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Brightside Review

Medically Reviewed and Edited by 
Olga Kyrychenko, Psychologist

Brightside is a well known telehealth company which specializes in online therapy, focusing especially on anxiety and depression. If you have already been diagnosed with one of these conditions, then Brightside therapy is a great (and cheap!) way to get OTC prescriptions as well as relevant and useful virtual counseling.

Our Brightside Therapy review will explain who should use the platform, and how to make the most out of it. We’ll also compare Brightside to some of the best online therapy sites, particularly those who offer similar psychiatric services such as Talkspace and Amwell.

Should I use Brightside?​

Is Brightside Legit? Brightside Counseling Background Information​

Brightside Health is a private company, licensed and registered in the U.S. Their main offices are in San Francisco, where they have more than 80 employees. Even though it was only established in late 2017, the company has shown remarkable growth over the past few years and has positioned itself as one of the rising forces in the online therapy industry.

Brightside in Numbers For 2023

Year Founded2017
U.S Based CompanyYes
Number of Licensed TherapistsUnknown, But Not a Lot
Accepts Insurance?Yes
Hipaa compliantYes
Therapy ModesText, Audio and Video
Available TreatmentsPrivate Counseling and Psychiatric Treatments
Average Price$95 – $345 Per Month
Sign Up TimeFew minutes
Response TimeWithin a Day or Two
Mobile AppYes
Websitewww.brightside.com
Customer Reviews88% positive
Our Editorial Rating4 Stars
Current Promotion$50 Off Your First Month

Brightside Rating Breakdown ​

Overall Rating

Overall Rating - 4 Stars

Brightside is a good, reputable company with excellent reviews. Their software is easy to use, they accept insurance and prices are already affordable to begin with. That said, we don’t like the fact you have to pay before you even begin, and are unable to choose your own therapist

Price

Price - 4.5 Stars

Prices for all plans are extremely competitive, and the plans themselves offer a lot of flexibility. Even better, Brightside works with many insurance providers, so you might be eligible for copay.

Treatment Options

Treatment Options - 2.5 Stars

Brightside are good at what they do – providing psychiatric care, especially for anxiety and depression. The therapists are very well trained, and can also help you with other issues that create these symptoms – such as PTSD, life transitions or addiction, just to name a few. That said, there aren’t many therapists on the site, and they don’t let you pick who you’ll meet with.

App and Software

App and Software - 4.5 Stars

The Brightside platform is modern and very easy to use. Their mobile app is exactly the same – and has great user reviews on all the app stores.

Customer Service

Customer Service - 4.5 Stars

Our experiences with customer support were very good, they have been helpful and responded fairly quickly. We also like the fact that unlike many other sites, Brightside’s customer support team can also be reached by phone and not just email.

Safety and Privacy

Safety and Privacy - 4 Stars

Brightside has a proven track record and many satisfied customers – they are safe to use and can help you for sure. However, they do ask for more personal details than most platforms.

How Brightside Therapy Works

You can sign up and start using Brightside within a matter of minutes. The process is very easy and the software is modern and intuitive, so even people who are not tech savvy should have no problem doing it. It begins with you filling in a few personal details, followed by a free assessment survey you will need to complete.

The free assessment questionnaire is designed specifically for treating issues relating to anxiety and depression. Once you complete it, you’ll receive a breakdown of how your system rates you on both scales. Make sure you answer all questions as honestly as you can, since it will be used by the Brightside staff for determining the most appropriate treatment later on.

You will then be asked to fill in a few more personal details and choose your preferred treatment plan. Then, you’ll have to pay and subscribe for at least a month. Once you do that – you will only have to wait a day or two before a meeting would be set between you and your potential therapist. 

Brightside puts a lot of emphasis on medication and your therapist will suggest the prescription they think can help you the most. Don’t feel pressured into taking pills you are not sure about – you should always do some research first, and can ask to continue therapy with medication for the meantime, or for a 2nd opinion from another counselor on the platform. To change your therapist at any time, simply email support.

If you do choose to take medicine prescribed to you by a Brightside specialist, it will be delivered to your doorstep 4-5 business days after the consultation. You will then be able to update your therapist through the Brightside app regarding any side effects and your overall progress. If needed, followup meetings can be scheduled, or a change in prescriptions is possible as well.

Brightside Pricing

Medication

$ 90 Per Month
  • 30 Minutes Intro Meeting
  • Diagnosis & Prescriptions
  • Medicine Arrives to You in 5 Days
  • Unlimited Chat Messaging With Your Doctor

Therapy

$ 299 Per Month
  • 30 Minutes Live Session Each Week
  • Therapist With At Least a Masters Degree
  • Unlimited Chat & Text Messaging
  • Guaranteed Response Once a Day

Therapy + Prescriptions

$ 349 Per Month
  • Weekly Live Sessions
  • Psychiatric Evaluation By a Licensed PhD
  • Medicine delivered Within 5 Days
  • Combo Saves You $40 Each Month
Best

Brightside Treatment Types

Even though there are not enough therapists working for Brightside, at least when compared with other providers, the level is very high and they are all extremely qualified. We don’t like the fact you don’t get to choose who sees you – but at least the meetings are scheduled quickly and so is the delivery of your prescribed medicine.

Therapists on Brightside focus almost entirely on treating anxiety and providing therapy for depression, and they all do that using CBT treatment techniques. CBT is intended for short term relief, and usually does not treat the underlying issues that caused you to feel bad in the first place. Still, when combined with proper medication, it is very effective in what it aims to accomplish.

All therapists have at least a Masters degree in a relevant mental health field, 1000 hours of proven clinical experience and a certificate from their state’s board. While