Rula vs. Geode: Which is better for your needs?

Rula offers nationwide telehealth and in-person therapy across all 50 states with 21,000+ providers, while Geode Health operates through physical clinics in seven states with advanced treatments like TMS — your best fit depends on whether you prioritize access breadth or in-person specialty care.

Finding the right mental health platform shouldn't feel like another barrier to care. Whether you're seeking therapy for the first time or looking for a provider who truly understands your needs, choosing between platforms like Rula and Geode can significantly impact your access to quality care. The decision matters because factors like geographic availability, insurance coverage, appointment wait times, and treatment options directly affect whether you can get help when you need it most.

In this guide, we'll compare Rula and Geode across key dimensions, from provider networks and costs to service delivery models and specialized treatments. Understanding how these platforms differ will help you make an informed decision about which one aligns best with your specific needs and circumstances.

Rula vs. Geode: Differences at a glance

Choosing between Rula and Geode depends on your priorities for mental healthcare — whether you need nationwide access, specific insurance coverage, or advanced treatment options. Both platforms offer psychiatry and therapy services, but they differ significantly in geographic reach, provider network size, and service delivery models.

Average cost per session:

• Rula: Typically $15 per session with insurance; actual cost varies by insurance benefits and deductible

• Geode: Cost varies by insurance plan; specific copay amounts not publicly disclosed

Number of providers:

• Rula: 21,000+ licensed providers

• Geode: Provider count not publicly disclosed

Modes of communication:

• Rula: Live video appointments via Zoom, in-person therapy at provider-operated offices in all 50 states and D.C., between-session messaging via patient portal

• Geode: In-person visits at physical locations, secure video visits, between-session messaging via patient portal

Services offered:

• Rula: Individual therapy (ages 5+), couples therapy, family therapy, child therapy, teen therapy, psychiatry/medication management (ages 13+)

• Geode: Psychiatry, talk therapy (psychotherapy), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), Spravato® (esketamine) treatment, ADHD testing

Insurance acceptance:

• Rula: In-network with 100+ insurance plans including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Kaiser, Optum, Oscar, United Healthcare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid in many states

• Geode: In-network with most commercial insurances including Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Medicare; Medicaid acceptance not explicitly stated

States covered:

• Rula: All 50 states, including California, Texas, Florida, and New York, plus Washington, D.C., for both therapy and psychiatry services

• Geode: Six states (Georgia, Illinois, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin)

Number of specialties offered:

• Rula: 180+ clinical specialties and modalities

• Geode: Five main treatment categories, with subcategories available (depression and mood, behavioral and ADHD, past trauma, anxiety and panic, and disordered eating)

Inclusivity and patient focus:

• Rula: 51% of provider network identifies as BIPOC; 40+ languages represented; services for children (ages 5+), teens, adults, and seniors; filters for gender, ethnicity, age, and faith

• Geode: LGBTQ+-affirming clinicians; services for children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients

Virtual-only or virtual + in-person availability:

• Rula: Virtual + in-person

• Geode: Virtual + in-person

Rula at a glance

Rula is a comprehensive behavioral health solution with a mission to make mental healthcare work for everyone. The platform connects patients with licensed therapists and psychiatric providers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., focusing on insurance-covered care with rapid appointment availability, often as soon as tomorrow. Rula's network includes over 21,000 licensed providers representing 180+ clinical specialties, offering individual therapy (ages 5+), couples therapy, family therapy, child therapy, teen therapy, and psychiatry services (ages 13+).

> "Rula was the only way I was able to find a therapist. Everywhere else I was running into barriers. At a time when I was really struggling, finding help seemed impossible. Rula made it possible," says a Rula patient.

With insurance, patients typically pay about $15 per session, and Rula provides a personalized cost estimate before your first appointment. You can schedule an appointment in as little as three minutes, with appointments available as soon as the next day. The platform offers both telehealth appointments via Zoom and in-person therapy at provider-operated offices nationwide, and you can filter providers by specialty, gender, ethnicity, age, faith, and other criteria to find the right match.

Geode at a glance

Geode is an outpatient mental healthcare provider offering psychiatry, talk therapy, and advanced treatments through physical locations in six states. The platform brings local psychiatric practitioners and therapists together under one roof to deliver coordinated, evidence-based care. Geode offers both in-person visits at its clinics and secure video visits for virtual appointments, with services including psychiatry, psychotherapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), Spravato® (esketamine) treatment, and ADHD testing.

Geode is in-network with most commercial insurance plans and accepts Medicare, though specific copay amounts aren't publicly disclosed. Same-week appointments are available, often within days, and you can book and manage both in-person and video visits online through their patient portal. For uninsured patients, Geode offers self-pay rates, but you must contact their office for current pricing information.

Clinical outcomes and how we compare

Clinical outcomes and evidence-based approaches are critical indicators of a mental health platform's effectiveness in helping patients achieve meaningful progress. Tracking standardized metrics like symptom improvement and patient satisfaction provides transparency into the quality of care delivered.

Data show that Rula's focus on rapid access, provider matching, and insurance-covered care translates into measurable symptom relief for the vast majority of patients. When looking at anxiety and depression scores, 74% of Rula patients showed significant improvement, and Rula's clinical outcomes are greater than 10% better than similar competitors, on average. Additionally, 93% of people felt better about their symptoms after Rula care.

Geode also tracks outcomes using standardized screening tools to assess and monitor depression and anxiety symptoms. By month four of treatment, 78% of patients showed significant improvements in their PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) scores, and patients give Geode a 4.7 out of 5-star average rating.

Cost and insurance coverage

Rula is in-network with more than 100 insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Geode also accepts most major commercial insurance plans and Medicare, but it's worth noting that Geode doesn't explicitly state Medicaid acceptance while Rula accepts Medicaid in many states. A key difference is that Rula provides transparent self-pay pricing on its website, while Geode requires patients to contact the office for current self-pay rates.

Insurance plans accepted

Insurance accepted by therapists on Rula:

• Aetna

• Allied

• Ambetter (Centene)

• Amerigroup (GA)

• Anthem

• Blue Cross Blue Shield

• Arlo

• Ascension

• Blue Shield of California

• Brighton Health / MagnaCare

• CareFirst

• Carelon Behavioral Health

• Centivo

• Cigna

• Decent

• Evry Health

• GEHA

• Health Net (Managed Health Network)

• Kaiser Permanente

• Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield / Highmark Blue Shield

• Medicare

• Optum Behavioral Health

• Oscar

• Regence BlueShield

• Sidecar Health

• Sutter Health

• Tricare West

• UMR

• UnitedHealthcare

• + many more

*Actual cost may vary based on your insurance benefits and deductible. Rula will provide you with a personalized cost estimate prior to your first appointment.

Geode accepts most major commercial plans, such as Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, BlueCross BlueShield, but its website doesn't explicitly confirm Medicaid acceptance. Patients are encouraged to verify coverage with their specific plan before booking appointments.

Out-of-pocket costs (with insurance)

When using insurance, Rula patients typically pay about $15 per session. This cost can vary based on your specific insurance benefits, deductible status, and the type of appointment, but Rula confirms your estimated per-session cost before your first appointment to ensure transparency.

Geode is in-network with most commercial insurance plans and accepts Medicare, but doesn't publicly disclose typical copay amounts or cost ranges. To understand your out-of-pocket costs, you'll need to contact your insurance provider or Geode's office directly.

HSA/FSA eligibility

Both Rula and Geode accept health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending account (FSA) cards for payment. This allows you to use pre-tax dollars to cover out-of-pocket expenses for therapy and psychiatry, and you can typically enter your HSA/FSA card as your payment method or submit receipts for reimbursement.

Self-pay pricing

For patients who are uninsured or prefer to pay out-of-pocket, Rula offers clear, transparent pricing:

• $150 for an individual therapy session

• $165 for a couples therapy session

• $225 for an initial psychiatry session

• $175 for a follow-up psychiatry session

Geode offers competitive self-pay rates but doesn't publish them online. To find out current rates for therapy and psychiatry sessions, you must contact Geode's office directly.

Mental health services offered

The range of services offered by a mental health platform determines whether it can meet your specific needs, from different therapy approaches to medication management. Understanding what types of care are available helps ensure you can access comprehensive support as your needs evolve.

Treatment approaches offered by Rula

Rula's network of licensed providers offers over 180 clinical specialties and a wide array of evidence-based treatment approaches:

Most common approaches

• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Trauma-focused therapy

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

• Attachment-based therapy

• Emotionally focused therapy) (EFT)

Behavioral therapy

• Behavioral activation

• Cognitive processing therapy) (CPT)

• Collaborative assessment and management of suicidality) (CAMS)

• Dialectical behavioral therapy) (DBT)

• Exposure and response prevention (ERP)

• Moral reconation therapy) (MRT)

• Motivational interviewing

• Prolonged exposure therapy

• Rational emotive behavior therapy) (REBT)

• Reality therapy

• Schema therapy

• Solution-focused brief therapy) (SFBT)

Insight-oriented

• Accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy

• Compassion-focused therapy

• Complicated grief therapy) (CGT)

• Existential therapy

• Gestalt therapy

• Object relations therapy

• Psychoanalytic therapy

• Psychodynamic therapy

• Trust-based relational intervention

Relationship-based

• Child/parent psychotherapy

• Gottman Method

• Imago relationship therapy

• Internal family systems) (IFS)

• Interpersonal therapy

• Multidimensional family therapy

• Parent-child interaction therapy) (PCIT)

• Psychobiological approach couples therapy) (PACT)

• Sex therapy

• Structural family therapy

Experiential therapy

• Art therapy

• Biofeedback

• Brainspotting

• Dance/movement therapy

• Experiential therapy

• Expressive arts

• Music therapy

• Neurofeedback

• Play therapy

• Sandplay

• Somatic therapy

Humanistic therapy

• Christian counseling

• Eclectic therapy

• Humanistic therapy

• Integrative or integral psychotherapy

• Mindfulness-based therapy

• Narrative therapy

Rula offers medication management through licensed psychiatric providers, including psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), for people ages 13 and older. These providers can prescribe and manage medications as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, which can be accessed as a standalone service or in combination with therapy.

Treatment approaches offered by Geode

Geode provides a coordinated set of services that includes talk therapy, psychiatry, and advanced treatments for specific conditions:

Treatment categories:

• Depression and mood

• Behavioral and ADHD

• Past trauma

• Anxiety and panic

• Disordered eating

Advanced treatments:

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) — a non-invasive procedure for treatment-resistant depression, available at select locations

• Spravato® (esketamine) — a nasal spray medication for treatment-resistant depression, available at select locations

Geode's psychiatric practitioners can prescribe and manage a wide range of medications, including controlled substances when clinically appropriate. All psychiatric services are delivered under the supervision of a board-certified psychiatrist, ensuring clinical oversight and coordinated care.

Inclusivity and specialized care

When it comes to therapy, it's important to find a provider you can trust and who understands your unique background and experiences. Inclusivity in mental healthcare means having access to providers who share similar identities, speak your language, and have expertise in the specific challenges you're facing.

Rula inclusivity and specialization overview

Rula is committed to helping every patient find a provider who truly gets them:

• Licensure types: Licensed therapists (LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCs), psychologists (PhDs, PsyDs), psychiatrists (MDs, DOs), and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs).

• Specializations offered: With over 180 clinical specialties, you can find experts in ADHD, anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, substance use, grief and loss, relationship issues, and many other areas.

• Languages available: Providers in the Rula network represent 40+ different languages.

• Inclusivity factors: 51% of Rula's provider network identifies as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). You can filter providers by gender, ethnicity, age, and faith to find someone who shares your background and worldview

Geode inclusivity and specialization overview

Geode also focuses on providing inclusive care, though with less public data on its provider network:

• Licensure types: Board-certified psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychiatric physician assistants, and licensed therapists.

• Specializations offered: Care is organized into five main treatment categories (with subcategories), including depression and mood, behavioral and ADHD, and past trauma.

• Languages available: Geode doesn't disclose the specific languages offered by its providers.

• Inclusivity factors: Geode features LGBTQ+-affirming clinicians and discusses its commitment to inclusive care, but doesn't publicly disclose demographic data about its provider network.

Platform availability and access

Access to mental healthcare shouldn't be complicated or time-consuming — the right platform makes it easy to find a provider, verify insurance, and schedule appointments quickly. Geographic availability, appointment wait times, and scheduling flexibility are critical factors that determine whether you can get help when you need it most.

How access works with Rula

Rula is designed to remove barriers to care with nationwide coverage and a streamlined process. The platform provides therapy and psychiatry services in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., making it ideal for patients anywhere in the U.S. or those who relocate frequently.

After you share your preferences and insurance information, Rula provides a curated list of in-network providers that you can filter by specialty, gender, ethnicity, age, faith, and other criteria. You can schedule an appointment in as little as three minutes, with appointments often available as soon as tomorrow and guaranteed within three days.

• Session formats: Live video appointments via Zoom or in-person therapy at provider-operated offices nationwide.

• App/portal experience: Web browser-based patient portal for managing appointments, messaging providers, and handling payments (no mobile app currently available).

• Provider switching: If your first provider isn't a match, Rula helps you switch to a different therapist in the network.

How access works with Geode

Geode's access is centered around its physical locations in six states: Georgia, Illinois, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin. You check your insurance to find in-network providers in your area, get matched with a therapist or psychiatric provider, and then book an in-person or virtual visit.

Same-week appointments are available, often within days, and you can book and manage both in-person and video visits online through the patient portal. The portal allows for secure messaging, appointment scheduling, prescription renewal requests, and viewing upcoming visits.

• Session formats: In-person visits at Geode clinics or secure video visits for virtual appointments.

• App/portal experience: Patient portal for scheduling, messaging, and managing care (mobile app availability not specified).

• Geographic limitation: Services only available in six states, which may limit access for patients in other areas.

What each platform does best

By looking at where each platform is strongest, you can make a thoughtful decision grounded in what matters most for your care. Both Rula and Geode offer high-quality mental health services, but each excels in different areas that may align better with your specific needs and circumstances.

Rula excels in these scenarios:

• Nationwide access: Serving all 50 states and D.C. makes Rula ideal for patients anywhere in the U.S. or those who relocate frequently.

• Rapid appointment availability: With appointments available as soon as tomorrow and guaranteed within three days, Rula is best for patients who need immediate access to care.

• Large provider network: Over 21,000 providers with 180+ specialties offer extensive choice and the ability to find highly specialized care.

• Transparent pricing: Published self-pay rates and upfront cost estimates help you understand costs without contacting the office.

• Flexible service delivery: Combination of telehealth via Zoom and in-person therapy at provider-operated offices nationwide provides maximum convenience.

• Strong insurance acceptance: In-network with 100+ plans including Medicare Advantage and Medicaid in many states.

• Diverse provider network: 51% BIPOC representation and 40+ languages ensure you can find culturally competent providers.

• Quick scheduling: You can schedule an appointment in as little as three minutes through the online portal.

Geode excels in these scenarios:

• Advanced treatment options: TMS and Spravato® for treatment-resistant depression aren't available through Rula.

• Coordinated care model: Bringing psychiatry and therapy together under one roof at physical locations enables seamless coordination between providers.

• In-person focus: For patients who strongly prefer in-person care and live in one of Geode's six service states, the physical location model may feel more traditional and accessible.

• ADHD testing: Geode explicitly provides ADHD testing services as part of its offerings.

• Expert-led supervision: All psychiatric services are delivered under the supervision of a board-certified psychiatrist.

• LGBTQ+-affirming care: Geode explicitly features clinicians passionate about serving LGBTQ+ individuals.

Summary: Is Rula or Geode right for you?

Rula and Geode both provide high-quality mental healthcare, but they serve different needs based on geographic reach, provider network size, and service delivery models. Rula's nationwide availability across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. — with a network of over 21,000 providers and 180+ clinical specialties — makes it a strong choice for patients who need access regardless of location, while Geode's presence in seven states with advanced treatments like TMS and Spravato® may appeal to patients seeking in-person specialty care.

When deciding between the two, consider: Do you need nationwide access or are you near a Geode clinic? How quickly do you need an appointment? Do you prefer telehealth, in-person care, or both? And are you seeking specialized treatments for treatment-resistant conditions? Your answers to these questions will point you toward the right platform for your needs.

Rula FAQs

Do therapists on Rula take insurance, and how much do people typically pay per session?

Yes, therapists on the Rula platform are in-network with most major insurance plans. Rula patients typically pay $15 per session, although your individual cost may vary based on your insurance benefits and deductible. Rula will work with your insurance to confirm your estimated per session cost before your first appointment.

What are Rula's self-pay rates for therapy and psychiatry if I'm not using insurance?

Rula offers a cash rate of $150 per session for individual therapy and $165 per session for families or couples. The cash rate for psychiatry sessions is $225 for an initial 60-minute intake session and $175 for 30-minute follow-up sessions, and you can also use your HSA or FSA to cover out-of-pocket expenses.

How soon can I get my first therapy appointment through Rula?

Providers in Rula's network are available to meet via live video as soon as tomorrow. You can explore providers and book your first session in minutes.

What ages can Rula providers treat for therapy and psychiatry?

Our network of therapists are able to treat children, teens, and adults ages 5 and up. For psychiatry and medication management, providers are able to serve patients ages 13 and up.

Find care with Rula

Choosing the right mental health platform is an important decision that shapes your entire care experience. With Rula, getting started is straightforward: verify your insurance in minutes to see your estimated costs upfront, browse providers who match your specific needs and preferences, and schedule your first appointment, often as soon as tomorrow. When you're ready to take the next step, Rula is here to help you find care that works.