2023 ReGain Counseling Review: Is It for You?

ReGain offers relationship counseling with licensed therapists specifically for partners or married couples. The platform is accessible via desktop, tablet, or phone.

You and your partner can sign up to the same account and have access to the same counselor. All the information and communication are accessible to you, your partner, and your counselor.

The primary way of communicating with your counselor is via text message in a virtual room. However, you also have the option of video conferencing and phone calls.

That being said, at this time, three-way calls aren’t an option, so both you and your partner will need to be in the same location if you want to use this feature.

Healthline has an extensive vetting process that we apply to every company and product we recommend. When researching ReGain, we looked at the following:

• the company’s medical credibility (are all therapists licensed/qualified?)
• the company’s reputation (what are customers or news outlets saying about the service?)
• business practices (does the company make any outlandish claims, outstanding lawsuits, or big red flags?)

In addition to this initial review, we regularly re-evaluate services to ensure we can continue to stand by them. We watch for any major news or updates, and go through the entire process again whenever needed. We update content as needed to provide the most up-to-date information on the company and anything else you need to know.

ReGain may be the right choice for anyone having relationship problems. Therapists on the platform are also equipped to deal with issues such as anxiety, depression, grief, anger, and addiction, as well as concerns relating to parenting and LGBTQIA+ matters.

If you, or someone you know, is in an abusive relationship, the National Domestic Violence Hotline does not recommend they attend relationship counseling.

Instead of couples counseling, the hotline suggests a person experiencing abuse contacts a domestic abuse organization to get advice.

ReGain generally specializes in couples therapy, but you can still use it for individual therapy, too. Regardless, the focus of your therapy will be on your relationships, whether they be romantic, platonic, or familial.

ReGain advertises to help with issues such as:

• attachment and attraction
• dating
• divorce
• recovering from domestic violence
• infidelity
• intimacy
• marriage

ReGain therapists can also focus on specific concerns like:

• improving conflict resolution and communication skills
• resolving parenting conflicts
• resolving intimacy issues
• setting boundaries in relationships
• dating issues
• recovering from a divorce or breakup

Interested in getting started with ReGain? Healthline readers receive 20% off their first month.

You can get started through the ReGain website or app. You’ll be charged for services only once you’re matched with a counselor. You won’t need to pay while you wait to be connected.

1. Sign up

The first step is choosing which type of therapy you want. You can choose couples therapy or individual therapy if your partner won’t be joining you. There’s also a “Not Sure Yet” option that allows you to choose later.

2. Answer a short questionnaire

Once you decide which type of therapy you would prefer, you’ll be asked to complete a questionnaire that helps match you with the right counselor. The questionnaire has a series of questions about:

• your identity
• your situation
• what issues you’re having
• what you want to gain from counseling
• what you’re looking for in a counselor

3. Create an account

Once you complete and submit the questionnaire, you’ll be prompted to create an account, where you’ll enter your name and email address and create a password. You’ll also be asked for your partner’s first name.

You can invite your partner to join you during the sign-up process. If you want to invite them after you have already been matched with a counselor, or have already started counseling, you can skip this part for now — just choose the “No” option. You’ll be able to click “Invite Partner” at the top of the screen at any time after signing up.

With ReGain, you can remain anonymous if you prefer. All you have to do is:

• enter a nickname instead of your full name during the sign-up process
• include an emergency contact, which is only shared with your counselor

4. Set up payment

After creating your account, you’ll enter your payment information. You can enter a credit card or opt for PayPal or Apple Pay instead. ReGain will charge your payment method every 4 weeks.

The subscription includes one weekly live session, plus 24/7 text, audio, and video messaging. (You can message your therapist at any time, but they will respond on their preferred schedule.)

5. Get matched with a counselor

After you submit your payment information, you’ll be matched with your counselor. Once you have received a match, you’ll be notified via email. This can take a few hours up to a few days, depending on the counselor’s availability.

Each counselor will have their own approach to therapy. It’s important to find one you feel will best support you. If your counselor isn’t a good fit, you can request a new one. You can do this as soon as you match or after working together.

6. Start online therapy

Once matched, you and your counselor (and your partner, if they’re joining) will have a dedicated and secure room, which looks similar to a chat room. This is where you’ll talk with your counselor and where all your messages will be stored. The room is open 24/7, so you can message your counselor at any time.

Here’s how it works:

1. You can write about yourself, your relationship concerns, and any questions you have.
2. Your counselor will log into the same room, read your messages, and respond with feedback, insights, suggestions, and additional questions.
3. You may not receive a reply immediately, but ReGain says counselors aim to communicate in a timely manner.
4. There’s no limit on the number of messages you can send and receive.
5. You can have longer sessions all at once or shorter exchanges throughout the week.

ReGain counselors are trained and accredited. All of them are either licensed psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, or professional counselors.

ReGain counselors hold master’s or doctoral degrees and have been certified by their state’s board.

While each counselor’s experience, expertise, and background varies, they all specialize or have an interest in relationship counseling. They also have at least 3 years of experience and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience.

All counselors are independent professionals, meaning they are not employed by ReGain.

ReGain is for people who want to improve their relationships, whether there are concerns with communication, intimacy, or trust. ReGain counselors are trained in helping you prevent or navigate a separation or divorce or working with you on personal issues.

It’s unclear whether ReGain works with non-monogamous couples, so keep this in mind if you decide to pursue counseling here.

ReGain is for adults only and for those who don’t have a legal guardian, so you’re not able to have a counselor work with your child.

ReGain can’t replace in-person therapy for certain circumstances.

Counselors cannot:

• make a diagnosis
• prescribe medication
• work with you if you have a court order

This service is not meant for those:

• in crisis
• in emergencies
• who are experiencing domestic abuse

ReGain isn’t suitable if you are having thoughts of suicide or have thoughts of harming yourself or others. It does, however, provide emergency resources in these circumstances.

There haven’t been many studies showing that text-based therapy is more beneficial than in-person therapy. Additionally, when it comes to text-based relationship therapy, there isn’t any research at all.

However, with relationship therapy, in general, a 2014 review of 20 studies showed some benefits long after counseling, including relationship satisfaction and communication. A 2011 study showed that couples therapy improved relationship distress, as well as depression symptoms.

Regardless, many ReGain users seem to be happy with the service, scoring it a 4.7 out of 5 stars, and lauding it with more than 2,900 reviews on the Apple app store. One user said, “It has made a huge difference in our lives.” Other users have said they requested a new counselor after deciding the first wasn’t a good fit and were then happy with the second.

Some users have described the initial questionnaire as “a nightmare of a process,” and several others reported long wait times in their counselors returning their messages.

The cost for ReGain counseling can vary depending on your location, preferences, and the availability of your therapist, and ranges from $60–$90 per week. This includes unlimited messaging and phone or video chats.

There’s no free trial or free version of ReGain, so you’ll be billed out of pocket every 4 weeks, either by PayPal or credit card. However, you’re able to easily adjust your payment plan or cancel your subscription at any time.

ReGain does not accept insurance.

ReGain has high security standards. All messages between you and your counselor are secured and encrypted by banking-grade 256-bit encryption.

If data is stolen or used inappropriately, all databases are encrypted and scrambled.

Lastly, you also have the option to get rid of any messages by clicking the “Shred” button next to each message, so it no longer shows up in your account.

ReGain generally has positive reviews from users. At time of publication, ReGain has a 4.06-star rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website and a 3.4-star rating on Trustpilot.

Couples found that therapists were calm, compassionate, and great listeners. While everyone’s experience will be different, couples were also happy to receive “homework” assignments from their counselors.

Reviews for individual therapy are largely positive, too. Clients noted that ReGain counselors were easy to work with. Users wrote that they felt understood and were happy to navigate emotional issues alongside their ReGain therapist.

Most complaints centered around the subscription model. Customers weren’t happy that you have to pay for a month in advance, even if you don’t use all the weekly allotted sessions. Some users were also unhappy with their therapists, but it’s important to note that you can request a new therapist at any time.

Is ReGain legitimate?

Yes. ReGain counselors are trained and accredited. They’re all either licensed psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, or professional counselors. ReGain counselors hold master’s or doctoral degrees and have been certified by their state’s board.

ReGain also has secure software and hardware practices. All messages between you and your counselor are secured and encrypted by banking-grade encryption, and their browsing encryption system (SSL) follows best modern practices.

How long are sessions on ReGain?

Sessions with ReGain range from 30 to 45 minutes via video call or phone call. You also have access to unlimited messaging through the private chat room with your therapist.

Does ReGain take insurance?

ReGain is not in-network with any health insurance plan, although if you want to try to seek partial reimbursement, the company will provide a detailed receipt for you to submit to your insurer.

Is ReGain owned by BetterHelp?

Yes, ReGain is owned by BetterHelp. While BetterHelp offers adult and teen counseling, ReGain focuses specifically on couples and relationship counseling. You’ll be redirected to ReGain if you choose the couples therapy option on BetterHelp.