Talkiatry launched in April 2020, and it made quite the impact in New York. The telehealth industry has been accelerated over the past few years, there’s no doubt, with Some of the best online therapy sites making headlines with their celebrity partners Ariana Grande, Travis Scott, and many more.
However, instead of offering just therapy and counseling, Talkiatry is upping the stakes, offering psychiatric care for both patients and clinicians. The key difference here is that Talkiatry is attending to professional medical services that venture way beyond counseling services, meaning they can even manage medication and diagnosis.
Whilst many people are still coming to terms with the idea that remote therapy is just as effective as traditional, in-person therapy, it may also take some time to adjust to remote psychiatry.
Some of the disorders that Talkiatry aim to treat are:
- Major Depressive Disorder
- ADHD
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- PTSD
- OCD
- Bipolar
The process of onboarding as a Talkiatry client is this: Firstly, take a quick online assessment and then review the psychiatrist you have been algorithmically matched with – only if online dating was this easy. From here, clients have online sessions in which their progress can be tracked.
Company Background
Dr. Georgia Gaveras and Robert Krayn are the founders behind Talkiatry. They have a clear vision in mind for improvising psychiatric care, of which technology is very much a tool they intend to use.
They believe 60% of adults with mental health conditions go untreated each year, and by 2025, there will be a severe shortage of psychiatrists. Of course, digitizing the way the service is delivered can increase the efficiency, and output, of the psychiatrists, meaning more clients can be treated.
Over the past two years since its launch, Talkiatry has conducted 26,000 visits with thousands of different patients. A big part of Talkiatry’s value is that they work with over 60 of the major insurance plans, making it more economical for the patient.
While its series A funding began with $20 million, it has now increased to $37m. With the growth potential seen by other companies in the market, such as Betterhelp, it’s hard to imagine more funding and growth isn’t imminently expected.
Talkiatry Downsides
Talkiatry, despite offering more “serious” and medical services than most of its competitors, is yet to land itself in any controversy – unlike Betterhelp and co. However, the industry itself is still finding its feet, and so are regulators. Of course, psychotherapy and medication management are even more regulated, which is perhaps why it is even more frightened of landing in controversy. However, medical prescriptions and psychiatry, which come with more risks than therapy, are declared as being under-researched by skeptics. It’s important to dig through a more detailed Talkiatry review when seeing how effective its treatment is.
However, this comes at a cost – a cost that’s somewhat opaque. Talkiatry doesn’t offer a simple pricing structure, or promotional offers to accompany it, unlike its competitors. Instead, users must send off a quote and complete a basic assessment.
The bespoke nature of this quote/assessment model highlights the bespoke nature of their service. For many who simply want to interact and converse with a professional therapist, Talkiatry may be overkill.
Alternatives for NY residents
NY residents who are looking for similar services to Talkiatry (psychiatry) have a few other options, both online and offline. Brightside and Amwell are two reputable options for online psychiatry treatment, though neither offers upfront pricing either.
Offline options for NY residents include Samoon Ahmad, who is a highly credible clinical professor of Psychiatry from NYU School of Medicine. Samoon has over two decades of clinical experience and claims to provide expert services in bipolar, depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
There are many other options in and around Manhattan too, such as Empire Psychiatry, Psychiatrist NYC, and Barry J. Richman MD Psychiatry. Many of these places offer video calling services too, making them the most versatile option. It’s possible to go in person for a diagnosis and prescription, but then explore the convenience of video calling for more routine, ongoing sessions.
However, when searching for therapy, there are a lot more options available. Betterhelp, Talkspace, and Amwell are three of the most prominent options when looking for online therapy. These all have upfront, flat pricing structures (along with regular promotions), with most facilitating text message support with a therapist too. Given that Amwell is a Telehealth company that also provides psychiatric support, this may well be the best New York Therapy app.
