Grow Therapy offers broader Medicaid coverage and a larger provider network: With 23,000+ providers across all 50 states and acceptance of both Medicare and Medicaid, Grow Therapy provides more options for patients with state-funded insurance and averages just $21 per session with coverage.
Thriveworks excels in physical locations and commercial insurance acceptance: With 340+ office locations and acceptance of 360+ insurance plans, Thriveworks is ideal for patients who prefer in-person care or have commercial insurance — though it does not accept Medicaid.
Access speed differs between platforms: Grow Therapy reports an average time-to-care of four days with no waitlists, while Thriveworks typically schedules first appointments within a week.
Specialty depth varies significantly: Grow Therapy lists 90+ searchable specialties compared to Thriveworks' more limited specialty areas.
Rula as another option: Rula combines therapy and psychiatry across a large network of 21,000+ providers, accepting most major insurance plans and offering virtual care with clear upfront costs — where patients typically pay about $15 per session with insurance.
Getting mental healthcare means weighing what actually matters for your situation: between insurance networks, provider availability, and session costs, the details matter —especially when you’re looking for online therapy.
Grow Therapy and Thriveworks are two established online therapy platforms, each with distinct strengths in network size, coverage, and care models. In this guide, we'll compare their features, costs, and specialties to help you determine which platform aligns with your needs.
Rula is also worth considering as you explore your options. Rula connects patients with a nationwide network of 21,000+ licensed providers, accepts most major insurance plans, and offers both therapy and psychiatry through virtual and in-person care. For many people using insurance, sessions typically cost around $15 per session.
Grow Therapy vs. Thriveworks: Differences at a glance
Choosing a mental health platform is a significant decision, and understanding the key differences between providers is the first step when you’re trying to find a therapist who matches your needs. Learn more about the differences in Grow Therapy's and Thriveworks' networks, insurance coverage, cost structures, and more below.
Average cost per session:
Grow Therapy: $21 average session cost with insurance; $75-$200 per session without insurance
Thriveworks: $0-$55 in copays with insurance; $160-$195 for ongoing sessions without insurance
Number of providers:
Grow Therapy: 23,000+ providers
Thriveworks: 2,600+ clinicians
Modes of communication:
Grow Therapy: Virtual and in-person sessions, plus between-session messaging
Thriveworks: In-person therapy, online video sessions, and messaging through a client portal
Services offered:
Grow Therapy: Talk therapy, medication support, couples counseling, family therapy, and child/adolescent therapy
Thriveworks: Individual therapy, psychiatry and medication management, couples/marriage counseling, child and teen therapy (ages 0-17), and family therapy
Insurance acceptance:
Grow Therapy: In-network with over 80 plans, including Medicare and Medicaid
Thriveworks: Accepts over 360 insurance plans, including Medicare, but does not accept Medicaid
States covered:
Grow Therapy: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Thriveworks: 49 states and Washington, D.C. (excluding Vermont)
Number of specialties offered:
Grow Therapy: 90+ specialties
Thriveworks: Specialties include ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, EMDR, and trauma/PTSD
Inclusivity and patient focus:
Grow Therapy: Offers care in over 35 languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), with searchable specialties for LGBTQ, child/adolescent, and older adult care
Thriveworks: Diverse clinician backgrounds; LGBTQIA+ affirming care; languages vary by location
Virtual-only or virtual + in-person availability:
Grow Therapy: Hybrid model with both virtual and in-person options
Thriveworks: Hybrid model with virtual and in-person options
Grow Therapy at a glance
Founded in 2020, Grow Therapy is a mental health platform with a network of 23,000+ providers offering talk therapy and medication management across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Care is available both virtually and in person, with flexible scheduling that includes evenings and weekends. Most patients can be seen within two days of booking, with no waitlists.
To get started, you search for providers using a self-serve tool that lets you filter by goals, preferences, insurance, identity, and care approach across 90+ specialties. The average session cost with insurance is $21, and self-pay rates range from $75 to $200 per session. Grow Therapy accepts HSA, FSA, and HRA cards and includes progress-tracking tools to help you monitor your care over time.
Thriveworks at a glance
Thriveworks is a hybrid mental health provider founded in 2008. With 2,600+ clinicians and 340+ physical locations across the U.S., Thriveworks offers online and in-person therapy in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Services include individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy, and child and teen therapy for ages 0–17, alongside psychiatry and medication management. Most patients can start care within a week of booking, with evening and weekend availability.
Thriveworks accepts over 360 insurance plans, with typical copays ranging from $0–$55 per session. Self-pay rates vary by state, with initial therapy sessions at $200–$240 and follow-ups at $160–$195. You can browse provider profiles online or reach a support team seven days a week for help finding a match. Free rescheduling and cancellation is available up to 48 hours before an appointment.
Rula at a glance
Founded in 2019, Rula is a mental health platform that connects patients with licensed therapists and psychiatric providers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The network includes 21,000+ licensed providers across 180+ clinical specialties, with individual therapy available for ages five and up and psychiatry for ages 13 and older. Care is appointment-based — you browse provider profiles, filter by specialty, availability, and other preferences, and book a time that works for you.
Rula offers both telehealth via Zoom and in-person therapy with eligible providers. With insurance, most patients pay around $15 per session, and Rula confirms your estimated out-of-pocket cost before your first appointment. Self-pay rates start at $150 for individual therapy, and vary depending on the therapy and service type. If your first provider isn't the right fit, Rula can help you find another therapist in the network.
The care you need, when you need it
Learn how Rula can support your mental health journey
Clinical outcomes and how they compare
Clinical outcomes and evidence-based approaches are critical for determining if a mental health platform delivers meaningful improvements. Both Grow Therapy and Thriveworks track their performance, though they report on different outcomes.
Grow Therapy clinical outcomes
Grow Therapy measures client satisfaction with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 85. For patients with moderate to severe symptoms, approximately 50% experience clinically significant symptom reduction.
Thriveworks clinical outcomes
Thriveworks reports that 75% of its patients with depression or anxiety feel better within three months of starting treatment. The platform also highlights a high degree of patient satisfaction, with 96% of patients reporting they feel truly supported and understood by their therapist.
Rula clinical outcomes
Rula also publishes strong outcome data. Among patients, 93% feel better after care, 94% feel comfortable with their provider, and 98% find a provider who meets their preferences — all more than 10% above national benchmarks on average.
Cost and insurance coverage
Grow Therapy and Thriveworks both accept insurance and offer self-pay options, but differ in their coverage. Grow Therapy is in-network with 80+ plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, while Thriveworks accepts 360+ plans and Medicare but does not accept Medicaid.
Insurance plans accepted
Grow Therapy is in-network with 80+ insurance plans, including:
Aetna
Anthem
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cigna
United Healthcare
Optum
It also accepts Medicare and Medicaid, along with a range of regional and state-specific plans.
Thriveworks accepts 360+ insurance plans, including Medicare, but does not accept Medicaid. Major carriers include:
Aetna
Anthem
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cigna
Humana
Optum
Tricare
UnitedHealthcare
Note that some provider types — including LPCs and LMFTs — may not be eligible to accept Medicare due to federal regulations.
Rula is also in-network with most major carriers — including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente, Optum Behavioral Health, and UnitedHealthcare — as well as Medicare Advantage, Medicare fee-for-service, and managed Medicaid in select states. Rula confirms your estimated out-of-pocket cost before your first appointment so you know what to expect.
Out-of-pocket costs (with insurance)
For Grow Therapy, the average out-of-pocket cost for a session with insurance is $21. During the booking process, patients can see their estimated costs before committing to an appointment.
With Thriveworks, typical copays for an insured session range from $0 to $55. This range allows many patients to access affordable care, but the final cost depends on the specifics of their insurance plan.
HSA/FSA eligibility
Both Grow Therapy and Thriveworks allow patients to use tax-advantaged funds to pay for care. Grow Therapy accepts health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), and health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) cards. Thriveworks also accepts HSA and FSA payments for therapy that is deemed medically necessary.
Self-pay pricing
Grow Therapy's self-pay rates range from $75–$200 per session without insurance. Sliding scale options are also available for patients paying out-of-pocket, though specific eligibility details aren't listed on the platform's main pages.
For those paying out-of-pocket, Thriveworks self-pay rates vary by state and service type:
Initial therapy session: $200–$240
Follow-up therapy sessions: $160–$195
Initial psychiatry appointment: $300–$375
Follow-up psychiatry appointments: $210–$300
Mental health services offered
The range of treatment approaches a platform offers is important for finding care that matches your specific needs. Both Grow Therapy and Thriveworks provide comprehensive services, but they detail their offerings in different ways.
Treatment approaches offered by Grow Therapy
Grow Therapy lists over 90 specialties, allowing patients to find highly specific support. These are organized into searchable therapy categories, including:
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Faith-based therapy
Internal family systems (IFS)
Mindfulness-based therapy
Psychodynamic therapy
Sex therapy
Somatic therapy
Trauma-informed care
Grow Therapy also offers medication management through psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs).
Treatment approaches offered by Thriveworks
Thriveworks highlights several key specialty areas and evidence-based treatments on its site.
Listed approaches include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
Evidence-based psychotherapy
Talk therapy
Behavioral therapy
The platform also offers psychiatry services, including medication management.
Treatment approaches offered by Rula
Rula's nationwide network spans 180+ clinical specialties and evidence-based treatment approaches, giving you a wide range of options to find care that fits your needs, background, and goals.
Providers support a broad range of concerns, including anxiety, ADHD, autism, PTSD, OCD, and addiction.
Commonly used approaches include:
Trauma-focused therapy, including EMDR and prolonged exposure
Internal family systems (IFS)) and attachment-based approaches
Couples and family therapies, such as the Gottman Method and emotionally focused therapy (EFT))
Mindfulness-based and somatic therapies
Rula also offers psychiatry for patients ages 13 and older.
Inclusivity and specialized care
Finding a provider you trust is essential for making progress in therapy. Factors like provider diversity, language options, and specialized expertise help ensure you connect with someone who understands your unique background and experiences.
Grow Therapy inclusivity and specialization overview
Licensure types: The network includes therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), allowing patients to filter for the provider type that fits their needs.
Specializations offered: With over 90 specialties, patients can search for providers with expertise in their preferred areas, such as including anxiety, depression, trauma, couples counseling, and family therapy.
Languages available: Providers on the platform offer care in more than 35 languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), with language filtering available during the search process.
Inclusivity factors: Grow Therapy allows patients to filter for providers who specialize in working with LGBTQ individuals, women's issues, men's issues, older adults, and military/veterans.
Thriveworks inclusivity and specialization overview
Licensure types: The network of over 2,600 clinicians includes therapists, psychiatrists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners who are qualified to diagnose conditions and manage medication.
Specializations offered: Thriveworks offers LGBTQIA+ counseling for issues related to mental health, relationships, and identity. It also provides specialized therapy for children and teens from ages 0 to 17, including online therapy for teens in states where virtual care is available.
Languages available: Providers speak multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Russian, French, Creole, and Arabic, though availability may vary by location.
Inclusivity factors: Thriveworks offers LGBTQIA+ counseling for mental health and identity issues. It also provides services for children and teens and has specialized therapy formats for couples and families.
The care you need, when you need it
Learn how Rula can support your mental health journey
Platform availability and access
How quickly you can get care, how easily you can find a provider, and what session formats are available all impact whether a platform works for you. Both Grow Therapy and Thriveworks prioritize fast access and flexible scheduling but differ in their logistics.
Rula is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., with appointment-based care that can be available as soon as tomorrow. Getting started is quick and straightforward: verify your insurance in minutes, browse a nationwide network, see your estimated costs upfront, and often schedule your first appointment as soon as tomorrow.
How access works with Grow Therapy
States served: Grow Therapy is available in all 50 states and Washington D.C., offering comprehensive nationwide coverage for both virtual and in-person care.
Matching process: The platform uses a self-serve search and filtering system. Patients can enter their goals, insurance, and preferences to find a provider and book online in about 10 minutes.
Session formats: Patients can choose between virtual and in-person sessions. Scheduling is flexible, with appointments available on nights and weekends.
Scheduling: The online booking process is quick, with an average time-to-care of four days. Patients can also switch providers easily if the first match isn't right.
App/portal experience: The patient portal includes progress-tracking features with visual goals and appointment history. It also offers secure, HIPAA-compliant messaging for communication between sessions.
How access works with Thriveworks
States served: Thriveworks has over 340 offices for in-person therapy and online therapy available in 49 states and D.C.
Matching process: Patients can browse provider profiles online or call the platform's support team for help finding a match. Live support is available seven days a week.
Session formats: Patients can choose between in-person sessions at a physical office or online counseling via a secure video link.
Scheduling: Appointments can be booked online or by phone, with the first session often available within a week. The platform has a 48-hour free cancellation and rescheduling policy.
App/portal experience: Between-session messaging is available through the client portal or email. The platform also uses measurement-based care to track progress and optimize outcomes.
What each platform does best
The right platform comes down to what you actually need. Here's a closer look at where Grow Therapy and Thriveworks each work best.
Grow Therapy excels when you need:
Medicaid acceptance: It is one of the few large platforms that accepts Medicaid, making it a critical option for patients with state-funded insurance.
The largest provider network: With over 23,000 providers, it offers significantly more options and diversity.
Fast access to care: Patients can often book an appointment and be seen in two days or less, with an average time-to-care of four days.
Wide range of specialties: Its 90+ specialties allow for highly specific provider matching.
Sliding scale options: It offers a sliding scale for patients paying out-of-pocket.
Thriveworks excels when you need:
A dedicated physical office: With over 340 locations, it's ideal for patients who prefer consistent in-person care in a clinical setting.
The broadest commercial insurance network: It accepts over 360 insurance plans, providing extensive options for commercially insured patients.
Therapy for young children: It offers specialized therapy for children from ages 0 to 17.
Transparent self-pay pricing: Its state-by-state pricing structure for self-pay patients is clear and predictable.
Live phone support: A dedicated support team is available seven days a week to help with scheduling and matching.
Summary: Is Grow Therapy or Thriveworks right for you?
Grow Therapy is a strong fit if you need fast access to care, rely on Medicaid, or want a large provider network with self-serve online booking. With 23,000+ providers, an average session cost of $21 with insurance, and acceptance of both Medicare and Medicaid, it's one of the more accessible options for patients who need to get started quickly.
Thriveworks is the better option if you prefer in-person sessions at a physical clinic, have commercial insurance, or need couples, family, or child therapy. Its 340+ locations and 360+ accepted insurance plans make it a reliable choice for patients who value an established, hybrid care model — though it does not accept Medicaid.
Rula is worth considering as well. With 21,000+ providers across all 50 states and broad insurance acceptance, most insured patients pay around $15 per session. Rula offers fast access to appointments, with care typically available as soon as the next day.
FAQs
Do Grow Therapy and Thriveworks both offer online therapy?
Yes, both platforms offer online therapy sessions. Grow Therapy provides telehealth through their secure platform, which integrates with your client portal and allows you to join sessions with one click. Thriveworks also offers online therapy alongside in-person options, giving you the flexibility to choose the session format that works best for you.
Can you choose your own therapist on Grow Therapy and Thriveworks?
Yes, both platforms allow you to choose your own therapist. Grow Therapy offers a self-serve search tool where you can filter providers by goals, preferences, and insurance, then book online in about 10 minutes. Thriveworks lets you browse provider profiles online to find someone who meets your needs, or you can call their live support team for help with matching. If you ever want to switch providers, it's free on both platforms.
Why choose Rula for quality of care?
Rula emphasizes measurable results, with 93% of patients reporting they feel better about their symptoms after receiving care through Rula — alongside a nationwide network of 21,000+ providers across 180+ clinical specialties and modalities. It offers appointment-based therapy and psychiatry, provides an upfront cost estimate before your first visit, and many patients pay about $15 per session with insurance across most major plans.
Find care with Rula
Choosing between mental health platforms is an important decision — one that can shape how quickly you start making progress and how supported you feel along the way. Rula makes it straightforward to take that next step: you can verify your insurance in minutes, browse providers who match your specific needs and preferences, and see your estimated cost before your first appointment.
When you're ready to move forward, Rula is here to guide you to care that works.
Rula Health
Rula’s editorial process
Rula’s editorial team is on a mission to make science-backed mental health insights accessible and practical for every person seeking to better understand or improve mental wellness.
Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.
