Best Online Therapy for Cancer Patients

Talkspace stands out among its competitors by offering resources that other companies do not, such as unlimited messaging with a provider. In addition to its live weekly sessions, patients can reach out to their provider and expect an answer once a day, five days per week. 

Talkspace offers therapy not only for individual adults, but also for couples and teens. Registration is easily completed online by answering a few questions. Based on these questions, Talkspace curates a list of three providers to choose from. Once you register, you are given the option to choose between talking to a licensed therapist or to a psychiatrist for medication management, or both. If you feel the need to switch providers, Talkspace allows you to do so at no extra cost. It’s a flexible therapy option that saves time. Having a therapist with unlimited messaging options at your fingertips can give you the opportunity to process your feelings and discuss concerns without having to schedule multiple therapy sessions.

With over a million users and over 5,000 five-star reviews, Talkspace is the right mental health resource if you are looking for convenient and affordable therapy. Our survey data showed 93% of Talkspace users would recommend the service, and 61% of users gave Talkspace an overall rating of either excellent or very good. Talkspace did not disappoint when it comes to meeting patients’ needs—78% of users reported having most or all of their needs met.

Talkspace offers three monthly subscription plans, though the rate you pay will vary depending on where you live and your therapist’s experience:

• Messaging therapy: $69 per week; message your therapist at any time and receive daily responses five days per week
• Video + messaging therapy: $99 per week; includes one 30-minute video session plus unlimited messaging
• Video + messaging + workshops: $109 per week; includes messaging, a live video session, and weekly workshops

Talkspace does accept some insurance plans, so you could pay less out-of-pocket if you have insurance. Talkspace is also currently offering $25 off per week for the first 4 weeks. 

Talkiatry provides exceptional mental health services for many conditions, including anxiety and mood disorders. The enrollment process is simple, starting with a free assessment to determine your needs. Talkiatry then uses an algorithm to match you with an expert psychiatrist based on your medical history, medications, and other criteria. At Talkiatry, you are able to see one provider consistently instead of a different one at every visit. You make an appointment and your psychiatrist continuously tracks your progress and fine-tunes medications as needed.

While Talkiatry is in the process of expanding and continues to add psychiatrists in different specialties and locations, it is currently only available in 34 states. All psychiatrists are board-certified and have hundreds of years of combined experience. You are able to browse psychiatrists and read about their qualifications and experience. Talkiatry offers psychiatrists who focus on and have experience in working with cancer patients. You can easily find these providers by using the search box on the site. If you don’t feel that your psychiatrist is a right fit, Talkiatry makes it easy to switch by phone or email.  Talkiatry providers work with you to find the best medication for your situation. 

Our survey data showed that 95% of users rated Talkiatry’s overall services as good, very good, or excellent, and 87% were likely or very likely to recommend Talkiatry to a friend or to someone like them.

Prices are not disclosed on the Talkiatry site and will depend on whether or not you are insured. Talkiatry does accept insurance and patients are responsible for visit costs depending on their insurance plans and coverage. Insurance plan benefits are reviewed as part of the appointment process so you understand all of the financial details prior to seeing a provider. 

Sesh offers patients and caregivers the ability to connect with others who may be experiencing the same feelings or situations. All sessions last between 30 to 60 minutes and are facilitated by a licensed therapist. Groups can consist of anywhere between two to 10 members in each session. Once you register for Sesh, you are given the option to search and sign up for specific groups. All participants must be aged 18 or older. 

While the Sesh site doesn’t appear to offer groups specifically for cancer patients, it offers several groups which may benefit cancer patients and their families. These support groups include different topics such as calming anxiety, dealing with burnout and fatigue, and coping with depression.  

Seventy-eight percent of Sesh users rated the service as good, very good, or excellent overall, and 70% of users said that all or most of their needs were met through this service.

Sesh does not accept insurance and has two plans depending on your needs.

• Per session: $30 
• Per month for unlimited sessions: $60

MDLIVE offers flexible and affordable mental health support from experienced licensed therapists and board certified psychiatrists. You can select from thousands of providers with an average of over 10 years of experience. Schedule an appointment by creating an account with MDLIVE, selecting your preferred provider, and choosing a date and time that fits with your schedule. Medications can be prescribed by psychiatrists; however, they do not prescribe controlled substances. 

MDLIVE offers cancer patients the convenience of choosing between therapy or psychiatry sessions. During therapy sessions, you are able to speak to a therapist and learn coping skills, and the session time is 30 to 45 minutes. Psychiatry sessions offer diagnoses of mental illnesses and medication prescriptions, and are 15 to 30 minutes long. 

Ninety-one percent of MDLIVE users rated the service as good, very good, or excellent overall, and 84% of users were likely or very likely to recommend MDLIVE to others.

Choose from therapy or psychiatry. These are per-session prices; MDLIVE does not offer subscriptions.

• $108 per therapy session
• $284 per initial psychiatry session
• $108 per follow-up psychiatry session

CancerCare’s licensed oncology social workers focus on the emotional and practical challenges cancer patients face. To register, patients can either call the CancerCare Hopeline at 800-813-HOPE (4673) or contact CancerCare by email. Counseling is offered to patients, caregivers, those who are newly bereaved, and children five years of age and older. One-on-one sessions with social workers are offered through video conferencing, and group support is also offered in online sessions. CancerCare provides a list of support groups organized by the specific cancer diagnosis and topic. Topics include caregiving, advanced cancer, and post-treatment survivorship among others.  

Social workers may be able to help reduce anxiety, teach coping skills, and improve communication with your treatment team. CancerCare offers short-term emotional support and offers free telephone resource navigation. Telephone resource navigation is open to anyone in the U.S. who is affected by cancer, patients and their caregivers. This service is provided by professional resource navigators and social workers who can help you to identify local resources for financial assistance, medical equipment, meal delivery and more.   

CancerCare is a free service.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America is partnering with e-Psychiatry to help provide private access to providers who can help patients work through cancer-related stress. E-Psychiatry provides flexible and convenient access to therapy and psychiatry services nationwide. Signing up online is easy and fast. The sign-up process includes selecting three reasons you may need support, from reasons such as anxiety, depression or medication management. It also includes a place for listing medical conditions, including cancer. Once you have completed signing up, e-Psychiatry matches you with a provider based on your preference. You can choose a provider who matches your needs based on gender, experience, age, and religious views.  The e-Psychiatry provider panel includes thousands of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, and therapists. 

e-Psychiatry providers supply evidence-based therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and support, as well as medication management. The flexibility the company offers makes it easy to get the help you need without leaving your home, further reducing your risk of exposure to the community and viral illnesses. 

Fees are not disclosed on the e-Psychiatry site. Fees vary depending on the provider. Once you sign in, you are able to compare provider rates. Most insurance plans are accepted. 

Cancer Treatment Options & Management Inc. (CTOAM) provides cancer patients with the latest medical science in screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic technologies. CTOAM offers online counseling as an add-on service for cancer patients and their families.

There are several benefits to professional counseling for cancer patients. In addition to reducing stress, anxiety and depression, these benefits can include enhancing the mind-body connection, improving self-care, and diet and lifestyle changes. Sessions can be booked by calling the hotline at 1-833-493-5463, or you can try a free, 30-minute online cancer care strategy session. One-hour counseling sessions can be booked individually for patients or their families. In addition to online counseling, CTOAM provides families with free resources such as access to online support communities and educational resources. 

CTOAM charges $200 per session plus a 5% goods and services tax.

With 7 Cups, you are able to access support from anywhere and at any time. After signing up, you are either matched with a licensed therapist or given the option to choose your own. Online counseling is in the form of messaging with your therapist, and 7 Cups provides access to unlimited messaging once you are subscribed. The convenience that 7 Cups offers is ideal for patients who travel to and from multiple appointments. It provides access to therapy services without the added burden of taking time out of your schedule.

Cancer patients and their families can also benefit from the News/Advice resources section of 7 Cups, with articles ranging from mental health advice for cancer patients to how to support a loved one with cancer. 

7 Cups offers therapy for adults and “active listening” for adults as well as teens. Active listeners are not licensed therapists; however, they are trained to listen with compassion and empathy and help guide conversations to provide a supportive environment. As a member of 7 Cups, you can also access free 24/7 group support chat rooms with over 60 threads related to cancer. 

7 Cups charges $150 per month for unlimited messaging.

Steps Through OC is a free, six-month online counseling program offered to individuals with ovarian cancer, their families, and caregivers. The program is part of the Clearity Foundation, which was founded by cancer survivor Laura Shawver, PhD, in 2008. The foundation’s mission is to improve the survival and quality of life of people with ovarian cancer. 

Patients meet with a counselor specializing in ovarian cancer for up to 10 sessions, either by phone or video. Schedule your appointments by registering online or calling the toll-free customer service line at 1-866-830-5134. All ovarian cancer counselors have a master’s level degree and have ovarian cancer expertise.

Depending on your needs, counselors can also provide education, referrals, and other resources as part of an individualized support plan. Counselors can help you learn about your diagnosis, give guidance for managing side effects, and offer strategies for those in remission. After the six-month program, counselors remain available for any needs that may arise. 

This program is free. 

In addition to its paid subscription for therapist-led weekly online group therapy sessions for grief/loss or separation/divorce, Circles now offers free peer-led support groups for a wide range of issues.

For those affected by cancer, there's a group on life after diagnosis, a cancer survivor support group, a group for young women newly diagnosed with cancer, and a group for people who've lost a loved one to cancer. Most will meet weekly. While the paid group therapy sessions are capped at 10 members, there may be more in the free groups, which could make it more difficult for some people to open up.

In addition, you can find peer-led support groups on other topics such as infertility, caregiving, mental health, veterans, body image, parenting, LGBTQIA, disability, chronic illness, and sobriety. Many of these topics may also be of interest to those touched by cancer.

Circles' peer-led support groups are free. The Circles+ therapist-led groups on grief/loss or separation/divorce cost $79/month for one group therapy meeting a week. For those core groups, the first meeting is free, and you can cancel anytime.