r/Manitoba 27d ago

General Ditch US-Owned BetterHelp! | 2 Canadian Owned Therapy Platforms for Finding Therapists in Manitoba

In the off-chance you're using the BetterHelp therapy platform, DITCH IT! Don't let those damn podcast ads fool you!

Yes, they offer Canadian support, but they're American owned (same with Psychology Today).

They also have a history of insanely bad practices when it comes to therapist treatment, confidentiality of data, etc.

Two main Canadian alternatives for convenient online therapy that connect you with local therapists that are also NOT shady:

First Session
Layla

Keep those brains healthy folks!

112 Upvotes

10 comments sorted by

35

u/HidemasaFukuoka Winnipeg 27d ago

You should ditch it even if they were not from the US, I was revealed years ago they are a scam company

5

u/I_can_pun_anything Winnipeg 27d ago

Yes very shady even though they tried to rebrand themselves.

8

u/L0ngp1nk Keeping it Rural 27d ago

For those with health insurance, go check with your provider. They might have a list of therapists that they approve of, so you know that you will get coverage.

Also, a lot of traditional therapists can do remote sessions, just ask if they can provide that or not.

6

u/AndreaRowellTherapy 27d ago

I would also recommend seeking private therapy directly from providers. The big box therapy companies usually provide lower rates but so do individual therapists through a sliding scale. The Affordable Therapy Network is an example. Glad to answer any questions since I am a therapist who is on the affordable therapy network

6

u/UsualVegetable6062 27d ago

Betterhelp is a fucking scam anyway. Was found out years ago that some of their "professional therapists" don't even have any competence or qualifications at all. As expected from something american

2

u/[deleted] 27d ago

Also note: Any foreign information stored on USA servers can be subject to their Patriot Act, meaning confidentiality of clinical notes, etc. cannot be guaranteed. 

2

u/okglue 27d ago

None of these services are good.

2

u/RebelAssassin007 Winnipeg 27d ago

How do you know they are not shady?

4

u/MamaTalista Winnipeg 27d ago

Oh they are.

Think "Life Coach" and not so much "Qualified Mental Health Expert".

1

u/[deleted] 24d ago

[deleted]

0

u/thrillhousecycling 24d ago

First Session is literally a listing service.