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🇮🇱 Seeking mental health support can be challenging anywhere. But in Israel, the cultural stigma around counseling persists.
Some Israelis may fear judgment just for booking a therapy appointment. Yet depression, anxiety, and trauma impact so many.
What if convenient therapy was only a click away? BetterHelp offers just that for the Israelis – credentialed counselors accessible remotely from home. Let’s evaluate the cost, pros, and cons of BetterHelp in Israel. You may find the path to the support you need.
About BetterHelp
Founded in 2013 and headquartered in California, BetterHelp.com offers individual therapy through video, phone, text chat, and more.
Over 33,000 professional, credentialed therapists
Available worldwide, including Israel
Therapy options like video, phone, chat
You can message your therapist anytime
Reasonably priced compared to traditional private therapy
BetterHelp aims to make professional counseling accessible, convenient, and flexible for Israeli residents.
Clients complete a questionnaire about their needs and preferences. They are then matched with a therapist and can start communicating in as little as 48 hours.
Sponsored, keeps our community free. Therapy Helpers does not accept money for reviews.
4.5 (6,513+) FROM TRUSTPILOT
BetterHelp
Fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with an experienced therapist online in as little as 48 hours.
✓ Over 33K credentialed professionals
✓ Financial aid available
✓ Subscriptions as low as 65 USD/week, billed every four weeks
✓ Cancel plan or change therapist anytime
✓ 20% off your first month through Therapy Helpers
For those thinking of USD prices, the weekly plans cost $65-90 per week, equating to $260-360 per month, depending on preferences chosen and length of sessions.
Clients are billed every four weeks, and there are no long-term commitments required.
You can pause or cancel anytime through your account.
Compared to traditional therapy, which can cost 300 ILS or more per 45-minute in-person session in Israel, BetterHelp provides an affordable way to access expansive counselor options on demand.
How BetterHelp works in Israel
Here is an overview of how the BetterHelp process works when accessing from Israel:
Sign up – New users provide basic info like name, location, religion, contact details, and therapist preferences.
Get matched – Based on the intake form, BetterHelp matches clients with an ideal therapist for them.
Communicate – Once matched, clients can message the therapist whenever it’s convenient.
Switch therapists – If desired, clients can switch therapists at any time through their account dashboard.
Rate & review – Clients are encouraged to rate their experience and leave feedback for the therapist. This helps improve matching.
BetterHelp offers weekly live sessions 30 or 45 minutes long. However, the platform also facilitates free messaging between sessions, allowing clients to get support more frequently at no extra cost.
💡 Pro Tip: Be as open and honest in the sign-up questionnaire as you can to help get matched effectively.
Please note BetterHelp's counselors cannot prescribe medications. If you are seeking help with medications, Talkspace offers this option.
Sponsored, keeps our community free. Therapy Helpers does not accept money for reviews.
4.5 (6,513+) FROM TRUSTPILOT
Try BetterHelp
Fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with an experienced therapist online in as little as 48 hours.
✓ Over 33K credentialed professionals
✓ Financial aid available
✓ Subscriptions as low as 65 USD/week, billed every four weeks
✓ Cancel plan or change therapist anytime
✓ 20% off your first month through Therapy Helpers
💡 A Bar-Ilan University found that anxiety disorders impact about 28% of the Israeli population, followed by depression affecting about 20% of Israelis. In comparison, PTSD is an issue for 9.4% of the public, according to the National Insurance Institute of Israel.
Access to mental health services does not adequately meet demand, according to reports. This makes services like BetterHelp useful for expanding access to support.
With easy sign-up and remote therapy options, BetterHelp provides a more approachable avenue for Israelis to seek help discreetly.
Sponsored, keeps our community free. Therapy Helpers does not accept money for reviews.
4.5 (6,513+) FROM TRUSTPILOT
BetterHelp
Fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with an experienced therapist online in as little as 48 hours.
✓ Over 33K credentialed professionals
✓ Financial aid available
✓ Subscriptions as low as $65/week, billed every four weeks
✓ Cancel plan or change therapist anytime
✓ 20% off your first month through Therapy Helpers
BetterHelp works to ensure all therapists using the platform are properly credentialed and experienced in their field. All client-therapist interactions abide by relevant laws and ethics standards.
Pros and cons of BetterHelp Israel
Like any service, BetterHelp has both advantages and disadvantages to consider:
Pros
Convenient access anytime, anywhere
Can be more affordable than private in-person therapy
Flexible options for communication like chat, video, etc.
No need to find/vet therapists yourself
Connect with a therapist, in a more discreet setting
Change therapists easily if needed
Cons
No in-person interaction
Counselors are not located in Israel (unless Israeli counselor is requested, which is more likely based either in the U.K. or the U.S.)
Matching effectiveness depends on input accuracy
Not useful for those lacking tech skills/tools
Potential time zone difference
BetterHelp may be a good option for Israelis seeking an accessible way to get therapy remotely. But in-person counseling is still preferred by some.
Is online therapy a good option in Israel?
Mental health challenges are highly common in Israel, yet talking about them is often viewed with disgrace.
Without a doubt, bias still exists against resorting to therapy or medication for problems like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
We are frequently told to show strength and simply “move on”. Ignoring mental health issues will not make them disappear.
That’s why it makes me happy that an increasing number of people are thinking about exploring internet-based counseling services.
Since 1 in 3 Israeli Jews avoid seeking therapy due to stigma, as reported by Times of Israel, online counseling may help reduce this number missing out on needed psychological support.
The act of initiating a conversation with a therapist from home can lessen the intimidation associated with starting therapy.
💙 As per my view, initiatives like BetterHelp may bring about improvements in Israel. If an unbiased zone for addressing emotional turmoil was readily available, it could persuade more people to seek the assistance they need.
Online therapy may not deal with all aspects of the stigma surrounding mental health and may not be a perfect option for everyone, but it marks a beginning to a broader understanding and openness about mental wellbeing.
Maintaining our psychological well-being is important – we only have to lessen obstacles towards therapy. We’re making progress on the right path.
While not a replacement for in-person therapy or crisis support, BetterHelp appears to be a convenient and valuable option for some Israelis needing mental health support without the stigma associated with it.
How to find the right therapist on BetterHelp
BetterHelp uses an algorithm to match clients with a therapist based on the intake questionnaire. However, you can take steps to find the best counselor for your needs:
Provide accurate details on your history, needs, preferences. Don’t embellish or omit.
Give it a few weeks otherwise ask to switch therapists anytime if you feel it’s not a good match.
Contact support to help you narrow options by language, gender, location, etc.
Don’t hesitate to give constructive feedback to improve pairing.
A bit of patience, it may take a few sessions to determine fit.
Put thought into the intake process and communicate with your therapist. This will help ensure you find effective counseling through BetterHelp in Israel.
Alternatives to BetterHelp in Israel
BetterHelp is the leading online mental health platform in the world, and there are additional options that are accessible from Israel.
While pricing and features vary, these platforms join BetterHelp in expanding access to remote therapy for people in Israel seeking mental health support.
Although, for the price and the expansive online network of specialized mental health care offered, it is hard to find a better value than BetterHelp.
Additional mental health resources
Government-subsidized mental health clinics in Israel offer affordable therapy, with just a 35 NIS quarterly co-pay.
These clinics provide comprehensive care, so they are recommended as the first stop for Israelis seeking initial mental health treatment and services.
The Kupah (public): All Israeli citizens and residents are entitled to subsidized mental health services through Kupat Cholim, known as “tachanat briut hanefesh.” This typically includes psychotherapy from a psychologist or social worker for just 34 ILS per quarter.
Crossroads: Heavily subsidized or free therapy with trained social workers for at-risk youth, ages 13 – 21.
The Path Center: free or low-cost therapy from psychotherapist trainees, though sessions are limited and severe cases may not be accepted. Trainees work under experienced supervisors (under the guidance of an experienced therapist). Sessions are usually limited, and they do not handle severe cases.
Bottom line: Should I use BetterHelp in Israel?
For Israelis seeking accessible and flexible options for mental health support, BetterHelp provides online counseling with fully credentialed and experienced professionals.
Key benefits like remote access, various communication modes, and competitive pricing make BetterHelp a more convenient option than traditional in-office therapy.
💡 BetterHelp allows Israelis to discreetly seek professional help at home but misses out on personal interaction and may not suit everyone.
To assess whether BetterHelp is a helpful tool for managing mental health concerns, consider its features, cost, and real user reviews.
The availability of online therapy could bring advantages in Israeli culture. Half of Israelis fear negative attitudes from peers for seeking psychological help, according to a study about the social stigma surrounding mental health issues in the country.
Thanks to its virtual nature, online counseling can bypass such worries.
Therapists of a different gender can make certain groups, such as Orthodox Jews or Arab Israelis, feel uncomfortable due to modesty norms.
Filtering and matching by gender, religious/cultural backgrounds, and other factors provide people the ability to connect with suitable support providers through BetterHelp; though availability may differ among therapists.
Thanks to the internet, mental health resources like BetterHelp are easily accessible for virtually every Israeli.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What payment options are available?
Debit/Credit Card or PayPal.
Is insurance accepted?
When using BetterHelp in Israel, the therapy pay is out of pocket and insurance is not accepted.
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I’m a writer and mental health advocate in Warsaw, Poland, with five years working as a therapist. I hold a psychology degree from the University of Warsaw. I specialize in writing about mental health, using my experiences and academic background to educate and inspire others. In my free time, I volunteer at a Disability Learning Center and go for nature walks. My writing aims to break down mental health stigma and help others feel understood. Social
