Omicron Delta Kappa has established a partnership with BetterHelp, a leading online therapy platform with more than 25,000 therapists across the U.S., services in 50+ languages, and support in more than 200 countries. O∆K recognizes that leaders of all ages may need assistance from others as they serve and try to manage the many demands of work, family, and other obligations. Therefore, we are happy to offer this benefit to our members.
This partnership offers members one (1) month of free therapy, which includes up to four (4) live sessions and unlimited texting with a therapist that is specifically assigned to your individual preferences. You can communicate with your therapist via phone, video, and live chat, plus you can message your therapist whenever you’d like. BetterHelp also offers journaling resources, group sessions, and classes. This benefit is valued at approximately $300. After your free month, you can choose to cancel your subscription, or continue with a paid membership at your own expense with a 15% discount applied. O∆K will not know who is receiving therapy and will not have any access to its members’ therapy or other personal data.
Frequently Asked Questions
BetterHelp Partnership 101
Check out this video to get a quick overview.
How do I get started?
Approximately one month after their initiation, new members will receive an email from contact@betterhelp.com – this email will contain the link to get started. You can select an anonymous username and use the email address of your choice when you sign up for your account. If you have not received an invitation from BetterHelp, please contact O∆K at programs@odk.org to be given access to this benefit.
What type of services does BetterHelp provide?
BetterHelp offers individual, couples, and teen therapy services, as well as a journaling tool, group sessions, and classes. These services are provided via virtual or messaging features and are not provided in person.
Who are the therapists?
Therapists on BetterHelp are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (Ph.D./ Psy.D.), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW / LMSW), or licensed professional counselors (LPC). All of them have a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in their field. They have been qualified and certified by their state’s professional board after successfully completing the necessary education, exams, training, and practice. While their experience, expertise, and background vary, they all possess at least three years and 2,000 hours of hands-on experience.
Will O∆K know that I am receiving therapy?
No. O∆K will not know who is receiving therapy and will not have any access to your therapy or other personal data. After you receive the email invitation from BetterHelp, you can select an anonymous username and use the email address of your choice when you sign up for your account.
O∆K will receive access to aggregated data regarding how our members are utilizing the service, but the Society cannot connect any of that information to individual members.
What information is O∆K providing to BetterHelp?
O∆K only provides a list of member email addresses to BetterHelp. No additional information (name, institution, classification, etc.) is shared.
Can I just sign up directly at BetterHelp without getting the welcome email and still receive the free month?
No. In order to receive this benefit of membership, you will need to use the link provided in the email you will receive from BetterHelp. O∆K uploads new members into the system approximately one month after their initiation, usually around the 15th of the month, which triggers the welcome email from BetterHelp.
What if I already have a BetterHelp account? Can I apply the free month to my existing account?
No. This benefit of membership is only for O∆K members who are new to BetterHelp.
Can I share this benefit with someone who's not an O∆K member?
No. The email you receive is intended only for you, and this benefit of membership is limited to just O∆K members.
What happens when I sign up with BetterHelp?
You will provide information via a short questionnaire regarding you, the issues you’d like to address in online therapy, and your preferences for the counselor. This assists BetterHelp in matching you with the most suitable therapist.
What happens if I don't like my therapist?
If you do not like your therapist, you can request a new therapist from within your account with the click of a button. Alternatively, if you’d like help with switching your therapist, the Member Success team can provide some assistance. You can reach out to them at contact@betterhelp.com.
How much will it cost after the free month?
The cost of therapy through BetterHelp varies based on your location and therapist availability. Additionally, you can choose what subscription length and billing frequency best suits your needs. Once you transition into the paid membership, you can cancel your membership at any time, for any reason. After your free month, you can choose to cancel your subscription or continue with a paid membership at your own expense with a 15% discount applied.
What if I am not interested? How do I stop emails from BetterHelp?
While we strongly believe that everyone can benefit from talking to someone, we also realize that there’s no ‘one time fits all’ in taking that first step towards a better you. Luckily, O∆K is committed to helping you no matter what life throws at you and when. The link BetterHelp sends you never expires, so you can get started whenever and if ever the need arises. For this reason, BetterHelp will continue to send reminders to members who have not signed up for an account. If you are not interested in this benefit, simply click “unsubscribe” at the bottom of any email that comes directly from BetterHelp, and you will no longer receive their emails. Should you ever change your mind, email programs@odk.org to have your name added back to the BetterHelp contact list.
Is O∆K aware of concerns with BetterHelp’s past use of client data?
O∆K is aware that BetterHelp faced a lawsuit in 2017 concerning the sale of client data. A settlement was recently reached with clients who used BetterHelp from 2017-2020.
O∆K does not support the practices that BetterHelp is said to have engaged in. However, it’s important to note that our partnership with BetterHelp began in October 2022. Since 2020, BetterHelp has taken significant steps to enhance their data protection measures and ensure the highest standards of confidentiality and privacy for their users.
We understand the importance of maintaining trust and transparency within our partnerships, and we assure our members that we continuously monitor the practices of all our partners to ensure alignment with our values and standards. We understand that choosing a mental health provider is a sensitive and important decision, and trust our members to make choices that align with their needs and values.
My email address did not work when I entered it on BetterHelp's website.
Please send an email to programs@odk.org to let us know, and we will help sort it out.
I have a question that's not addressed here.
You can access a much larger list of frequently asked questions regarding BetterHelp here.
