Private Therapy vs Therapy Apps: Which Is Right for You?

"Have you tried BetterHelp?"

I hear this question often from people considering therapy. The ads are everywhere—podcasts, YouTube, Instagram—promising affordable, convenient therapy at your fingertips.

And I understand the appeal. Therapy apps sound easier: no searching for therapists, instant matching, lower cost, text your therapist anytime. Why wouldn't you choose that?

But having spoken with dozens of people who've tried both therapy apps and traditional private therapy, I can tell you: they're fundamentally different experiences. Neither is universally better—but one might be significantly better for you.

This article offers an honest, balanced comparison so you can make an informed choice.

Understanding the Models

Traditional Private Therapy

How it works:

• You find a therapist through directories, websites, or recommendations
• You contact them directly
• You book sessions (typically 50 minutes weekly or fortnightly)
• Sessions happen at consistent time, with consistent therapist
• You pay the therapist directly (£60-£150 per session in London)

Key features:

• Direct therapeutic relationship
• Therapist is independent practitioner
• Consistent, ongoing relationship
• Full control over who you work with

Therapy Apps/Platforms (BetterHelp, Talkspace, etc.)

How it works:

• You sign up on platform and complete questionnaire
• Algorithm or team matches you with a therapist from their pool
• You access therapy through the platform (video, text, phone)
• You pay the platform (typically £40-£80/week subscription)
• Platform sets terms, manages logistics

Key features:

• Convenience and quick access
• Lower cost (usually)
• Flexibility in communication methods
• Platform manages everything

The Real Differences

1. Therapist-Client Relationship

Traditional Therapy:

The relationship is direct and primary. You build trust over time with one specific person who comes to know you deeply. This consistency itself is therapeutic.

Your therapist chooses to work with you; you choose to work with them. There's mutual commitment.

Therapy Apps:

The relationship is mediated by the platform. Your therapist works for the platform, not directly with you.

Matching is algorithmic or based on availability. If your therapist leaves the platform or becomes unavailable, you're re-matched—often without much notice.

Some users report feeling like they're interacting with "a therapist" rather than "my therapist."

Winner: Traditional therapy, if relationship depth matters to you.

2. Therapist Quality and Training

Traditional Therapy:

You can verify:

• Specific qualifications (degree, diploma, training)
• Professional registration (BACP, UKCP, HCPC)
• Years of experience
• Areas of specialism
• Approach and modality

UK therapists in private practice typically have:

• Minimum 3-4 years training
• Ongoing professional development
• Clinical supervision
• Professional insurance

Therapy Apps:

Platforms claim therapists are licensed and qualified, but:

• You can't easily verify specific credentials
• "Licensed" varies by country (US, UK, elsewhere)
• Training quality varies enormously
• Some therapists are newly qualified with little experience
• Platform standards aren't transparent

Therapists on platforms are also paid significantly less than private rates, which can affect:

• Who chooses to work there (often early-career therapists needing clients)
• Motivation and engagement
• Time they can dedicate to preparation

Winner: Traditional therapy for transparency and verifiable quality.

3. Cost

Therapy Apps:

Typical cost: £40-£80/week (£160-£320/month) for:

• One live session per week (usually 30-45 minutes, not 50)
• Messaging between sessions (response times vary)

Pros:

• Lower weekly cost
• Predictable subscription
• Often cheaper than private therapy

Cons:

• Shorter sessions (30-45 mins vs 50 mins)
• Still £160-£320/month
• Contract often locks you in
• Hidden costs (some platforms charge extra for video)

Traditional Private Therapy:

Typical cost: £60-£150 per session in London (£240-£600/month for weekly)

Pros:

• Full 50-minute sessions
• Pay per session (no contract)
• Can negotiate frequency (fortnightly = half the cost)
• Some therapists offer concessions, sliding scale, block discounts

Cons:

• Higher upfront cost per session
• No messaging between sessions (in most cases)

Winner: Depends on your needs and budget. Apps can be cheaper, but not always—and cheaper isn't always better value.

4. Convenience and Access

Therapy Apps:

Pros:

• Quick sign-up and matching (often within days)
• Flexible scheduling
• Multiple communication methods (video, phone, text)
• Easy to reschedule or cancel
• No geographical constraints

Cons:

• Less control over who you're matched with
• Therapist availability can be unpredictable
• Platform technical issues
• Less privacy (all communication through platform)

Traditional Therapy:

Pros:

• Consistent time slot with consistent person
• Choice of format (in-person, video, phone, walking therapy)
• Direct communication
• Full privacy

Cons:

• Takes longer to find therapist and book (2-4 weeks typical)
• Fixed appointment times
• May need to travel (if in-person)
• Cancellation policies vary

Winner: Apps for immediate access; traditional for consistency.

5. Therapeutic Depth and Continuity

Traditional Therapy:

Deep, consistent relationship over time allows for:

• Trust building
• Exploration of complex issues
• Long-term patterns to emerge
• Therapist to know you well enough to notice subtle shifts

Therapy Apps:

Potential barriers to depth:

• Therapists might leave platform unexpectedly
• Matching might change
• Platform incentivises shorter, solution-focused work
• Messaging format can fragment the work
• Less consistent, ongoing relationship

Winner: Traditional therapy for depth and complexity.

6. Privacy and Confidentiality

Traditional Therapy:

• Therapist bound by professional ethics (BACP, UKCP codes)
• Your data held by therapist, not third party
• Clear confidentiality boundaries
• Complaints process through professional bodies

Therapy Apps:

• Platform owns your data
• Privacy policies can change
• Data may be used for research or marketing
• Unclear what happens to your messages
• Less regulatory oversight

Recent concerns: Some platforms have been investigated for data handling practices, sharing information with advertisers, or having loose privacy protections.

Winner: Traditional therapy for privacy and professional accountability.

7. Fit and Choice

Traditional Therapy:

You can choose based on:

• Approach (CBT, person-centred, psychodynamic, etc.)
• Therapist demographics (gender, age, background)
• Specific expertise (trauma, LGBTQ+, neurodivergence)
• Location or online
• Communication style

You meet/speak with therapists before committing.

Therapy Apps:

• Algorithmic matching based on questionnaire
• Limited control over who you're matched with
• Can request different therapist, but no guarantee of better fit
• Less transparency about therapist's actual approach

Winner: Traditional therapy for control and choice.

When Therapy Apps Might Work Well

Despite limitations, therapy apps genuinely suit some people:

You Might Prefer an App If:

1. You want to try therapy without commitment

Apps let you dip your toe in. If you're unsure about therapy, a month's subscription feels less daunting than booking multiple private sessions.

2. Cost is a major barrier

If £150/session is completely unaffordable and you can manage £50/week, an app provides access.

3. You want flexibility and convenience

If your schedule is chaotic and you value being able to message your therapist between sessions, apps offer that.

4. You have specific, concrete problems

Apps tend to work better for targeted issues (managing specific anxiety, developing coping strategies) rather than deep, complex work.

5. You're in an area with no local therapists

If you live rurally and can't access in-person therapy, apps expand your options.

6. You prefer text-based support

Some people communicate better in writing. If you process thoughts through typing, messaging-based therapy might feel natural.

When Traditional Therapy Is Better

You'll Likely Prefer Traditional Therapy If:

1. You have complex or long-standing issues

Trauma, deep relationship patterns, personality difficulties, or chronic mental health issues benefit from consistent, long-term relationship with skilled therapist.

2. You value depth and continuity

If you want someone who really knows you, who remembers what you talked about six months ago, who notices subtle patterns—traditional therapy offers that.

3. You want to choose your therapist

If you have preferences about approach, training, experience, or fit, traditional therapy gives you control.

4. You value privacy

If data privacy matters to you, working directly with a therapist keeps your information more secure.

5. You've tried apps and felt they weren't enough

Many people start with apps, find them helpful to a point, then transition to traditional therapy for deeper work.

6. You want in-person sessions

If sitting face-to-face (or walking side-by-side) matters to you, most apps don't offer that.

The Hybrid Approach: Both Are Possible

You don't have to choose one forever. Consider:

Sequential:

• Start with app for quick access and initial support
• Transition to traditional therapy when ready for deeper work

Complementary:

• Private therapy as primary support
• App for between-session messaging or when therapist unavailable

Situational:

• Traditional therapy when stable
• App during crisis when you need more frequent contact

Real User Experiences

What People Say About Apps:

Positive: "It got me started. I'd never tried therapy before and it felt less intimidating."

"Being able to message my therapist between sessions helped when I was really anxious."

"Much cheaper than I expected therapy to be."

Negative: "My therapist changed three times in six months. I gave up."

"Sessions felt rushed—only 30 minutes."

"I never felt like they really knew me."

"The app kept crashing during video sessions."

What People Say About Traditional Therapy:

Positive: "Having the same person every week who really knows me made all the difference."

"I could talk about anything without worrying about it being data-mined."

"My therapist has 15 years' experience. I don't think I'd get that on an app."

Negative: "Expensive. I can only afford fortnightly sessions."

"Took ages to find someone with availability."

"Had to travel 30 minutes each way."

Questions to Ask Yourself

Still unsure? Consider these questions:

About your needs:

• What am I hoping to get from therapy?
• Is this a specific, short-term issue or complex, ongoing difficulty?
• Do I want quick access or am I willing to wait for the right fit?

About your preferences:

• Do I value having one consistent therapist or am I OK with changes?
• Is privacy important to me?
• Do I prefer structure and convenience or depth and relationship?

About practicalities:

• What can I realistically afford?
• Do I need in-person or is video fine?
• How important is therapist choice vs quick matching?

Bottom Line: No Universal Answer

Therapy apps aren't scams, but they're not equivalent to traditional therapy either. They're different models serving different needs.

If you need accessible, affordable, flexible support for manageable difficulties, apps can be valuable.

If you're dealing with complexity, trauma, deep patterns, or want genuine therapeutic relationship, traditional therapy is worth the investment.

And if you're unsure? Try one, see how it feels, and adjust. Therapy—whether through app or in person—is better than no therapy.

Just go in with clear eyes about what you're getting.

If you're in London and considering traditional therapy, I offer a free initial consultation to discuss whether my approach might suit you. I work in South West London (in-person or walking therapy) and online throughout the UK.

You can reach me at 07887 376 839 or via the contact form on this website.