How we compare.
We're not for everyone. But if you've tried the other ways and felt lost, this might be the one.
Side by side
| Feature | Truer Therapy | Psychology Today / Directories | BetterHelp / Teletherapy Apps | Insurance-based Zocdoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you find a therapist | Guided questionnaire matches you with 3-5 fits | Scroll through hundreds of profiles, filter by insurance | Algorithm assigns you someone, you can't choose | Filter by insurance, limited pool, often outdated info |
| Can you see who they are before booking? | 60-second intro video from every therapist | Headshot and written bio only | No — you're assigned, then meet | Headshot and bio, often incomplete |
| Who decides the fit? | You do — after watching videos and a free consult | You guess from a profile | An algorithm decides | You guess from a profile |
| Free consult before committing? | Yes — free 15-minute consult with any match | No — you contact them and hope | No — you're billed from the first session | Sometimes, if the therapist offers it |
| Cost to the user | Free to match. You pay the therapist directly. | Free to search. You pay the therapist directly. | $60-$100/week, billed by the platform | Copay + deductible, varies wildly |
| Therapist keeps 100% of fees? | Yes — always, no commission | Yes — but therapist pays $30-$60/month to be listed | No — platform takes a significant cut | No — insurance dictates rates, therapist gets reduced pay |
| Sliding scale support? | Built in — therapists can flag it, users can filter for it | Sometimes mentioned in bio text | No — flat platform pricing | No — set by insurance |
| Privacy | Private pay — no diagnosis required, no insurance record | Private pay — same | Platform has access to your data and messages | Diagnosis required, permanent medical record |
| Therapist quality | Every therapist verified — license, credentials, video reviewed | License sometimes verified, no video review | Contractors, quality varies, high turnover | Licensed, but limited to those who accept insurance |
When Truer isn't the right choice
Honesty matters. Here's when we're NOT the best fit:
- If you need to use insurance — we're private pay only
- If you're in crisis and need immediate support — use 988 or an emergency room
- If you want medication management — we're therapy only, not psychiatry
- If you want to browse 500 therapists and choose from a list — we narrow it down for you instead
We'd rather you find help elsewhere than use us and have it not be right. That's why we link to alternatives.
When we're the right choice
You want someone who fits, not just someone who's available. You want to see who they are before you commit. You value privacy and don't want an insurance record. You're willing to pay privately but want it to be fair. You've tried directories and felt overwhelmed. You've tried teletherapy and felt like a number.
That's us.
