Therapy and counseling have become more accessible than ever before, thanks to online platforms like BetterHelp.
For those living in Norway, BetterHelp provides a convenient way to get professional help for mental health without ever having to leave home.
But are platforms like BetterHelp a good option for Norwegians? Let’s find out.
Mental Health in Norway – Key Statistics
- 1 in 5 Norwegians experience mental health issues each year, according to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The most common conditions are anxiety and depression.
- About 650 Norwegians die by suicide yearly, with males accounting for two-thirds of these deaths.
- Norwegians were nearly 3 times more likely to have depressive symptoms following the March 2020 lockdown.
- Among college students, the most common disorders were major depressive episodes (17% of females, 11% of males) and generalized anxiety disorder (16% of females, 8% of males).
- In 2021, over 160,000 Norwegians received mental health care, with the southeast region having the most at 89,000 patients.
- Lifetime anxiety affected approximately 21.7% of the Norwegians in this 2019 study.
These key statistics demonstrate mental health issues are relatively widespread in Norway.
Online counseling platforms can help more struggling Norwegians access care.
Ad, keeps our community free. The perspectives presented on this website are genuinely our own and we do not accept money for reviews.
4.5 (7,802+) FROM TRUSTPILOT
BetterHelp
Fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with an experienced therapist online in as little as 24 hours.
✓ Over 35K credentialed professionals
✓ Subscriptions as low as 65 USD/week, billed every four weeks
✓ Financial aid available
✓ Cancel plan or change therapist anytime
✓ 20% off your first month through Therapy Helpers
Cost Comparison: Online Therapy vs In-Office Counseling in Norway
Traditional in-office therapy in Norway can be very expensive, often 1500 NOK or more per session with a psychologist.
Online therapy (BetterHelp) brings more affordable options:
- Weekly Plan – 700-963 NOK/week (US$65-100), billed every four weeks
- Monthly Plan – 2800-3852 NOK/month (US$260-400)
| BetterHelp: Norway | Traditional Therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Virtual | In-office |
| Methods | Messaging, phone, video | In-person conversations |
| Accessibility | Available 24/7 | Limited to appointment times |
| Cost | 700-963 NOK/week (US$65-100), no insurance | 1500+ NOK per session, may bill insurance |
| Flexibility | Change counselors or plans anytime | Typically weekly or bi-weekly |
| Commitment | No long-term contract | Often have session commitments or cancellation fees |
| Travel | No commute needed | Must travel to therapist office |
Plans include messaging your therapist anytime and weekly live sessions.
BetterHelp is priced competitively and offers financial aid to those who qualify.
*Based on exchange rate of 1 USD = 10.93 NOK, rates may fluctuate.
What is BetterHelp?
Founded in 2013, BetterHelp is the world’s largest online therapy platform. The company aims to make professional counseling accessible, affordable, and convenient.
BetterHelp provides an online network of credentialed professional therapists who conduct therapy sessions through phone, video chat, and even live chat.
This allows users to get therapy whenever and wherever is most convenient for them.
How Does BetterHelp Work in Norway?
Using BetterHelp in Norway is simple. Follow these steps:
Sign Up
First, you sign up by creating an account and filling out a questionnaire about your needs. This helps match you with a suitable counselor.
Get Matched
Based on your questionnaire, you’ll be matched with an experienced therapist in within 48 hours. You can view the counselor’s profile and credentials before your first session.
Communicate
Schedule sessions and communicate with your counselor via phone, video, chat, or messaging. You can message your counselor anytime.
Find Support
In addition to therapy sessions, BetterHelp offers articles, meditations, group sessions, and more resources to provide extra support.
Why is BetterHelp a Good Option for Norwegians?
For those seeking counseling in Norway, there are many advantages to using BetterHelp for online therapy:
Convenience
BetterHelp eliminates the need to commute to therapy sessions. You can access a therapist anytime, anywhere you have an internet connection. This is perfect for busy lifestyles.
Affordability
BetterHelp costs less than traditional in-office therapy in Norway. Plans start from 700 NOK per week (US$65), making professional counseling accessible.
Flexibility
You can reschedule or cancel sessions easily on BetterHelp. There are no long-term commitments. You have complete control over your therapy experience.
Wide Selection
BetterHelp has over 35,000 credentialed therapists. You can find an ideal therapist match based on specialty and demographics.
Ad, keeps our community free. The perspectives presented on this website are genuinely our own and we do not accept money for reviews.
4.5 (7,802+) FROM TRUSTPILOT
Try BetterHelp
Fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with an experienced therapist online in as little as 24 hours.
✓ Over 35K credentialed professionals
✓ Subscriptions as low as 65 USD/week, billed every four weeks
✓ Financial aid available
✓ Cancel plan or change therapist anytime
✓ 20% off your first month through Therapy Helpers
Benefits of Online Therapy
In general, online counseling through platforms like BetterHelp offers many benefits:
Convenience
You can have sessions from home, at work, while traveling – wherever you have an internet connection. You save time commuting.
Flexibility
Reschedule, cancel, or switch therapists easily at any time. Therapy revolves around your schedule.
Affordability
Average monthly costs are 30-50% less than traditional in-office therapy in Norway. Lower overhead costs make it more budget-friendly.
Accessibility
Those unable to find an available counselor locally can access therapists worldwide on BetterHelp. Rural areas in Norway gain options.
Judgment-free
It’s discreet and stigma-free compared to attending therapy at a physical office. This can be more comfortable.
Features of BetterHelp in Norway
BetterHelp provides many benefits with counselors and features explicitly tailored for Norwegians.
Access to Credentialed Therapists
BetterHelp only provides therapists who are credentialed and qualified. Many therapists understand the Norwegian culture and can provide informed care.
When you sign up, you’ll fill out a questionnaire and get matched with an ideal therapist based on your preferences and location. You can change counselors anytime if needed.
Convenient and Flexible Sessions
With BetterHelp, you can have therapy sessions via text, chat, phone call, or video chat. Most therapists are available five days a week.
You can easily reschedule sessions as needed. If your assigned counselor isn’t available, you may be able to book with another.
Wide range of therapy modalities
In Norway, you can access professional BetterHelp therapists that offer a diverse range of modern therapy approaches, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness-based therapies
- Person-centered therapy
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
You can find a counselor versed in specific modalities that meet your needs.
Benefits of BetterHelp for Norwegians
For those living in Norway, using BetterHelp for online counseling has many unique benefits.
Language options
All BetterHelp therapists are English speakers, and many are bilingual.
Depending on the therapist’s availability, you may be able to have sessions in your own language (Norwegian or Sami), but this availability is not guaranteed.
Culturally competent therapists
BetterHelp has a highly diverse and multicultural therapist team that can provide culturally informed and aware care custom-tailored to residents of Norway.
You don’t have to explain Norwegian cultural contexts or “translate” issues to someone unfamiliar.
No need to travel to see a therapist
BetterHelp eliminates the need to commute, arrange childcare, take time off work, etc., to attend therapy in-office.
You can have sessions from the comfort of your home. This removes accessibility barriers for many.
More affordable than traditional therapy in Norway
As mentioned above, BetterHelp offers much lower pricing than typical in-office therapy in the country.
This makes professional counseling accessible to more Norwegians struggling with cost barriers.
How to Get Started with BetterHelp
Ready to start online therapy with BetterHelp in Norway? Just follow these steps:
Sign up for a BetterHelp account
Go to Betterhelp.com and click “Get Started.” Create your account by filling in some basic info.
Complete a questionnaire
This questionnaire covers your mental health needs, history, demographics, and preferred therapist. It’s used to match you.
Be matched with a professional therapist
In as little as 24 hours, you’ll be contacted with your counselor match. Read their profile to ensure they suit your needs.
Schedule your first session
Contact your matched therapist to schedule your first session. You can have it via chat, phone, or video, based on your preference.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of BetterHelp
Here are some tips to maximize the benefits of your BetterHelp counseling in Norway:
Be honest and open with your therapist
Share openly so your counselor can best understand your situation. Holding back will limit their ability to help you.
Communicate your goals for therapy
Tell your therapist what outcomes you hope to achieve. This gives direction and helps track progress.
Be consistent with your sessions
Schedule weekly sessions, if possible, for maximum benefits. Consistency builds momentum.
Take advantage of other resources
Make use of BetterHelp’s articles, meditations, groupinars, assessments, and worksheets for added support.
Alternatives to BetterHelp for Online Therapy in Norway
While BetterHelp is most popular in the region, alternatives like Regain, Talkspace, and Online-therapy.com are also available:
- Online-therapy.com – Anxiety, depression, family conflict, emotional support. Plans start at US$50 per week. Currently offering 20% off.
- Regain – Intimacy/relationship experts, start at US$60 per week.
- Talkspace – Adult & Teen counseling. Psychiatry and medication management available. Plans start at US$69 per week.
Seeing a therapist in person is also an option for those wanting face-to-face care.
However, BetterHelp continues to be popular due to being the first major online therapy provider in Norway and having the largest network of specialists available online.
Crisis Mental Health Resources in Norway
- Suicide Hotline: +4781533300 Website
- National emergency number (ambulance): 113 / (police) 112
- Mental Helse: Tel: 116 123, offers an online mail service at http://sidetmedord.no/ and chat service where users can communicate anonymously and receive responses within 48 hours, with chat hours twice weekly except during holidays.
- Mental Health Helpline: 810 30 030 ; a 24/7 Mental Health Helpline in Norway where you can speak anonymously with supportive listeners about any issues you’re facing. This helpline is independent of authorities and confidential.
Verdict
For Norwegians struggling with their mental health, BetterHelp offers an accessible, convenient way to get counseling online.
Users can connect with professional therapists in Norway and have sessions via chat, phone, or video from anywhere.
With benefits like affordability, flexibility, and no commuting, BetterHelp is ideal for busy schedules. It expands options for those unable to find local help or certain specialists.
If you’re Norwegian and want to start feeling better with professional help, visit BetterHelp. Take control of your mental health from the comfort of your home.
References
- Mental Health Services in Norway. https://www.regjeringen.no/globalassets/upload/kilde/hod/red/2005/0011/ddd/pdfv/233840-mentalhealthweb.pdf
- Public health report, Suicide in Norway. https://www.fhi.no/en/he/hin/mental-health/suicide/
- Norwegians almost three times as likely to suffer from symptoms of depression after the lockdown in March. https://www.sciencenorway.no/covid19-epidemic-mental-health/norwegians-almost-three-times-as-likely-to-suffer-from-symptoms-of-depression-after-the-lockdown-in-march/1766514
- Prevalence of mental disorders among Norwegian college and university students: a population-based cross-sectional analysis. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(23)00151-5/fulltext
- Number of mental health care patients in Norway in 2021, by health region. https://www.statista.com/statistics/961727/number-of-mental-health-care-patients-in-norway-by-health-region/
- Self-evaluated anxiety in the Norwegian population: prevalence and associated factors. https://archpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13690-019-0338-0
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