Find Relief From Holiday Stress & Anxiety With Talkspace’s Teletherapy Services, Now $80 Off

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I don’t know about you, but when December rolls around, all my niggling mental health problems suddenly get way worse. Something about the cold and darkness, the pressure of channeling a “holiday spirit” that I don’t always feel, and the upcoming end of the year (aka facing the disappointments of 2023 and the anxiety of what’s to come in 2024) just doesn’t do my mental and emotional health any good. And I’m not alone there — according to a 2014 survey from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 64 percent of people with mental illness say the holidays make their conditions worse.

One thing that can help is therapy, but it’s not exactly easy to find a good therapist, especially during the holidays when you’re probably already overbooked. Online mental health services like Talkspace can make it easier by identifying therapists that meet your needs, providing a user-friendly platform to set up your calls, and taking a lot of the legwork out of it overall. The best part? If you sign up now, Talkspace will give you $80 off with the code SPACE80.

If you’ve never heard of Talkspace before, let us explain. In short, it’s an online therapy service that connects people with therapists and services based on their mental health needs and where they live. (Even for online therapy, you can only see a therapist who’s licensed in your state, but Talkspace says it has thousands of therapists in its network from all 50 states.) Talkspace is also the “top insurance-covered therapy service,” and says “most covered members pay an average copay of less than $30” — which is huge, considering that therapy can cost anywhere from $65 to $250 or more per session, according to GoodTherapy. (Out of pocket, Talkspace plans start at $69 per week.)

Talkspace provides teletherapy, which means you meet with your therapist virtually, via videochat on the website or your phone. While some people may prefer in-person therapy, teletherapy provides flexibility and privacy (you can talk to them from your home or even on a lunch break at work, without worrying about transportation or travel time) and cuts down on cost, Talkspace says.

It’s also easy to use, even if you aren’t the most tech-savvy. Once you’re on the website, you’ll be directed to start a short questionnaire, asking what kind of service you’re looking for (individual, teen therapy, couples therapy, or psychiatry), if you have an insurance plan, and what issues or symptoms you’re dealing with. From there, Talkspace offers you a choice of plans that work best for your needs, including video therapy, messaging therapy (you can message with your therapist five days a week), workshops, and more, before matching you with a provider who’s suited to your needs.

While finding a therapist and trying out therapy — even over video call — can be overwhelming or scary, know that the process really can make a huge difference in your mental health. According to the American Psychological Association, “hundreds of studies have found that psychotherapy helps people make positive changes in their lives,” with about 75 percent of people who enter psychotherapy showing some benefit from it. In all, research has found that the average person who enters therapy is “is better off by the end of treatment than 80% of those who don’t receive treatment at all.”

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And online therapy might be newer to the game, but it’s already proving its worth. In a 2021 APA survey, 96 percent of psychologists said that teletherapy worked, with 93 percent saying they planned to continue providing teletherapy even after the pandemic (when it first got popular).

Of course, signing up for therapy now, in the middle of the holiday season, might feel like a lot to ask of yourself. And if that’s the case, it’s OK — you can always hit the ground running with it in the new year. But if you’re struggling now and need support, grab that sale code (SPACE80) and hit the link — Talkspace might be a good option.

Before you go, check out even more mental health apps to try this holiday season: