Page 113 - Men’s Health - USA (December 2019)

15 18

I don’t want to TAKE PILLS.
I’M BROKE AND I CAN’T AFFORD THERAPY.
IF YOU’RE DEAD SET against the phar-
macopoeia, so be it. But if your depression
or anxiety is so severe that you’re strug- IF YOU CHOOSE to go to someone outside your insurance network,
gling to function, “medication that helps therapy can be expensive. And quite a few therapists don’t accept
balance neurochemicals like serotonin, insurance at all. Many plans off er some out-of-network coverage, but
dopamine, and norepinephrine can help this means you’ll have to carry the cost until you are partially reim-
you get out of a ditch,” says Dr. Brown. bursed. If much of your anxiety stems from fi nancial stress, this can
“Therapy can help you build the tools to range from untenable to unbearable. Happily, since the early 2010s,
stay out.” Often, a combination of medica- telemental health, or telemedicine—or, I wish, therappy—has blos-
tion (getting out of the ditch) and therapy somed. Research has shown that telemental health services, which
(staying out) is the most eff ective. typically rely on a network of far-fl ung therapists who respond to
patients via phone,text, video, and chat messaging, are an eff ective and
less costly alternative to traditional therapy. Where to get therappy:

16 have at least 3,000 hours of trained in active listening,
TALKSPACE
7 CUPS OF TEA
This app uses a
It’s a peer-to-peer
network of volun-
network of vetted
teer “listeners,”
therapists who
I TRIED, BUT FINDING A
THERAPIST IS IMPOSSIBLE.
clinical experience. You send
who are available through
DIFFICULTY FINDING a therapist is one text, audio, or video messages online chat. Licensed thera-
of the most common barriers to therapy— and your therapist will usually pists are also available for an
especially since 115 million Americans live respond within the same day. additional monthly fee.
in an area with less than one mental-health COST: From $65 to $99 a week. COST: Free.
professional for every 30,000 people. Try GOOD FOR: Anxiety, depression, GOOD FOR: Those who want to
PTSD, relationship counseling, connect with others with simi-
asking your doctor for a recommendation,
eating disorders. lar problems, and/or are broke.
or start with who’s on your insurance plan
and set up some conversations. It’s less
like fi nding your go-to bagel store than it BETTERHELP WOEBOT
is discovering your favorite coff ee shop. The more than 5,000 What happens when
In the former, proximity and an adequate licensed therapists cute start-up cul-
everything bagel are really the only things in its system are each required to ture, AI, and mental
that matter. The latter takes trial and have a minimum of three years health commingle? Woebot,
error, time, and a battery of pointed ques- and 2,000 hours of hands-on an AI-based chatbot created
tions. (See “7 Questions to Ask a Potential experience. BetterHelp off ers by a team of Stanford psychol-
Therapist.”) You deserve someone with live phone-chat sessions. ogists and AI experts.
whom you can be radically honest, says MH COST: From $40 to $70 a week. COST: Free.
advisor Drew Ramsey, M.D., a psychiatrist GOOD FOR: Stress, anxiety, GOOD FOR: Those who do
in New York City. “I always encourage peo- depression, addiction, anger, not mind accepting life advice
ple to have consultations with two or three sleep problems, grief, and more. from a robot.
diff erent therapists.” Don’t worry if it’s not
a good fi t and you move on after the fi rst
few sessions. “We’re professionals,” says 7 Questions to Ask a Potential Therapist
Dr. Ramsey. “We can handle it.”
I’m dealing with x—what is your experience treating this type of issue?

What kind of treatment or therapy do you think might benefit me most?

Can you describe how that treatment works?

How do you assess progress?
How long do you anticipate we’ll work together?

What is your availability?

How much is this gonna cost me, because . . . (See No. 18, above.)