/online-tools-make-mental-health-care-accessible
Was this helpful?
Find Hope and Healing Through Online Counseling on BetterHelp
