I Needed Help With Managing Anxiety, so I Tried LiveHealth Online Therapy

I’ve had anxiety for most of my life, although I wasn’t formally diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder until a couple of years ago. Even before that formality, I had educated myself about it and learned that talk therapy can play a significant role in controlling it. However, being a small business owner, a mom, and a wife can be incredibly overwhelming. In times of great stress, my anxiety can interrupt my sleep and cause me to shut down and burn out if I don’t keep it in check. I’ve learned that the best way to manage it is by going back to therapy for what I like to call a “mental health tune-up.” And although I’m established with an online therapist I love, she isn’t always available for drop-in appointments outside of our regularly scheduled six-month check-ins.

Intake

Intake through the LiveHealth website is easy and consists of standard questions like full legal name, age, gender (at birth and chosen), and insurance information, if any. After filling out this information, I was asked whether I wanted to see a therapist immediately or schedule a future appointment. It’s good to know that had I wanted a same-day video visit with a therapist, I could have had one (although the service is not meant for mental health emergencies, such as suicidal ideation). I then entered my location for the appointment.

It’s important to note that you must be in the same state as the therapist or medical provider you choose. I point this out because I went out of state for a vacation after my second appointment and had to reschedule my next session for when I returned. After a different series of questions, including entering an emergency contact and providing insight into what I was looking for from therapy, I moved on to the scheduling page. Quite a few therapists had next-day bookings, and a couple still had slots open the day I signed up. I liked being able to see pages of provider choices. Some people might feel overwhelmed by this (and thus do better with a therapy matching site such as BetterHelp or Talkspace), but I like having choices and perusing provider bios. I wanted a therapist who utilizes CBT, and this list allowed me to find someone.

After choosing a therapist that fit what I was looking for, I was asked to confirm some additional medical details (such as current medications and conditions), and then I was able to pay for the first session to book it.

I received several confirmation emails and texts three days before my appointment, notifying me that if I wanted to cancel my appointment, I’d need to provide at least 24 hours’ notice or incur a $55 cancellation fee. (This fee may vary by provider.)

On the day of my first appointment, I got a text with a link asking me to check in before the appointment. Admittedly, I ignored this and only clicked the link at the start of my appointment. My therapist conducted the check-in, including asking whether anything had changed since I booked the appointment, whether I was experiencing suicidal or homicidal ideations, and whether I felt like I was in danger.

My therapist asked follow-up questions about my experience and introduced me to some CBT mindfulness and interruption exercises I had never tried before. The point of these exercises was to stop the cycle of anxiety before it became worse. They consisted of:

1. Polyvagal breathing: This involves putting both hands on the chest and tapping lightly while inhaling and exhaling.
2. Cold pack interruption: The idea here is that placing something cold on the neck during times of high anxiety can shock the brain into focusing on something else.
3. Acupressure breathing: This involves massaging the area between the thumb and index finger at the pressure point, in addition to deliberate breath work.
4. Meditation: I was asked to focus on a happy event or time, recall all the sensory details, and engage with as many of them as possible.

Over the past few years, I have tested several online therapy platforms, including OurRitual, BetterHelp, Rula, and Mindful Care, for things like anxiety, grief, couples counseling, and family therapy. While all of these platforms offer similar services and my experience with each was generally positive, one significant difference is that LiveHealth Online is all about the therapy and less about the technological bells and whistles you’d  get with some other telehealth platforms.

For instance, there is no messaging service or client-therapist portal on LiveHealth Online. Instead, the site merely allows users to find and try therapists based on their criteria. This bare-bones approach is something I like in a telehealth provider. It allows for freedom of choice in choosing a therapist and provides a hands-off approach to the therapy itself, which is much more like an in-person experience. This is in contrast to platforms such as BetterHelp and Talkspace, where they matched me (unsuccessfully) and then rematched me, as opposed to allowing me to choose someone. The approach of having the platform pick the therapist works for some, but it usually doesn’t for me. I tend to do better with online therapy that doesn’t offer matching, such as LiveHealth Online and Rula.

My busy schedule can lead to me feeling overwhelmed and trigger my anxiety. Knowing that LiveHealth Online is a viable option for therapy already puts me at ease. With its simple interface, a comprehensive list of therapists, and easy scheduling, it makes getting help with my mental health needs simpler. When paying out of pocket, the lower price point is manageable, and there is no obligation to join a membership or incur a recurring charge. You only pay when you see a therapist, at a time and date that works for your schedule.

I enjoyed my time with the therapist and would schedule with her again. The new CBT exercises she taught me have aided in controlling my anxiety in different ways. While I’ll always journal and work on changing my automatic thoughts, the physicality of interrupting those negative responses with breath work, meditation, or physical touch only adds to my toolbox.

For anyone who is looking to start talk therapy — or pick up where they left off — LiveHealth Online can be a great mental health resource to keep in mind.