Alternatives to BetterHelp That Include Holistic Practitioners
You have probably already looked at BetterHelp. Maybe you signed up. Maybe you stopped at the pricing page and closed the tab. Either way, something did not quite fit.
For a lot of people, the thing that does not fit is this: they want a therapist, and they also want someone who works with the body. Breathwork. Somatic sessions. Energy work. A practitioner who holds space in a way that talking alone does not. Most services make you pick one world or the other. The Spine App was built because that choice is a false one.
What BetterHelp is good at
It is worth being fair about this. BetterHelp is one of the largest networks of licensed therapists available online, and if licensed talk therapy is what you are looking for, that scale is a real advantage.
A large network of licensed therapists, strongest in the United States
Matching usually happens within days rather than weeks
Messaging and video sessions, billed as a subscription
Where it stops
It is a talk therapy service, and it does not pretend to be anything else. That is honest of it, but it does mean four things.
No energy work, Reiki, shamanic practice, breathwork or bodywork
No doctors, no integrative or functional medicine, nothing on the clinical side either
You are matched with a therapist rather than browsing and choosing one yourself
Nothing outside one to one sessions, so no events, workshops or group work
What to look for in an alternative
If you are looking because you want both worlds, these are worth checking before you sign up anywhere.
Does it hold conventional medicine and holistic practice in the same place, or only one of the two
Can you choose the person yourself, or does something choose for you
Are sessions available online and in person, or online only
Does it work on your phone and on a desktop, or only in an app
Is grief treated as its own kind of support rather than filed under anxiety
Is it specific about what a verification badge actually means, or vague about it
Where the Spine App fits
Both worlds sit in the same place, and you decide which one you are looking at. There are three ways to be supported.
Conventional — doctors, licensed therapists, psychologists, counselors, coaches and clinical support
Holistic and spiritual — healers, energy workers, Reiki practitioners, shamanic guides, somatic, breathwork and sound practitioners
Both — practitioners who work across approaches, or a combination you put together yourself
That combination is the part most services cannot copy. A holistic marketplace cannot add an orthopaedist without breaking its promise to its own community. A therapy service cannot add a Reiki practitioner without breaking its promise to be clinical. Holding both is a decision, not a feature.
What the search actually does
You say what is going on. The search finds the people, the sessions, the events and the podcasts that match — conventional or holistic, online or near you. Four kinds of thing, not just a list of names.
This is also where a chatbot runs out of road. An AI assistant can recommend a trauma therapist. It cannot show you her free appointments, or the workshop she is running next Thursday. That last step is the one that was always missing.
A place, not just a list
Most directories are something you use once and leave. Here there is a feed, posts in picture and video, comments, practitioners and topics you can follow, and a message inbox. You can ask the community a question in the open and get an answer from someone who has been through the same thing. Finding someone is one half of it. Having somewhere to come back to is the other.
It runs on iOS, Android and on a desktop browser, not app only. Practitioners are listed in 175 countries, in English, German and Spanish. Some profiles carry a verification badge, which means the team has checked that person's identity or qualification. Downloading and browsing is free. You can browse practitioners here.
When BetterHelp is the better choice
If you want licensed talk therapy in the United States, you do not want holistic options in the mix, and you would rather be matched quickly than choose for yourself, BetterHelp's scale is hard to beat. There is no reason to make that complicated.
And if you are in immediate danger or in crisis right now, neither service is the right first step. Contact your local emergency number or a crisis line.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an alternative to BetterHelp that includes holistic practitioners?
Yes. The Spine App lists doctors, therapists, coaches and holistic practitioners in the same place, and lets you look at conventional support, holistic and spiritual support, or both together.
Can I combine conventional therapy with holistic work?
Many people do. Some practitioners work across both approaches. Others focus on one, and people put the combination together themselves over time.
Do I need the app, or does it work on a computer?
Both. It runs on iOS and Android and fully on a desktop browser, so you are not forced onto a phone to search.
Is the Spine App available outside the United States?
Yes. Practitioners are listed in 175 countries, in English, German and Spanish.
What does grief support look like here?
Grief does not follow a schedule, and nothing here treats it as a problem to be solved on a timeline. You will find grief counselors, grief coaches, and people who hold space in ways that have been practiced for thousands of years. More on choosing the right kind of support.
If you have been running two searches at once, one for a therapist and one for someone who works differently, the Spine App puts them in the same place. It is free to download, and there is no wrong way to start looking.
Download the Spine App now:
Android: Get it on Google Play
Disclaimer:
The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional advice from a doctor or other qualified medical professional. Please always consult your doctor before making any medical decisions, especially regarding health concerns or questions.
About Spine App
Spine App is your life companion for body, mind and soul. The app connects people with providers, sessions, events and podcasts — conventional, holistic or both. Available in 175 countries and three languages. Founded by Sylvia Leifheit.
Written by the Spine App Editorial Team.
