Most platforms match you to a therapist. Grow Therapy lets you choose one.
Insurance coverage plus real profile browsing — you read the bios, check the specialties, and book the person you actually want to see.
We've tested 34+ platforms. This review reflects hands-on experience, not marketing copy.
Grow Therapy at a Glance
Grow Therapy
Insurance-covered therapy where you pick your own therapist
Most therapy platforms make the matching decision for you. You fill out a questionnaire and an algorithm picks your therapist. Grow Therapy doesn't do that. You get a directory of real therapist profiles — full bios, listed specializations, session availability, accepted insurance plans — and you book the one you want. It sounds simple, but it's genuinely uncommon in online therapy. The combination of insurance acceptance and profile-first browsing is what makes Grow Therapy worth considering seriously. The network has grown fast, covering most major insurance plans and a wide range of specialties. The tradeoffs are real too: no messaging between sessions, no psychiatry, and availability varies by location. But for the specific person this is built for — insured, wants choice, prioritizes fit over speed — it works.
Pricing & Plans
Grow Therapy bills your insurance directly, which means your cost is whatever your plan's in-network mental health copay is — typically $20–50 per session. Grow Therapy works with Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, and a growing list of regional plans. The best way to confirm coverage is to search by your specific insurance on the Grow Therapy site before browsing therapists.
Self-pay rates exist and are set by individual therapists on the platform — typically $100–200 per session. At that price, Grow Therapy doesn't have a compelling advantage over other platforms. The value proposition here is almost entirely insurance-driven.
How to verify your coverage before you start:
Go to growtherapy.com and enter your insurance plan before searching for therapists. The platform filters results to show only in-network providers for your carrier. This is the right first step — don't browse profiles and fall in love with someone before confirming they take your insurance.
The ability to read a therapist's actual biography and specializations before committing to a first session changes the probability of a good fit — and a good fit is what makes therapy work.
Session Formats
Grow Therapy supports video and in-person sessions. Which formats are available depends on the individual therapist — many offer both, some are video-only, and some practice locations offer in-person for local clients. The session itself is between you and your therapist. Grow Therapy handles the scheduling, insurance billing, and payment; the actual session is a standard clinical appointment.
Video sessions
Conducted through Grow Therapy's integrated video platform. Most therapists on the network offer this. Good for people across the country, not just where in-person therapists are geographically concentrated.
In-person sessions
Available from therapists who operate a physical practice location. Filtering for in-person on Grow Therapy narrows to providers near you. Insurance coverage applies to in-person sessions the same way it does for video.
Grow Therapy does not offer between-session messaging. Sessions are discrete appointments — not a subscription service. If you want async messaging between sessions, BetterHelp offers that as part of its model.
What We Like
Where It Falls Short
Who Grow Therapy Is Best For
Who Should Look Elsewhere
How Grow Therapy Compares
| Grow Therapy | Headway | Talkspace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Your copay (typically $20–50) | Your copay (typically $20–50) | $69–109/week or copay |
| Insurance | Yes — browse by your plan | Yes — browse by your plan | Yes — Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UHC |
| Therapist Selection | Browse and choose your own | Browse and choose your own | Algorithm match |
| Formats | Video + In-person | Video + In-person | Video + Messaging |
| Between-session messaging | No | No | Yes |
| Psychiatry | No | No | Yes |
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 | 4.3/5 |
Grow Therapy and Headway are meaningfully similar — both offer profile browsing with insurance. The practical difference is network overlap: some therapists list on both, some on one only. If you can't find a good fit on one, check the other before giving up.
Our Verdict
Grow Therapy earns its place for insured clients who want to make their own therapist decision. The profile browsing is genuine, the insurance coverage is real, and the billing experience is cleaner than most. It's not a fit without insurance, and it won't serve you if you need messaging or psychiatry. But for the right person — insured, selective, values choice — it's a strong option.
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DTS Research Team Editorial
Insurance Navigation · Therapist Matching · Platform Research
Every recommendation on this page was independently researched, cross-referenced against current clinical literature, and verified for accuracy by the DTS editorial team. Platforms are re-evaluated monthly.
We're not therapists — we're researchers who spent hundreds of hours comparing these platforms so you don't have to. Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you sign up. This never influences which platforms we recommend or how honestly we report their limitations.
Pricing reflects our most recent research as of March 2026 and may vary by location and insurance plan. Confirm coverage and copay directly with Grow Therapy before booking.