Calmerry Review

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As people turn to the convenience of digital platforms for mental health support, there are now more therapy apps than ever. Research has shown that online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy for many people. Additionally, it offers the convenience of attending sessions from the comfort of your own home at prices far cheaper than most traditional in-office visits.

Calmerry is one of the top online therapy platforms, providing users with access to professional therapy from anywhere with an Internet connection and at a considerable discount when compared with in-office counseling. We checked out Calmerry to learn whether the service is user-friendly and how effective the therapists and therapy sessions are compared to the in-person and online alternatives. Keep reading to see the full review.

What Exactly is Calmerry?

Calmerry is an online counseling provider that connects clients with fully licensed, thoroughly vetted therapists who draw on evidence-based therapeutic approaches. Their interactive platform provides communication features as well as other therapy tools that help the therapists provide ongoing support to users. The company’s mission is to “make therapy affordable and accessible to anyone.” They currently have an extensive network of therapists throughout the United States. Although they are new, they have experienced considerable growth and are rapidly becoming one of the largest online therapy platforms in America.

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Overview: How Does Calmerry Work?

Calmerry operates as a subscription service providing users with sessions by licensed therapists. The platform uses an app or interactive web platform that can be accessed via smartphone, tablet, or desktop. It allows clients to have 24/7 access to their assigned therapist through a messaging service. Depending on the subscription plan, users can also book up to four live 30-minute video sessions with their therapist each month.

Plans and Pricing

Calmerry is a subscription service offering an introductory one-week plan and three monthly plans for individual therapy. They currently offer a promotional discount for the first month for new users. As with many other therapy providers, they list their prices based on the weekly cost, even though they bill monthly. Here are the subscription plans available for therapy on Calmerry:

• Messaging: Unlimited text messaging with a licensed therapist. Introductory offer of $49.50 per week, normally $57 per week.
• Messaging + 2 Live Video Sessions: Unlimited text messaging with a licensed therapist, plus two 30-minute live video sessions each month. Introductory offer of $65.75 per week, normally $77.50 per week.
• Messaging + 4 Live Video Sessions: Unlimited text messaging with a licensed therapist, plus four 30-minute live video sessions each month. Introductory offer of $73.75 per week, normally $90 per week.

The primary difference between the plans is the number of live video sessions they include. All plans, however, include free reflection tools, worksheets, self-help assessments, and ongoing communication with your therapist. Calmerry recommends that people try out the platform using the “Therapy Journey Start” plan and adjust their plan accordingly. There is also an option for couples therapy, which is listed at the same price as individual therapy.

Calmerry Ease of Use

Calmerry uses an extremely user-friendly interface. It is easy to navigate with the ability to switch between using the desktop version and the mobile app at any time. It is available for both iOS and Android users.

Scheduling a live therapy session or messaging your therapist are two of the more common functions you will need when using Calmerry, and both features are incredibly intuitive to find on both the app and web platforms.

Sign-Up process

You can sign up for Calmerry on your desktop or by downloading the Calmerry app. You’ll be asked to provide an email address and password. You will then be sent a verification code which you can use to verify your account and complete the setup process. The next step is an intake interview which will be used to match you with a therapist. If you live in the US, you will be matched with a therapist in your state. International clients will be assigned a therapist based on availability and suitability.

During the interview process, you will be asked basic questions like age, name, nickname, and a questionnaire about your current concerns. Calmerry screens you for depressed mood, anxiety, interpersonal problems, eating issues, trauma, and suicidal feelings. The intake form will then gather general information about your previous experience with therapy and therapist preferences (i.e. gender and expertise). Before you can continue, they also ask for your phone number.

Once you have completed the form you will receive a screen that gives you a survey summary, assessing your emotional well-being and projected progress. If you want to be matched with a therapist, you must complete the payment page and proceed to pay for your first week. You will then automatically be matched with a therapist within a couple of hours.

You have the option to chat with a mental health assistant or customer support at any point before paying. They offer immediate support for any questions you may have.

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Calmerry Chats

Once you have paid and been matched you’ll gain access to a secure virtual therapy room. You can access this room from your preferred web browser or on your mobile phone using the Calmerry app. You’ll be able to view your therapist’s profile, expertise, and background information.

The Calmerry Room offers an excellent chat platform that is similar to many familiar chat screens. You can send text messages to your therapist at any time with guaranteed daily responses. At the top of the screen, you’ll be notified about your therapist’s approximate response time. You can set up notifications on your phone when using the app that will notify you when your therapist has replied, otherwise, you will receive an email notification. You can view the entire chat history with your therapist at any time.

Calmerry Counselor Qualifications

Calmerry requires each of its therapists to be fully licensed with 2,500 hours of clinical experience. The therapists are verified and background-checked before joining the platform. They are each certified by their state’s professional board based on each state’s exam, practice, and licensing qualifications.

Calmerry therapists are experienced clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW/LMSW), or licensed professional counselors (LPC). All of the Calmerry therapists are stated to be educated with a master’s or a doctoral degree in their field.

Unsurprisingly, there is also a great deal of variability regarding expertise and approaches to therapy. This is a positive aspect as you can find a therapist that aligns with your specific needs based on the intake interview and your presenting concerns.

What Is Calmerry Therapy Like?

After my sign-up interview, I was matched with a licensed professional counselor. Her specific approach to therapy was listed as client-centered therapy with strength-based approaches.

I was matched with my counselor around 1 hour after my payment was processed and was able to begin messaging her immediately. Her first response to my greeting was sent within an hour of my “hello” message. She was very warm and welcoming, making me feel like it was a safe and secure space to share my concerns. She also took the time to ask how the pandemic was affecting me.

As our conversation continued, she tended to respond within an hour or two nearly every time. Her messages were all very thoughtful and she encouraged me to book a video session. I was able to quickly and easily book a session that was flexible with my schedule.

Video sessions with therapists are conducted directly on the Calmerry platform. I received several reminder emails and was asked to log in 15 minutes before my video session to confirm my attendance. I could then watch to see when my therapist was ready to proceed.

Overall, my therapist was extremely professional and offered a warm ear and expert advice. I also felt as though she was truly available at any time and was dedicated to providing thoughtful and helpful responses. Using Calmerry truly felt like a support system at my fingertips. I looked forward to logging in to read my therapist’s replies and found myself eager to attend video sessions. Unlike other platforms, Calmerry therapists appear to be less overworked and more available for their clients.

Although I did not feel the need to use it, Calmerry offers the ability to switch therapists if your match is not suitable. If you want to switch, you simply have to chat with customer support through their live chatroom on their website and app or simply email their support team directly with a request.

Best Way to Use Calmerry

Calmerry stands out from other platforms by providing prompt and direct connections with qualified therapists, making it a valuable resource for both immediate and long-term problems. With the option of video sessions, along with 24/7 messaging support, Calmerry offers an excellent complimentary service or, in some cases, an alternative to in-person therapy.

Thanks to the high qualifications of their therapists and the quick response times, Calmerry can be even more effective than traditional in-person therapy for many individuals. The ability to write about your problems at any time and have upcoming video sessions to discuss them can be incredibly therapeutic.

To make the most of Calmerry, it is recommended to sign up for their video and messaging plan. However, if you require quick advice and insights on specific issues, messaging may be sufficient. Regardless of your needs, Calmerry’s direct connection to qualified therapists makes it an excellent choice for anyone seeking therapy through a convenient and accessible platform.

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Confidentiality and Privacy

Calmerry’s platform is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). They assure users that all communication taking place on the website or app is encrypted and stored on secure servers in the US. For further protection, account access also requires you to enter using a password you created. You can add extra identity protection by communicating with your therapist using a nickname rather than your legal name.

Certain information you provide to Calmerry may be used for research and analysis. The privacy policy states that they collect “anonymized information about how our visitors use this website.” Such information generally includes data like how users navigate the website, types of interactions, and general demographic features. This information is usually used by companies to improve the platform’s usability and any identifying information would be removed for data analysis.

Given that Calmerry therapists are licensed, they must also abide by ethical codes and confidentiality in their state. This means that your discussions with your therapist are confidential.

Specialties and Areas of Expertise

There are many therapists on Calmerry with training in various modalities of therapy. Calmerry reports that therapists are trained in approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness, gestalt therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and narrative therapy. Each therapist on Calmerry has to adapt their modality of therapy to an online format which may result in significant differences in the quality of delivery.

There is no definitive list of conditions treated by therapists at Calmerry, but the platform is stated to be useful for concerns relating to:

• Depression
• Anxiety and Stress
• Low self-esteem
• Trauma
• Grief
• Eating disorders
• Family conflict
• LGBTQ+ issues
• Relationship problems
• Anger management
• Emotional abuse
• Burnout
• Career counseling

Couples Therapy

Many therapists on Calmerry specialize in counseling for married couples and those in serious relationships. Couples will share the same therapist and can either log on together for joint sessions or speak to their therapist about individual sessions.

Calmerry offers couples counseling for problems such as:

• Sexual health
• Infidelity
• Sexual orientation
• Fertility issues
• Work and finances
• Parenting
• Intimacy
• Communication
• Addiction

Other Notable Features

In addition to texting and online sessions, Calmerry offers access to a personal treatment plan with short-term and long-term goals. This helps users work with their therapist to keep tabs on their progress over time which can help guide treatment approaches. They also provide an extensive “Helpful Tips” section when you log into your account, which offers guidance on how to get the most out of online therapy.

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Does Calmerry Work?

Whether or not Calmerry works for you depends on many factors. However, as far as online therapy platforms go, it is an excellent option.

More work needs to be done to examine specific modalities of online therapy, but overall most research indicates that providing therapy through internet-based platforms is a legitimate form of intervention that can help people improve their mental health. It is still unclear exactly how specific modalities of therapy can be used effectively online and which conditions are suitable for this form of treatment.

If you are looking for support for any of the conditions listed by Calmerry and your mental health concerns are not severe, you may find this platform helpful for addressing your issues and building strategies to work through many of your problems.

Bottom Line

Finding affordable and accessible help from a mental health professional can be a difficult process. Calmerry offers to fill this void with its easy-to-use and affordable platform.

There are several benefits to Calmerry such as being able to vent about your problems as they arise with 24/7 messaging support. Additionally, Calmerry offers a practical way to get therapy sessions with a qualified mental health professional from the comfort of your own home.

Overall, the platform is easy to use, offers counseling with qualified professionals, and allows you to switch therapists if you are not pleased with your match. They offer excellent customer support and highly responsive help for any concerns.

Calmerry is an excellent option with therapists who are extremely professional and responsive. If you are looking for a supportive network and actionable advice for your problems, Calmerry is a convenient and affordable solution.