Wellnite Health Online Therapy Review

Due to the rise in anxiety and depression across the United States, especially following the pandemic, many mental health clinicians have waitlists that last weeks or even months before you are able to get in to see them.

If you want to skip the wait and see someone quickly for medication management or mental health therapy rooted in CBT coaching, Wellnite could help. Wellnite provides low-cost, all-in-one mental health care with numerous licensed mental health clinicians, such as LCSWs, LPCs, PhDs, PsyDs, and MDs with varying mental health specialties. Clients can engage in therapy and have a session for medication management all in the same day. In order to evaluate Wellnite’s services, we surveyed 105 users of the company, spoke with a subject matter expert, and I signed up for therapy with Wellnite myself.

What Is Wellnite?

Wellnite is an online therapy company that offers talk therapy and medication management. Based in California, Wellnite was founded by research scientist Elisa Swan and entrepreneur Paulo Gonzáles in 2019. The duo’s mission was to provide affordable virtual mental health care access to all individuals, even if their busy lifestyle limits the time they have to engage in therapy services.

Wellnite was developed to meet the mental health needs of a wide range of individuals’ lifestyles in an easily accessible manner with therapists available throughout the majority of the United States.

What Does Wellnite Offer?

All of Wellnite’s mental health providers use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is an evidence-based approach for treating anxiety and depression. When reading through bios of providers on the website, you will find that some are also trained in trauma-informed care, grief, and emotion dysregulation.

Wellnite mental health practitioners provide supportive therapy, breathing and relaxation techniques, talk therapy, and CBT for those dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.

“CBT is a modality that translates well to virtual mental health care,” explains Hannah Owens, LMSW. “It’s focused on identifying negative thoughts and patterns through highly structured therapy sessions.” 

However, if you’re struggling with debilitating OCD, anxiety, PTSD, or depression, a higher and more specialized level of care may be needed, such as in-person sessions rather than online services, or more frequent sessions. Wellnite therapists can provide referrals based on location for users needing a higher level of care. 

How Much Does Wellnite Cost?

Although Wellnite’s prices have steadily increased since 2019, the cost continues to be reasonable when compared with traditional therapy and other online therapy platforms. It offers three payment tiers:.

• Medical care and therapy: This plan is $245 per month ($61.75 per month if users pay a year upfront). It includes one doctor consultation per month, access to wholesale medication for the month, and either two 30-minute therapy sessions or one 60-minute therapy session per month. 
• Medical care: This plan includes one doctor consultation and access to wholesale pricing for medication. The cost per month is $95 (charged bi-weekly), or $61.75 per month if users pay for the year upfront. 
• Therapy: This is the most expensive option at $450 per month if users are paying monthly ($292.50 per month if users pay for the year upfront). Each month includes six 30-minute sessions, four 45-minute sessions, or three 60-minute sessions. 

Users can choose to pay by month, six months upfront, or a year upfront. Paying for a year upfront will get you the lowest price. All packages include member support available 24/7.

Medication, if included in your plan, is sold at wholesale pricing through Wellnite, and shipping is free for the first three deliveries.

Does Wellnite Accept Insurance?

Wellnite accepts PPO insurance plans and, depending on your insurance, 10% to 100% of your payments may be covered. Wellnite offers a free consultation to speak with a member of the administrative team about your insurance plan; they will work to determine your eligibility for insurance coverage.

Though the pricing is listed per week on the website, you’re actually billed every month. It is also worth noting that the per-week prices at Wellnite may be higher than the cost of therapy at some other online therapy companies, such as BetterHelp (where prices range from $60 to $90 per week), but it is lower than standard out–of-pocket private practice rates. Still, it might be inaccessible for the average user, unless you have insurance.

These prices do not include the cost of the medication, which is billed separately.

Does Wellnite Offer Discounts?

There is an option to try your first month for $45 with the code NEW, which includes a doctor evaluation, CBT coaching (in two 30-minute sessions or one 60-minute session), and Spotify music, which may be used as an accessory in therapy for potential podcast recommendations, mindfulness meditation, or relaxation. 

Sliding scale fees may also be an option for users. During the free initial consultation, you can inquire to see if you qualify.

Navigating Wellnite’s Website

The Wellnite homepage is welcoming and simple to navigate. The vibrant blue, purple, and yellow theme colors are attention-grabbing as they draw you straight to a picture of one of the female doctors on staff, followed by a message that she is accepting insurance. 

The services provided are clearly visible without even having to scroll: “At Wellnite, we offer same-day doctor consultation, therapy, and medication all from the comfort of your own home.” As you scroll down the homepage, you can click on the list of providers and learn about their areas of specialty, peruse the pricing packages, and click on a “Get Started Now” button, which walks you through the entire signup process.

As you continue to scroll, you are able to see all of the providers’ individual professional pictures in the shape of a heart. When you click on a provider’s photo, it will bring you straight to their bio where you will also have the ability to request a session with that provider. 

This is an above-average rating, compared to the other companies we reviewed, which is likely because the sign-up process is much simpler than at other companies since it only treats two mental health disorders: anxiety and depression. You do not fill out a detailed intake form during sign-up—that is reserved for your first meeting with your provider. Instead, to register, just select your desired plan, share your contact information, and create a user login and password. When you confirm your email address, you will get a short questionnaire, though. 

A big perk of Wellnite is that you get to select your therapist, doctor, or mental health coach from a directory of bios once you’ve subscribed. There is no algorithm to choose for you. 

Once you decide, the company shared with us that your therapist should reach out to you within 24 hours, though some of the users surveyed said it took a little longer. 

As you continue to scroll, you are able to see all of the providers’ individual professional pictures in the shape of a heart. When you click on a provider’s photo, it will bring you straight to their bio where you will also have the ability to request a session with that provider.

Wellnite also has a section of its website dedicated to its blog, linked at the very top of the homepage. This page is well organized, with informative posts on a wide range of mental health topics including therapy, diagnoses, medication management, and much more. Also at the top of the page are links to a “Conditions” page where common mental health issues are explained, an FAQ section, and a “Your Practice” section urging providers to try a demo or sign up with the company.

According to our survey, 63% of users found navigating the website to be easy or very easy, while another 30% of users reported the website neither easy nor difficult to navigate. User experiences of finding a provider were similar, with 52% of users reporting the process to be easy or very easy, while another 30% reported the provider navigation process to be neither easy nor difficult.

Signing Up for Therapy at Wellnite

The signup process for Wellnite is straightforward and simple. The homepage has a “Get Started Now” button that takes you to the available plans for working with a therapist, a medical doctor, or both. 

Once you create an account by entering your phone number, email address, state of residency, and password of your choice, you will submit your credit card information, and are then able to access your private portal for scheduling. In your portal, you can also set up appointment reminders to be sent via text message or email. 

You are also able to contact customer support before choosing a plan to discuss which plan makes the most sense for you. For example, if you would like to learn if you qualify for sliding scale fees, you would need to contact customer support.

Once you are in the patient portal, you can review different therapists’ or medical providers’ bios, and then choose to schedule with one directly. Most providers have availability within a week. After your initial session with your provider, you can schedule a follow-up directly with them before logging out. 

After sign-up, you will receive an email about the package you selected and who you can reach out to for any inquiries. The Wellnite 24-hour support team is always available to answer questions and help you find a mental health package that meets your needs. Prospective clients can call the support team or text at any time. Responses to questions are prompt, usually within 20 minutes.

If you choose the therapy plan, you will receive six 30-minute sessions or four 45-minute sessions or three 60-minute sessions. You may also alternate your sessions between different session lengths. 

However, it is important to note that if you cancel your subscription before the end of the month, you will lose the remaining sessions. I cancelled my Wellnite subscription after using three 30-minute sessions, and was unable to use the remaining three sessions even though I paid the full $450 for the month.

Choosing a Therapist

The platform does not match users with a mental health provider based on the documentation required to sign up. It is the users’ job to find an appropriate fit by reading through different therapist, psychiatrist, and mental health counselor bios. 

This part of the process can feel a little overwhelming, as there are thousands of therapists to choose from, and no system to help you narrow down your selection. However, there are some providers that offer sessions after work hours and some that do not. This may help you to narrow down your choices to meet your scheduling needs.

These bios include provider credentials, areas of specialization, and the states they are licensed to provide services in. You will need to select a provider within the state you reside. Before booking an appointment, you will be required to confirm that you reside in one of the states the provider of your choice is licensed in. 

Once signed up, you will have access to your dashboard, which is a place for scheduling or canceling your sessions, or changing your settings for your appointment reminders. There is a customer support chatbox available on your dashboard as well. When you send a message through the chat, you will be notified of a response within one business day via text message.

Customer support services are most useful for discussing payment plans and determining if your insurance is accepted or if you qualify for sliding scale fees. If you have any questions about how to navigate the portal, use the link for your session, or contact your therapist, you can also reach out to customer support. 

You can customize your dashboard by creating personal growth goals and update them as you work with your therapist. These goals are helpful reminders to refer to during your therapy sessions.

How Do Therapy Sessions Work at Wellnite?

Therapy sessions at Wellnite are held over video or audio call. The Wellnite scheduling process is efficient. You can schedule with a provider quickly, and there are almost always providers available within a few days to see you. Depending on the demand of your provider of choice, you may have to schedule a bit more in advance. However, I was able to schedule my third appointment with a second provider within one business day. 

You choose the session length when you book with your provider in your portal. You can request 30-minute, 45-minute, or 60-minute sessions with providers, regardless of whether it is your very first session or you have been meeting with the provider for weeks. Some providers are available at all hours of the day, including evenings and weekends. 

You can set up notifications to get an email reminder and a text reminder about your upcoming appointment and you can join a session either over the phone or from your computer via the patient portal

Video Therapy Sessions

To join the session from a phone or computer, you go to “My Appointments” and click “Join Call.” Providers also allow users to join sessions without turning on their cameras if preferred.

As a Wellnite user, I was given a link to attend my virtual session, but my link was initially not working. I texted the on-call support staff who immediately responded with another link. I chose to keep my camera on for my session and was welcomed by the provider I requested.

My initial 30-minute session with my first provider seemed slightly unorganized. I found that meeting with a provider for the first time for only 30 minutes may make it difficult to cover both the needs of the client and a specific first-session agenda. I think my experience with my provider would have been better if the initial session was an hour long, as there was not enough time to build rapport. Instead we dove right into what needed to be addressed. I think the initial intake session should be a required minimum of an hour to enhance user experiences. 

In this first session, my therapist explained that she would like to do some art therapy with me to help with stress management. Due to being a therapist myself, I was okay with diving right in, but I would imagine that most users would feel uncomfortable jumping into what needs to be addressed within the first 30-minute session, especially if they had never done art therapy before. I continued to meet with this provider again the next week, and had a better idea of what to expect. 

I was able to communicate via text with my provider about scheduling or any changes in session times. However, it is unclear over whether or not texting directly with your provider is HIPAA-compliant. The website states that when you text the Wellnite direct line for customer support, everything is confidential and HIPAA-compliant. However, when texting with your provider on their personal line, it is less clear, and each provider uses their own discretion of what is considered secure. 

In our survey, 31% of Wellnite users reported finding a therapist who met all of their needs, and 44% said that their therapist met most of their needs. Additionally, 75% of users rated the quality of their providers as good, very good, or excellent. When asked how they felt about their therapist, 37% said their therapist was understanding and/or open-minded, and 27% felt that their therapist listened to them and was supportive of their identity.

Medication Management/Psychiatry

Medication management is provided in the medical plan option. You can meet virtually or over the phone with a psychiatrist, and then obtain medications at a wholesale price that very same day. Medications can be shipped directly to your home, and if signing up for the monthly medical care package, shipping on medication is free. 

Seventy-five percent of users felt that Wellnite’s medication and psychiatry services were good, very good, or excellent, and 36% of users felt that their provider was there when they needed them, though 33% said the opposite. Still, 46% felt that their provider was responsive to their questions and medication needs, and 44% felt like their provider cared about their wellbeing.

What Happens If I Miss a Session at Wellnite?

If you miss a session, you will be charged a $65 fee. 

You can cancel appointments without a penalty as long as you cancel more than three hours before your appointment.

Switching Therapists at Wellnite

You can switch providers at Wellnite very easily: All you have to do is schedule a session with a new provider via the patient portal. 

When I tested Wellnite, I was able to schedule an additional session the same week with a new provider for the very next day. The process was simple and easy to navigate. Surprisingly, there were no questions asked or confusion about me changing providers. Switching does not require any extra steps, and if you do not want to communicate with your provider that you are switching therapists, you don't have to. 

You can also ask customer support to help you switch providers. There are no penalties or extra steps needed to switch to a different provider.  

Surprisingly, Wellnite allows you to schedule multiple appointments with different providers at the same time (as in, you can see two different therapists at once). However, this is not recommended, as the possibility of contradictory advice or approaches to therapy between the multiple therapists might, at best, be confusing or, at worst, cancel each other out.

Cancelling Therapy

Cancelling a session can be done on the dashboard with the click of a button. You can see all upcoming appointments there, select an upcoming appointment, and then select “cancel.”

You can also easily cancel your Wellnite monthly package on your personalized dashboard. You will need to answer a series of questions asked regarding your opinions about the provided services. You can't skip these, but you can get through them within the span of a few minutes. 

Quality of Care and User Satisfaction

The Wellnite providers I spoke with were warm and welcoming. Providers incorporate CBT strategies in addition to some of their own specialized therapeutic skills, such as solution focused therapy, art therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). 

My first Wellnite provider was an art therapist. Our initial session consisted of rapport-building where we engaged in some interactive art therapy for the follow-up session.

Then, I switched to a solution-focused therapist who worked with me to navigate through life stressors and re-evaluate priorities. While looking at therapist bios, areas of expertise are clearly listed so that you can find your perfect fit. 

In my personal experience with Wellnite, providers do their best to meet the needs of each client in the moment. The sessions felt authentic and unscripted, and I liked being able to choose the session length that worked best for me. Additionally, the company reports that providers are trained in referring out to a higher level of care or more specialized care as needed. 

Eighty percent of Wellnite users felt that, overall, Wellnite and its services are good, very good, or excellent, and 75% percent reported that their therapist was able to meet all or most of their needs. Additionally, 81% of users rated the therapists’ qualifications at this company as good, very good, or excellent.

Privacy Policies

Wellnite follows the ethical standards dictated by HIPAA, the federal law protecting personal health information. All physical documentation is sent directly through its HIPAA-protected platform and you communicate with the providers and tech team over the phone, making your mental health journey feel secured and protected. 

Although all Wellnite staff are trained on HIPAA, there is limited information on what HIPAA-compliant services entail. The databases used for clinical notes and documentation are not mentioned. When completing the signup process for Wellnite services, you are required to provide a name, address, phone number, and credit card or other payment information, but details about the secured databases used for these services are vague. 

Wellnite vs. Its Competitors

According to our user survey, 17% of Wellnite users ranked the services as excellent, 29% as very good, and 34% as good—meaning that 80% had a favorable impression of the company. While this doesn’t sound bad, it is worth noting that this overall rating is lower than the average of 84% that said the same across all 55 companies we reviewed. For example, 97% of Teladoc users and 90% of Thriveworks users had favorable ratings. 

In addition, at platforms like BetterHelp and Talkspace, excellence ratings were at 27%, and companies like Thriveworks and Teledoc received the highest user experience ratings at 32% each for excellence. Additionally, 17% of users ranked Wellnite experiences as average, while only 11% of Betterhelp users, 8% of Thriveworks and Talkspace users, and 3% of Teledoc users said the same. 

When considering specific needs, however, Wellnite offers more specialized care options like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication management, whereas companies like BetterHelp does not not. 

Wellnite has an extensive pool  of providers with different levels of expertise to select from, which may be viewed as a positive aspect of the service. However, with no algorithm of connecting you with a provider based on your mental health needs, you may feel overwhelmed when selecting a clinician. Companies like Talkspace and BetterHelp use an algorithm to connect you with a provider based on your mental health and medication management needs, which removes the burden of searching for a therapist yourself. 

If you sign up for talk therapy, your therapist will likely utilize CBT to help address your symptoms. They might also encourage mindfulness, meditation, or work with you to manage your stress. Wellnite told us that some therapists also utilize guidebooks, worksheets, and journaling while working with their clients.

The company also focuses on other mild conditions that can be treated with psychotherapy and do not require controlled substances or in-person psychiatric visits.

Finally, since the time of writing this review, Wellnite extended its offerings to include couples and teens therapy. However, our client survey data—and thus this review—did not evaluate these services.

Final Verdict

Wellnite is a simple, user-friendly online mental health platform. For those struggling with symptoms of anxiety or depression, this is an affordable option that you can engage in from the comfort of your home. This platform is also great for those with limited time to dedicate to their mental wellbeing. Appointments are available at all times of the day, including before and after work hours. 

Wellnite pricing has increased since last year, but continues to be a more affordable option than the traditional therapy route. For more severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, Wellnite providers can help users find a specialized care psychiatrist or mental health clinician locally. 

I found Wellnite to be a good tool for stress management. I booked 30-minute sessions, which most likely did not allow therapists to go as in depth as some users may need, especially those struggling with a mental health disorder. My number one recommendation for improvement would be for Wellnite providers to require users to schedule an initial evaluation of 60 minutes to provide enough time for a full intake assessment. The initial 30-minute session did not allow enough time to build rapport and assess all of my needs. Wellnite has flexibility for those with busy work schedules in need of therapy, but for someone in need of more specialized care due to symptom severity, I would recommend looking elsewhere. 

Of the users we surveyed, 76% said Wellnite’s services were either very good or excellent, while 73% said the value for money spent was very good or excellent.

Methodology

To fairly and accurately review the best online therapy programs, we sent questionnaires to 55 companies and surveyed 105 current users of each. This allowed us to directly compare services offered by gathering qualitative and quantitative data about each company and its users’ experiences.

Specifically, we evaluated each company on the following factors: website usability, the signup and therapist matching processes, therapist qualifications, types of therapy offered, the service's quality of care, client-therapist communication options, session length, subscription offerings, client privacy protections, average cost and value for money, whether it accepts insurance, how easy it is to change therapists, overall user satisfaction, and the likelihood that clients would recommend them.

We also signed up for the companies in order to get a sense of how this process worked, how easy to use the platform is, and how therapy takes place at the company. Then, we worked with three subject matter experts to get their expert analysis on how suited this company is to provide high-quality care to therapy seekers