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 how psychiatry sessions work when you purchase a psychiatry plan out-of-pocket.
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 30 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?
If you're paying out of pocket (without insurance or employer benefits), psychiatry sessions are purchased a la carte. You can choose from:
- A single initial evaluation session
- A bundle that includes an initial evaluation plus a certain number of follow-up sessions
- Note: Buying multiple sessions at once gives you access to discounted pricing.
For detailed pricing, visit the Psychiatry tab in Talkspace Services + Out-of-Pocket Pricing.
NOTE: If you run out of psychiatry session credits, you have the option to purchase follow-up sessions during scheduling. If you’re interested in purchasing multiple sessions, message your psychiatric provider to access discounted bundle pricing.
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 forfeited session credit.
- If you miss an initial evaluation session, your 60-minute credit will be returned to your account and you’ll need to message your provider to reschedule—your room may not automatically allow you to book another initial evaluation.