Randy Withers, LCMHC
Table of Contents
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Last Updated on February 14, 2024 by Randy Withers, LCMHC
As we head into uncertain economic times, more and more mental health clinicians are looking to online therapy as a way to supplement their income.
Many providers have their own private practice but use online counseling as a way to broaden their reach. Many online therapists instead draw the vast majority of their income from online platforms such as BetterHelp, which is the largest provider of telehealth services in the United States.
If you are curious how to make money online as a therapist, let this post serve as a guide!
If you have been considering online therapy jobs with BetterHelp, this post will tell you everything you need to know about why and how to get started.
What Is BetterHelp?
BetterHelp is the largest online counseling program in the United States. It accepts about 10,000 new signups per day and continues to grow.
With more than one million clients served, they offer video, phone, and text-based counseling services through the BetterHelp app, which is available on both Google Play and The App Store.
I know from personal experience that their service is excellent. You can read my review here.
I am particularly impressed by the ease of use on their counseling platform, My video , phone and chat sessions are taking place with little to no technical problems, If there are issues, the company is highly responsive and gives me the exact information that I need to address it, It’s so easy to message clients , assign worksheets, and view their journal writings,
From a current LPC based out of Louisiana – March, 2021
BetterHelp currently hiring licensed mental health counselors from all 50 states to meet the demands of their customer base, which grows larger every year.
This is an exceptional opportunity to help people from all over the country to improve their quality of life while working from the comfort of your own home.
If you’re considering applying for one of these BetterHelp jobs, here’s all the information you need.
How does BetterHelp work?
Clients who sign up for the service are matched with an online therapist in their home state as they move through the signup process.
Then, they pay a monthly membership which offers regular access to the therapist, as well as a number of other features.
BetterHelp therapists are held to the same ethical and professional requirements as they are in a traditional face-to-face environment, and the whole service is 100% private and confidential for clients.
What type of therapists is BetterHelp hiring?
Online therapists should consider applying for BetterHelp jobs as either a primary or supplementary income stream.
BetterHelp recruits qualified therapists to meet the demand for their services, and they have the option of working full-time or part-time.
To sign on with them, you must be a licensed mental health professional with a U.S. address and meet the following minimum requirements:
- Licensed by a State Board to provide counseling (e.g., LCSW, LMFT, LPC, PsyD, or similar credentials).
- Have experience in counseling for adults, couples, and/or teens.
- Demonstrate excellent writing and communication skills.
- Have a home office with a reliable internet connection.
One important thing to note is that if you require supervision to offer counseling services, you cannot be a provider at BetterHelp at this time.
You must be able to practice independently and have the appropriate documentation to account for your training.
BetterHelp is unable to accept the following professionals without a recognized mental health license:
- Substance abuse counselors
- School counselors
- Registered nurses
- Career counselors
- Christian counselors
- Business/life coaches
Why Become an Online Therapist with BetterHelp
You probably already know that you can be an online therapist, but you may have never realized how to make money online as a therapist.
BetterHelp provides licensed mental health professionals an extraordinary opportunity to acquire a steady stream of clients without the stress of networking, marketing, billing, support, or operations.
BetterHelp handles the fees, technical aspects, and paperwork so that therapists can focus on what they do best.
Ready to get started? Here’s the BetterHelp provider login
Some benefits of working for BetterHelp include:
- Work from the comfort of home.
- Create your own schedule.
- Unlimited referrals.
- Bonuses & Incentives for High Performers
- Free access to 390+ CEU Courses
- See as few or as many clients as you wish.
- Focus more on client needs and less on paperwork.
- No need to worry about acquiring clients, billing, support, or operations.
- Reach clients from all over your state.
- Enjoy tax write-offs as a contracted employee.
- $650 Medical, dental, and vision stipend for clinicians who average 30 hours or more per week.
- Free BetterHelp Membership!
BetterHelp provides you all the tools you need in order to excel.
BetterHelp Is Committed To Supporting Therapists
BetterHelp invests in hiring highly qualified staff to make sure that they are the preferred platform through which clinicians serve clients.
They are constantly improving their lead funnels and have already seen vast improvements during the limited time they have been actively recruiting new counselors.
With more counselors, BetterHelp is able to better serve the needs of its clients.
A diverse array of talented mental health professionals means better matching with clients, more freedom for counselors to make their own schedules, higher client retention, and more potential for sustained income.
Interested in learning more about earning potential? Sign up with BetterHelp to learn more.
BetterHelp Therapist Salary and Pay
Pay is structured differently with online therapy than it is with traditional in-person therapy. It’s compensation based on engagement, and everything is completed on the BetterHelp platform.
For example, you might have a 30-minute video session with a client, give them an assignment, reply to a journal entry from that assignment, send them a message mid-week to check-in on their progress and suggest another 30-minute session.
BetterHelp calculates all that time spent engaging with the client and payout stems from those hours.
BetterHelp is also transparent with what your payments look like. They even have a calculator on the platform that shows you where you are and how many more hours you need to work to get to the next tier.
How Much Can You Make On BetterHelp?
This graphic is pulled directly from the Betterhelp website. It shows that you begin a 30 dolars an hour for your first 5 hours, then 35 for hours 6-10, with a five dollar bump for every five hours worked, up to 45 hours.
Click the link to use the Betterhelp salary calculator and see how much you can earn.
Compensation with BetterHelp can average to:
- Small caseload (5-15 hours a week): $7800k-$27,300k a year
- Medium caseload (20-30 hours a week): $39k-$66,300k a year.
- Full caseload (40-50 hours a week): $101k-$136,500k.
As you can see, BetterHelp therapists can make as much as 11,300 a month, which of course depends on their caseload and the amount of interaction they have with individual clients.
Is it difficult to become an online therapist?
So long as you meet the qualifications, you can sign up online to work as an online therapist — it’s quick and easy. The whole process takes just a few days.
BetterHelp has streamlined the application process, and all you need to do at the start is answer a few brief questions about your qualification and interests.
When BetterHelp has confirmed that you have a valid license to practice and have met other qualifications, they will reach out to you by email to continue the process.
Get prepared by having your license, degrees, background check and other information that you would normally provide on a job application.
BetterHelp will get you oriented and online as quickly as possible, while still maintaining a high level of quality control.
How To Become An Online Therapist With BetterHelp
If you meet the basic requirements for becoming an online therapist, the next step is to simply visit the BetterHelp recruitment portal on their website and complete the initial application.
- The type of license you hold.
- The type of practice you’re currently working in.
- How much time you spend on paperwork
- How much time you wish to devote to working with BetterHelp clients
- Your name and email.
After you submit that initial information, BetterHelp will reach out to you via email to begin the actual application process.
Become an Online Therapist with BetterHelp Today
BetterHelp offers online therapists amazing opportunities to serve a broader network of clients and to further monetize their unique skill sets.
To learn more about BetterHelp jobs, head over to the BetterHelp recruitment page. Make sure you ask about a sign-on bonus. Qualified applicants may receive up to $500 once initial requirements are met. Once you submit your application, one of their onboarding specialists will contact you.
Good luck!
Become An Online Therapist
With BetterHelp
Now hiring licensed professionals in all 50 states.
Full and part-time positions available.
Apply now and earn up to a $500 bonus!
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How was your experience with BetterHelp? Leave a comment below and let us know all about it!
FAQ – Working at BetterHelp
What are the qualifications needed to become a BetterHelp therapist?
To become a therapist at BetterHelp, you must have a Master’s or Doctorate degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or a related field, and be fully licensed by the state in which you practice. This includes being a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or a Licensed Psychologist. Additionally, you must have at least 2-3 years of post-licensure experience and be able to demonstrate strong clinical skills and proficiency in providing therapy online.
How do I apply to work as a therapist with BetterHelp?
To apply, visit the BetterHelp website and navigate to their careers section. Find the therapist application form and complete it, providing your personal information, education, licensure details, and relevant experience. You may also be required to submit a resume or CV. After submitting your application, BetterHelp will review it and contact you if you meet their criteria and match their current needs.
How does BetterHelp match clients with therapists?
BetterHelp matches clients and therapists based on a variety of factors, including the client’s needs and preferences, the therapist’s expertise and specialization, as well as availability and scheduling compatibility. This ensures that clients receive the most appropriate and effective care from therapists who are well-suited to address their specific concerns.
What is the compensation like for therapists working with BetterHelp?
BetterHelp therapists are compensated on a per-session basis, with rates varying depending on factors such as experience, location, and client demand. Therapists have the flexibility to set their own schedules, which allows them to increase or decrease their workload as desired. This can lead to a wide range of income levels, with some therapists working part-time to supplement their income and others working full-time on the platform.
What kind of support and resources does BetterHelp provide for their therapists?
BetterHelp is committed to supporting their therapists by providing a range of resources and tools to ensure a smooth and successful experience. These include access to the BetterHelp platform, which allows therapists to manage their schedules, communicate with clients, and document sessions securely. In addition, BetterHelp offers ongoing training opportunities, clinical support, and access to a community of fellow therapists for networking and collaboration.
Is BetterHelp considered self employed?
As a therapist working with BetterHelp, you are typically considered an independent contractor rather than an employee. This means that you are self-employed and responsible for managing your own taxes and benefits. Being an independent contractor provides you with the flexibility to set your own schedule and workload, but it also comes with additional responsibilities, such as managing your income and expenses for tax purposes.
References
Curious about the efficacy of online therapy? Check out these articles in support of it!
- A Verywell Report: Americans Find Strength in Online Therapy
- Psychotherapy via internet as good as if not better than face-to-face consultations
- The Effectiveness of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders
- UC Berkeley Study of the Effectiveness of BetterHelp (.pdf)
This post is sponsored by BetterHelp. It contains affiliate links, which means that Blunt Therapy receives a commission for referring licensed therapists to its platform. Please read our affiliate disclosure for more information.
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I am so glad I found this article! My private practice was really suffering because of covid and I’ve been looking for extra ways to bring in revenue. Thanks for writing this Randy!
Hey Jocelyn – I’m glad you found it helpful. Thanks for your comment!
Most LCSW do not make $25 an hour. This is false. Most charge between $150 to $250/hour. $31 is not even close to adequate payment for a licensed masters level therapist. It is equivalent of an active uber driver.
Thank you for your comment and while I agree that therapists should be paid more, your statements fly in the face of the data. As you can see from this link, the median salary for masters level therapists is about 49k a year, or about 25 an hour. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/posting/masters-level-therapist-salary
While therapists in private practice may charge 150-250 an hour (which is extremely high for my area), BCBS reimburses about 100 bucks an hour. In NC where I live, most therapists would jump at an opportunity to make 31 an hour. As for Uber drivers, they average about 11 an hour, or three times less than what you stated. https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/education/how-much-do-uber-lyft-drivers-make-14804869#:~:text=Pay%20Per%20Hour%3A%20%248.55%20%2D%20%2411.77,%248.55%20and%20%2411.77%20per%20hour.
Facts are super important.
Thanks for sharing such an informative article. It is very helpful for me because recently I started giving online therapy and I’m so confused about how can I proceed but you did a great job. After reading this I feel confident about my services.
I spoke to a fellow therapist in Oklahoma this week and he advised the rate for licensed therapists is $62. Most Community Mental Health Agencies the starting pay in Oklahoma is around $39/ hour.
Wow, I need to move to OK. In NC, it’s not uncommon to see community agencies listing a starting salary around 38-40k a year, which is about 1/2 that of OK. What a crime. One can make more as a shift manager at Wendy’s.
Please keep in mind that in order to get 30 hours per week, you have to see 40 clients because Betterhelp sessions are limited to 45 minutes. Once you account for no-shows, problems with connecting, clients who need to leave a few minutes early, and taking a couple of minutes between sessions to refresh you are really looking at scheduling more than 40 clients or you are extensively using the message system. Don’t think you are going to write one message like a newsletter and copy it to all your clients. This is not allowed. Also, keep in mind that although you do not have to do any billing and BH discourages letter writing, you still have to do whatever paperwork is required by your license. Progress notes, treatment plans, consents, etc. still have to be done. BH is wonderful for some people, but do your homework before getting involved.