Apps and online care
Teen Counseling vs Brightside Health
They differ on 9 of 10 things we check. No winner here: the better one is the one that fits what you need and how you'd pay.
Teen Counseling
A parent signs up and consents, then the teen is matched with a licensed therapist and talks with them by messaging, phone or video in a private room parents can't read.
Brightside Health
You complete an online assessment, then see a prescriber by video once a month, a therapist weekly, or both, and message your care team in between.
Where they differ
- Kind of help
- Teen Counseling: A therapist
- Brightside Health: A therapist, Medication
- Good for
- Teen Counseling: Teens 13–19 with stress, anxiety or low mood who would rather message or talk from home; Families who can pay out of pocket
- Brightside Health: Adults with depression or anxiety who want medication management by video; People who want therapy and psychiatry from the same service
- Probably not for
- Teen Counseling: Teens in crisis: call or text 988
- Brightside Health: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988
- Cost
- Teen Counseling: $60–$90/week, billed every 4 weeks
- Brightside Health: Copay with insurance; $95/month psychiatry or $299/month therapy self-pay
- How you pay
- Teen Counseling: I'll pay myself
- Brightside Health: Insurance
- Research
- Teen Counseling: Early research
- Brightside Health: Some research support
- Privacy
- Teen Counseling: Grade D
- Brightside Health: Grade C
- Sells your data
- Teen Counseling: Yes
- Brightside Health: No
- HIPAA
- Teen Counseling: Not stated
- Brightside Health: Yes
The same for both: where (iphone, android, web).
In crisis or thinking about suicide? In the US, call or text 988. This page is information from our reviews, not medical advice.