Our tester tried Calmerry for a month to get an idea of the platform. She shares her experience, and we cover features, cost, reviews, and more in this in-depth Calmerry review.
You might be interested in pursuing online therapy because it’s more accessible and convenient than in-person therapy appointments. Perhaps you’ve experienced issues finding a mental health professional nearby, or maybe it’s difficult to make appointments that fit your schedule.
If you’re looking for more flexibility with your mental health care, online therapy may be a good fit for you, and Calmerry is a solid option to consider.
Calmerry is an online therapy platform founded in 2020. The company’s goal is to make mental health care and support accessible by offering affordable video and text message therapy via experienced licensed counselors.
Read on to learn more about Calmerry, who the service is best for, pricing, and more.
A quick look at Calmerry
Pros
- There are flexible subscription plans available.
- Based on your answers to an initial survey upon signing up, Calmerry will personally match you with a licensed and verified therapist.
- Live video sessions and audio and text messaging are available.
- You can switch your therapist for free.
- 24/7 tech support is available.
- You can cancel your subscription for free anytime.
Cons
- Calmerry is a relatively new service.
- Insurance isn’t accepted.
- There’s no free trial available.
- Calmerry is only for therapy, so if you’re interested in psychiatry or medication management, you’ll have to use a different platform.
What is Calmerry?
Calmerry is an online therapy platform that offers affordably priced sessions with licensed counselors. The company’s therapists cover a wide variety of specialties, including:
- anger management
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- anxiety and stress
- emotional abuse
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- family or relationship conflicts
- chronic illness
- grief
- trauma
- depression
According to the company’s website, Calmerry believes getting help for your mental health shouldn’t be a luxury — it should be accessible to everyone.
Calmerry operates on a subscription-based model, with services from as low as $50 a week.
How Calmerry works
With Calmerry, all communication is done virtually, so the first step is signing up via the app or website.
After downloading the app, you’ll be prompted to sign up by entering an email address and creating a password. After that, you’ll take a short survey to help the service match you with an appropriate therapist.
The survey starts with questions like, “Have you tried counseling before?” It then asks what kind of counselor you’re looking for and how satisfied you are with the current state of your health, eating habits, and close relationships.
Once the survey is completed — it can take about 5–10 minutes — Calmerry will give you an emotional well-being score and a projected progress score. The projected progress score is the improvement you can expect to see after 2–3 months of therapy.
From there, you’ll be prompted to choose a subscription plan. You’ll then be matched with a therapist and you can get started. If you have trouble during the process, you can chat with a mental health assistant who can provide more information about therapy options.
Calmerry features
Calmerry’s primary service is online therapy. The platform’s features include different types of therapy — like text or video — and flexible subscription plans with an easy cancellation policy.
Counselor matching
Calmerry tries to match you with the right therapist for your needs. You’ll submit an initial questionnaire, and Calmerry will review your information to hand-select an available counselor for you.
Text therapy
Once you’re set up, you can choose from video or text therapy. If you opt for messaging, you’ll have access to the virtual therapy room 24/7 and can leave a message for your counselor anytime. They’ll respond 1 to 2 times a day during their working days.
The Messaging Therapy plan — $50 per week — also includes unlimited messaging, a personalized therapy plan, and access to supplemental mental health resources.
Video therapy
Another option is to schedule a session with your therapist in a secure video chat room. These sessions take place in real time, similar to a Zoom call. Calmerry offers two subscription plans with video therapy:
- Messaging and one live video session: For $298 a month ($74.50 per week), you can message your therapist whenever and have one live 30-minute therapy session each month.
- Messaging and four live video sessions: For $360 a month ($90 per week), you can message your therapist whenever and get four live 30-minute therapy sessions each month.
If you want more video sessions, you can purchase them:
- One 30-minute session: $45
- Two 30-minute sessions: $84
- Four 30-minute sessions: $160
Free counselor switching
If you find that your therapist is not the right fit, you can change therapists for free.
Cancellation policy
Calmerry has a cancellation policy that states you can cancel your subscription anytime if you’re not happy with your experience.
Calmerry therapist qualifications
When you register with Calmerry, you’ll be matched up with a vetted and licensed therapist from your state. Calmerry therapists all have a master’s or a doctorate degree and a certification from their state’s board. They include professionals like:
- clinical psychologists
- marriage and family therapists (LMFT)
- clinical social workers (LCSW/LMSW)
- licensed professional counselors
We tried Calmerry!
Crystal Hoshaw, Healthline’s senior associate editor of content marketing, tried Calmerry and recommends the service overall.
She said the experience was similar to Lyra and SimplePractice (two other therapy services she’s tried), although she found the site’s navigation to be a tad clunky.
When she initially tried Calmerry, there was no app, so she had to log in from the internet browser, which wasn’t very user-friendly. Calmerry does have an app now, though, so you can download that on iOS and Android to navigate the platform more easily.
One of Hoshaw’s favorite features was the therapy journal. She could submit entries each day and choose which ones to share with her therapist. While this isn’t a required feature for users, Hoshaw felt it was useful for tracking her progress and helping her stay on track with “homework” assigned by her therapist.
She also noted that there seemed to be a wide availability of therapists for different needs, so the service can appeal to a wide range of users.
Hoshaw says that Calmerry is a great choice for “people who like to engage in self-reflection, especially through writing, and who enjoy access to their therapist through text.”
Who is Calmerry for?
Therapy with Calmerry is a great fit for people who:
- want a subscription pay plan
- have busy schedules
- have social anxiety or feel uncomfortable leaving their home
- enjoy text therapy
This service is not recommended for people experiencing eating disorders or addiction.
How much does Calmerry cost?
Calmerry pricing starts at $50 per week for therapy via text messaging. The messaging and one video session plan costs $74.50 per week, while the messaging and four video sessions plan comes out to $90 each week.
Does Calmerry take insurance?
Calmerry does not accept insurance. They do state that their pricing is comparable to what your co-pay would be anyway. However, you can still save your receipts and contact your network for reimbursement.
Does Calmerry provide financial aid?
Currently, Calmerry does not provide financial aid.
Calmerry vs. competitors
| Platform | Pricing | Insurance coverage | Highlights | Drawbacks | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calmerry | $50–$90 per week, depending on the subscription plan | does not accept insurance | – matches you with a therapist based on your answers to a survey – text therapy is a good option for people who are new or nervous about therapy | – does not take insurance – does not prescribe medication or diagnose conditions | people who want to try online therapy and see if it’s right for them |
| BetterHelp | $65–$100 per week | generally not covered by insurance | – can cancel anytime – subscription plan available – offers teen and couples therapy | – does not take insurance – does not prescribe medication or diagnose conditions | people who want to switch between communication methods |
| Talkspace | varies, but around $69 per week | accepts insurance | – partners with employers and health plans – offers medication management | – live sessions are only 30 minutes long | people who have health insurance or who want to manage their medication on the same platform |
Calmerry customer reviews and ratings
Reviewers note that the flexibility is a great feature: People are able to talk with their therapist on lunch breaks or after getting home from work. Others say that even though they initially were reluctant to try teletherapy, their therapist ended up being a great fit. Calmerry’s customer service and support generally receive glowing reviews.
However, some negative reviews mention dealing with therapists in different time zones or therapists who don’t reply to messages in a timely manner and send responses that sound generic.
Online therapy vs. in-person therapy
Online therapy has a lot of benefits. It’s often highly flexible, allowing you to make appointments that best fit your schedule. Virtual therapy can also be more affordable, though not every platform accepts insurance.
That being said, some people may prefer attending therapy sessions in person. In-person therapy can strengthen communication between you and your therapist and offer a neutral location. Attending therapy sessions in person is generally recommended if you’re experiencing symptoms of a more severe mental health condition.
At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong answer as to which type of therapy is better. You’ll need to decide for yourself whether online therapy or in-person therapy is best for your schedule and your needs.
Frequently asked questions about Calmerry
No, Calmerry doesn’t prescribe medication. Calmerry therapists are mental health counselors and aren’t licensed to prescribe medication.
Calmerry doesn’t accept insurance. However, you can try to receive reimbursements from your health insurance.
Yes. Calmerry is a legitimate and reputable company. This online therapy platform is relatively new and was founded in 2020. During the company’s first year, Calmerry facilitated mental health care between 600 counselors and 47,000 people.
This is a decision you’ll need to make on your own. Online therapists can provide you with professional mental health care from the comfort of your own home.
In general, online therapy is affordable, convenient, and effective. However, with in-person sessions, you’ll receive a different type of communication and can undergo more intensive mental health treatment when needed.
Takeaway
While Calmerry is still new, it’s clear that this online therapy platform is gaining pace with companies like Talkspace and BetterHelp. Online therapy is a convenient, affordable way to get the mental health care you need.
With Calmerry, you can speak with or message vetted therapists from the comfort of your own home.