Rula offers affordable outpatient care with typical copays around $15 per session and accepts 100+ insurance plans including Medicare, while Sandstone Care's intensive programs can cost several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.
The platforms serve different care levels: Rula provides virtual and in-person therapy/psychiatry across all 50 states, whereas Sandstone Care specializes in medical detox, residential treatment, and intensive outpatient programs at facilities in Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland.
Access speed differs significantly: Rula patients can schedule appointments in as little as three minutes with next-day availability, while Sandstone Care requires phone-based intake and clinical assessment to determine appropriate care level.
Sandstone Care focuses exclusively on substance use and addiction, including co-occurring mental health conditions with 24/7 medical supervision, while Rula covers 180+ clinical specialties for general mental health needs.
Insurance coverage varies: Rula accepts Medicare and Managed Medicaid in select states, but Sandstone Care does not accept Medicare or Medicaid for its facility-based programs.
The right mental healthcare starts with knowing what level of support you need — and that varies widely from person to person. Some situations call for flexible outpatient therapy that fits around work, school, and family. Others require intensive, facility-based treatment for substance use or co-occurring conditions with 24/7 medical supervision.
Rula and Sandstone Care serve genuinely different purposes along the care spectrum. This guide breaks down their costs, insurance coverage, and care levels so you can see which model fits your situation, whether that's online therapy with next-day availability or a residential program with 24/7 supervision.
Rula vs. Sandstone Care: Differences at a glance
Choosing between Rula and Sandstone Care depends on whether you need accessible virtual or in-person outpatient care, or an intensive, multi-week residential or day program.
If you’re leaning toward outpatient care, you can also find a therapist that matches your preferences and availability.
Average cost per session:
Rula: Typically about $15 per session with insurance (varies by plan, benefits, and deductible)
Sandstone Care: Each session can cost several hundred dollars out-of-pocket, with total program costs ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands depending on insurance and care level
Number of providers:
Rula: 21,000+ licensed providers
Sandstone Care: Provider count not publicly disclosed; care is delivered by on-site clinical and medical teams
Modes of communication:
Rula: Live video (Zoom) telehealth appointments and in-person therapy
Sandstone Care: Primarily in-person facility-based care, with some telehealth and phone options
Services offered:
Rula: Individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, child therapy (ages 5+), teen therapy (adolescents), and psychiatry (ages 13+)
Sandstone Care: Medical detox, residential treatment, day treatment (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP)
Insurance acceptance:
Rula: Accepts 100+ commercial insurance plans, plus Medicare and Managed Medicaid in select states
Sandstone Care: Accepts all major commercial insurances; does not accept Medicare or Medicaid
States covered:
Rula: All 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Sandstone Care: Physical locations in Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland
Number of specialties offered:
Rula: 180+ clinical specialties and modalities
Sandstone Care: Specializes in substance use, addiction, and co-occurring mental health conditions
Inclusivity and patient focus:
Rula: 51% of providers identify as BIPOC, speaking 40+ languages with filters for gender, ethnicity, age, and faith
Sandstone Care: Age-specific care for teens, young adults, and adults, with LGBTQ+ affirming therapy and small group sizes
Virtual-only or virtual + in-person availability:
Rula: Both virtual and in-person therapy options available
Sandstone Care: Primarily in-person facility care, with some virtual IOP options
Rula at a glance
Rula is a comprehensive behavioral health solution founded in 2019 with a mission to make mental healthcare work for everyone. The platform connects you with a nationwide network of over 21,000 licensed therapists, psychologists, and psychiatric providers across 180+ specialties.
"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.
Getting started with Rula is straightforward. You can verify your insurance coverage online, browse providers who match your needs, and book your first appointment in just a few minutes. Patients typically pay $15 per session with insurance, while self-pay rates range from $150 for individual therapy to $225 for an initial psychiatry session.
Sandstone Care at a glance
Sandstone Care is a specialized behavioral health treatment center offering intensive, age-specific care for substance use, addiction, and mental health conditions. The organization provides a full continuum of care—from medical detox and residential treatment to day treatment and intensive outpatient programs—with evidence-based, personalized treatment for teens, young adults, and adults at physical locations in Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland.
The care you need, when you need it
Learn how Rula can support your mental health journey
Clinical outcomes and how we compare
When choosing a mental health provider, outcomes are one of the clearest signals of whether care is actually working. The numbers below reflect real patient results — how much symptoms improved, and how many people felt meaningfully better after treatment.
Rula clinical outcomes
93% of people who received care through Rula reported feeling better about their symptoms, and Rula's clinical outcomes are greater than 10% better than similar competitors, on average. Additionally, 74% of Rula patients showed significant improvement in anxiety and depression scores.
Sandstone Care clinical outcomes
Among adults in residential programs, moderate-to-severe depression dropped more than 70%. Young adults in outpatient care saw anxiety cut nearly 50% and depression symptoms cut nearly in half, while teens in outpatient care experienced anxiety reduced by more than half.
Cost and insurance coverage
Rula is in-network with more than 100 insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Kaiser, United Healthcare, and Medicare in select states. Sandstone Care accepts all major commercial insurances but does not accept Medicare or Medicaid, and costs vary significantly by the level of care.
Insurance plans accepted
Insurance accepted by therapists on Rula
*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.
Sandstone Care accepts all major commercial insurances, including BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente, Anthem, and United Healthcare. Admissions coordinators verify insurance by phone during the intake process, but the facility explicitly states it does not accept Medicare or Medicaid.
Out-of-pocket costs (with insurance)
Rula patients typically pay about $15 per session when using insurance, which can make therapy covered by insurance more accessible for ongoing care. Actual cost varies based on appointment type, insurance benefits, and whether your deductible has been met. Rula confirms the estimated per-session cost before the first appointment, helping people budget for ongoing care.
Sandstone Care out-of-pocket costs vary widely depending on insurance coverage and the specific level of care. With insurance, actual out-of-pocket expenses may be little or nothing, but total costs can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars for intensive programs like detox or residential treatment.
HSA/FSA eligibility
Rula accepts HSA (health savings account) and FSA (flexible spending account) cards to cover out-of-pocket expenses, allowing patients to enter the card as payment or submit receipts for reimbursement. Sandstone Care also accepts HSA and FSA funds for qualified medical expenses.
Self-pay pricing
For those paying without insurance, Rula offers straightforward self-pay rates:
$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
Sandstone Care self-pay rates depend entirely on the program intensity. Each session can cost several hundred dollars, while total out-of-pocket costs for complete treatment programs, such as a 30-day inpatient residential stay, can reach tens of thousands of dollars.
Mental health services offered
The range of services offered matters because different mental health needs require different types of care and treatment intensity.
Rula focuses on outpatient therapy and psychiatry, including virtual options for people who prefer online therapy. Sandstone Care offers a full continuum of higher-acuity care, from medical detox through residential to intensive outpatient programs.
Treatment approaches offered by Rula
Rula providers offer more than 180 clinical specialties and evidence-based modalities to match your specific needs and preferences.
Common therapy approaches include:
Specific conditions treated include:
Anxiety and depression
Bipolar disorder
Grief and loss
Eating disorders
In addition to therapy, Rula offers psychiatry and medication management through licensed psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) for people ages 13 and older nationwide. Rula patients can use this service on its own or in combination with therapy.
Treatment approaches offered by Sandstone Care
Evidence-based therapy modalities:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Individual therapy
Group therapy
Family therapy
Multi-family group therapy
Trauma-focused interventions
Levels of care:
Medical Detox and Inpatient: 5-21 days of 24/7 on-site medical supervision
Residential Treatment: 30-45 days of on-site 24/7 treatment
Day Treatment/PHP: 2-4 weeks of on-site day treatment, five days per week
Intensive Outpatient/IOP: 8-12 weeks on-site or virtual, 3-4 days weekly
After-school teen IOP: up to 17 hours/week
Sandstone Care offers medication management and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) as part of its comprehensive treatment programs. Clinical staff help clients manage treatment and medication throughout care, with medication providers meeting regularly with clients until ongoing care is established.
Inclusivity and specialized care
Finding a provider you can trust and feel comfortable with is essential to effective therapy and long-term mental health support. Both platforms prioritize matching patients with providers who understand their unique backgrounds and needs.
Rula inclusivity and specialization overview
Licensure types: Rula's network includes licensed therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs). The platform offers access to 21,000+ licensed providers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Specializations offered: Rula providers offer more than 180 clinical specialties and modalities. Common specializations include ADHD, anger management, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, trauma, and relationship issues, including support for people seeking relationship counseling.
Languages available: Providers speak 40+ languages across the national network. Patients can filter and search for providers by language preference to support culturally responsive care.
Inclusivity factors: 51% of Rula's provider network identifies as BIPOC. Patients can filter providers by gender, ethnicity, age, and faith, helping 98% of patients find a provider that meets their unique preferences. If you want to get matched with the right fit, you can find a therapist based on your preferences and needs.
Sandstone Care inclusivity and specialization overview
Licensure types: Sandstone Care's treatment teams include licensed clinicians, medical providers, and highly-qualified teachers. Care is delivered by multidisciplinary teams at accredited treatment centers, with 24/7 medical supervision in residential and detox programs.
Specializations offered: Sandstone Care specializes in substance use, addiction, and co-occurring mental health conditions. They provide age-specific specialization for teens (13-18), young adults (18-35), and adults (18+).
Languages available: Specific language availability is not detailed in Sandstone Care's public materials. Services are delivered primarily at physical locations in Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland.
Inclusivity factors: Sandstone Care offers LGBTQ+ affirming therapy, describing it as non-judgmental care that embraces identities and addresses the impacts of homophobia and transphobia. The age-specific care model focuses on the unique circumstances at each life stage, utilizing small group sizes and multi-family group therapy sessions.
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 access care and how easily appointments fit into daily life directly impacts whether treatment works. Understanding each platform's logistics helps determine which model fits your situation.
Rula emphasizes rapid access and scheduling flexibility for outpatient care. Sandstone Care provides structured, intensive programming for those needing higher levels of support.
How access works with Rula
Rula provides therapy in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., including Texas, North Carolina, and Michigan for individuals ages five and older, and psychiatry for individuals ages 13 and older. You can choose between live video appointments via Zoom or in-person therapy at provider-operated offices.
The matching process allows patients to share basic details and filter a curated list of in-network therapists by specialty, gender, ethnicity, and language. You can schedule an appointment in as little as three minutes online, with availability as soon as tomorrow. Rula verifies insurance and provides a cost estimate before the first appointment, and if the first provider isn't a match, they will help you switch to a different therapist in the network.
How access works with Sandstone Care
Sandstone Care operates physical treatment centers in Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland, with virtual IOP available for 8-12 weeks of treatment. Access begins by calling an admissions coordinator to verify insurance and schedule a clinical assessment to determine the appropriate level of care.
Session formats range from 5-21 days of medical detox to 30-45 days of residential treatment, down to intensive outpatient programs that meet 3-4 days weekly. Activities commonly take place during the day, though IOP can occur in evening hours to allow clients to continue school or work responsibilities.
What each platform does best
Understanding what each platform does best helps you make an informed choice based on your specific care needs. Rula and Sandstone Care address different points along the mental health treatment continuum, and recognizing their unique strengths makes it easier to determine which approach fits your circumstances.
Rula excels when:
You need outpatient therapy or psychiatry with broad insurance coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid in select states.
You want rapid access to care, with the ability to schedule an appointment in as little as three minutes and be seen as soon as tomorrow.
You prefer flexibility between virtual appointments and in-person care at provider-operated offices.
You want to filter providers by identity factors like gender, ethnicity, age, faith, and language.
You need affordable, predictable care with typical copays around $15 per session with insurance.
You require medication management through psychiatric providers for anyone age 13 and older.
Sandstone Care excels when:
You need intensive, structured treatment for substance use, addiction, or co-occurring mental health conditions.
You require medical detox with 24/7 supervision or residential treatment with round-the-clock care.
You are seeking age-specific programming for teens, young adults, or adults.
You value integrated family involvement through multi-family group therapy sessions.
You need academic or vocational support integrated directly into your treatment plan.
You are located near their physical treatment centers in Colorado, Virginia, or Maryland.
Summary: Is Rula or Sandstone Care right for you?
These two platforms serve genuinely different needs, and the right choice comes down to what kind of care you're looking for. Rula is built for people who need outpatient therapy or psychiatry, with next-day availability, 21,000+ providers across all 50 states, and typical copays around $15 with insurance. Sandstone Care is designed for those who need a higher level of structured support, offering a full continuum from medical detox and residential treatment to intensive outpatient programs at physical locations in Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland.
If substance use, addiction, or a co-occurring condition is at the center of what you're navigating, Sandstone Care's facility-based model and 24/7 supervision may be exactly what the situation calls for. For everything from anxiety and depression to relationship challenges, couples therapy online, and medication management, Rula's broad provider network, flexible scheduling, and extensive insurance coverage make it easier to get started and stay consistent.
Rula FAQs
Does Rula or Sandstone Care accept insurance?
Both platforms accept insurance, but their coverage differs. Rula is in-network with most major commercial insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Optum, and UnitedHealthcare, plus select Medicare Advantage and Managed Medicaid plans in some states. Sandstone Care accepts many major commercial insurance plans and specializes in substance use disorder and mental health treatment for teens, young adults, and adults.
What's the difference between Rula and Sandstone Care?
Rula and Sandstone Care serve different levels of care. Rula is an outpatient mental health platform that connects people with licensed therapists and psychiatric practitioners for weekly therapy and psychiatry appointments, delivered virtually and in-person in some locations. Sandstone Care offers higher levels of care for substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions, including residential treatment, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and intensive outpatient programs (IOP) primarily focused on teens and young adults.
Which is better for outpatient therapy: Rula or Sandstone Care?
Rula is built specifically for outpatient therapy and psychiatry, with appointments often available as soon as tomorrow through a nationwide network of 21,000+ providers. Sandstone Care's model centers on more intensive treatment for substance use and co-occurring conditions, which may include outpatient services as a step-down from residential or PHP care. People seeking traditional weekly therapy will typically find Rula to be the better fit.
Find care with Rula
Finding the right mental healthcare starts with understanding what you need and finding support that fits your situation. Rula makes it straightforward to get started. You can verify your insurance coverage online, browse providers who match your specific needs and preferences, and schedule your first appointment, often available as soon as tomorrow. Before you book, you'll see your estimated cost, so there's no guessing about what you'll pay.
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.
