Talkspace Psychiatry connects you with a licensed psychiatric provider who can conduct evaluations, prescribe medication, and provide ongoing support for your mental well-being. This guide explains what to expect during your psychiatry sessions at Talkspace when using health insurance benefits.
NOTE: When you’re ready to sign up for psychiatry, follow our sign-up guide here if you're new, or add it as a new service to your existing Talkspace account.
Your psychiatry sessions: what to expect
A psychiatry session involves either an initial evaluation or a follow-up appointment.
- Initial Evaluation: This first session with your psychiatric provider is typically 60 minutes. This time allows your provider to understand your needs, mental health history and goals, and to develop a personalized treatment plan with you.
- Follow-up Sessions: These sessions are usually 15 minutes long and focus on monitoring your progress, managing medications, and adjusting your treatment plan if needed.
NOTE: If you're not finding the option to book an initial evaluation or follow-up session, see Unable to Book the Correct Session Length for Psychiatry.
All sessions are conducted securely via live video within your Talkspace room. While messaging sessions are not available, you can message your psychiatric provider with quick questions about medication or scheduling at no charge. Providers usually respond by the next business day.
How much do psychiatry sessions cost with insurance?
When you use insurance to pay for psychiatry sessions at Talkspace:
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After your session: You’ll typically see a copay charged right away. The copay amount depends on your insurance plan and is usually $30 or less.
- Tip: Review average copay costs per plan here.
- Insurance review: After your session, we’ll send a claim to your insurance provider—just like what happens after a doctor’s visit—so they can review the details.
- Final cost: Once your insurance processes the claim, they’ll confirm how much they cover and if there’s anything left for you to pay. If there is, we’ll charge the card on file for that amount and send you an invoice.
To estimate your costs before starting care, contact your insurance provider and ask about your member responsibility or cost-share for telehealth psychiatry services through Talkspace. For more information, visit Talkspace Billing: How it Works.
Scheduling and managing your appointments
We recommend meeting with your psychiatry provider at least every three months to stay aligned with your treatment plan. Medication refills are also typically prescribed up to three months at a time.
TIP: During your initial evaluation or when messaging your provider, discuss a cadence for meeting that works best for you to ensure you’re checking in regularly.
You can book psychiatry sessions from as soon as 12 hours in advance, up to four months ahead. All appointments must be confirmed by your provider. If a session isn’t confirmed, it will be automatically canceled, and any credits or charges will be adjusted accordingly.
Learn more in our guide: How to Book, Reschedule, or Cancel a Live Session.
Important Reminders:
- Not attending a scheduled live session or making changes with less than 24 hours' notice may result in a $175 fee.