Cerebral is an online therapy platform that offers medication and weekly therapy sessions with licensed therapists and prescribers. Cerebral is unique due to its flat monthly rates and intervention with professional therapists. Many people have found Cerebral’s combination of medication and therapy effective in treating depression, anxiety, insomnia, and more.
As with most online therapy platforms, your journey with Cerebral will begin with you answering a short questionnaire related to your mental health and your reasons for seeking therapy. Cerebral offers medication and therapy for a variety of mental health conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, insomnia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Upon selecting a condition, you’ll be asked to answer a few questions to determine whether medication is right for you. Regardless of the outcome, you’ll also be able to discuss medication options with your care counselor. At the end of the questionnaire, you’ll be presented with an initial assessment—for example, Anxiety: Moderate—which helps determine your eligibility for treatment with medication.
You will then have the option of choosing a plan and entering your payment details. After signing up, you’ll have access to medication and care counseling, medication and therapy, or therapy alone, depending on your choice of plan and location. Medication for some conditions and therapy are not available in all states. In all cases, you’ll be prompted to schedule your first video or phone call with your prescriber and care counselor or therapist. Appointments are usually scheduled online and the professional will recommend what’s best for you after assessment.
Cerebral care providers fall into three categories: prescribers, care counselors, and therapists.
Prescribers are board-certified psychiatrists, physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. They all have the requisite qualifications to prescribe medication in your state.
Care counselors may or may not be licensed therapists. Their job is to guide clients through behavioral health techniques and coping mechanisms that serve as an effective supplement to medication. Monthly visits with care counselors also serve to ensure your medication is working effectively and has been prescribed at the correct dosage. Techniques used by Cerebral care counselors include mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises, and grounding exercises. When combined with medication, these methods have been proven effective in treating a wide array of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.
Cerebral therapists are all fully-licensed practitioners, and your assigned therapist will be licensed to practice in your particular state. The goal of Cerebral therapy is to diagnose and treat the underlying causes of your depression, anxiety, insomnia, or other mental health condition through weekly therapy sessions. Childhood trauma and abuse, substance dependence, and other serious diagnoses can all be treated through therapy with Cerebral therapists, with or without the aid of medication.
Online therapy is a viable alternative to traditional therapy for many individuals with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other mental health disorders. It’s been shown to be just as effective as in-person therapy, which is typically far more expensive and, in many ways, less convenient.
Cerebral is also one of the few online therapy services that provides medication and works with licensed prescribers and physicians. Medication is not right for everybody. However, it has been shown to be effective in and beyond clinical settings in treating a variety of mental health issues, including generalized anxiety, depression, insomnia, and PTSD, especially when combined with therapy.
The fact that Cerebral offers both medication and therapy services makes it a good option for individuals who feel they would benefit from medication or are curious to know how medication, in addition to therapy, may improve their well-being. If you have no interest in medication, you can still opt for just the therapy option.
Cerebral and online therapy in general may not be the right choice for individuals with severe or immediate mental health needs. If you or someone you know is in danger of harming themselves or others, seek professional help immediately or call 911 (if you’re in the US), 112 (if you’re in the EU), or your local emergency line.
Cerebral offers 3 plans: Medication, Therapy + Medication, and Therapy. Check the pricing below:
All of these plans include different benefits. Therapy + Medication includes diagnosis and, if eligible, prescription from a licensed prescriber or physician, monthly check-ins with a care counselor, and monthly medication deliveries. It mixes the benefits of the two other plans. You can pick a plan according to your personal needs and therapy goals.
As mentioned above, Cerebral stands out for several reasons. Cerebral offers both therapy and medication, whereas many online therapy services offer just the former. While medication and therapy aren’t available in all states, most regions are covered, and the company is actively expanding its coverage.
Cerebral’s customer support can be contacted via email at support@getcerebral.com, or through the online form. Office hours are from 6 am-6 pm PT Monday-Friday and from 7 am - 4 pm PT Saturday-Sunday.
An FAQ page answers questions relating to online therapy and Cerebral’s prescribers, counselors and therapists, medication, and accounts and payments.
“At first, I really was nervous to use an online service for my anxiety. However, the reliability of my care counselor and my prescribing doctor has been super helpful as I know exactly what to expect and when to expect it. Plus, medication delivery is really convenient for my busy schedule. Cerebral makes it so easy!!!” - David C.
“My prescribing doctor helped me think through if medication was right for me, and my care counselor responds really quickly when I have questions about side effects and more. I also love that Cerebral didn’t try to push hardcore medications on me for my insomnia. My treatment plan is working well so far, so I recommend Cerebral.” - Alana J.
“I used to take time off work to spend hundreds of dollars to see a psychiatrist, who barely remembered my name. Now, my doctor at Cerebral really cares about me and listens to me. I just really feel heard. AND, they send my meds directly to my door, and my care counselor is on it whenever I’m struggling despite the meds.” - April D.
Cerebral is an online therapy platform that, unlike many of its competitors, offers medication in addition to therapy. Its plans are priced comparably to industry standards and are certainly lower than most in-person therapy services.
Cerebral offers discounts for the first two months of use, which means you can try the service with relatively little investment and see if it’s right for you. It’s a great option for those seeking an option that combines medication and therapy services.
Overall, the approach of pairing medication with therapy is a good one for many individuals and is backed by clinical and real-world research. Cerebral may be the right option for those seeking a convenient, cost-effective solution to therapy combined with medication.