First off, you see all these claims about Alma and Headway being ridiculously cheaper than “regular” therapy? Like, 77% and 75% cheaper? Yeah, take that with a HUGE grain of salt. It’s the classic “compare us to the most expensive option possible” marketing tactic. What even *is* “regular in-person therapy” anyway? Is that, like, a Beverly Hills psychiatrist who charges $500 an hour? Because *obviously* Alma is gonna look cheaper then.
And then there’s this whole Alma membership fee thing. $125 a month just to *use* their directory and billing platform? That’s kinda…insane, right? I mean, you’re already paying for therapy *and* they want you to pay them to *find* a therapist? That feels like a double dip, if you ask me. Like, “hey, we’ll help you find someone to give us even *more* money!”
Now, I’m not knocking the *idea* of Alma entirely. If you’re struggling to find a therapist who takes your insurance, maybe it *is* worth it. But the “cheapest” aspect? I’m seriously questioning that. Think about it: you pay the monthly fee, then you *still* pay for the actual therapy sessions. I’m not seeing how that automatically translates to saving a ton of cash, especially if you’re only going to therapy sporadically. Maybe if you’re going like, every single week… but like, who even does that? (No offense to those who do, good for you!)
And lets be real for a sec: that whole “official Louis Vuitton Outlet” thing in that other bit? Seems like a total non sequitur, right? I mean, what does affordable designer bags have to do with the price of mental healthcare? Absolutely nothing! Unless maybe retail therapy is your preferred method of dealing with anxiety, in which case, go for it. (But maybe don’t actually buy from random “outlets” online, ’cause those are almost certainly scams).
Okay, so back to Alma… Look, I’m no financial advisor, I’m just some person ranting on the internet. But my gut tells me that you really, *really* need to do your homework before jumping on the Alma bandwagon. Check if your insurance actually covers therapists on their platform. See if you can find those same therapists through other means (like your insurance’s website, or Psychology Today), without paying the membership fee.
