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Let’s face it, anxiety and depression are common problems of the modern world – even more so right now. But traditional treatment options like seeing a mental health professional haven’t always been available, easy, or covered by health insurance. Even if you find help near your home, you may feel pressured to “click” with your counselor – because starting from scratch and trying to find another therapist is such a major process. And to make it even worse, if you are depressed, you know how hard it can be to motivate to deal with finding a therapist, scheduling therapy sessions in the middle of the week, dealing with insurance, etc.
Thankfully, there is now starting to be a real alternative. With the rise of telemedicine and the boom in direct-to-consumer (D2C) health offerings, we now have virtual treatment options that you can access directly through your computer or phone. Skip the in-person appointments and get direct access to mental health professionals and medication delivered to your door (no pharmacy visit needed).
Because most of these services prescribe generic medication, the cost is usually a lot lower than going through your insurance co-pay, but some of the services also make it easy to use your insurance or HSA / FSA. And if your counselor/therapist isn’t a good fit, you’re not limited by your geographical area—you can pick another one through the various sites available.
In this article, we’re reviewing Cerebral (Cerebral.com), a site that offers both medication and/or online therapy for anxiety and depression. We’ll also compare Cerebral with other sites dedicated to mental health support and/or medication.
What is Cerebral, and how can they help with anxiety and depression?
Cerebral is a mental health startup that’s specifically focused on support for anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Its offerings include online visits with a prescribing provider and prescriptions for medication.
The way that Cerebral works is through a subscription model where you pay a flat rate per month for ongoing care. We’ll discuss the cost below, but you pay a lower introductory price and then a monthly subscription On an ongoing basis, you’ll have monthly meetings with your prescribing provider (for medication) and receive your medication which is conveniently shipped to your home if you’re prescribed.
This service is designed to overcome barriers to mental health treatment like fear of judgment and cost. It gives a convenient way for people to get the care they need over the internet at their convenience and through Rx shipments with one flat rate.
Depending on your current experience, it can help you overcome things like in-person counseling visits, trips to the pharmacy, or the avoidance of mental health care. The company notes that “we provide our clients with both evidence-based therapeutic techniques and medication management, as the combination of both types of care has been shown to have the greatest benefits.”
Where (in which states) is Cerebral available?
Cerebral is expanding its operations quickly and is now available in all 50 states! This includes both prescribers and therapists in all 50 states, however, availability will vary by state.
Details on Cerebral's Medication + Care Management
You may be prescribed medication as part of your treatment plan. The site says that it prescribes non-addictive, non-controlled medications such as SSRI and SNRI medications. The medication included in the subscription price is a generic version. You could opt for a brand name medication, but you would pay more than the cost of the subscription. Cerebral notes that if this type of treatment is not enough, its providers may refer you to in-person care for the use of a controlled substance.
The site says that some of its prescribers are licensed therapists but that not all of them are. It says they are all well-trained in therapeutic techniques. It’s unclear exactly what type of care you would be getting, but the site provides examples that include behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, meditation, mindfulness, breathing exercises, and grounding exercises. It also mentions using evidence-based therapeutic techniques.
Are the anxiety medicines prescribed by Cerebral legit?
Mental health issues are pretty complicated, so not every treatment will work for each individual. That being said, SSRI and SNRI meds — the drugs Cerebral may prescribe — have been shown to help people in many clinical trials, and are widely prescribed. So, the medicines that Cerebral may offer you are legitimate depression and other mental health drugs, approved by the FDA.
According to the Mayo Clinic, SSRIs work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, and SSRIs are generally liked because they don’t act much on other neurotransmitters, meaning they are pretty specific in how they act on the brain. Common SSRI drugs include:
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
These are real medicines, with possible side effects that include some of the following (and probably others not listed here): Nausea and stomach issues, headache, drowsiness, dry mouth, insomnia, agitation, possible sexual issues, dizziness and more. So you’ll want to let your Cerebral prescribing physician know if you’ve had issues with any of these drugs, and which ones you’ve been prescribed in the past.
Another type of drug that Cerebral may prescribe are SRNIs. Again, there are many generic and brand-name, FDA approved anti depression SRNIs. These act by increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain – again, two neurotransmitters. Some SRNIs may also be used to help treat anxiety. Here are some of the better known, FDA approved SRNIs (again, we don’t know which, if any, your Cerebral prescriber will suggest to help you):
- Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- Levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
- Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)
Since these are legit drugs, there is the possibility of side effects. Some side effects include: nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, headache and sweating. Some patients have also had constipation, tiredness, reduced or challenges in sexual function. Again, be open and honest while working with Cerebral so that they can help you avoid medications that you’ve had problems with in the past, and can direct you to ones that are most likely to help.
Is Cerebral good for therapy?
Cerebral’s specialized therapists use proven psychotherapy techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, grief therapy, introspective psychotherapy, and more, to help you with your mental health goals and treat any of the previously mentioned struggles. Cerebral can treat anxiety, insomnia, depression, trauma, and PTSD. In certain states, the platform also offers treatment for ADHD, bipolar disorder, alcohol dependence, and opioid use disorder.
Both of Cerebral’s therapy plans, Therapy and Therapy + Medication, offer weekly virtual therapy sessions, access to a secure messaging platform with your care team, and progress tracking from your therapist.
Another great thing about telehealth therapy is the ability to find a therapist that you match with easily. You don’t have to worry about the location or distance from you, simply if you are finding someone who’s going to make the most positive impact on your mental health journey. Cerebral offers the ability to easily “shop around” in order to find the best therapist for you.
How to get started with Cerebral
If you think the service may help you, start by clicking “Get Started” on the site. You’ll answer a short questionnaire about your mental health symptoms. Then, you have a video visit with your prescribing provider, who will assess you and come up with an Rx treatment plan if needed. After that, you’ll recieve ongoing mental health support. Then, you’ll follow a monthly care plan.
You have the option to get assessed first, and then if you qualify, decide if you want to go ahead and order anxiety treatment.
How much does anxiety treatment cost via Cerebral?
Cerebral introductory price is $30 for the first month, then starts at $99 per month after that. Prices vary by state, and there is always the possibility that they’ll run further discounts — click here to see if they have one now. The site FAQs mention that the service is meant for long-term treatment. After the introductory $30 per month price, you would pay starting at a price of $99 a month for the ongoing service.
It’s FSA/HSA eligible, so you could pay the subscription fee with those health funds. Otherwise, you may be able to use your health insurance plan depending on coverage. The service will not count as an in-network provider, but the company can provide an invoice for you to submit to your insurance company and see if you are reimbursed, or it counts toward your deductible. So it shouldn’t be too hard to use your insurance or FSA/HSA to get mental health care from Cerebral.
How does Cerebral compare to alternative online therapy providers?
If you believe that you are experiencing any of the symptoms that Cerebral treats, they are here to help you. They are available for people aged 18+ that live within their operating regions.
Cerebral is not intended for people in a crisis, who should instead call 911, a suicide prevention line, or another immediate helpline like 211.
There are a few other situations that Cerebral isn’t set up to handle as well. For example, you might have certain preferences that don’t entirely fit the Cerebral model. Maybe you want counseling without medication, or the prescribing provider doesn’t recommend medication for you. In that case, you’d still be paying the full subscription price for Cerebral without using all of its features. Or maybe you’re looking for a licensed therapist or a specific type of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. In these kinds of cases, you may want to compare Cerebral to online therapy options like Talkspace, Betterhelp, or Regain.
Talkspace says it has thousands of licensed therapists. You have an assessment, choose a payment plan, and get matched with a licensed therapist. You can message your therapist on your own schedule, and they respond one to two times a day. You can also schedule a video chat.
With Betterhelp, you’re matched with a counselor based on certain criteria, and you can switch if needed. You communicate with your counselor through your choice of messaging, live chatting, phone calls, and/or video conferencing.
Check out the following chart to see how these online therapy options stack up.
Best Therapy Online: Cerebral vs Talkspace vs Betterhelp vs Brightside vs ReGain | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed therapists? | 🟠 Some, not all | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Pricing | Starts at $99/month for counseling + medication (varies by state) | Starts at $65/week for therapy | Starts at $40/week for therapy | $299/month | Starts at $60/week to $90 for therapy |
| Medication too? | ✅ included in monthly subscription | ✅ as a separate service. Initial evaluation costs $199, follow-up sessions cost $125 each session and medication is a separate cost that is not managed by Talkspace | ❌ | ✅ as a separate service for $95/month ($45 for first month) +
pharmacy copay or $15 per medication -Or can choose Medication + Therapy package, costs $240/month ($140 for first month) + pharmacy copay or $15 per medication | ❌ |
| Initial offer? | $30 for first month | Use coupon code APPLY65 for $65 off therapy or CARE for $50 off psychiatry | ❌ | $50 off first month | ❌ |
| Website |
Related reading:
- Cerebral vs Talkspace – Which is better?
- Betterhelp vs Regain vs Talkspace – Where to get therapy online?
Where to get Rx anxiety meds online: Cerebral vs Brightside vs Hims
If you’re interested in getting prescription medications for anxiety and depression online, not just therapy, Cerebral can help. A couple alternative telehealth providers worth mentioning are Brightside and Hims. Here’s a chart that compares Cerebral vs Brightside vs Hims for mental health meds.
Best Online Anxiety Meds: Cerebral vs Brightside vs Hims |
|||
| Able to prescribe Rx anxiety meds? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Virtual therapy from licensed therapists? | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Price | $325/month Includes: online doctor’s visit, Rx medication, and therapy | $349/month Includes: online doctor’s visit, Rx medication, and therapy | $49 one-time fee plus $49/month Includes: online doctor’s visit for Rx medication and group therapy |
| Introductory Discount | $98 for the first month | $140 for the first month | Free anonymous virtual group therapy |
| Website |
Related reading:
Overall, the various mental health services vary in terms of what they offer. When it comes to comprehensive anxiety treatment, Cerebral and Brightside are our clear favorites. All brands offer generic anxiety and depression meds, so that’s comparable across providers. Cerebral includes mental health counseling sessions with a licensed therapist, while Hims’ mental health offering for anxiety and depression includes group therapy.
Cerebral offers therapy-only or medication-only plans that fit all patients’ needs for mental health services. They also offer therapy and medication management plans for those who may find treatment more effective with both. More affordable than the medication sites and therapist sites, Cerebral offers the most flexibility and overall value for comprehensive treatment.
Note that Cerebral also offers treatments for other mental health conditions including opioid use disorder, alcohol dependence, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and PTSD.
The Verdict: Is Cerebral legit?
We love Cerebral’s mission of making mental health help easier to access. Depression and anxiety — these conditions are not your fault, and you deserve an affordable chance to feel better.
BUT, if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call 911 or another emergency help line right away. Don’t mess around; get immediate assistance. The number for the National Suicide Prevention hotline is 1-800-273-8255.
Cerebral is an ideal platform for anyone dealing with anxiety, depression or insomnia without any idea where to turn for help. Since you don’t have to worry about finding an in-network provider who can see you, and since the price is so affordable, it’s a simple way to take the first step to try to feel more like yourself. If that’s you, check them out and see if they are running an introductory offer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does anxiety treatment cost via Cerebral?
Cerebral introductory price is $30 for the first month, then starts at $99 per month after that. Prices vary by state, and there is always the possibility that they’ll run further discounts — click here to see if they have one now. The site FAQs mention that the service is meant for long-term treatment. After the introductory $30 per month price, you would pay starting at a price of $99 a month for the ongoing service.
It’s FSA/HSA eligible, so you could pay the subscription fee with those health funds. Otherwise, you may be able to use your health insurance plan depending on coverage. The service will not count as an in-network provider, but the company can provide an invoice for you to submit to your insurance company and see if you are reimbursed, or it counts toward your deductible. So it shouldn’t be too hard to use your insurance or FSA/HSA to get mental health care from Cerebral.
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