Regain couples counseling is BetterHelp’s therapy platform for anyone relationship-minded. Follow our tester’s experience with the platform and see if it’s for you.
Maintaining healthy relationships can be challenging. To communicate better, many partners find themselves turning to couples counseling. But in-person visits aren’t always an option, whether that’s due to:
- transportation limitations
- scheduling
- something else
Regain Counseling is an online relationship counseling platform that specializes in relationship and marriage therapy in addition to individual counseling.
Read on to learn how it works and whether it’s a good fit for you and your partner.
Regain Counseling at a glance
Regain Counseling is a virtual counseling platform that specializes in relationship therapy. The platform is accessible via desktop, tablet, or phone. You can book solo or couples appointments to talk to someone about relationship- or marriage-related concerns or issues.
You and your partner can sign up to the same account and have access to the same counselor. All the information and communication are accessible to you, your partner, and your counselor.
Quick Facts:
- Most communication is done through text, but you can also sign up for video or phone calls.
- The cost averages $60–$90 per week (billed every 4 weeks).
- Regain does not accept insurance or submit claims on your behalf.
Our vetting process and hands-on testing
Healthline has an extensive vetting process that we apply to every company and product we recommend. When researching Regain, we looked at the following:
- the company’s medical credibility (are all therapists licensed/qualified?)
- the company’s reputation (what are customers or news outlets saying about the service?)
- business practices (does the company make any outlandish claims, outstanding lawsuits, or big red flags?)
In addition to this initial review, we regularly re-evaluate services to ensure we can continue to stand by them. We watch for any major news or updates and go through the entire process again whenever needed. We update content as needed to provide the most up-to-date information on the company and anything else you need to know.
Who is Regain for?
Regain may be the right choice for anyone having relationship difficulties or obstacles. Therapists on the platform are also equipped to deal with issues such as:
- anxiety
- depression
- resentment
- grief
- anger
- addiction
As well as concerns relating to parenting and LGBTQIA+ matters.
Instead of couples counseling, the hotline suggests a person experiencing abuse contacts a domestic abuse organization to get advice.
If you, or someone you know, is in an abusive relationship, the National Domestic Violence Hotline does not recommend they attend relationship counseling.
What types of therapy does Regain offer?
Regain generally specializes in couples therapy, but you can still use it for individual therapy, too. Regardless, the focus of your therapy will be on your relationships, whether they be romantic, platonic, or familial.
Regain advertises to help with issues such as dating, attachment and attraction, recovering from domestic violence, intimacy, and more. Regain therapists can also focus on specific concerns like:
- improving conflict resolution and communication skills
- resolving parenting conflicts
- resolving intimacy issues
- setting boundaries in relationships
- dating issues
- recovering from a divorce or breakup
Interested in getting started with Regain? Healthline readers receive 20% off their first month.
How does Regain work?
You can get started through the Regain website or app. You’ll be charged for services only once you’re matched with a counselor. You won’t need to pay while you wait to be connected.
1. Sign up
The first step is choosing which type of therapy you want. You can choose couples therapy or individual therapy if your partner won’t be joining you. There’s also a “Not Sure Yet” option that allows you to choose later.
2. Answer a short questionnaire
Once you decide which type of therapy you would prefer, you’ll be asked to complete a questionnaire that helps match you with the right counselor. The questionnaire has a series of questions about:
- your identity
- your situation
- what issues you’re having
- what you want to gain from counseling
- what you’re looking for in a counselor
3. Create an account
Once you complete and submit the questionnaire, you’ll be prompted to create an account, where you’ll enter your name and email address and create a password. You’ll also be asked for your partner’s first name.
You can invite your partner to join you during the sign-up process. If you want to invite them after you have already been matched with a counselor, or have already started counseling, you can skip this part for now — just choose the “No” option. You’ll be able to click “Invite Partner” at the top of the screen at any time after signing up.
With Regain, you don’t have to use your real name to sign up. You can enter a nickname instead of your full name. You have to include an emergency contact, though, which is only shared with your counselor.
4. Set up payment
After creating your account, you’ll enter your payment information. You can enter:
- a credit card
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
Regain will charge your payment method every 4 weeks.
The subscription includes one weekly live session, plus 24/7 text, audio, and video messaging. (You can message your therapist anytime, but they will respond on their preferred schedule.)
5. Get matched with a counselor
After you submit your payment information, you’ll be matched with your counselor. Once you have received a match, you’ll be notified via email. This can take a few hours up to a few days, depending on the counselor’s availability.
Each counselor will have their own approach to therapy. It’s important to find one you feel will best support you. If your counselor isn’t a good fit, you can request a new one. You can do this as soon as you match or after working together.
6. Start online therapy
Once matched, you and your counselor (and your partner, if they’re joining) will have a dedicated room, that is guarded by 256-bit encryption, which looks similar to a chat room. This is where you’ll talk with your counselor and where all your messages will be stored. The room is open 24/7, so you can message your counselor at any time.
Here’s how it works:
- You can write about yourself, your relationship concerns, and any questions you have.
- Your counselor will log into the same room, read your messages, and respond with feedback, insights, suggestions, and additional questions.
- You may not receive a reply immediately, but Regain says counselors aim to communicate in a timely manner.
- There’s no limit on the number of messages you can send and receive.
- You can have longer sessions all at once or shorter exchanges throughout the week.
Note that each state has different laws and procedures about sharing information with authorities. In most cases, if you pose a threat to yourself or another person, the therapist may be obligated to share this information with the proper channels set by your state’s regulations. Check your state’s laws to stay in the loop about what stays between you and your therapist.
How qualified are Regain counselors?
Regain counselors are trained and accredited. All of them are either:
- licensed psychologists
- marriage and family therapists
- clinical social workers
- professional counselors
Regain counselors hold master’s or doctoral degrees and have been certified by their state’s board.
While each counselor’s experience, expertise, and background varies, they all specialize or have an interest in relationship counseling. They also have at least 3 years of experience and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience.
All counselors are independent professionals, meaning they are not employed by Regain.
Regain is not a substitute for emergency services.
In the event of a mental health emergency — if you’re thinking about harming yourself or someone else — call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, call 911, or seek emergency medical attention.
Is Regain right for you?
Regain is for people who want to improve their relationships, whether there are concerns with communication, intimacy, or trust.
Regain counselors are trained to help you prevent or navigate a separation or divorce or work with you on personal issues.
It’s unclear whether Regain works with non-monogamous couples, so keep this in mind if you decide to pursue counseling here.
Regain is for adults only and for those who don’t have a legal guardian, so you’re not able to have a counselor work with your child.
Regain can’t replace in-person therapy for certain circumstances.
Counselors cannot:
- make a diagnosis
- prescribe medication
- work with you if you have a court order
This service is not meant for those who are in a crisis, in an emergency, or those who are experiencing domestic abuse.
Regain isn’t suitable if you are having thoughts of suicide or have thoughts of harming yourself or others. It does, however, provide emergency resources in these circumstances.
Does Regain work?
There haven’t been many studies showing that text-based therapy is more beneficial than in-person therapy. Additionally, when it comes to text-based relationship therapy, there isn’t any research at all.
However, with relationship therapy, in general, an older
A
A 2022 study on couples therapy via videoconferencing also showed overall improvements in several outcomes over time, including relationship satisfaction and mental health.
Many Regain users seem to be happy with the service, scoring it a 4.7 out of 5 stars and lauding it with more than 2,900 reviews on the Apple app store. One user said, “It has made a huge difference in our lives.” Other users have said they requested a new counselor after deciding the first wasn’t a good fit and were then happy with the second.
Some users have described the initial questionnaire as “a nightmare of a process,” and several others reported long wait times for their counselors to return their messages.
Insurance and pricing
The cost for Regain counseling can vary depending on your location, preferences, and the availability of your therapist, and ranges from $60–$90 per week. This includes unlimited messaging and phone or video chats.
There’s no free trial or free version of Regain, so you’ll be billed out of pocket every 4 weeks, either by PayPal or credit card. However, you’re able to easily adjust your payment plan or cancel your subscription at any time.
Regain does not accept insurance.
Privacy
Regain has high security standards. All messages between you and your counselor are secured and encrypted by banking-grade 256-bit encryption.
If data is stolen or used inappropriately, all databases are encrypted and scrambled.
Lastly, you also have the option to get rid of any messages by clicking the “Shred” button next to each message, so it no longer shows up in your account.
Customer ratings and reviews
At time of publication, Regain is not Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited, but has a 3.7-star rating on the website.
Most complaints centered around the subscription model. Customers weren’t happy that you have to pay for a month in advance, even if you don’t use all the weekly allotted sessions. Some users were also unhappy with their therapists, but it’s important to note that you can request a new therapist at any time.
Couples found that therapists were calm, compassionate, and great listeners. While everyone’s experience will be different, couples were also happy to receive “homework” assignments from their counselors.
Reviews for individual therapy are largely positive. Clients noted that Regain counselors were easy to work with. Users wrote that they felt understood and were happy to navigate emotional issues alongside their Regain therapist.
Healthline tester’s experience with Regain
Tester profile
*Our tester’s name has been changed for privacy reasons
In addition to our vetting process, one of our employees spent months exploring the platform with her partner as both needed some help.
Healthline employee Lea and her husband have been married for 10 years, have a blended family, and have experienced persistent differences and hardships. They have differing levels of comfort with couples counseling but are open to teletherapy.
Lea and her husband have done in-person therapy and online therapy, including couples therapy through Lyra. They found Regain quite comparable.
The couple was at an impasse and had all four predictors of divorce in John Gottman’s Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. They were scared of the potential outcome, both having been married before. This made Lea and her husband quite motivated to fix their marriage obstacles.
Overall, they would recommend Regain to other couples. They liked that several Regain therapists were available and that there were auto-matching and self-selection options to connect with the right professional. Lea and her husband used this feature three times before they found the right therapist for them.
Lea personally liked that, on the app, she could add attachments and send voice notes in the chat, and that she could also mark messages as urgent. She did wish, however, that she had the option to message her therapist without her partner seeing, and to filter therapists by time zone.
Lea feels Regain is best for couples or relationship-minded individuals who are open to and patient in working on their relationships. She feels the flexibility of choosing therapists is great if you’re open to trying 1-2 sessions to vet and meet with someone.
Since Regain’s therapy is self-driven, Lea points out that you must be open to taking advantage of what’s offered. In addition to therapy, Regain offers blogs, live classes, and journal prompts for introspection
Regain vs. competitors
| Platform | Pricing | What it’s best for | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regain | $65–$90 a week | improving relationships, including communication, trust, and intimacy issues for couples | • trained and accredited counselors with expertise in relationships • communication via text message 24/7, phone, or video |
| Talkspace | from $69 a week | comprehensive therapy, including talk, couples, teen, and psychiatry | • comprehensive therapy approach • 24/7 messaging with counselor available |
| Couples Therapy Inc. | • $150–$275 a session • retreats start at $3,500 | intensive retreats and ongoing counseling for various relationship issues | • approach is with concentrated time blocks • Gottman method–certified coaches with specific focus areas |
Frequently asked questions about Regain
Yes, Regain is owned by BetterHelp. While BetterHelp offers adult and teen counseling, Regain focuses specifically on couples and relationship counseling. You’ll be redirected to Regain if you choose the couples therapy option on BetterHelp.
Yes. Regain counselors are trained and accredited. They’re all either
- licensed psychologists
- marriage and family therapists
- clinical social workers
- professional counselors
Regain counselors hold master’s or doctoral degrees and have been certified by their state’s board.
Regain also has software and hardware practices in place to safeguard communications. All messages between you and your counselor are encrypted by banking-grade encryption, and their browsing encryption system (SSL) follows best modern practices.
It’s important to note that therapists may have large caseloads, which can affect service quality.
Some users report problems finding appointment times with their therapist and slow response times to their messages.
However, BetterHelp therapists (including Regain therapists) are reported to receive higher pay in the industry, and reviews show that therapists are quite satisfied working with the parent company, BetterHelp. This may lead to more positive service delivery.
Sessions with Regain range from 30-45 minutes via video call or phone call. You also have access to unlimited messaging through the chat room with your therapist.
Regain is not in-network with any health insurance plan, although if you want to try to seek partial reimbursement, the company will provide a detailed receipt for you to submit to your insurer.
Takeaway
There are pros and cons to online relationship counseling. If you aren’t able to do therapy in person and want help improving your relationships, Regain might be right for you.
Do not use this service for crises such as a mental health emergency or domestic abuse. Instead, it’s recommended to seek emergency assistance.