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We've all seen the ads - BetterHelp promises convenient therapy at your fingertips. But behind the slick marketing lies a company with deeply troubling business practices that every therapy-seeker should know about.
When Christopher Patchet, a licensed therapist, along with Lindsay McClane, looks on how BetterHelp operates. From selling sensitive user data to Facebook (resulting in a $7.8 million FTC fine) to allegedly creating fake profiles for real therapists without their consent, the revelations are genuinely shocking.
The toxic ingredients are plentiful: until 2017, BetterHelp didn't even require therapists to be licensed. The platform allegedly directed potential clients away from therapists they specifically sought out. Most disturbing is the revelation that BetterHelp notified Facebook each time users logged into their accounts or attended therapy sessions, creating a pipeline for targeted ads at vulnerable moments.
Despite knowing all this, many mental health influencers continue promoting BetterHelp to their followers. Even more telling: the company spent $8 million on podcast advertising in a single month - more than they paid in fines for violating user privacy.
This episode is just part one of our investigation. Next week, we'll explore how BetterHelp's practices harm both therapists and the clients who trust them with their mental health. If you've used online therapy services or considered them, this two-part series is essential listening that might change how you view digital mental healthcare forever.

https://www.socialworkers.org/News/News-Releases/ID/2613/Online-therapy-referral-company-that-used-deceptive-marketing-practices-is-no-longer-in-business

https://www.faithfulmind.org/listing/203185-Christopher-Patchet

https://www.hipaajournal.com/betterhelp-settlement-ftc-health-data-privacy/

https://vator.tv/2020-11-11-when-betterhelp-was-young-the-early-years/